Role Summary

This position is responsible for designing and optimizing The Keep's coordination platform across web and mobile. The role 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 create seamless experiences across digital and in-person event contexts, ensuring a cohesive and intuitive user journey that helps people play more games together.

You'll work closely with the founders, engineering, and product stakeholders to evolve The Keep from campaign coordination through event management to a comprehensive ecosystem connecting players, organizers, game stores, and creators.

Tools

• Primary Design Tool: Figma
• Collaboration: Git-based workflows, Jira, Slack
• Research: User interviews, usability testing, analytics (Amplitude)

Responsibilities

Primary responsibilities constitute approximately 80% of position time and are the essential functions of this position. Additional responsibilities constitute approximately 20%.

Primary

• UX Strategy and Vision Develop and drive the UX strategy for The Keep, evolving from home game coordination through event management to a comprehensive ecosystem connecting players, organizers, game stores, and creators.
• End-to-End Design Execution Lead design from concept through delivery — user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity designs that scale from weekly game nights to multi-day gaming conventions.
• Event Management Experience Design Design 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.
• User Research and Testing Conduct user research and usability testing with players, GMs, event organizers, game store owners, and publishers to validate design decisions and uncover needs across the tabletop community.
• Design System Build and maintain a scalable design system that ensures consistency across all platform features and user types.
• Additional
• Stakeholder Collaboration Balance the needs of casual gaming groups with the operational requirements of event organizers, retail partners, and industry creators.
• Privacy and Trust Advocacy Advocate for user-centered design principles and The Keep's privacy-by-default approach across all product decisions.
• Cross-Platform Consistency Ensure design coherence across web and mobile platforms, accounting for different usage contexts (planning at home vs. coordination at a convention).

Key Competencies

• Multi-Sided Platform Design — Experience designing platforms where different user types (organizers, participants, venues, creators) interact within the same system
• Event and Logistics UX — Understanding of how to design registration, scheduling, and marketplace systems that handle complex real-world logistics elegantly
• Power User + Simple Use Case Balance — Create interfaces that serve both casual users and power users who need advanced organizational and business tools
• Research-Driven Design — Ground design decisions in user research, usability testing, and data rather than assumption
• Operational Workflow Design — Understanding of how digital tools support in-person experiences and community connections
• Communication and Influence — Comfort working directly with founders, articulating design rationale, and advocating for users in an early-stage environment

Experience

Required

• 7-10+ years of professional UX design experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating user research, interaction design, and successful product launches
• Deep familiarity with tabletop gaming culture, community dynamics, and the logistics of running games and organizing events — whether through personal participation, professional experience, or research
• 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
• Proficiency in Figma or similar design platforms
• Strong communication skills and comfort working directly with founders in an early-stage environment

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
• Active participation in the TTRPG community — regularly playing games, attending conventions, and experiencing the coordination challenges firsthand

Physical Requirements

This position requires the ability to:

• Sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer workstation
• Use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and other standard office equipment
• View computer screens for extended periods
• Communicate effectively via written and verbal means
• Participate in video conferences and in-person meetings
• Travel to the Saint Paul office 4-5 days per week and navigate the office environment
• Travel to conventions and event sites occasionally

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

Working Conditions

• In-office work environment: 4-5 days/week onsite in Saint Paul, MN office
• Standard business hours with flexibility; occasional evening or weekend work for convention attendance (several times per year)
• Travel to gaming conventions and client sites 4-6 times per year
• Fast-paced startup environment with frequent context switching
• Primarily computer-based design work in office setting

The Keep is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

This position description is not intended to create an employment contract and does not alter the at-will nature of employment with The Keep. This description may be modified at any time at the Company's discretion.