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Nairobi · KenyaFree to read
Art and Design

Game UI/UX Designer

Designs in-game interfaces, menus, HUDs and onboarding flows for mobile and console games. Creates intuitive interaction patterns that balance gameplay needs with player experience, particularly for the growing African mobile gaming market.

AI exposure
63 of 100, moderate exposure
Hiring trend
Rising
Hiring rate
42%

The role

What the work is, what it pays, and what it costs you.

At a glance

Remote friendly
Yes
Freelance potential
High
Time to senior
6 years
Adaptation level
Moderate

A day in the role

Reviews player feedback on menu navigation, iterates on HUD layouts in Unity, creates wireframes for new game features, and tests UI on different mobile screen sizes.

What it pays

Kenyan market, per month
Entry
KES 70,000-110,000
Mid
KES 140,000-230,000
Senior
KES 280,000-450,000

Exposure

How much of this a machine can already do, and how that was worked out.

Where this rating sits

1,516 rated careers
63
lowmoderatehigh
020406080100

Rated above 85% of the 1,516 careers in the catalogue, which averages 43. Inside art and design the mean is 55, across 100 careers.

What the rating is made of

Share of recorded tasks
Machine does it
15%Software can already complete this work end to end.
Machine assists
40%A person still decides, but the drafting is done for them.
Person does it
45%Judgement, relationships and accountability that do not transfer.

Named task by task

Already automated

  • Generating UI asset variations
  • Automating icon set production
  • Player behaviour analytics dashboards
  • A/B testing layout variants

Still human

  • Designing game flow and player journey
  • Creating HUD layouts that dont obstruct gameplay
  • Playtesting and iterating on UX
  • Collaborating with game designers on mechanics
  • Ensuring UI works across screen sizes

Getting in

The routes into the role and what each one asks for.

What to study

8 courses

How people get in

  • Game design or CS degree

    4 yearsHigh cost

    BSc Game Design or CS from UoN, JKUAT

  • Game jam + portfolio

    1-2 yearsLow cost

    Self-taught with game jam projects and Unity UI work

Who hires

  • Usiku Games
  • Kucheza Gaming
  • Maliyo Games
  • Leti Arts
  • iHub Nairobi

Common misconceptions

  • Game UI is the same as app UI

    Game interfaces must balance gameplay visibility, real-time feedback and immersion — distinct from productivity app design.

  • No jobs in Kenya

    Studios like Usiku Games, Maliyo and Leti Arts are actively building African gaming content with local talent.

What happens next

How the role changes from here, and where it leads.

Supply and demand

Demand
42
Supply pressure
18
Balance
High demand

What to learn

  • Unity UI development
  • Game design principles
  • Player psychology

Related careers

Kenyan market notes

Mobile gaming is growing rapidly in Kenya and across Africa. Local game studios are hiring UI/UX designers who understand mobile-first game interfaces and African player preferences.

Further reading

Keep this

This role is rated 63 out of 100 today. Save it and the app keeps that number, then tells you by how much it has moved when the record is next reviewed.