Role Overview

The UX Design Director is the visionary leader for user experience and product design across all Longhorn Developers (LHD) projects. This director is responsible for establishing a strong design culture, ensuring that all LHD projects are intuitive, accessible, and effectively solve the problems of UT Austin students. The director champions a user-centered design process, from initial research to final visual polish. They lead the design teams with UX Design Leads, setting the standards for quality and mentoring members to grow their skills in UI/UX and information design.

A crucial aspect of the UX Design Director role is the level of autonomy and leadership expected. As an Executive Board member, the UX Design Director should not expect extensive guidance in their day-to-day operations. Instead, they are expected to be the source of guidance and expertise for others in their domain. They must take initiative to advance the goals and mission of LHD as set by the President, and fulfill all key responsibilities listed below as a minimum expectation.

However, a truly successful and effective director will go beyond these minimum requirements. They will proactively pursue their own initiatives to advance LHD's mission, introduce innovative ideas, and improve current processes based on their design expertise. This includes identifying opportunities for enhancement in areas not explicitly mentioned in this position document. The ideal candidate will be a self-starter who can operate independently while maintaining alignment with organizational objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Leadership & Strategy
  • Define and uphold the overall design vision and standards for LHD, ensuring a consistent and high-quality user experience across all projects.
  • Lead the implementation and maintenance of LHD’s design system, standardizing components, styles, and variables in Figma to streamline the design process.
  • Champion a deep understanding of user needs by advocating for user research, usability testing, and the application of feedback in the design cycle.
  • Ensure that designs adhere to established design laws and principles to create intuitive and efficient user interfaces.
• Team Management & Mentorship
  • Provide direct leadership, feedback, and mentorship to the UX Design Leads on each project team.
  • Oversee the growth and development of UX Designer – Seniors, UX Designer – Juniors, and UX Design Fellows, creating opportunities for them to learn new skills through the Skill Tags Framework.
  • Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment where designers feel empowered to share ideas, critique work constructively, and grow professionally.
  • Conduct regular check-ins with UX Design Leads to monitor project progress, identify design roadblocks, and ensure timelines are met.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Collaborate closely with the Product Director to ensure design work aligns with user stories, product goals, and project roadmaps.
  • Work alongside the Software Engineering Director to ensure that designs are technically feasible and are implemented with high fidelity.
  • Collaborate with the Events Director to identify relevant design-related workshop topics for each academic semester.
  • Act as the primary advocate for the user at the executive level, ensuring that student needs are at the forefront of all project decisions.
• Finance Management
  • President
• Recruitment & Onboarding
  • Recruit UX Design Leads with the Product Director; assist them in recruiting UX Design Fellows.
  • From a design perspective, Onboard new UX Design Leads and UX Design Fellows: grant Figma org access, configure design file permissions, and orient them to LHD’s design review workflow.

Qualifications & Skills

• Required
  • Strong portfolio showcasing experience in UI/UX design, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.
  • High level of proficiency with Figma (auto layout, components, tokens/variables, libraries), LHD's primary tool for UI/UX design.
  • Demonstrated leadership ability and experience mentoring other designers.
  • Excellent understanding of user-centered design principles and accessibility (APCA) standards.
  • Must be an active student at The University of Texas at Austin.
• Preferred
  • Previous experience as a UX Design Lead or UX Designer – Senior within LHD.
  • Experience building or contributing to a design system.
  • Familiarity with product management tools (Notion) and agile development methodologies.
  • Capacity to serve as UX Design Lead for an LHD project, if necessary.

Term of Office

The UX Design Director is expected to serve a full academic year, with renewal determined by majority approval of the Executive Board.