Senior Product Designer (Perm or Contract, UK, Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer
Company: Nearform
Location: United Kingdom
Job Type: Full-Time / Contract
Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design
Date Posted: 2025-09-29
Experience Level: 6+ Years Commercial Experience
Remote Status: Fully Remote (UK-based candidates only)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design of intuitive and impactful software experiences, aligning user needs with ambitious business objectives for enterprise clients.
• Drive the transformation of client ideas into tangible, user-centered digital products through a blend of strategic design thinking and practical execution.
• Foster a user-centered design process, collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, client design groups, and technical leaders to ensure project success and timely delivery.
• Champion best practices in UI design, UX research, accessibility standards, and design systems within a fast-paced, agile, and AI-driven product development environment.
• Contribute to the maturation of client design capabilities, including design systems, brand adherence, and accessibility standards, acting as a trusted advisor and design leader.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Senior Product Designer, indicating a significant level of autonomy and client-facing responsibility. The emphasis on "guiding clients" and "transforming ideas into tangible products" suggests a strategic consulting aspect beyond traditional product design. The mention of "Design Director Interview" implies a potential career trajectory or a senior-level evaluation process.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Confidently guide clients through the process of transforming abstract ideas into tangible, market-ready digital products.
• Enhance and clarify client business objectives by applying a strategic design lens, ensuring solutions are aligned with commercial goals.
• Plan and execute targeted UX research initiatives, particularly on small-scale project bases, to inform design decisions and validate user needs.
• Collaborate with client design groups, contributing to their design systems, advising on brand adherence with product design, and exploring accessibility standards.
• Facilitate workshops and smaller-scale creative problem-solving sessions to drive innovation and alignment among stakeholders.
• Support Design and Technical Leaders in project execution, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of design solutions.
• Engage in close collaboration with client teams, acting as a bridge between Nearform's expertise and client organizational needs.
• Create logical, consistent, and scalable designs rooted in systems thinking, established design principles, and industry best practices.
• Present design concepts and findings with confidence and inclusivity, fostering clear communication across all levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design work and client advisory. The expectation to "plan and execute UX research on a small scale project basis" and "facilitate workshops" indicates a need for strong facilitation and research skills, even at a senior level. The emphasis on supporting "Design and Technical Leaders" suggests a collaborative environment where senior designers contribute to project management and team enablement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience are prioritized over formal education. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often beneficial. Experience: A minimum of 6 years of commercial experience as a Senior Product Designer is required. This should include extensive experience across the full product design lifecycle, from conceptualization and research to UI design and prototyping.

Required Skills:

• Significant experience delivering at a Senior Product Designer level (minimum 6 years commercial experience).
• Deep knowledge of user interface (UI) design principles and application across rich web apps/websites, mobile applications, and enterprise/B2B software.
• Practical experience working across the entire product design lifecycle: UI design, user journeys, persona development, and prototyping.
• Proven ability to help customers, development teams, and colleagues apply and drive a user-centered design process.
• Extensive working knowledge of design and collaboration tools such as Miro, Figma, or equivalent platforms.
• A strong understanding of the constraints and possibilities of modern web technologies, with a sensibility for technical feasibility.
• Practical experience conducting user testing and evaluating products with customers, adaptable to small-scale project needs.
• Proven experience delivering design solutions within an agile development environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to present complex ideas clearly and inclusively.
• Professional proficiency in English.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.
• Familiarity with AI-enabled solutions and their design implications.
• Experience working with enterprise clients on large-scale digital transformation projects.
• Knowledge of advanced accessibility standards and implementation.
• Experience in brand strategy and its application to product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "6 years' commercial experience" firmly places this role at a senior level. The emphasis on "practical experience" across the entire product design lifecycle and the ability to work with "modern web technologies" without necessarily coding suggests a need for strong conceptual and applied design skills that bridge the gap between design and development. The inclusion of "AI-enabled solutions" in the company description hints at potential exposure to designing for AI products.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating expertise across web applications, mobile apps, and enterprise/B2B software.
• Include detailed case studies that walk through your design process, from initial problem definition and user research to final UI implementation and prototyping.
• Present examples of how you've applied user-centered design principles and methodologies to solve complex business challenges.
• Highlight your contributions to design systems, brand adherence, or accessibility standards if applicable.
• Demonstrate proficiency with key design tools like Figma and Miro, showcasing your ability to create intuitive user flows and interactive prototypes.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your experience in planning and executing UX research, including methodologies and key findings.
• Illustrate your approach to facilitating workshops and creative problem-solving sessions with stakeholders.
• Showcase how you have collaborated with development teams and other colleagues to drive user-centered design processes.
• Include examples of designs that demonstrate systems thinking, logical consistency, and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the client-facing nature of the role and the technical assessment stage, a robust portfolio is crucial. The emphasis on process and problem-solving suggests that candidates should be prepared to articulate their design decisions, research methodologies, and how they collaborate with teams and clients. The "Technical Assessment" stage will likely involve a practical demonstration of these skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 6+ years of experience in the UK, a typical salary range would be £55,000 - £85,000 per annum for permanent roles, or an equivalent hourly/daily rate for contract positions. Rates can vary based on specific skills, project complexity, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Annual Company Bonus: A share of profits based on company performance, rewarding collective success.
• Work Remotely and Flexibly: Genuine dedication to work-life balance, allowing flexible working arrangements to accommodate personal needs.
• Paid Time Off Package: 25 days of annual leave plus public holidays, alongside provisions for sick leave, marriage leave, and others.
• Remote Working Allowance: A budget of up to €1250 (equivalent in GBP) every 2 years to enhance home workspace comfort and productivity, in addition to essential equipment provided.
• Training and Development Allowance: An allowance of up to €1000 (equivalent in GBP) annually for continuous learning and upskilling.
• Healthcare: Additional private healthcare coverage provided.
• Pension & Insurances: Pension match of up to 5%, plus Income Protection and Death in Service benefits for financial security.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are assumed (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered to support work-life balance and accommodate remote working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on UK market rates for senior-level design roles with significant experience. The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing work-life balance, professional development, and employee well-being, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of a "Remote Working Allowance" and "Training and Development Allowance" provides tangible financial support for remote employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Data & AI, Design, and Digital Solutions Consulting. Nearform operates at the intersection of these fields, building intelligent digital solutions and capability for ambitious enterprises. Company Size: 500+ employees, operating in 20+ countries. This indicates a global, well-established, and resource-rich organization with a significant presence in the tech consulting space. Founded: While the exact founding year isn't provided, Nearform's current scale suggests a company with a history of growth and established expertise.

Team Structure:

• Design Function: The candidate will be part of the Design function, which plays a key role in crafting digital experiences. This function likely includes Design Directors, Senior Product Designers, UX/UI Designers, and potentially Researchers.
• Reporting: Senior Designers may report to Design Directors or Project Leads, depending on the project structure. Collaboration is expected with Technical Leaders and other cross-functional teams.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis is placed on cross-functional collaboration with engineering, product management, and client teams. Workshops and creative problem-solving sessions are common.

Methodology:

• AI-Enabled Solutions: Nearform specializes in creating AI-enabled solutions, suggesting a data-driven and forward-thinking approach to product development.
• Systems Thinking: Designs are rooted in systems thinking, principles, and best practices, indicating a structured and holistic approach to problem-solving.
• Agile Environment: Delivery within an agile environment is a core requirement, implying iterative development cycles and close team integration.
• User-Centered Design: A fundamental aspect of their methodology is a deep commitment to user advocacy and user-centered design processes.

Company Website: https://www.nearform.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Nearform's focus on "AI-enabled solutions" and "intelligent digital solutions" suggests a company that is at the forefront of technological innovation. The global presence and large employee base imply opportunities for diverse project exposure and working with international teams. The "people-first approach" and emphasis on "enduring impact" point towards a culture that values both individual well-being and long-term client success.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is defined as Senior Product Designer, signifying a mid-to-senior level position. It requires significant autonomy, client-facing experience, and the ability to guide others. It's a role where individuals are expected to lead design initiatives and mentor junior team members implicitly. Reporting Structure: Senior Product Designers will likely report to Design Directors or senior project leadership within Nearform's design function. They will also collaborate extensively with client-side design and technical leads, as well as Nearform's engineering and AI teams. Operations Impact: Senior Product Designers at Nearform have a direct impact on client business objectives by transforming ideas into tangible, successful digital products. Their work influences user experience, brand perception, and the overall effectiveness of enterprise solutions, ultimately driving measurable results and enduring impact for clients.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: The "Design Director Interview" mention suggests a clear path towards Design Director roles for high-performing Senior Product Designers, involving greater strategic oversight and client leadership.
• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like AI design, advanced accessibility, design systems, or specific industry verticals based on project assignments.
• Continuous Learning: The dedicated Training and Development Allowance (€1000 annually) directly supports upskilling through courses, conferences, and certifications relevant to product design and emerging technologies.
• Client Relationship Management: Developing advanced client management and consultative skills through consistent interaction and guidance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path seems well-defined, with a clear potential to advance to a Design Director level. The company's focus on AI and complex digital problems offers opportunities for designers to work on cutting-edge projects and develop specialized skills, aligning with the "continuous learning" ethos promoted by the training allowance.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While Nearform has a global presence, this specific role is designated as fully remote for candidates based in the UK. This implies a distributed workforce model, prioritizing flexibility and autonomy. Office Location(s): While Nearform has offices globally, the role is remote within the UK. Specific office locations are not primary for this position, but the company has a broad international footprint.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: The environment is built for remote collaboration, utilizing tools like Miro and Figma extensively for real-time interaction, whiteboarding, and design reviews.
• Technology & Tools: Candidates will have access to essential equipment provided by Nearform, supplemented by a personal remote working allowance to optimize their home office setup.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for virtual team interactions through regular meetings, workshops, and informal check-ins, fostering a connected remote culture.

Work Schedule: The role offers genuine flexibility, allowing individuals to "work around what matters." While core working hours are likely aligned with UK business operations for effective collaboration, the emphasis is on work-life balance and output rather than strict timekeeping.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature for UK-based candidates is a significant aspect of this role, catering to professionals who value autonomy and work-life integration. The company's investment in remote work allowances and collaborative tools indicates a mature approach to supporting a distributed workforce.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Talent Call (30 mins, Zoom): An initial screening with the Talent Team to assess alignment of background, experience, and career goals with Nearform. This is an opportunity to learn about the company and ask initial questions.
2. Design Director Interview (45 mins, Zoom): A more in-depth discussion with Design Directors focusing on your design approach, portfolio projects, and experience in enterprise settings. This stage also provides further details on Nearform and potential projects.
3. Technical Assessment (3 hours, Zoom): A live whiteboard session where candidates will be given an assignment on the day. This assessment, conducted with other designers from Nearform, evaluates design thinking, client management skills, and technical insight.
4. Client Interview (Potential): An additional interview with the client may be required depending on the specific project.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Process-Centric: Be prepared to articulate your end-to-end design process for each project. Focus on the why behind your decisions, not just the what.
• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly define the business problem and user needs you addressed, followed by how your design solution effectively met these.
• Impact & Metrics: Quantify your impact where possible. Even if direct metrics aren't available, discuss how your design contributed to business objectives or user satisfaction.
• Tool Proficiency: Showcase your command of tools like Figma and Miro, demonstrating your ability to create detailed wireframes, prototypes, and collaborative artifacts.
• Client Collaboration: Highlight instances where you successfully collaborated with clients or stakeholders, managed expectations, and incorporated feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Live Whiteboard/Assignment: Expect a design challenge that requires you to think on your feet. Practice problem-solving, sketching, and articulating your thought process verbally.
• Client Management Scenarios: Prepare for questions related to handling difficult client feedback, managing scope, or aligning diverse stakeholder opinions.
• User-Centered Design: Demonstrate how you would approach a new design problem with a focus on user research and validation, even under time constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The three-hour technical assessment is a significant component, suggesting a thorough evaluation of practical design skills and problem-solving under pressure. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate their ability to think critically and communicate their design rationale effectively in real-time. The potential client interview underscores the client-facing aspect of this role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Expect to demonstrate proficiency in creating complex designs, component libraries, and interactive prototypes.
• Miro: Crucial for remote collaboration, brainstorming, workshop facilitation, user journey mapping, and information architecture visualization.
• Other Design Tools: Familiarity with equivalents or complementary tools like Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, or UXPin may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for designers, an understanding of how data and analytics inform design decisions is important. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, or Mixpanel would be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design responsibilities, but an awareness of how design integrates with product management and development workflows is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma and Miro are explicitly called out as essential tools. Candidates should be ready to showcase their proficiency and workflows within these platforms, especially in the context of collaborative and remote design. The "sensibility" for modern web technologies implies an understanding of how designs translate into functional applications, even if coding isn't a requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence: A commitment to technical excellence and delivering high-quality, impactful solutions for clients.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together, both internally and with clients, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
• Innovation: Driving innovation through AI-enabled solutions and embracing new technologies and methodologies.
• People-First: A dedication to work-life balance, individual well-being, and respecting diversity, inclusivity, and individual needs.
• Continuous Learning: Valuing upskilling and professional development, supported by dedicated allowances and a learning-oriented culture.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless integration with engineering, AI experts, and project management teams to ensure design solutions are technically feasible and aligned with project goals.
• Client Partnership: Building strong partnerships with clients, acting as trusted advisors and actively involving them in the design process through workshops and feedback sessions.
• Inclusive Communication: Utilizing inclusive communication practices to ensure all voices are heard and considered, particularly during workshops and design reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values emphasize a blend of high performance ("Excellence," "Innovation") and strong interpersonal dynamics ("Collaboration," "People-First"). This suggests a culture where designers are empowered to be creative and technically proficient while also being team players who value client relationships and personal well-being.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Complex Client Domains: Working with diverse enterprise clients across various industries, each with unique business needs, technical landscapes, and stakeholder dynamics.
• Balancing User Needs with Business Objectives: Effectively advocating for users while ensuring design solutions meet stringent commercial and technical requirements.
• Driving Design Adoption: Influencing clients and internal teams to adopt user-centered design processes and best practices, especially within established enterprise environments.
• Staying Ahead of Technological Advancements: Keeping pace with rapid developments in AI, web technologies, and design tools to deliver cutting-edge solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Gaining hands-on experience designing for AI-driven products and understanding the unique challenges and opportunities this presents.
• Enterprise Digital Transformation: Deepening expertise in large-scale digital transformation projects for major enterprises.
• Design Leadership: Developing strategic leadership skills through client interaction and potential progression towards Design Director roles.
• Advanced Skill Development: Utilizing the training allowance for courses, certifications, or conferences in areas such as advanced UX research, design systems at scale, or emerging design technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior consultants in a design and technology firm, requiring adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and excellent communication. The growth opportunities are directly aligned with the company's focus on AI and enterprise solutions, offering a clear path for professional development and specialization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: Be prepared to walk through a complex project from your portfolio, detailing your approach to understanding the problem, user research, ideation, iteration, and final solution. Focus on your decision-making process.
• Client Management & Collaboration: Anticipate questions about how you handle challenging client feedback, manage conflicting stakeholder priorities, or facilitate productive design workshops. Provide specific examples.
• User-Centered Design in Practice: Discuss how you ensure user advocacy is maintained throughout a project, especially when faced with business constraints or technical limitations.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Nearform's Values: Research Nearform's mission, values, and client portfolio. Be ready to articulate how your own values and working style align with theirs, particularly regarding AI, user-centricity, and collaboration.
• Remote Work & Teamwork: Discuss your experience working effectively in remote, cross-functional teams and how you maintain strong communication and collaboration.
• Impact & Contribution: Prepare to talk about how you measure the success of your designs and how you contribute to delivering "measurable results" and "enduring impact" for clients.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your portfolio projects as compelling narratives. Start with the problem, detail your journey through the solution, and conclude with the impact.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentations are visually clean, well-organized, and highlight key design artifacts (wireframes, user flows, prototypes, final UI).
• Process Emphasis: Dedicate significant time to explaining your design process, research methods, and the rationale behind your key decisions.
• Interactive Elements: Be ready to verbally "walk through" interactive prototypes or demonstrate your use of tools like Figma or Miro to illustrate your workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technical assessment's duration and format (live whiteboard with an assignment) mean that candidates should practice rapid problem-solving and clear articulation of their design thinking under pressure. Preparing specific examples that demonstrate both technical design skill and client-facing acumen will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Nearform careers page (linked via greenhouse.io).
• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects that align with enterprise/B2B software, rich web apps, and mobile applications. Highlight case studies demonstrating your full product design lifecycle experience and user-centered methodologies.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6+ years of commercial experience, specific skills in UI/UX design, research, prototyping, and collaboration within agile environments. Use keywords from the job description such as "user-centered design," "design systems," "Figma," and "Miro."
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss specific project examples that showcase your client management and problem-solving skills, especially for the technical assessment.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Nearform's AI focus, client roster, and company values. Understand their approach to digital transformation and how you can contribute to their mission of delivering "enduring impact."

⚠️ 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.

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