UI/UX Lead

We're building something special for the TTRPG community—a platform that understands the magic of bringing people together around the table. This fractional contractor position requires a unique blend of deep UX expertise and authentic gaming culture knowledge, as the platform serves gamers, game masters, convention organizers, game stores, publishers, and the broader tabletop community. You'll be responsible for creating seamless experiences across web and in-person event contexts, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user journey that actually helps people play more games together.

You'll design for the full spectrum of tabletop gaming coordination—from intimate home games to major conventions, from local game stores to industry publishers. You're joining early enough to influence what we build and how we build it as we expand into event management and community connections. If you've personally experienced the pain of collapsed campaigns, hard-to-navigate events, and fading connections, you'll bring that understanding to every flow you design.

Tools

You'll be working with:

• Design: Figma (our primary tool)
• Prototyping: Figma prototypes, user testing platforms
• Collaboration: Direct partnership with founders, developers, and stakeholders

Primary Responsibilities

01 | UX Strategy and VisionDevelop and drive the UX strategy and vision for The Keep, evolving from campaign coordination through event management to a comprehensive ecosystem connecting players, organizers, game stores, and creators. This matters because coherent vision ensures every feature feels like part of the same product. Success is users intuitively understanding how to accomplish their goals across the entire platform.

02 | End-to-End Design ExecutionLead end-to-end design execution from concept through delivery, creating user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that scale from weekly game nights to multi-day gaming conventions. This matters because quality execution across the full design process ensures nothing gets lost between vision and implementation. Success is designs that developers can build confidently and users can navigate effortlessly.

03 | Event Management Experience DesignDesign event management experiences, including registration workflows, scheduling systems, ticketing flows, pre-event planning, and day-of-coordination tools for events ranging from small private gatherings to large public conventions. This matters because event coordination is complex and high-stakes—organizers and attendees need tools that handle real-world logistics elegantly. Success is organizers running smoother events and attendees finding more games to play.

04 | User Research and ValidationConduct user research and usability testing with players, GMs, event organizers, game store owners, and publishers to validate design decisions and uncover needs across the entire tabletop community. This matters because designing for assumptions rather than evidence leads to products nobody uses. Success is designs grounded in real user behavior and feedback.

05 | Design System Development

Build and maintain a scalable design system that ensures consistency across all platform features and user types. This matters because a coherent design system accelerates development and creates a unified user experience. Success is developers implementing designs faster and users recognizing they're in the same product regardless of which feature they're using.

Secondary or Additional Responsibilities

01 | Stakeholder CollaborationCollaborate with founders, leaders, developers, and stakeholders to balance the needs of casual gaming groups with the operational requirements of event organizers, retail partners, and industry creators. This matters because multi-sided platforms require constant negotiation between competing user needs. Success is all user types feeling like the product was designed for them.

02 | Privacy-First Design AdvocacyAdvocate for user-centered design principles and The Keep's privacy by default approach across all product decisions. This matters because trust is foundational for a platform handling personal gaming information and community connections. Success is users feeling safe sharing their gaming lives on the platform.

Key Competencies, Skills or Abilities

01 | Multi-Sided Platform ThinkingAbility to design experiences where different user types interact within the same system—players, organizers, venues, and creators all need coherent experiences. This matters because The Keep serves fundamentally different user needs that must work together seamlessly.

02 | Complexity ManagementDeep understanding of how to create interfaces that serve both simple use cases and power users who need advanced organizational and business tools. This matters because casual gaming groups and convention organizers have vastly different needs but share the same platform.

03 | Operational Workflow DesignExperience designing for operational workflows and understanding how digital tools support in-person experiences and community connections. This matters because The Keep exists to help people play more games together in person, not keep them online.

04 | Research-Driven DesignStrong foundation in user research methods and ability to translate findings into actionable design decisions. This matters because early-stage products require constant learning and validation.

05 | Founder-Level CommunicationStrong communication skills and comfort working directly with founders in an early-stage environment. This matters because you'll be shaping product direction, not just executing on specifications.

06 | Launch MindsetComfort working in an ambitious, fast-paced startup environment with evolving requirements and the thrill of shipping to real users. This matters because we're live with real users and an expansive roadmap—we need designers who thrive on momentum, adapt quickly, and maintain quality while navigating ambiguity.

Experiences: Required

• 10+ years of professional UX design experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating user research, interaction design, and successful product launches
• Active participation in tabletop gaming culture—you regularly play games and attend conventions, understanding firsthand the logistics of both running games and organizing events
• Experience designing multi-sided platforms or marketplaces where different user types interact within the same system
• Proven ability to design event management, registration, scheduling, or marketplace systems that handle complex real-world logistics elegantly
• Proficiency in Figma or similar design platforms
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with founders in an early-stage environment

Experiences: Nice to Have

• Direct experience with convention management, event ticketing platforms, or large-scale scheduling systems
• Understanding of product-led growth and designing conversion experiences that feel helpful rather than pushy
• Knowledge of accessibility standards and inclusive design practices
• Background designing for retail, venue management, or creator/publisher tools
• Experience with multi-phase registration flows, payment processing, or marketplace dynamics
• Understanding of how local game stores operate and how publishers engage with their playing communities