What my ideal UX/UI Design role looks like

Here’s my perfect job

I recently read an article by the talented Mike Kivikoski titled Ideal employment. In the article Mike talks about the benefits of clearly outlining what you are looking for in your next role and ultimately the types of companies you’d like to work for.

I took some time to gather my thoughts and realigning my professional goals with the career path I’d like to follow. The exercise has helped to put things into perspective and provided a clear direction of where’d I’d like to go next.

4Ps: What motivates me

Over the years I’ve got clearer on what makes a role genuinely rewarding. These four things consistently show up in the work I’ve enjoyed most – and the questions I ask when I’m exploring a new opportunity.

1. People: Great team culture where people have fun and create amazing work together
2. Projects: Projects that matter, built with collaborative teams who love seeing ideas come to life
3. Process: Design, technology and business working together to deliver great products
4. Problems: Solving real-world problems for customers while generating revenue for businesses

Companies I want to work with

‘d love to work with an established software product company with an in-house team of passionate designers and developers who value collaboration and sharing ideas. Clear processes, genuine empowerment and a culture that cares about people – their career, health, family and lifestyle – all matter to me. If you value training, keep the work week reasonable and genuinely listen to your customers, we’re probably a good fit.

What I bring

• A senior UX/UI designer with 15+ years across mobile apps, web platforms and design systems
• A natural ability to bridge the gap between design and development, backed by an early career in web development
• Strong systems thinking – from creating design systems to establishing in-house design processes
• A collaborative approach to working with developers, product managers and stakeholders
• Passion for the craft and pride in the quality of the work I produce

What I’m after

• Work that has purpose and a clear connection to real customer needs
• A team that collaborates, shares knowledge and takes pride in what they ship
• Space to contribute at a senior level – shaping problems, not just delivering solutions
• Continued learning and growth through challenge, mentoring and shared knowledge
• A culture where people genuinely care about each other and the work

How I work

• I start with the problem – sketching ideas, mapping flows and getting alignment early
• I design in Figma, using components, variables and prototypes to communicate ideas clearly
• I collaborate closely with developers, product managers and stakeholders throughout
• I validate with real users through interviews, usability testing and research
• I think in systems – looking for patterns, consistency and scalability
• I design with a minimal, modern approach to help users complete tasks with less effort

Bringing it all together

The roles I’ve valued most have had all four in place – people who care, work that matters, a process built around the customer, and problems worth solving. That’s where I do my best work.