Senior Designer, Visual Interaction Design
Cambridge, MA
In a nutshell: We’re looking for a Visual Interaction Designer to join our Cambridge Studio who is passionate about crafting elegant, thoughtful user experiences, and who brings strong visual design craft to the interactions people have with complex systems, software, services, and each other.
Visual Interaction Designers at IDEO shape how experiences look, feel, and behave. In this role, you’ll translate human-centered insights into clear, compelling interactions and interfaces that are functional, expressive, and meaningful. You’ll balance visual excellence with usability, and bring a distinct visual voice to each design challenge while learning and growing alongside a multidisciplinary team.
This is a phenomenal opportunity for designers who are highly self-guided, eager to take on complexity, and motivated to continually sharpen their craft.
Responsibilities
Contribute to a diverse portfolio of projects spanning data, experience, interaction, digital product, and service design across a range of industries
Work across all phases of a project, from research synthesis and concepting through prototyping, refinement, and production‑ready execution
Translate human‑centered insights into interaction models, visual systems, and polished digital interfaces
Create “looks‑like / works‑like” prototypes to explore ideas, test assumptions, and communicate concepts to teammates and client stakeholders
Collaborate closely with designers from different backgrounds—including design research, business design, industrial design, and communication design—to develop cohesive, holistic experiences
Design across a wide variety of mediums and contexts, such as mobile apps, websites, digital/physical systems, room‑scale displays, AR/VR, or voice interfaces, always guided by user needs and context
Advocate for high‑quality visual and interaction design, contributing to a culture of strong craft, curiosity, and experimentation
Qualifications
4–6 years of relevant experience or education in visual, interaction, or graphic design across digital products or experiences
A strong portfolio demonstrating visual excellence, thoughtful interaction design, and a clear point of view on typography, color, layout, and motion
Comfort working at multiple levels of fidelity, from rough explorations to refined, production‑ready designs
Experience in delivering low and high fidelity prototypes.
Proficiency with contemporary design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Framer, Principle), with curiosity about emerging tools and technologies
Familiarity with motion, code, or physical computing (e.g., HTML/CSS, After Effects, Processing/P5, Arduino) is a plus, but not required
Mindset
Systems‑oriented thinker who can engage with complex, interconnected challenges and design for clarity within them
Highly self‑guided: able to take initiative, manage your own work, and move ideas forward with limited direction
Curious and experimental, with a willingness to try things, learn from failure, and iterate quickly
Strong collaborator who contributes thoughtfully to team discussions and is open to feedback and critique
Clear communicator with the ability to articulate design decisions visually and verbally, and an understanding of how design creates value in a broader business and organizational context
What does IDEO offer you? IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients or the organization, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and optimism. We work hard, but we also intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work‑life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.
Application Instructions: To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and your portfolio. Your portfolio should include at least 4 examples of work‑related projects. In particular, we want to hear about the processes involved in developing the designs or projects.
IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.
The salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full‑time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.
Legal Notice: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Checking this box means that you have read & acknowledged the notice above.
Voluntary Self‑Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
As set forth in IDEO’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Voluntary Self‑Identification of Disability Form CC‑305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250‑0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.
Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.
How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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In a nutshell: We’re looking for a Visual Interaction Designer to join our Cambridge Studio who is passionate about crafting elegant, thoughtful user experiences, and who brings strong visual design craft to the interactions people have with complex systems, software, services, and each other.
Visual Interaction Designers at IDEO shape how experiences look, feel, and behave. In this role, you’ll translate human-centered insights into clear, compelling interactions and interfaces that are functional, expressive, and meaningful. You’ll balance visual excellence with usability, and bring a distinct visual voice to each design challenge while learning and growing alongside a multidisciplinary team.
This is a phenomenal opportunity for designers who are highly self-guided, eager to take on complexity, and motivated to continually sharpen their craft.
Responsibilities
Contribute to a diverse portfolio of projects spanning data, experience, interaction, digital product, and service design across a range of industries
Work across all phases of a project, from research synthesis and concepting through prototyping, refinement, and production‑ready execution
Translate human‑centered insights into interaction models, visual systems, and polished digital interfaces
Create “looks‑like / works‑like” prototypes to explore ideas, test assumptions, and communicate concepts to teammates and client stakeholders
Collaborate closely with designers from different backgrounds—including design research, business design, industrial design, and communication design—to develop cohesive, holistic experiences
Design across a wide variety of mediums and contexts, such as mobile apps, websites, digital/physical systems, room‑scale displays, AR/VR, or voice interfaces, always guided by user needs and context
Advocate for high‑quality visual and interaction design, contributing to a culture of strong craft, curiosity, and experimentation
Qualifications
4–6 years of relevant experience or education in visual, interaction, or graphic design across digital products or experiences
A strong portfolio demonstrating visual excellence, thoughtful interaction design, and a clear point of view on typography, color, layout, and motion
Comfort working at multiple levels of fidelity, from rough explorations to refined, production‑ready designs
Experience in delivering low and high fidelity prototypes.
Proficiency with contemporary design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Framer, Principle), with curiosity about emerging tools and technologies
Familiarity with motion, code, or physical computing (e.g., HTML/CSS, After Effects, Processing/P5, Arduino) is a plus, but not required
Mindset
Systems‑oriented thinker who can engage with complex, interconnected challenges and design for clarity within them
Highly self‑guided: able to take initiative, manage your own work, and move ideas forward with limited direction
Curious and experimental, with a willingness to try things, learn from failure, and iterate quickly
Strong collaborator who contributes thoughtfully to team discussions and is open to feedback and critique
Clear communicator with the ability to articulate design decisions visually and verbally, and an understanding of how design creates value in a broader business and organizational context
What does IDEO offer you? IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients or the organization, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and optimism. We work hard, but we also intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work‑life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.
Application Instructions: To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and your portfolio. Your portfolio should include at least 4 examples of work‑related projects. In particular, we want to hear about the processes involved in developing the designs or projects.
IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.
The salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full‑time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.
Legal Notice: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Checking this box means that you have read & acknowledged the notice above.
Voluntary Self‑Identification For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self‑identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.
As set forth in IDEO’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.
If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:
A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service‑connected disability.
A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three‑year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An "armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.
Voluntary Self‑Identification of Disability Form CC‑305 Page 1 of 1 OMB Control Number 1250‑0005 Expires 04/30/2026
Why are you being asked to complete this form?
We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.
Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.
How do you know if you have a disability?
A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:
Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.
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