Role Overview

The UX Design Lead is in charge of the user experience and design direction for an LHD project. They lead their project's design team (consisting of 1-2 other student designers), ensuring that the user is at the center of the development process and adheres to the design standards set by the UX Design Director. The UX Design Lead is responsible for translating user needs and product requirements into intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing designs. They manage the design process for their project, from research and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and usability testing, all while mentoring the designers on their team and working closely with the Product Lead and Technical Lead.

Key Responsibilities

• Design Execution & Quality
  • Lead the end-to-end design process for a specific project, creating user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups in Figma.
  • Ensure the project's design adheres to LHD's design system and the standards set by the UX Design Director.
  • Organize and lead design critiques and feedback sessions for the project's design team.
  • Advocate for user-centered design principles and accessibility best practices within the project team.
  • Prepare designs for handoff to the Technical Lead via GitHub Issues and Projects.
• Team Leadership & Mentorship
  • Provide guidance and mentorship to the UX Designer – Seniors, UX Designer – Juniors, and UX Design Fellows on the project team by ensuring they progress through the Skill Tags Framework’s Design Skill Tags, Pathways, and Badges.
  • Delegate design tasks and responsibilities to the designers on the team via Notion.
  • Foster a collaborative and creative environment for the designers on the team.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Work closely with the project's Product Lead to understand user stories and product requirements.
  • Collaborate with the Technical Lead to ensure designs are feasible and implemented accurately.
  • Regularly report on design progress, challenges, and user research findings to the UX Design Director.
• Finance Management
  • UX Design Director,President
• Recruitment & Onboarding
  • Assist the Product Director and UX Design Director in recruiting UX Design Fellows when necessary.
  • From a design perspective, assist the UX Design Director in onboarding new UX Design Fellows: Ensure proper Figma org and project access, configure design file permissions, and orient them to LHD’s design review workflow

Qualifications & Skills

• Required
  • A strong portfolio showcasing experience in UI/UX design.
  • Proficiency in Figma, LHD's primary design tool.
  • Excellent understanding of the design process, from research to implementation.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead or mentor other designers.
  • Must be an active student at The University of Texas at Austin.
• Preferred
  • Previous experience as a UX Designer – Senior or UX Designer – Junior.
  • Experience leading a design project or mentoring other designers.
  • Familiarity with conducting user research or usability testing.
  • Experience with agile development methodologies.

Term of Service

UX Design Leads are expected to serve for at least two academic semesters. There is no term limit, and leads are encouraged to remain involved as long as they are willing and able to fulfill all responsibilities associated with being a lead. Leads may be removed, as determined by the Executive Board, for inactivity, ineffective project progress or team development, or failure to fulfill the necessary duties for their role.