2D Design Specialist – Human-Machine Interaction(PAYE Contractor)

Huawei Technologies Research & Development (UK) Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global technology company in London seeks a skilled 2D Design Specialist to enhance human-machine interaction through innovative design. The role involves creating compelling visuals, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams, and shaping future product concepts in a cutting-edge research environment. Candidates should have strong experience in 2D design with a robust portfolio and proficiency in industry-standard tools.

Qualifications

• Extensive, proven experience in 2D design.
• Strong portfolio in futuristic user interfaces.
• Comfortable in fast-paced, ambiguous environments.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop high-quality 2D product visuals.
• Collaborate with researchers and engineers.
• Produce 2D motion graphics to enhance storytelling.

Skills

2D product and interface design

Visual storytelling

Collaboration

Sketching and mockups

Adaptability in fast-paced environments

Tools

Industry-standard design and animation tools

Job description

Overview

Huawei Research And Development UK Limited
Founded in 1987, Huawei is a leading global provider of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure and smart devices. We have 207,000 employees and operate in over 170 countries and regions, serving more than three billion people around the world. Our vision and mission is to bring digital to every person, home and organization for a fully connected, intelligent world. To this end, we will drive ubiquitous connectivity and promote equal access to networks; bring cloud and artificial intelligence to all four corners of the earth to provide superior computing power where you need it, when you need it; build digital platforms to help all industries and organizations become more agile, efficient, and dynamic; redefine user experience with AI, making it more personalized for people in all aspects of their life, whether they’re at home, in the office, or on the go.

This spirit of innovation has led Huawei to work in close partnership with leading academic institutions in the UK to develop and refine the latest technologies. The partnership between UK and Huawei helps to develop the technologies of the future that will transform the way we all communicate, work and live. For the past 30 years we have maintained an unwavering focus, rejecting shortcuts and easy opportunities that don't align with our core business. With a practical approach to everything we do, we concentrate our efforts and invest patiently to drive technological breakthroughs. This strategic focus is a reflection of our core values: staying customer-centric, inspiring dedication, persevering, growing by reflection.

Huawei Research And Development UK Limited Overview

Huawei’s vision is a fully connected, intelligent world. To achieve this, we work to inspire passion for basic research around the world. Our combined passion drives development across the global innovation value chain. Huawei has the largest Research and Development organization in the world with 96,000+ employees in research centers around the globe. In the UK, we already have design centers in Cambridge, London, Edinburgh and Ipswich. We continue to explore and define new research directions and new services. We have expanded our collaborations with academic researchers; researched new network architectures, integration of communications and key enabling technologies; and developed the fundamental theories of these technologies. We invite you to join us on this exciting journey and drive your career forward.

Job Summary

The Huawei London Research Center is looking for a highly experienced and forward-thinking 2D Design Specialist to join our Human-Machine Interaction (HMI) Laboratory. In this role, you will contribute to the exploration and development of future product concepts that challenge the boundaries of human-machine interaction. You’ll collaborate closely with multidisciplinary and multinational teams to translate complex research and technological vision into compelling 2D design outputs, from wireframes and interface mockups to storyboards and motion graphics. This is a unique opportunity to shape next-generation user experiences in an experimental, high-impact research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and develop high-quality product visuals, wireframes, interface concepts, and storyboards that communicate future HMI ideas and experiences.
• Create clear and expressive visual narratives that support concept development, UX exploration, and technical research.
• Collaborate with researchers, engineers, and designers to define and iterate on design concepts that align with future product visions.
• Produce 2D motion graphics and animations to enhance storytelling and demonstrate interaction flows.
• Contribute to the visual design strategy of the lab by evolving internal design standards, toolkits, and processes.
• Work across early-stage ideation and advanced prototyping phases to bring ideas to life visually.

This job description is an outline of the tasks, responsibilities and outcomes required of the role. The jobholder will carry out any other duties as may be reasonably required by his/her line manager. The job description and personal specification may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing needs of Huawei Research and Development UK Limited.

Person Specification

Required:

• Extensive, proven experience in 2D product and interface design within a commercial or research-driven environment.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in designing for futuristic or conceptual user interfaces, interaction scenarios, and visual storytelling.
• Proficient in industry-standard design and animation tools
• Excellent visual communication skills with the ability to quickly express ideas through sketches, mockups, and storyboards.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-paced environments focused on exploration and innovation.
• Strong collaboration skills; able to work effectively across multidisciplinary and multinational teams.

Desired:

• Experience with 2D motion design, animation, or interactive storytelling.
• Exposure to speculative design, design fiction, or advanced prototyping methods.
• Familiarity with human-computer interaction (HCI) principles and emerging interaction paradigms.
• Background in interaction design, graphic design, or related creative fields.
• Understanding of AI design, data-driven design and user centric design.