UX Unicorn Job Description Template

This is the term some teams use for a designer who covers research, interaction, visual design and often front end code, which in practice means a senior generalist carrying the whole design function. The arrangement is common at early stage companies and works when the person is genuinely strong across the disciplines and the scope is understood. It goes badly when it is used to avoid hiring a second designer.

Typical Duties and Responsibilities

• Own the full design process from research through to implemented interface
• Conduct user research and usability testing
• Design flows, wireframes, interactions and visual interfaces
• Build and maintain the design system
• Implement front end work or prototypes where useful
• Write interface copy and establish voice and tone
• Work directly with founders and engineers on product direction
• Establish design process where none exists
• Prioritize design effort against limited time
• Build the case for expanding the design team

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in design or equivalent portfolio experience

Required Skills and Experience

• 5+ years of design covering research, interaction and visual work
• Portfolio demonstrating genuine breadth rather than one strong area
• Ability to prioritize ruthlessly when everything needs design attention
• Comfort operating without a design team around you
• Front end capability sufficient to prototype or implement
• Research skills sufficient to make decisions on evidence
• Confidence working directly with founders and engineers
• Judgment about what is good enough for now

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at an early stage company
• Ability to establish design process from nothing