Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: Nourish Care Location: Bournemouth, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-time, Fixed Term Contract (12 months) Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design Date Posted: 2025-11-24 Experience Level: Early Career (0-2 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in enhancing the user experience of Nourish Care's digital solutions within the health and social care sector.
• You will translate user needs and behaviors into intuitive wireframes, user flows, and interactive prototypes, directly influencing product development.
• Collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is key to ensuring a balance between user-centric design and technical feasibility.
• You will contribute to maintaining and evolving the platform's design principles, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly interface.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the description emphasizes UX/UI responsibilities, user research integration, and collaboration with PMs and engineers. This suggests a strong focus on the user experience and interaction design aspects of product development, rather than purely visual or industrial design. The fixed-term nature indicates a specific project or team expansion.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct user research and translate findings into actionable design insights to inform product strategy and features.
• Design and iterate on user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes using Figma to visualize and test product concepts.
• Collaborate with UX Researchers to test prototypes with users, gather feedback, and present findings to the design and product teams.
• Work closely with Product Managers and Engineers to understand technical constraints and opportunities, ensuring design solutions are feasible and scalable.
• Maintain and contribute to the platform's design system, ensuring consistency and adherence to established design principles and accessibility standards (WCAG).
• Actively participate in design critiques and team days to foster a culture of shared learning and continuous improvement within the UX/design guild.
• Advocate for user needs throughout the product development lifecycle, ensuring exceptional user advocacy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on approach to design, from research and ideation to prototyping and iteration. The emphasis on collaboration with PMs and engineers, along with contributions to the design system and user advocacy, points to a role that is deeply integrated into the product development process, requiring strong communication and teamwork skills.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating understanding and application of user-centered design principles is paramount. Formal education in Design, HCI, or a related field is beneficial but not strictly required if practical experience and portfolio are compelling. Experience: Proven experience or a compelling portfolio showcasing a strong foundation in user-centered design principles. Experience with Figma is essential, with a willingness to learn and adapt to other shared team tools. Experience in a fast-paced, cross-functional team environment is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Solid understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and design.
• Enthusiasm for and basic understanding of user research processes and turning feedback into design solutions.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and their application in design.
• Basic understanding of design systems and their importance in maintaining consistency.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills, with a desire to work cross-functionally.
• Curiosity and a proactive approach to learning and skill development.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the health or social care technology sector.
• Familiarity with other design and prototyping tools.
• Experience contributing to or maintaining a design system.
• Understanding of information architecture principles.
• Visual design skills for refining user interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements are geared towards an early-career designer with a strong foundational understanding of UX principles and tool proficiency. The emphasis on a "compelling portfolio" suggests that practical application and demonstrated ability are valued over formal qualifications. The "passion for learning" aspect is critical, as the role involves growth and development within the team.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 well-documented product design projects that clearly demonstrate your process from problem identification to solution.
• Projects should highlight your understanding and application of user-centered design principles, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and testing.
• Clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your role in the project, the tools used (especially Figma), and the outcomes or impact of your design decisions.
• Include examples of user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes that illustrate your problem-solving approach.
• Demonstrate an understanding of how your designs meet user needs and business objectives, even if at an early stage of your career.

Process Documentation:

• For each showcased project, detail your design process:
  • Discovery & Research: How you understood user needs and gathered insights.
  • Ideation & Design: Your approach to generating solutions, including wireframing and prototyping.
  • Testing & Iteration: How you tested designs with users and iterated based on feedback.
  • Collaboration: How you worked with stakeholders (PMs, Engineers, UX Researchers) throughout the process.
• Clearly explain the rationale behind your design decisions, linking them back to user needs or business goals.
• Demonstrate an awareness of accessibility (WCAG) and design system considerations within your documented processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is explicitly mentioned as a requirement. The emphasis on "process" and "user-centered design principles" means candidates should be prepared to walk through their design thinking, problem-solving methodologies, and how they translate user needs into tangible design artifacts. The inclusion of Figma is a non-negotiable technical requirement for portfolio content.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Competitive salary commensurate with experience for an early-career Product Designer in the UK market. Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 0-2 years of experience in the South West England region, a typical range would be approximately £25,000 - £35,000 per annum. This estimate considers the fixed-term contract nature of the role and the specific benefits offered.

Benefits:

• 25 Days paid leave + Public holidays (pro-rated for contract duration).
• Additional annual leave for length of service (accrued during contract).
• Birthday day off.
• Private medical insurance including a personal health plan.
• Employee referral scheme.
• Group life assurance.
• Enhanced maternity leave (eligibility may vary based on contract length and statutory requirements).
• Pension contribution.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Access to UXcel for dedicated learning and development.
• Regular design crits and monthly UX/design team days in Bournemouth.

Working Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday. The hybrid working arrangement offers flexibility, with an expectation of occasional travel to the Bournemouth office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is listed as "Competitive," and given the early-career level and fixed-term contract, a typical UK range for this role has been estimated. The provided benefits are extensive and are a significant part of the overall compensation package, especially for a contract role. The mention of "UXcel" and team days indicates significant investment in professional development within the operations context.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: HealthTech / Social Care Technology. Nourish Care operates in a critical sector, providing digital solutions to improve care delivery and management. This industry context implies a mission-driven culture focused on making a tangible positive impact on people's lives. Company Size: Nourish Care is a growing company, as indicated by its active recruitment and market leadership claims. While exact numbers aren't provided, the existence of a dedicated Product Design team, Head of Design, and multiple benefits suggests a well-established organization with a commitment to its employees and product development. Founded: The company's founding date is not specified, but its current market leadership and ongoing innovation suggest it has a solid track record and a forward-thinking approach to revolutionizing the care sector.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will report to the Head of Design, indicating a clear leadership structure within the design function.
• The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers, suggesting a cross-functional, agile development environment.
• A "thriving UX/design team subculture" operates as a "guild," promoting shared learning, progression, and user advocacy. This implies a collaborative and supportive team environment where knowledge is actively shared.

Methodology:

• User Advocacy: The team operates with a strong focus on advocating for user needs within the product development process.
• Iterative Design: The role involves iteratively creating solutions, testing prototypes, and incorporating feedback, aligning with agile and lean UX methodologies.
• Continuous Learning: The company invests in employee growth through initiatives like UXcel, design crits, and team days, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and skill development.
• Data-Informed Decisions: While not explicitly stated, the focus on user research and feedback implies a data-informed approach to design decisions.

Company Website: https://careers.nourishcare.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission in health and social care is a significant cultural driver. The "guild" structure for the UX/design team is a unique aspect that suggests a strong emphasis on community, knowledge sharing, and professional development within the design discipline. This is a key differentiator for candidates interested in a supportive and growth-oriented design environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an "Early Career Product Designer" (0-2 years experience). It's an opportunity to develop core UX/UI design skills, gain practical experience in a user-centered design process, and understand product development within the HealthTech sector. The fixed-term contract could serve as an extended interview or a stepping stone to further opportunities within Nourish Care or the broader industry, depending on performance and business needs.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer reports directly to the Head of Design. This provides a clear line of mentorship and guidance, allowing for direct feedback and learning opportunities from a senior design leader. The role also necessitates close working relationships with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering cross-functional collaboration.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role in the Sales Ops or Rev Ops sense, this Product Designer role has a significant impact on the "operational efficiency" of care providers by improving the usability and effectiveness of Nourish Care's software. By creating intuitive and user-friendly interfaces, the designer directly contributes to streamlining care processes, reducing errors, and improving the overall quality of care delivered through the platform. This impact is crucial for Nourish Care's mission and market position.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Hands-on experience with UX research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and design system contribution. Access to UXcel provides structured learning resources in UX/design.
• Mentorship: Direct guidance from the Head of Design and collaboration with experienced UX Researchers, PMs, and Engineers.
• Industry Exposure: Gaining experience in the HealthTech sector, a rapidly growing and impactful industry.
• Networking: Participation in design crits and team days fosters connections with other design professionals.
• Potential for Extension/Full-Time: While a fixed-term contract, strong performance and business needs could lead to contract extension or conversion to a permanent role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are clearly defined, focusing on skill acquisition, mentorship, and practical application within a mission-driven industry. The "guild" structure further emphasizes a commitment to professional development, offering a structured environment for an early-career designer to flourish.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model. This implies a mix of remote work and in-office presence. The company has an office located in Bournemouth at "Dean Park House, Bournemouth, BH1 1HL." Office Location(s): Bournemouth, England. The office is situated in the BH1 postcode area, suggesting a central location within Bournemouth. Occasional travel to this office will be required.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role involves close collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and the UX/Design team. The "guild" structure and regular design crits foster a culture of open communication and shared problem-solving.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools, primarily Figma. The company is committed to providing resources for learning and development, including access to UXcel.
• Team Interaction: Regular UX/design team days in Bournemouth provide opportunities for in-person team building, workshops, and focused collaborative sessions.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (37.5 hours per week) with a hybrid arrangement, offering flexibility between remote and in-office work. This structure is designed to support both focused individual work and essential collaborative activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, offering flexibility while maintaining in-person collaboration. The specific mention of "Dean Park House" provides a concrete location for potential candidates to research. The "occasional travel" implies that regular attendance at the Bournemouth office is expected for specific team events or collaborative sessions.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Application & Screening: Submit CV and portfolio. Initial review by the recruitment team to assess qualifications and portfolio alignment with role requirements.
2. Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Head of Design to discuss your experience, design philosophy, motivations, and how you approach user-centered design. This stage will heavily scrutinize your portfolio.
3. Design Challenge/Task: A practical exercise, likely involving a design problem relevant to Nourish Care's platform. This might be a take-home task or an in-person/virtual workshop. It will assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and proficiency with tools like Figma.
4. Team/Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with Product Managers and Engineers to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate with the wider product development team.
5. Final Interview (if applicable): Potentially a final discussion with a senior leader to confirm cultural fit and overall suitability.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically. For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the tools used, key decisions made, and the outcomes.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, user flows, prototypes, final UI) to illustrate your design thinking. Interactive prototypes are highly valuable.
• Emphasize Process: The "Required Experience" section stresses understanding user-centered design principles. Be prepared to articulate how you arrived at your solutions, not just what the solutions are. Explain your rationale, compromises, and learnings.
• Figma Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your skills in Figma. If possible, include links to interactive prototypes or detailed case studies of Figma projects.
• Accessibility & Design Systems: Highlight any experience or understanding of WCAG guidelines and design system principles, even if basic.
• Conciseness: Tailor your portfolio to the role. Focus on projects that best demonstrate the required skills for a Product Designer in a hybrid remote/office environment within HealthTech.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Nourish Care, its mission, its users (healthcare professionals, care recipients), and its existing product.
• User-Centricity: Approach any design challenge with a strong focus on user needs. Consider who the user is, what their pain points might be, and how your design addresses them.
• Figma Practice: Be comfortable and efficient using Figma for rapid prototyping and iteration.
• Communication: Prepare to clearly articulate your thought process, design rationale, and any trade-offs you made during the challenge.
• Technical Feasibility: Be mindful of balancing ideal user experience with technical constraints, as you'll be collaborating with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is expected to be thorough, with a significant emphasis on portfolio review and practical design skills. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their understanding of user-centered design, Figma proficiency, and collaborative capabilities. The "design challenge" is a common element for design roles and requires specific preparation.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool explicitly mentioned and required. Proficiency in Figma for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and potentially component creation is essential.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other dedicated prototyping tools could be beneficial.
• Collaboration Tools: Likely includes tools for team communication (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) and project management (e.g., Jira, Trello, Asana), though not explicitly listed.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a responsibility of this role, understanding how design impacts user behavior and product performance is key. Familiarity with product analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) would be advantageous for interpreting user feedback and measuring design effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role's core responsibilities, but understanding the broader company tech stack can be helpful for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the only specific tool mentioned, highlighting its critical importance. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their Figma skills and potentially discuss how they use other tools for collaboration and research, even if not explicitly required. The lack of other specified tools suggests a focus on core design execution rather than extensive tool integration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User Advocacy: A primary value is championing the needs and experiences of users (care providers and recipients) in all design decisions.
• Collaboration: Working effectively in cross-functional teams (Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers) is paramount.
• Continuous Improvement: A commitment to learning, sharing knowledge, and refining design processes and outcomes.
• Impact-Driven: Designing solutions that genuinely improve the lives of people in the health and social care sector.
• Innovation: A drive to "revolutionise the care sector" through thoughtful and effective digital solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Guild Mentality: The UX/design team operates as a "guild," indicating a strong sense of community, shared ownership, and mutual support. This suggests an environment where constructive feedback is welcomed, and knowledge is freely exchanged.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Close working relationships with Product Management and Engineering teams are expected, requiring clear communication and a shared understanding of project goals.
• Open Feedback Culture: Regular design crits imply an environment where designs are openly reviewed and discussed, fostering iterative improvements based on collective input.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "guild" structure is a unique cultural element that emphasizes community and shared learning within the design team. This, combined with a strong user advocacy and cross-functional collaboration, paints a picture of a supportive yet results-oriented design environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Technical Feasibility: A constant challenge in product design, requiring strong negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Working within a Fixed-Term Contract: Understanding project scope, delivering impact within a defined timeframe, and potentially navigating the transition at the end of the contract.
• Impact in a Regulated Industry: Designing for the health and social care sector requires careful consideration of accessibility, data privacy, and usability for potentially diverse user groups and technical proficiencies.
• Rapid Innovation: Keeping pace with evolving user needs and technological advancements in the HealthTech space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Structured Learning: Access to UXcel provides a formal pathway for skill enhancement in UX and design.
• Mentorship: Direct guidance from the Head of Design and collaboration with experienced peers offers invaluable real-world learning.
• Practical Application: Gaining hands-on experience with a full product design lifecycle, from research to implementation.
• Industry Insight: Developing expertise in the specific challenges and opportunities within the HealthTech sector.
• Design System Contribution: Opportunity to learn about and contribute to a growing design system, a valuable skill for any designer.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for product design roles but are contextualized by the HealthTech industry and the fixed-term nature of the contract. The growth opportunities are well-defined, with specific resources like UXcel and mentorship from senior staff highlighted.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating user needs into design solutions. Can you walk me through a project from your portfolio that exemplifies this?" (Focus on user research, problem definition, ideation, prototyping, and iteration).
• "How do you approach balancing user needs with technical constraints when collaborating with engineers?" (Prepare examples of compromise and problem-solving).
• "What is your understanding of accessibility (WCAG), and how do you incorporate it into your designs?" (Show awareness and practical application).
• "Can you explain the role of a design system, and have you had any experience working with or contributing to one?" (Even basic understanding is valuable).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for Nourish Care, specifically in the health and social care sector?" (Connect your passion to their mission).
• "How do you see yourself contributing to our UX/design 'guild' and collaborative culture?" (Emphasize teamwork, feedback, and shared learning).
• "How do you stay updated with the latest design trends and best practices?" (Show your commitment to continuous learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: the challenge, your journey, the solution, and the impact.
• Focus on Process: For each case study, clearly articulate the why behind your design decisions.
• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, user flows, prototypes) that are easy to understand. Ensure your Figma work is well-organized.
• Concise Explanations: Be prepared to speak fluently about your work, but avoid rambling. Practice your pitch for each project.
• Interactive Elements: If possible, include live links to interactive Figma prototypes or be ready to present them during the interview.
• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you collaborated with PMs, engineers, and researchers in your case studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating a user-centered design process, proficiency in Figma, and an understanding of the company's mission and collaborative culture. Portfolio presentation is a critical component, requiring a structured and compelling narrative.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application via the careers portal at https://careers.nourishcare.com.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your user-centered design process and Figma proficiency. Tailor the selection to highlight experience relevant to software design for care professionals.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with UX principles, wireframing, prototyping, and user research. Use keywords such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI," "Figma," "User-Centered Design," "WCAG," and "Design Systems."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for key projects. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the health and social care sector and how design can impact it.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Nourish Care's mission, values, and existing product. Understand the challenges and opportunities within the HealthTech industry.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.