UX/UI Designer

About Meetup and Bending Spoons

Meetup is a community-building platform used by millions to discover events and connect with others. Now part of Bending Spoons, you'll join a portfolio of innovative digital businesses and contribute to either Meetup or another leading product within the Bending Spoons team. We foster a high-performing, collaborative environment focused on innovation and operational excellence.

Our Mission and Values

At Bending Spoons, we aim to build an exceptional company that serves a large customer base, fosters team member growth, operates with high effectiveness and efficiency, and creates extraordinary value for shareholders, all while upholding strong ethical standards. We acquire and operate digital businesses for the long term, making deep transformations to drive innovation and performance. Our culture features minimal hierarchy, small, talent-dense teams, and an agile, startup-like approach to established products. We integrate AI deeply to enhance human judgment and machine intelligence.

What to Expect in This Role

This role offers an opportunity for talented, driven individuals to learn, make a significant impact, and accelerate their careers. You will shape high-leverage product experiences, design exceptional UI/UX from concept to delivery, and ensure intuitive, effective, and delightful user experiences.

Key Responsibilities

• Shape High-Leverage Product Experiences: Design outstanding UI and UX, exploring multiple directions and elevating quality using the best tools.
• Leverage AI in Design: Utilize LLMs to clarify intent, draft specs, identify risks, and generate initial approaches before design. Use AI tools like Cursor and Claude Code to turn concepts into prototypes and generate frontend code, fluidly moving between code and Figma.
• Co-create with Teams: Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineers from the outset, defining UX requirements, supporting development through QA and release, and making engineering-aware design decisions.
• Validate and Measure Impact: Engage directly with customers, conduct quick tests, and use feedback to iterate. Track key metrics like funnels, retention, and adoption to assess design effectiveness.
• Identify High-Leverage Opportunities: Pinpoint product improvements that can drive business value, align stakeholders, and deliver rapidly.

What We Look For

• Reasoning Ability: Strong problem-solving skills, first-principles thinking, sharp idea structuring, bias resistance, and attention to detail.
• Drive: High ambition, initiative, effort, and tenacity, coupled with a deep sense of responsibility and a commitment to a high and rising standard.
• Team Spirit: Generosity, support for the best ideas, willingness to help, reliability, honesty, and transparency.
• English Proficiency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

What We Offer

• Talented Teams: Work in small, autonomous, result-oriented teams with bright individuals.
• Exceptional Growth: Opportunities for rapid career progression, with potential for early leadership roles in major projects.
• Competitive Compensation: Competitive pay, with potential for equity in the company. Salary ranges are provided for London and Europe, varying by location and impact. Potential for compensation beyond usual ranges for exceptional candidates.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Flexible hours, remote working, unlimited learning and training support, top-tier health insurance, relocation package, generous parental support, and an annual retreat.
• Tax Benefits: Potential 50% tax cut for those relocating to Italy.

Commitment & Contract

Permanent or fixed-term, Full-time.

Location

Milan (Italy), London (UK), Madrid (Spain), Warsaw (Poland) or remote in selected countries.

The Selection Process

We focus on verifiable signals of excellence. Don't self-reject if you feel you lack experience; if you believe you can excel, apply. The process includes challenging tests that may take several hours. We maintain a high bar and only extend offers to the right candidates, which may lead to roles remaining open or being reposted.

Before You Apply

If you've applied before without an offer, wait at least one year. Bending Spoons is a demanding environment requiring significant commitment, but offering extraordinary learning and growth. We recommend starting in our Milan office for the first few months, regardless of long-term location, to immerse in our culture and build team trust. Relocation assistance is provided. Post-onboarding, you can work from our Milan or London offices, or remotely from approved countries.

Key skills/competency

• UX/UI Designer
• Product Design
• User Experience
• User Interface
• Prototyping
• AI Tools
• Figma
• Product Strategy
• User Research
• Frontend Code