Senior UX Designer, Puzzles

GUARDIAN NEWS AND MEDIA; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization is seeking a Senior UX Designer to lead the design of their cross-platform puzzles experience. This hybrid role involves defining a strong UX vision and crafting engaging user journeys that drive user engagement and subscription growth. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in UX design, especially in gaming or content-rich environments, with a strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design skills. Join a team committed to diversity and innovation in journalism.

Benefits

30 days annual leave

Generous pension scheme

Enhanced parental leave policies

Access to wellbeing initiatives

Corporate gym membership

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing digital products in cross-functional teams, ideally in subscription, gaming, or content-rich environments.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end UX design for web and mobile, including gamified experiences.
• Deep understanding of interaction design, usability, accessibility, information architecture, and user behaviour.

Responsibilities

• Lead the UX design for the Puzzles proposition, from discovery to polished delivery.
• Rapidly prototype new puzzle formats and gamification features.
• Collaborate with Product, Engineering, and Commercial stakeholders on user experience.

Skills

Cross-functional teamwork

End-to-end UX design

Gamification experience

Interaction design

Usability and accessibility

Job description

Join our team at the Guardian

Be a part of a diverse and inclusive global organisation that delivers fearless, investigative journalism, and holds power to account. Our team of award‑winning journalists, cutting‑edge commercial professionals, and industry‑leading digital experts are committed to making a difference and represent a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives.

We offer a challenging and exciting environment for career development, with a focus on training, growth and fostering an inclusive culture.

We are looking for a Senior UX Designer

Lead the design of a world‑class, cross‑platform puzzles experience that drives daily engagement, subscription growth, and ad revenue. From a quick to cryptic crossword on your morning commute, to our Film Reveal puzzle (think Pointless meets cinema testing trivia), Guardian puzzles look to elevate our readers’ downtime.

This is a hybrid strategic‑practitioner role: you will define the UX vision for the Puzzles proposition while being hands‑on in crafting intuitive, engaging, and visually compelling experiences across web and mobile. Your work will transform The Guardian’s puzzles offering from a "nice‑to‑have" add‑on into a premium destination for our supporters.

You will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers, shaping experiences that are not only delightful and accessible but also commercially impactful.

About the Role

Lead the UX design for the Puzzles proposition, from discovery and ideation to polished delivery, including engaging user journeys, wireframes, prototypes, and interfaces that encourage daily play, subscription conversion, and retention.

Rapidly prototype new puzzle formats, gamification features, and subscription‑focused interactions. Champion a test‑and‑learn approach to validate hypotheses and optimise user engagement, collaborating with researchers to conduct qualitative and quantitative user research, Act as the UX voice in the Puzzles squad, communicating design rationale clearly to Product, Engineering, and Commercial stakeholders, working closely with engineers to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently across web and app platforms.

Leverage the Guardian design system to deliver consistent, scalable, and high‑quality experiences, contributing components, patterns, and best practices. Define the long‑term UX vision for the Puzzles proposition, balancing user delight, business goals, and technical feasibility. Identify opportunities for gamification, cross‑platform parity, and subscription‑focused enhancements.

About You

• Proven experience designing digital products in cross‑functional teams, ideally in subscription, gaming, or content‑rich environments.
• Strong portfolio showcasing end‑to‑end UX design for web and mobile, including gamified experiences.
• Experience working with design systems and component libraries.
• Deep understanding of interaction design, usability, accessibility, information architecture, and user behaviour.
• Comfortable balancing business objectives, technical constraints, and user needs.
• Experience mentoring designers and contributing to a positive, collaborative team culture.
• Experience with casual or mobile gaming, gamification, or puzzles.

We actively encourage applications from candidates who are Black, Asian or minority‑ethnic (BAME), or from other groups traditionally underrepresented in the UK media.

We operate in a hybrid environment working 2 days a week from our offices in Kings Cross and 3 days a week remotely.

We value and respect all differences (seen and unseen) in all people. We aspire to have inclusive working experiences and an environment that reflects the audience we serve, where our people have equal access to career development opportunities, their voices are heard and can contribute to our future. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. Many of our staff work flexibly and we will consider all requests for flexible working arrangements.

How to Apply

To apply, please upload your latest CV and a cover letter which outlines why you’d love to take on this role, and why you’re a great match for what we’re looking for. We’d also love to see some previous work examples or links to your portfolio.

We appreciate the time taken to prepare each application we receive. We do not use AI‑assisted technology to review applications; every application is reviewed by a member of our recruitment team.

The closing date for applications is Thursday 15th January 2026.

All roles at the Guardian are open for everybody to apply. It is important to us that you feel supported and comfortable throughout your recruitment process, in order to perform your best. Please let us know if there are any changes we could make to help your application, this includes providing documents in accessible formats or personalising the process to better support your needs. Please contact Anna Vipers on [e-mail] to discuss further so we can work with you to support you through your application.

Benefits at the Guardian

You’ll have 30 days of annual leave per year (plus bank holidays). Our pension scheme is generous; if you contribute 5% then we will contribute 8-12% (depending on your age). We believe in giving back, which is why employees are given 2 volunteering days annually and the option of payroll giving. Season ticket loans are also available.

You are entitled to life cover, income protection, and eye tests. You can also opt in to dental insurance.

We have enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption and shared parental leave policies in place. We also support our employees by offering an IVF, menopause, baby loss, and trans equality policy.

Culture and Wellbeing

We want everyone to feel like they belong at the Guardian and we champion diversity of thought. Our various employee forums provide a platform to use their voice to foster an inclusive workplace. We became the first major media organisation to achieve B Corp status.

We offer tools to help you prioritise your wellbeing including access to our employee benefits platform which provides tailored support for health and wellbeing. In addition, we also offer free yoga and pilates classes. These run alongside our corporate gym membership and cycle to work scheme.

Our canteen has views overlooking the Regents Canal and caters for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Learning and Development

We encourage personal and professional growth. Employees have access to a broad range of tools and solutions, and we are happy to support the pursuit of professional qualifications through vocational courses and apprenticeships.

The Product & Engineering team offers ‘10% time’ - dedicated time for personal development, separate from time spent contributing to your team's delivery.