Associate Designer 2027

IBM; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

IBM is seeking an Associate Designer to focus on customer and employee experiences, applying UX, Design Thinking, and Information Architecture to uncover user and business requirements. You will collaborate with product teams and clients to craft world-class digital solutions that prioritize user needs and measurable outcomes.

You will work alongside mentors and cross-functional teams, delivering designs from concept to prototype while maintaining IBM's standards.

Qualifications

• Experience applying UX methods such as user research, ideation, prototyping and testing.
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills.
• Background in Human-Computer Interaction or Design disciplines.
• Willingness to travel up to 100%.
• Portfolio of design artifacts is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Design UX/UI including wireframes and prototypes; collaborate with designers, researchers, consultants and developers.
• Conduct user research and apply IBM's Enterprise Design Thinking.
• Support a Senior Designer on production tasks and incorporate feedback with developers and testers.
• Create visual concepts, mock-ups and data visualizations for client meetings and product development.
• Lead or participate in design workshops and articulate design rationale.

Skills

Wireframes

Visual design

Prototyping

User research

Cross-functional teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Sketch

InVision

Slack

JIRA

Workfront

Job description

Introduction

Come forge the future like an IBMer

Ready to think boldly, work with some of the world's most recognized brands, andkick-start your career?Welcome to the IBM's Associate Program for universityhires.

From day one, you'll collaborate with global clients and contribute to projects that help organizations solve their toughest challenges across digital transformation, cloud strategy, AI adoption, and process redesign - working alongside a global cohort of diverse, ambitious peers. As an Associate, you'll have access to industry-recognized certifications, digital badges, and a minimum of 40 hours of structured learning per year on IBM's AI-driven learning platform - supported by coaches, mentors, and thriving professional communities across practices. IBM's culture of internal mobility means you'll have the freedom to explore new technologies, industries, and career paths as your interests evolve.

Bring your curiosity. Grow your skills. Build what's next -like an IBMer.

Your Role And Responsibilities

As an Associate Designer at IBM, you'll focus on customer and employee strategies that explore opportunities to improve digital innovation, addressing user needs and designing world-class digital experiences. You'll support to uncover user and business requirements in the context of the technical landscape through applying User Experience, Design Thinking, and Information Architecture methods.

In Your Role, You May Be Responsible For

• UX and UI worksuch ascreating wireframes, visualinterfacesand prototypes; annotating the wireframes; collaborating with other designers, researchers,consultantsand developers; making sure the interaction is getting recorded and addressed correctly.
• Conduct user researchleveragingIBM Enterprise Design Thinking and do direct user research as part of managing a project.
• Supporting a Senior Designer on UX and UI production tasks, getting and incorporating the feedback, and working very closely with developersand testers on a day-to-day basis.
• Visual Design work, such as creating delightful concepts and exploring art of the possible, creating mock-ups and prototypes from sketches andwireframes, working closely with clients, senior designers, front-end developers to implement dynamic human-centered digital solutions.
• Create storyboards, layouts, impactful presentations, graphics, data visualizations, and other design artifacts in preparation for client meetings orproduct development.
• Participate/lead in design workshops, incorporate input from multiple stakeholders, communicate conceptual ideas and design rationale, outline digital experiences screen by screen, working with front-end development teams.

Preferred Education

Bachelor's Degree

Required Technical And Professional Expertise

• Exposure to design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD), Sketch, InVision, as well as communication and workflow platforms like Slack, JIRA, Workfront.
• Understanding of the principles and methods for human-centered design including user research, rapid ideation and iteration, prototyping, and user testing.
• Thorough, design-focused, and analytical with the capability to apply logic to solve problems.
• Background in Human-Computer Interaction / User Experience methodologies, GraphicDesign, Visualart desired.
• Ability to communicate design approaches and complex situations clearly and simply (via voice, words, and pictures), listen actively, and convey difficult messages in a positive manner.
• Willingness to travel up to 100%

Preferred Technical And Professional Experience

• Preferred Majors: Business, Graphic Design, Design and Visual communications or related field.
• Professional or University-based design experience with a portfoliorepresentingdesign artifacts and associated projects.
• Passion for innovative ideas, coupled with the ability to understand and assimilate different points of view.
• Effective interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate and work with individuals, strengthening relationships to achieve win-win solutions.