Job Title: Senior UX/UI Designer Company: Apadmi Location: Manchester, England, United Kingdom (Hybrid) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Design & User Experience Date Posted: 2026-02-18 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Hybrid
- Lead the end-to-end design process for complex digital products, from initial discovery and strategy through to final UI and delivery, ensuring user-centered and commercially effective solutions.
- Drive design excellence by creating world-class UX and UI that effectively balances user needs with business objectives.
- Mentor and guide junior and mid-level designers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high-quality design output within project teams.
- Act as a confident design authority in client interactions, clearly articulating design rationale, strategy, and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Contribute to new business opportunities by developing compelling proposals and pitches, showcasing Apadmi's design vision and capabilities.
Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior contributor within the design function, indicating a requirement for strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to influence both internal teams and external clients. The hybrid model suggests a need for strong self-management and effective remote collaboration alongside in-office engagement.
Primary Responsibilities
- Spearhead the design of client-facing digital products, taking full ownership of the design lifecycle from discovery and user research integration to final UI delivery and design system implementation.
- Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and interaction designs that are intuitive for users and aligned with commercial goals.
- Collaborate closely with User Researchers to integrate user insights and validation throughout the design process, ensuring data-informed decision-making.
- Facilitate and lead discovery sessions and design workshops with clients and internal stakeholders to define project scope, user needs, and strategic direction.
- Partner effectively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to ensure design intent is accurately translated into the final product during development.
- Serve as a primary design representative in client meetings, confidently presenting design rationale, strategic thinking, and solutions with clarity and impact.
- Contribute significantly to new business development by crafting proposals, defining UX/UI strategies for pitches, and articulating Apadmi's value proposition.
- Guide and direct the work of other designers within project teams, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and support to ensure project success.
- Conduct and participate in peer design reviews, offering insightful, actionable feedback to elevate the quality of work across the design team.
- Champion and implement inclusive and accessible design best practices across all projects, ensuring products are usable by the widest possible audience.
- Ensure all design work is delivered on time, within scope, and is demonstrably backed by user research, industry best practices, and strategic alignment.
- Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of team processes, design quality standards, and overall ways of working within the UX/UI team.
- Work effectively within agile and scrum methodologies, adapting to iterative development cycles and contributing to sprint planning and reviews.
Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution and strategic leadership. The emphasis on client-facing activities, new business contributions, and team mentorship strongly suggests a senior-level role requiring not only technical design expertise but also strong communication, influence, and leadership capabilities.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring deep theoretical understanding. Equivalen t practical experience will also be considered.
Experience: Significant professional experience (typically 5-10 years) delivering high-quality UX and UI design for a variety of digital products, with a demonstrable track record of leading complex projects from conception to launch.
Required Skills:
- Extensive experience in UX and UI design for digital products.
- Proven ability to lead end-to-end design processes, encompassing discovery, strategy, wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and UI design.
- Strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking, craft excellence, and measurable impact on digital products.
- Experience mentoring junior and mid-level designers within project teams.
- Confidence and proficiency in presenting design concepts, rationale, and strategy to senior stakeholders and clients.
- Deep understanding of accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) and inclusive design principles.
- Experience contributing to new business proposals, pitches, and defining UX/UI vision for opportunities.
- Proficiency working within agile and scrum development environments.
- Excellent verbal and written communication, collaboration, and facilitation skills.
- A proactive, self-motivated approach with a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
Preferred Skills:
- Familiarity with user research methodologies and ability to collaborate effectively with User Researchers.
- Experience facilitating client workshops and discovery sessions.
- Familiarity with various design tools and software beyond core requirements (e.g., advanced prototyping tools, animation software).
- Experience in specific industry sectors relevant to Apadmi's client base.
- Understanding of front-end development principles to ensure design feasibility.
Enhancement Note: The "significant experience" and "strong portfolio" requirements are critical for this senior role. Candidates should prepare to showcase projects that demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also strategic problem-solving, user advocacy, and commercial impact. Mentoring and client-facing experience are also key differentiators.
- A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory and should clearly demonstrate strategic thinking, end-to-end design process execution, and the measurable impact of your design solutions.
- Include case studies that detail the problem, your process, design decisions, and the outcomes achieved, highlighting user needs and commercial objectives.
- Showcase examples of creating user flows, wireframes, prototypes, interaction designs, and UI designs.
- Demonstrate experience with scalable design systems and their implementation.
- Evidence of leading design efforts on complex projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams.
Process Documentation:
- Candidates are expected to articulate their design processes clearly, including how they approach discovery, user research integration, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iterative refinement.
- Ability to document and present design rationales, user journey maps, and information architecture.
- Experience in creating and maintaining design system documentation for consistency and scalability.
- Documentation of how design decisions were informed by user data, business goals, and technical constraints.
Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary tool for assessing a candidate's strategic thinking, execution capabilities, and impact. It should not just be a collection of visuals but a narrative that tells the story of how design challenges were solved effectively, with clear articulation of the process and results.
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Senior UX/UI Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a major UK city like Manchester, the estimated salary range is £50,000 - £70,000 per annum. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific portfolio, experience, and negotiation.
- Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office.
- Opportunity to work on high-impact digital products for leading national and international brands.
- Collaborative and multidisciplinary team environment fostering innovation and knowledge sharing.
- Clear opportunities for career growth, mentorship, and leadership development within the design function.
- A company culture that values quality, continuous learning, and professional development.
- Access to training, conferences, and resources to support skill advancement.
- Standard benefits package likely including pension contributions, holiday allowance, and potential for performance-related bonuses.
Working Hours: The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement allowing for a balance between on-site and remote work. Specific office attendance days may be agreed upon with the hiring manager.
Enhanced Note: The salary estimate is based on data from UK-based salary surveys for senior design roles in technology and digital agencies, considering the location of Manchester and the described seniority. Apadmi's focus on digital products and client work suggests a competitive benefits package, with the hybrid model being a key differentiator.
Industry: Digital Product Development, Technology Consultancy, App Development. Apadmi operates within the dynamic digital product agency space, creating solutions for a diverse range of clients across various sectors. This means exposure to different business challenges and user needs is a constant.
Company Size: Apadmi is a growing company, likely falling into the small to medium-sized enterprise (SME) category or larger, with potentially over 100 employees given its established presence and client roster. This size often allows for a balance between structured processes and agile, close-knit team dynamics.
Founded: Apadmi was founded in 2007. This long history in the digital space indicates a mature understanding of the industry, a stable operational framework, and a proven ability to adapt to technological shifts and market demands over more than a decade.
Team Structure
- The UX/UI team is likely part of a larger Product & Design department, reporting to a Head of UX or Creative Director.
- Designers work in multidisciplinary teams alongside Product Strategists, User Researchers, Project Managers, and Engineers.
- This structure promotes close collaboration and ensures design is integrated throughout the product development lifecycle.
Methodology
- Apadmi emphasizes user-centred design, combining user research, strategic thinking, and creative execution.
- They operate within agile/scrum environments, requiring adaptability and iterative design approaches.
- A focus on delivering commercially impactful and purposeful digital experiences is central to their methodology.
- Design systems and scalable solutions are likely core to ensuring efficiency and consistency.
Office Type & Location: Apadmi's Manchester HQ is described as a hybrid working environment with the primary office in Manchester, England.
Interview Process
- Initial Screening: CV and portfolio review to assess alignment with core requirements and experience level.
- Portfolio Presentation & Interview: Candidate presents portfolio, discusses case studies, and answers questions about strategic approach, process, and impact.
- Skills-Based Interview/Workshop: Design challenge or deeper dive into technical skills.
- Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with team members to assess collaboration and cultural alignment.
- Final Interview: With senior leadership to discuss career aspirations and final offer details.
- Preparation Guidance: Structure portfolio narratives, highlight seniority and leadership, and practice articulating design rationale and business impact.
- What to Prepare: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a new design problem and stakeholder scenarios, including accessibility considerations.
Important Note: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations/design industry-standard assumptions. Verify details directly with the hiring organization before applying.
Application Requirements
Candidates must possess significant experience delivering UX and UI design for digital products, supported by a strong portfolio showcasing strategic thinking and craft excellence across complex projects. Essential requirements include proven ability to mentor designers, confidence in influencing senior stakeholders, and a strong understanding of accessibility principles.