Experience Design Lead

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

AKQA seeks an Experience Design Lead in Auckland to own the UI vision for native mobile experiences across iOS and Android, delivering pixel-perfect craft, expressive motion, and brand-led micro-interactions. You’ll partner with UX, strategy, tech and delivery teams to translate insights into refined UI, build scalable design systems in Figma, and govern tokens from design to code while embedding WCAG 2.2 accessibility. Lead in agile squads, mentor designers, and elevate craft. We offer hybrid work with in-office days; discuss flexibility in interview. To apply, tailor your portfolio to show end-to-end UI, system-first thinking, collaboration; highlight HIG and Material 3 competence, prototyping work, and inclusive leadership.

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At AKQA, our Experience Design discipline sets the standard for innovation, creativity, and craft. As an Experience Design Lead (UI), you’ll lead the UI vision and craft for courageous digital experiences, setting the bar for quality, guiding teams through complexity, and ensuring what we ship is as beautiful as it is effective.

In this role, you’ll be a hands-on leader who partners closely with UX designers, strategists, technologists, and delivery teams to turn insight into brand-led native mobile experiences. This role is for someone who can elevate others while delivering pixel-perfect UI, and who knows how to express play and emotion through motion, interaction, and visual language.

As part of AKQA, you’ll work in an innovative and inclusive culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow within a creative and technically advanced team, with access to ongoing personal and professional development. Our hybrid in-studio/WFH model supports balance and flexibility, and we’re committed to your career growth as well as your work/life balance.


ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Lead native mobile UI across iOS (Human Interface Guidelines) and Android (Material 3), setting the craft bar for platform excellence.
• Translate brand strategy into refined UI and meaningful micro-interactions, shaping states, motion and tone.
• Define interaction, motion intent and prototyping key journeys.
• Build scalable, systemised UI in Figma.
• Govern design systems through Atomic principles, clear documentation and token-to-code alignment.
• Embed WCAG 2.2 accessibility by default.
• Lead within agile squads, aligning stakeholders, partnering closely with Technology and Project Management.
• Mentor designers to elevate the standard of craft.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Pixel-perfect UI craft, with deep iOS (HIG) and Android (Material 3) expertise.
• Prototyping capability across key journeys, ProtoPie, Rive, Lottie or After Effects, is advantageous.
• A brand-led interaction thinker with a system-first mindset, balancing creative ambition with scalable design foundations.
• A strategic and articulate communicator who aligns stakeholders and agile squads with clarity and intent.
• Craft-obsessed, pragmatic, delivery-minded leader who mentors and designs inclusive-by-default.

 

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.