UI Technical Designer

As a UI Technical Designer at thatgamecompany, your main responsibilities will include developing innovative and user-friendly interfaces for our games. You’ll work closely with the UI Lead and collaborate with teams across design, art, and engineering to create wireframes, mockups, and animations. Another important aspect of the role involves executing final designs in C++, performing polish passes on existing interfaces, and conducting UX tests to ensure the UI meets our high aesthetic and usability standards.

To join thatgamecompany as a UI Technical Designer, candidates should have professional UI design experience and strong graphic design skills, including a keen eye for typography and color usage. They should also be proficient in C#, C++, or C for interface prototyping. Familiarity with industry-standard design programs like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop is essential. A self-starter attitude and the ability to iterate based on art direction will be greatly valued.

A UI Technical Designer at thatgamecompany should be well-versed in several tools and technologies. Experience with UI design and prototyping tools such as Figma is advantageous. Moreover, familiarity with motion design software such as After Effects can boost your candidacy. An understanding of HTML Flexbox layout system and the ability to articulate the user-centered design process will also be beneficial for this role.

Valuable personal traits for a UI Technical Designer at thatgamecompany include a strong sense of creativity and an eye for minimalist design. Being a self-starter, capable of multitasking while meeting deadlines, and an advocate for usability are key traits that will contribute to the success of your projects. Additionally, a collaborative spirit and excellent communication skills are essential to effectively work alongside cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment.

The work culture at thatgamecompany is one of innovation, creativity, and collaboration. As a UI Technical Designer, you will be part of a dedicated team that values unique perspectives on game design and interface development. We encourage taking risks in our designs to deliver groundbreaking solutions that enhance the gaming experience. Team members are supported to share their ideas freely and are engaged in an environment where creativity knows no bounds.

When answering this question, detail how you begin with research and gathering user feedback, followed by conceptualizing ideas and developing wireframes. Discuss your iterative approach, which includes prototyping, testing with users, and refining designs based on feedback to ensure the interface meets usability standards.

Talk about your openness to constructive criticism and how you see it as an opportunity for growth. Share examples of times when feedback has improved your designs and explain your process for incorporating it into your work.

Provide a specific example regarding a challenging project. Detail the issue you faced, your analysis and proposed solution, and the successful outcome. This will show your problem-solving skills and ability to create effective designs.

Emphasize the importance of user research by discussing how it informs your designs. Explain how you gather insights about user needs and behaviors and mention techniques such as surveys or usability testing you might use to validate your conclusions.

Discuss your familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Illustrator, or Photoshop, highlighting which tools you prefer for different tasks. Explain your reasoning, such as ease of use, collaboration features, or specific functionalities that align with your design philosophy.

Explain your understanding of branding and style guides. Share techniques you utilize to maintain design consistency, including creating reusable components, following established style guidelines, and conducting regular reviews of the UI across the gaming project.

Outline a project where you included motion design elements. Describe how you approached this task, the tools you used, and the positive impact it had on user experience by enhancing clarity or transitions within the UI.

Share your beliefs about user-centered design, highlighting elements like empathy for users, ensuring functionality matches user expectations, and iterating designs based on real user feedback. Use examples from your past work to substantiate your views.

Discuss your prototyping strategies, whether it's low-fidelity sketches or high-fidelity interactive mockups. Highlight your personal methods for user testing prototypes and iterating based on findings to ensure effectiveness in design.

Explain how you prioritize continual learning in your career. Mention specific design blogs, websites, or communities you follow, the role of online courses or workshops, and how you apply new knowledge to your design practice.