Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer Company: Graphite Digital Location: Brighton, East Sussex, United Kingdom Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / Digital Experience Date Posted: 2025-08-07 Experience Level: Senior (5-10 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead design strategy and execution for key digital projects within the Health and Pharma sectors, ensuring user-centricity and alignment with business objectives.
• Drive the end-to-end design process, from user research and information architecture to interaction design and prototyping, delivering impactful, high-quality solutions.
• Foster collaboration with multidisciplinary teams (researchers, developers, clients) and effectively communicate design rationale to stakeholders.
• Contribute to the growth of the design team by mentoring junior designers, refining processes, and enhancing design systems and operations.
• Play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and operational efficiency of design squads.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the original job title is "Senior Product Designer," the detailed responsibilities and industry focus (Health and Pharma digital experience) strongly suggest a role that blends product design with a significant emphasis on user experience (UX) strategy and digital transformation within a specialized agency context. The "operations" aspect is particularly evident in the responsibility for "Process and Workflow Optimisation" and contributing to "design operations."

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Strategic Product Vision: Define and articulate the design vision for client products and services, translating complex user needs, business goals, and regulatory requirements into actionable design strategies.
• User-Centred Design Leadership: Own and execute the complete user-centered design process, including user research synthesis, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design, ensuring solutions are intuitive and effective.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with UX researchers, product managers, developers, and client stakeholders to ensure design solutions are feasible, aligned with project goals, and effectively integrated into the development lifecycle.
• Design System Stewardship: Contribute to the maintenance and expansion of design systems, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across multiple projects and client engagements.
• Process & Operations Improvement: Proactively identify opportunities to optimize design workflows, enhance team processes, and contribute to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of design operations within the agency.
• Mentorship & Team Development: Provide guidance, feedback, and mentorship to mid-level and junior designers, fostering their professional growth and promoting a culture of design excellence.
• Client Engagement & Presentation: Lead client workshops, present design concepts and rationale persuasively to stakeholders, and build strong client relationships based on trust and impactful design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed go beyond typical product design, emphasizing strategic thinking, leadership in user research and design processes, and contribution to the operational aspects of the design team. This indicates a senior role with a focus on driving process improvements and strategic design direction, aligning with advanced operations and management expectations within a design context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected, although equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered. A Master's degree or specialized certifications in UX or Design Strategy can be advantageous.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives and delivering successful digital products. Experience within an agency environment, particularly serving clients in regulated industries, is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Strategic Thinking & Product Strategy: Demonstrated ability to understand and contribute to product strategy, user needs analysis, and market trends to inform long-term product roadmaps and design decisions.
• User Experience (UX) & Interaction Design: Deep expertise in UX principles, information architecture, user journey mapping, wireframing, and interaction design, with a strong understanding of usability best practices.
• Prototyping & Iterative Development: Proficiency in creating interactive prototypes (e.g., using Figma) to test and validate design concepts, and experience with iterative design methodologies.
• Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to plan, lead, and facilitate design thinking workshops, brainstorming sessions, and user feedback sessions with diverse stakeholder groups.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to present design work clearly, confidently, and persuasively to internal teams and external clients, including senior leadership.
• Process & Systems Thinking: Experience in developing, maintaining, and scaling design systems, and a strong aptitude for identifying and implementing improvements to design workflows and operational processes.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma, including expertise in building and utilizing design system components, responsive design techniques, and interactive prototyping features.
• Creative Portfolio: A comprehensive and compelling portfolio showcasing a range of high-quality design projects, highlighting problem-solving skills, user-centric approaches, and innovative design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Regulated Industry Experience: Prior experience working with clients in regulated sectors such as Healthcare, Insurance, or Banking, understanding the unique design challenges and compliance requirements.
• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity and practical experience working within Agile development frameworks (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) and collaborating effectively in multidisciplinary Agile teams.
• Line Management/Mentorship: Experience in line management, team leadership, or formal mentorship, demonstrating the ability to guide, support, and develop other designers.
• User Research Methods: Familiarity with a variety of user research techniques, including usability testing, user interviews, surveys, and the ability to translate research findings into actionable design insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "strategic thinking," "process and systems thinking," and "design operations" indicates that candidates should highlight their ability to not just design but also to influence and improve the design process itself. A strong portfolio that demonstrates this strategic and operational contribution, alongside core design skills, will be crucial.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Problem-Solution Framing: Showcase a clear understanding of the problem space, user needs, and business objectives for each project presented, followed by a detailed explanation of how your design solutions addressed these challenges.
• Process Documentation: Demonstrate the design process undertaken for key projects, including user research methodologies, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration. Highlight how data and insights informed decisions.
• Systemic Design Contribution: Include examples of contributions to design systems, component libraries, or style guides. Detail how you ensured consistency, scalability, and efficiency through these systems.
• Impact & Outcomes: Quantify the impact of your design work where possible. This could include metrics related to user engagement, task completion rates, conversion improvements, or client satisfaction, demonstrating ROI.
• Figma Expertise Showcase: Provide examples that specifically highlight advanced Figma skills, such as complex component creation, responsive design implementation, and sophisticated prototyping.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Illustrate instances where you have analyzed, mapped, and optimized existing design workflows or implemented new, more efficient processes.
• System Implementation & Maintenance: Document experience with integrating new tools or components into design systems, or refining existing ones to improve team efficiency and output quality.
• Measurement & Performance: Show how you have measured the effectiveness of your designs or design processes, using data to drive improvements and report on outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: For "Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements," the focus should be on demonstrating not just the final design output but the thought process, methodology, and operational considerations behind it. Candidates should be prepared to walk through their portfolio, explaining how they contribute to efficiency, scalability, and the overall success of design operations within a team.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £46,000 - £60,000 per year, dependent on the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive private health insurance with high coverage standards and a comprehensive private dental plan.
• Professional Development: Dedicated personal development time annually, complemented by an annual training budget to support skill enhancement and career growth. Access to internal training platforms like Coassemble and opportunities for external industry expert training.
• Work-Life Balance & Culture: 25 days of holiday (increasing with tenure), regular social meet-ups and events, and opportunities for community engagement and charitable initiatives.
• Support Services: Free employee assistance support for personal challenges (legal, financial, medical).
• Commuting & Retirement: Cycle to work scheme and a pension scheme with employer contributions.

Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, a standard full-time role in the UK typically involves around 37.5 to 40 hours per week. The hybrid nature of the role suggests flexibility, with a requirement to be within a 2-hour commute of the Brighton office for potential in-office collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly provided. The benefits package is extensive and highlights Graphite Digital's commitment to employee well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance, which are attractive factors for senior-level operations and design professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience Agency specializing in Health and Pharma. This niche focus means an understanding of regulatory environments, patient-centricity, and the complexities of healthcare communication is valuable. Company Size: Not explicitly stated, but the hybrid and remote work arrangements suggest a modern, potentially growing agency structure. The mention of mentoring mid-level designers implies a team size that supports such initiatives. Founded: Not specified, but the company description suggests an established agency with a clear mission and values.

Team Structure:

• Design Squads: The role mentions contributing to the strategy and operations of a "squad," implying a team-based structure, likely cross-functional, comprising designers, researchers, and possibly strategists or project managers.
• Reporting: Likely reports into a Design Lead, Head of Design, or a similar senior design management role, with direct interaction and mentorship provided to junior team members.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working with researchers, Graphite partners, client development teams, and stakeholders, indicating a collaborative, integrated approach to project delivery.

Methodology:

• User Research & Data-Driven Design: Commitment to user research and data-informed decision-making is central to their approach.
• Outcome-Focused Design: Emphasis on creating digital solutions that achieve measurable differences in people's health and wellbeing.
• Agile & Iterative: Likely operates within agile frameworks, promoting continuous improvement and iterative development cycles.

Company Website: https://graphitedigital.com/ (Inferred from domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's specialization in Health and Pharma digital experiences is a key differentiator. Candidates should research this sector to understand its unique challenges and opportunities, which will be relevant to the design and operational strategies employed by Graphite Digital.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Product Designer. This level signifies a move beyond individual contribution to include leadership, strategic input, process improvement, and mentorship. The role is expected to influence design direction and contribute to the operational health of the design function. Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Director or Head of Design, and will be responsible for mentoring and guiding mid-level and junior designers. This creates a clear hierarchical structure for design leadership and talent development. Operations Impact: Influences the efficiency and effectiveness of the design team's processes and output. Contributes to client success through high-quality, user-centered digital solutions, directly impacting patient and healthcare practitioner experiences and, by extension, health outcomes. The role also shapes the agency's design capabilities and operational maturity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into Lead Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design roles, overseeing larger teams and strategic initiatives.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in Health and Pharma digital experiences, becoming a subject matter expert in this regulated sector.
• Process & Operations Expertise: Develop skills in managing design operations, scaling processes, and contributing to agency-wide improvements in efficiency and effectiveness.
• Client Relationship Management: Build strong client relationships and potentially lead client engagements.
• Mentorship: Refine leadership and coaching skills through mentoring junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the explicit mention of mentoring and process improvement indicate a clear pathway for career progression within the design function, with opportunities extending into leadership and operational management roles within the agency.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The company is headquartered in Brighton, and while teams work remotely across the UK, there's an expectation for hybrid working, with candidates needing to be within a 2-hour commute of the Brighton office. This suggests a blend of remote flexibility with occasional in-office collaboration. Office Location(s): Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4AW, United Kingdom. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model suggests opportunities for both focused individual work and collaborative sessions (potentially in-office or via digital tools) with multidisciplinary teams.
• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, and likely other collaboration and project management software.
• Team Interaction: Regular opportunities for interaction with colleagues through team meetings, workshops, social events, and cross-functional project work.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (likely 37.5-40 hours/week), with hybrid flexibility. The emphasis on personal development time suggests a culture that supports continuous learning alongside project work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment is a key aspect. Candidates should be comfortable with a mix of remote and office-based work, understanding that proximity to Brighton is a requirement for potential in-office collaboration and team engagement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and covering letter, assessing qualifications and alignment with the role.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, problem-solving approaches, and contributions to design systems or process improvements. Expect questions about strategic thinking and collaboration.
• Skills Assessment/Workshop: A practical exercise or design challenge may be included to assess Figma proficiency, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate design rationale under pressure.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members and senior stakeholders to assess cultural fit, communication skills, and leadership potential.
• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and impact, with a focus on Health/Pharma sector work if possible.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, design, testing), the solutions you created, and the outcomes achieved. Quantify impact where possible.
• Highlight Process & Systems: Explicitly demonstrate your contributions to design systems, process improvements, or operational efficiencies. Show how you think about scalability and team collaboration.
• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to demo specific Figma features or workflows that highlight your advanced skills.
• Conciseness & Clarity: Present your work clearly and concisely, focusing on the most impactful aspects. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your decisions and methodologies.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If a challenge is given, ensure you understand the brief, target users, business goals, and any constraints.
• Process Over Perfection: Focus on demonstrating a solid design process, clear thinking, and effective communication, rather than delivering a perfectly polished final output in a limited time.
• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design choices and how they address the problem statement.
• Stakeholder Mindset: Consider how your design decisions would be presented and justified to clients and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a strong portfolio that reflects strategic thinking and process contributions, not just aesthetic design. Candidates should prepare to discuss their methodologies, decision-making rationale, and how they contribute to operational efficiency within a design team.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly required for advanced design, prototyping, and design system management. Expect proficiency in components, variants, auto layout, and prototyping features.
• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools could be beneficial.
• Design Collaboration Platforms: Tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Jira, Asana, Miro).

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Hotjar to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.
• Data Visualization Tools: Experience with tools for reporting and presenting data insights to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/automation role, understanding how design integrates with customer journeys managed in CRMs or marketing automation platforms might be advantageous, especially in client-facing projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the core tool mentioned. Proficiency here is non-negotiable. Awareness of user analytics tools would be a strong plus, as data-informed design is a key requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs is paramount, driving all design decisions.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals.
• Excellence & Quality: Striving for high-quality, impactful design solutions that make a measurable difference.
• Continuous Improvement: A mindset of constantly seeking to refine processes, learn new skills, and enhance efficiency.
• Impact & Purpose: A desire to create digital experiences that positively affect people's health and wellbeing.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively working with diverse teams, integrating design seamlessly into broader project workflows.
• Open Communication & Feedback: Encouraging constructive feedback and open dialogue to foster a learning and improvement-oriented environment.
• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in and contributing to internal knowledge-sharing sessions and initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture values collaboration, continuous improvement, and a purpose-driven approach, especially within the health and pharma sector. Candidates should demonstrate how their personal values and work style align with these principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Regulated Industries: Designing for Health and Pharma clients requires a keen awareness of compliance, privacy (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA), and ethical considerations, which can add complexity to the design process.
• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Simultaneously satisfying user needs, client business objectives, and regulatory requirements often presents intricate design challenges.
• Driving Process Adoption: Introducing and embedding new design processes or system improvements within a team or agency requires strong change management and communication skills.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: The digital landscape and healthcare technology are constantly evolving; staying current with best practices, emerging technologies, and user expectations is an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Sector Specialization: Deepen expertise in the unique design challenges and opportunities within the Health and Pharma sectors.
• Leadership Skills: Develop strategic leadership, mentorship, and team management capabilities.
• Operational Excellence: Gain experience in shaping and improving design operations for an agency.
• Industry Engagement: Opportunities for training with external experts and potentially attending industry events to stay abreast of advancements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented highlight the specialized nature of the role. Embracing these challenges as opportunities for growth and skill development will be key for success and career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How do you approach translating complex user needs and regulatory requirements into intuitive digital experiences for healthcare clients?" (Focus on your process, research methods, and strategic problem-solving).
• "Describe a time you significantly improved a design process or workflow. What was the impact?" (Highlight your process optimization skills and operational thinking).
• "How do you balance the needs of diverse stakeholders (users, clients, developers) when making design decisions?" (Showcase your communication, negotiation, and collaboration skills).
• "Walk me through a project in your portfolio where you led the design strategy for a complex product." (Prepare a concise, impactful narrative emphasizing strategic contribution).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working specifically within the Health and Pharma digital experience sector?" (Research the company's mission and the sector's impact).
• "How do you approach mentoring junior designers and contributing to a positive team culture?" (Demonstrate your leadership and collaborative spirit).
• "How do you measure the success of your design work and its impact on business objectives?" (Prepare to discuss metrics and ROI).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the process, the solution, and the outcome. Use visuals effectively.
• Highlight Strategic & Operational Contributions: Explicitly point out where you influenced strategy, improved processes, or contributed to design systems.
• Showcase Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma features or workflows that illustrate your advanced capabilities.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your decision-making process, challenges faced, and how you collaborated with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, process improvement capabilities, and a deep understanding of user-centered design within a regulated industry context, supported by concrete examples from the portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided online system, including a CV and a covering letter.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating strategic thinking, end-to-end user-centered design processes, and contributions to design systems or workflow optimization. If you have Health/Pharma sector experience, ensure those projects are prominent.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience, key skills (especially Figma, UX, strategy), and achievements using action verbs and quantifiable results where possible. Align keywords with the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, articulating design rationale, and highlighting your strategic and operational contributions. Prepare answers to potential questions about your experience in regulated industries and your approach to mentorship.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Graphite Digital’s work, clients, and values. Understand their specialization in Health and Pharma digital experiences and be prepared to articulate why you are a good fit for their culture and mission.

⚠️ 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.