What is a UX/UI Designer at dunnhumby?

At dunnhumby, a UX/UI Designer sits at the intersection of retail strategy and world-class data science. As a global leader in customer data science, dunnhumby processes massive volumes of data for some of the world's largest retailers and brands. Your role is to transform this complex, multi-dimensional data into intuitive, actionable, and visually compelling digital products. You are not just designing interfaces; you are designing the tools that help businesses understand their customers and make billion-dollar decisions.

The impact of this position is significant. You will likely work on B2B platforms, retail analytics dashboards, or customer insight tools that require a deep understanding of information architecture and data visualization. The challenge lies in maintaining simplicity while providing power-users with the granular detail they need. You will be a critical bridge between data scientists, who uncover insights, and retail partners, who need to apply those insights to real-world store shelves.

This role is ideal for designers who thrive on complexity and scale. You will be expected to influence product strategy and advocate for the end-user in an environment that is traditionally data-heavy. Success at dunnhumby means creating seamless workflows that empower users to navigate through vast datasets with ease, ultimately driving loyalty and growth for the company's global client base.

Common Interview Questions

Preparation should focus on your ability to articulate your process and your rationale for design decisions. The questions at dunnhumby are designed to see how you handle real-world design challenges.

Portfolio & Technical Process

• Describe a time you had to design for a user persona very different from yourself.
• How do you approach the challenge of displaying large datasets on a mobile device versus a desktop?
• Can you show us a project where you used user research to pivot the design direction?
• What is your approach to building and maintaining a design system?
• How do you determine which UI components are most effective for a specific user task?

Collaboration & Stakeholders

• Tell me about a time a developer told you a design wasn't feasible. How did you handle it?
• How do you present design work to stakeholders who are purely focused on business metrics?
• Describe a situation where you received conflicting feedback from two different stakeholders.
• How do you handle a situation where your design is being challenged by a Product Manager?

Problem Solving & Philosophy

• What is the most complex UX problem you’ve solved, and what was the outcome?
• How do you balance the need for a "perfect" design with the reality of tight development deadlines?
• What design trends are you currently following, and how do they influence your work at a data-heavy company?
• How do you define "success" for a design project?

Getting Ready for Your Interviews

Preparing for an interview at dunnhumby requires a balance of technical craft and strategic thinking. You should view your preparation through the lens of a problem-solver who understands both the "how" and the "why" of design. The team looks for designers who can justify their decisions with logic and user research rather than just aesthetic preference.

Data Literacy & Visualization – At dunnhumby, data is the core product. Interviewers evaluate your ability to present complex information clearly. You should be prepared to discuss how you approach dashboard design, hierarchy, and making data accessible to non-technical users.

User-Centric Methodology – You must demonstrate a robust design process. This includes how you conduct discovery, how you validate your ideas through testing, and how you iterate based on feedback. Strength in this area is shown by walking through the lifecycle of a project and highlighting specific user pain points you solved.

Technical UI Craft – While UX is foundational, the "UI" in your title is equally important. Interviewers look for high-fidelity execution, a strong grasp of design systems, and attention to detail in typography, color, and layout. You should be ready to show how your visual choices enhance usability.

Stakeholder Collaboration – You will work closely with Product Managers and Engineers. Interviewers look for your ability to communicate design rationale, handle conflicting feedback, and understand technical constraints. Demonstrating that you are a collaborative partner is essential for moving to the final stages.

Interview Process Overview

The interview process for a UX/UI Designer at dunnhumby is designed to test both your portfolio and your ability to think on your feet. It typically begins with a standard recruiter screen to discuss your background and interest in the company. This is followed by a more in-depth conversation with a hiring manager, where the focus shifts toward your specific design philosophy and your experience with similar products or industries.

The core of the evaluation involves a presentation or portfolio review. During this stage, you will be expected to dive deep into one or two key projects, explaining your process from initial problem statement to final delivery. The rigor of the process is average, but the team places a high premium on your ability to articulate the business value of your designs. Candidates should be aware that while the technical evaluations are structured, the administrative side of the process can sometimes experience delays; staying proactive in your communication is highly recommended.

The timeline above outlines the typical progression from the initial application to a final decision. Candidates should use this to pace their preparation, ensuring their portfolio is polished before the hiring manager screen and that they have specific questions ready for the final round. Note that while many stages are standard, the exact number of peer interviews may vary depending on the specific product team you are joining.

Deep Dive into Evaluation Areas

Portfolio & Process Presentation

This is arguably the most critical part of the dunnhumby interview. The team wants to see how you think. It isn’t enough to show a finished product; you must narrate the journey. They are looking for evidence of a structured approach: discovery, definition, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

Be ready to go over:

• Problem Definition – How you identified the core user need.
• Iteration – Showing early sketches or "failed" versions to explain how you arrived at the final solution.
• Impact – The specific outcomes your design achieved, such as improved task completion rates or positive stakeholder feedback.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "Walk us through a project where the data was particularly complex. How did you decide what to prioritize on the screen?"
• "Tell us about a time you had to make a design trade-off due to technical limitations."

Technical UI & Design Systems

Because dunnhumby builds enterprise-grade tools, consistency is key. You will be evaluated on your ability to work within (and contribute to) a design system. They look for clean execution and a logical approach to UI components.

Be ready to go over:

• Visual Hierarchy – How you use space and contrast to guide a user through a data-heavy interface.
• Component Logic – Your experience building reusable assets in tools like Figma.
• Accessibility – How you ensure your designs are inclusive and meet WCAG standards.

Example questions or scenarios:

• "How do you ensure your designs remain consistent when working across multiple platforms or teams?"
• "What is your process for hand-off to engineering to ensure visual fidelity is maintained?"

Behavioral & Cultural Alignment

The culture at dunnhumby is collaborative but fast-paced. They value designers who are resilient and can navigate the ambiguity of large-scale retail projects. You need to show that you can take ownership of your work while being open to critique.

Be ready to go over:

• Conflict Resolution – Handling disagreements with product or engineering.
• Adaptability – How you manage shifting priorities or changing requirements.
• User Advocacy – How you fight for the user's needs in a room full of business-focused stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

As a UX/UI Designer at dunnhumby, your primary responsibility is to create digital experiences that make data science accessible. You will spend a significant portion of your time translating business requirements into user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity mockups. You aren't just a "feature builder"; you are expected to understand the retail landscape and how users interact with analytics to drive store performance.

Collaboration is a daily requirement. You will work side-by-side with Product Managers to define roadmaps and with Data Scientists to understand the underlying logic of the insights you are visualizing. You will also partner closely with Engineering teams to ensure that your designs are technically feasible and implemented correctly. At dunnhumby, designers often take a lead role in workshops and discovery sessions, helping to align various stakeholders on a unified vision for the product.

Beyond individual project work, you will contribute to the broader design community within the company. This includes participating in design reviews, sharing best practices, and helping to evolve the dunnhumby design system. You are expected to stay current with industry trends and bring fresh, innovative ideas to the table that can improve the overall user experience of the company's suite of products.

Role Requirements & Qualifications

A successful candidate for the UX/UI Designer role at dunnhumby typically brings a mix of enterprise design experience and a passion for data-driven storytelling.

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Figma is essential, as it is the primary tool for design and prototyping. You should have a strong understanding of responsive design, grid systems, and the ability to create complex interactive prototypes.
• Experience Level: Most successful candidates have 3+ years of experience in UX/UI design, ideally within a B2B, SaaS, or Fintech environment where data visualization was a core component.
• Soft Skills: Excellent communication is a must-have. You need to be able to present your ideas clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences. Resilience and the ability to follow up proactively are also vital.

Must-have skills:

• Professional portfolio demonstrating end-to-end UX process.
• Experience designing for complex web applications or data dashboards.
• Strong visual design craft (typography, layout, color theory).

Nice-to-have skills:

• Experience with HTML/CSS or an understanding of front-end frameworks.
• Prior experience in the retail or FMCG (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods) industry.
• Knowledge of user research methodologies and usability testing tools.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much preparation time is typical for this role? A: Most candidates spend 1–2 weeks refining their portfolio and practicing their case study presentations. Given the focus on data, ensure you have at least one project that highlights your ability to handle complexity.

Q: What is the company culture like for designers? A: dunnhumby has a professional and data-centric culture. Design is increasingly recognized as a strategic partner, but you must be prepared to prove the value of your designs through logic and user insights.

Q: How long does the hiring process usually take? A: The process can vary. While the interview stages themselves may move quickly once started, candidates have reported gaps in communication between rounds. Expect the total process to take anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks.

Q: Is there a design challenge or take-home task? A: Typically, dunnhumby focuses on a portfolio presentation rather than a separate take-home challenge, though this can vary by seniority or specific team requirements.

Q: What is the balance between UX and UI? A: The role is a true hybrid. You are expected to be strong in discovery and wireframing (UX) as well as high-fidelity visual execution and design systems (UI).

Other General Tips

• Be Proactive with HR: Candidates have occasionally experienced gaps in communication. If you haven't heard back within a week of an interview, a polite follow-up email is encouraged to keep the process moving.
• Focus on the "Why": During your portfolio review, don't just talk about what you built. Explain the rationale behind your decisions. Why this layout? Why this specific chart type?
• Understand the Business: dunnhumby is a retail-first company. Showing an interest in how retailers use data to improve the customer experience will set you apart from other candidates.
• Prepare for Technical Questions: Even as a designer, you may be asked about your understanding of technical constraints. Being able to speak the language of developers will build immediate credibility.

Summary & Next Steps

A career as a UX/UI Designer at dunnhumby offers the unique opportunity to work at the forefront of retail data science. You will be tasked with solving some of the most complex information architecture challenges in the industry, creating tools that impact millions of shoppers worldwide. The role is high-impact, requiring a blend of rigorous UX methodology and polished UI execution.

To succeed in your interviews, focus on demonstrating your ability to simplify complexity. Your portfolio should not only be beautiful but should clearly tell the story of how your designs solved specific user and business problems. While the recruitment process may require some persistence and proactive follow-up, the opportunity to shape the future of retail insights is a rewarding challenge for any designer.

The salary data above reflects the competitive compensation packages offered at dunnhumby. When discussing salary, consider the full package, including benefits and the opportunity for career growth within a global organization. Use this data to benchmark your expectations based on your experience level and the specific office location for which you are applying. You can find more detailed insights and community discussions regarding compensation at Dataford.