Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: AXA

Location: Royal Tunbridge Wells, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Digital Experience Design / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-12

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years inferred)

Remote Status: Hybrid (Minimum 2 days/week in office, increasing to 3 days/week from December 2026)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and continuous optimization of seamless user journeys across AXA's public-facing website and authenticated customer portals, ensuring a consistent and intuitive digital experience from initial customer engagement to service utilization.

• Develop, manage, and evolve the company's UI kit and comprehensive design system, creating reusable components, templates, and best practices to empower website editors and cross-functional teams to build high-quality, on-brand digital content.

• Drive user-centric design initiatives by leveraging data analytics, user research, and A/B testing to identify pain points, uncover opportunities for improvement, and inform strategic decisions for long-term website planning and feature prioritization.

• Champion accessibility and inclusivity by ensuring all design outputs strictly adhere to WCAG standards, creating digital experiences that are usable by everyone, regardless of ability.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with developers, CMS teams, content editors, brand managers, and other key stakeholders to champion the adoption and effective implementation of the design system across all digital touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is clearly focused on Product Design with a strong emphasis on UX/UI, design systems, and user journey optimization within a regulated industry (insurance). The AI-derived experience level of 5-10 years aligns with the responsibilities of leading design initiatives and managing a design system.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop, refine, and maintain the company's website UI kit, creating standardized, reusable components and design patterns that strictly adhere to AXA's brand guidelines and ensure visual consistency across all digital platforms.

• Construct and manage comprehensive UI kits derived from the established design system, including pre-defined templates and best practice guidelines, to empower website editors and development teams in creating cohesive and branded website pages.

• Actively collaborate with development teams, Content Management System (CMS) specialists, content editors, and brand managers to ensure the design system effectively addresses team needs and gains widespread adoption across the organization.

• Promote the consistent application of the design system through clear, accessible documentation and ongoing guidance, maintaining high standards for design quality, user accessibility (WCAG), and overall visual coherence.

• Utilize user research methodologies, analytics data, and A/B testing insights to pinpoint user pain points and identify strategic opportunities for enhancing customer journeys and optimizing conversion funnels.

• Employ agile development methodologies and iterative testing techniques (e.g., A/B testing) to experiment with new design concepts, carefully considering the impact on SEO, brand consistency, and marketing objectives.

• Prioritize the development of new features and the implementation of improvements based on a clear understanding of user impact, strategic business goals, and long-term website planning initiatives, with a strong focus on accessibility standards.

• Ensure all design outputs rigorously comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), thereby contributing to the creation of inclusive and equitable digital experiences for all AXA customers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize practical application of design system principles, cross-functional collaboration in a digital product context, and data-informed design iteration, all critical for a Product Designer role in a large, regulated organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred for Product Designer roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: Proven professional experience in UX/UI design roles, with a demonstrated history of successfully designing customer-facing digital platforms, particularly within highly regulated sectors such as insurance or financial services.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience in UX/UI design, with a strong portfolio showcasing customer-facing platform design within regulated environments.

• Proven ability to develop, implement, and manage comprehensive design systems, including transforming foundational frameworks into detailed UI kits, templates, and best practice guides.

• Expertise in Figma, encompassing proficiency in creating reusable components, applying design tokens, and maintaining scalable, efficient design systems.

• Solid understanding of the design lifecycle within software development, with the capability to produce flexible, CMS-friendly website templates.

• In-depth knowledge of user journey optimization, conversion funnel design, and the creation of inclusive, accessible digital experiences adhering to WCAG standards.

• Demonstrated experience working within regulated and sensitive environments, coupled with strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

• Strategic thinking capabilities to balance brand identity, user needs, and technical constraints for impactful digital solutions.

• Proven success in close collaboration with developers, engineering teams, content editors, and other stakeholders to achieve high-quality, accessible design outcomes. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Content Management Systems (CMS) and their integration with design systems.

• Experience with SEO best practices in relation to website design and user navigation.

• Knowledge of user research methodologies and usability testing.

• Understanding of agile development methodologies and their application to design processes.

• Experience with animation or micro-interactions to enhance user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly align with a mid-to-senior level Product Designer, emphasizing practical skills like Figma proficiency and design system implementation, alongside crucial soft skills like stakeholder management and strategic thinking within a regulated context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 distinct projects demonstrating end-to-end product design experience, with a strong emphasis on user journey mapping and optimization.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, detailing the problem statement, design process, key decisions, and the resulting outcomes.

• Highlight at least one project where you were instrumental in developing or significantly contributing to a design system, UI kit, or reusable component library.

• Include examples of designs that adhere to accessibility standards (WCAG), explaining the considerations and implementations made.

• Demonstrate experience with Figma, showcasing your ability to build and manage components, design tokens, and scalable design systems within the tool. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your ability to document design processes, including user research findings, wireframing, prototyping, and testing methodologies.

• Illustrate how you have created and maintained design system documentation, including style guides, component libraries, and best practices for implementation.

• Showcase examples of how you have translated user data and analytics into actionable design improvements and iterative design cycles.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with development teams, including handoff processes, design specification documentation, and iterative feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role focused on design systems and user journeys, a portfolio demonstrating practical application of these skills, especially within regulated sectors and using tools like Figma, is paramount. The emphasis is on tangible outputs and documented processes that showcase impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The stated salary of $0 USD annually is a placeholder. For a Product Designer role with 5-10 years of experience in Royal Tunbridge Wells, UK, a competitive salary range would typically fall between £45,000 - £70,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in the UK, considering the cost of living in the South East of England, and AXA's standing as a global financial services leader.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working model offering flexibility between home and office.

• Generous pension scheme with employer contributions.

• Comprehensive private medical insurance covering diagnosis and treatment.

• Life assurance and income protection policies.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuous learning within the Digital Experience Design Guild.

• Access to AXA's employee assistance program for well-being support.

• Potential for performance-related bonuses.

• Employee discounts on AXA products and services.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring a minimum of 2 days (40%) in the office, increasing to 3 days (60%) from December 2026. Flexible working arrangements can be discussed with Talent Acquisition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary information was $0, which is clearly a placeholder. The estimated range is based on industry research for a Product Designer in the specified UK location and experience level. The benefits are standard for a large corporate organization in the financial services sector.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance and Financial Services. AXA is a global leader known for its comprehensive range of insurance and financial planning services, operating in a highly regulated market that demands a strong focus on customer trust, security, and compliance.

Company Size: AXA is a large, multinational corporation, ranking as the sixth-largest insurance company globally. This scale implies robust processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for impact across a vast customer base.

Founded: AXA has a long history, with roots tracing back to the 19th century. This established presence suggests a stable, experienced organization with a deep understanding of its market and a commitment to long-term strategy.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of the Digital Experience Design Guild, indicating a community of practice focused on elevating design standards and fostering collaboration among designers.

• The role involves close collaboration with developers, CMS teams, content editors, and brand managers, highlighting a cross-functional team structure essential for digital product development.

• Reporting lines are not explicitly detailed but are likely within a broader Digital or Product team structure, with opportunities to influence design direction. Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, utilizing user research, analytics, and A/B testing to inform design strategies and measure impact.

• Agile ways of working are encouraged, promoting iterative development, flexibility, and continuous improvement in design and product delivery.

• Strong focus on adherence to brand guidelines, accessibility standards (WCAG), and regulatory compliance within all digital experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights AXA's position as a large, established player in a regulated industry. This implies a need for designers who are not only creative but also process-oriented, data-literate, and capable of navigating complex stakeholder environments. The Digital Experience Design Guild suggests a supportive internal community for designers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Senior level, requiring independent contribution and the ability to lead design initiatives for significant customer-facing digital products. The expectation is for the designer to take ownership of the user journey and contribute to the strategic direction of digital experiences.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will be part of the Digital Experience Design Guild and will collaborate closely with various cross-functional teams. While direct reporting lines aren't specified, the role likely reports into a Head of Digital Design, Product Management, or a similar leadership position responsible for digital strategy.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to improving customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction through intuitive and accessible digital interfaces. Optimizing user journeys and ensuring seamless interactions with AXA's website and portals can significantly influence conversion rates, customer loyalty, and operational efficiency by reducing support queries.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in design systems, accessibility standards, and user journey mapping through practical application and potential training.

• Leadership Potential: Grow into a Senior Product Designer or Lead Designer role, mentoring junior designers and taking on more complex product initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a strong understanding of development, CMS, content strategy, and marketing within the insurance sector, broadening career applicability.

• Community Contribution: Become an active member and contributor within the Digital Experience Design Guild, sharing knowledge and influencing design best practices across AXA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on how a Product Designer can progress within a large organization like AXA, emphasizing both specialization in design disciplines and broader business acumen gained through cross-functional collaboration.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: AXA operates a hybrid work model, meaning the role is not fully remote. Employees are expected to spend a portion of their work week in the office, fostering in-person collaboration and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is International House, Forest Road, TUNBRIDGE WELLS, TN2 5FE, United Kingdom. This location serves as a hub for team interaction and collaborative work.

Workspace Context:

• The office environment is designed to support hybrid working, likely featuring collaborative spaces, meeting rooms equipped for hybrid communication, and potentially quiet zones for focused work.

• Access to essential design tools and technologies, including Figma and potentially other collaboration platforms, will be provided to facilitate efficient design workflows.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with developers, content editors, and other key stakeholders will be readily available, encouraging a dynamic and communicative work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are 40 per week. The hybrid model requires a minimum of 2 days (40%) in the office, increasing to 3 days (60%) from December 2026. This structure aims to balance individual flexibility with team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description acknowledges the hybrid model and the specific office location, providing context for candidates regarding their day-to-day work setting and expectations for in-office presence.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements, particularly focusing on design system experience and regulated industry work.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with Lauren Cooper (or another hiring manager) to delve into your experience, design philosophy, and suitability for the team and AXA's culture. Be prepared to discuss your approach to user journeys and design systems.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or a deep dive into your portfolio. This will likely involve presenting specific case studies, explaining your design process, and discussing how you've applied design systems and accessibility principles. Focus on demonstrating your problem-solving skills and impact.

• Cross-functional Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential colleagues (developers, content editors, etc.) to assess your collaboration style and ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit within the broader organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Wisely: Select projects that best showcase your expertise in design systems, UI kits, component design, and user journey optimization, ideally with examples from regulated sectors.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you faced, your design solutions, and the measurable outcomes. Quantify your impact where possible.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency in Figma, including how you build and manage components, utilize design tokens, and create scalable design systems.

• Emphasize Accessibility: Clearly articulate how you incorporate WCAG standards into your design process and the specific considerations you make for inclusive design.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, how you handle stakeholder feedback, your approach to working within constraints, and your understanding of AXA's business context.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is provided, focus on understanding the user problem and constraints first.

• Structure your approach logically, demonstrating your problem-solving methodology, not just the final design.

• Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and justify them with user-centric reasoning and data-informed insights.

• Practice presenting your work concisely and effectively, ensuring you can communicate complex ideas clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, guiding them on how to prepare their portfolio and interview responses, emphasizing the specific requirements of this Product Designer role, such as design systems and accessibility in a regulated environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, component creation, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency in building and maintaining scalable design systems within Figma is a core requirement.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely including Figma's prototyping capabilities, or potentially other tools for creating interactive user flows and mockups.

• User Research & Analytics Platforms: Tools such as Google Analytics, Hotjar, or similar platforms for analyzing user behavior, identifying pain points, and measuring the impact of design changes.

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with platforms used for conducting A/B tests to validate design hypotheses and optimize user journeys.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics for understanding website traffic, user behavior, and conversion metrics.

• Dashboarding Tools: Familiarity with creating or interpreting dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI, or internal AXA solutions) to visualize key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement and conversion.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary focus for this role, an understanding of how design impacts CRM integration and customer data flow within marketing automation platforms might be beneficial.

• Familiarity with Content Management Systems (CMS) is important for understanding how designs are implemented on websites.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on design and user experience tools, with Figma being paramount. The inclusion of analytics and A/B testing tools highlights the data-driven nature of the role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, ensuring all digital experiences are intuitive, helpful, and empowering.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering an environment where designers, developers, content creators, and other stakeholders work together harmoniously, sharing knowledge and supporting each other's success.

• Excellence & Quality: Striving for the highest standards in design execution, user experience, and accessibility, with a meticulous attention to detail.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Embracing new ideas, technologies, and methodologies to constantly enhance digital products and processes, encouraging experimentation and learning.

• Integrity & Responsibility: Upholding ethical standards, ensuring compliance with regulations, and acting with accountability in all design decisions and their impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: A proactive approach to working alongside diverse teams, actively seeking input and providing design expertise to achieve shared project goals.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent and constructive dialogue, providing and receiving feedback openly to refine designs and improve workflows.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in the Digital Experience Design Guild, sharing insights, best practices, and learnings to elevate the collective design capability within AXA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of customer focus, collaborative spirit, and a commitment to quality and continuous improvement, which are key for success in a large, customer-facing organization like AXA.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Regulatory Constraints: Designing engaging user experiences within the strict compliance and security requirements of the insurance industry.

• Driving Design System Adoption: Ensuring widespread and consistent adoption of the design system across various teams and projects, overcoming potential resistance or technical hurdles.

• Measuring Design Impact: Effectively quantifying the ROI of design initiatives, particularly in areas like user journey optimization and accessibility improvements.

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Landscapes: Managing diverse stakeholder expectations and priorities to gain alignment on design decisions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in design system architecture, maintenance, and governance.

• Accessibility Certification: Pursuing formal certifications or advanced training in WCAG standards and inclusive design practices.

• User Research Methodologies: Developing skills in advanced qualitative and quantitative user research techniques.

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into leadership roles within the design team, mentoring junior designers and leading strategic design projects.

• Industry Exposure: Participating in design conferences and industry events to stay abreast of emerging trends and best practices in UX/UI and product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges identified are common for designers in regulated sectors, and the growth opportunities are tailored to advancing expertise in design systems, accessibility, and leadership within a corporate structure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed or significantly contributed to a design system. What were the key components, challenges, and outcomes?" (Focus on your process, the tools used, and the impact on consistency and efficiency.)

• "How do you approach designing for users in a regulated industry like insurance? What specific considerations do you make for security, privacy, and compliance?" (Highlight your understanding of constraints and how you balance them with user needs.)

• "Walk us through a complex user journey you've optimized. What data and research informed your decisions, and what was the measurable impact?" (Be prepared to present a case study from your portfolio, detailing your problem-solving approach and results.)

• "How do you ensure your designs meet WCAG accessibility standards? Can you provide an example of an accessibility challenge you addressed?" (Demonstrate your knowledge and practical application of accessibility principles.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about AXA and this Product Designer role specifically?" (Research AXA's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Connect your skills and aspirations to the company's goals.)

• "How do you collaborate with developers and content editors? Describe a situation where you had to influence these teams to adopt your design recommendations." (Provide examples of your cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management skills.)

• "How would you approach building or improving a UI kit for a large organization like AXA?" (Discuss your strategy for componentization, documentation, and adoption.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Clarity: Organize your portfolio presentation logically, typically starting with an overview of your role and the project's goals, followed by your process, key design decisions, and final outcomes.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, reduced bounce rates, improved task completion times).

• Showcase Your Process: Clearly articulate your design thinking, user research methods, wireframing, prototyping, and testing approaches. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Be ready to share screen and walk through specific Figma files, demonstrating your component-based design approach, design token usage, and system organization.

• Address Accessibility: Integrate discussions about accessibility considerations throughout your project presentations, not as an afterthought.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are tailored to the specific requirements of the Product Designer role at AXA, focusing on design systems, regulated industries, accessibility, and collaborative skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Click on the 'Apply Now' button on the AXA careers portal.

• Log in or create a profile to submit your CV and any supporting documents.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is tailored to this role, prominently featuring projects demonstrating your experience with design systems, UI kits, user journey optimization, and WCAG accessibility standards, ideally within regulated sectors.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "Product Designer," "UX/UI," "Figma," "Design Systems," "WCAG," "User Journey," and "Stakeholder Management." Quantify your achievements with specific data points.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare to present specific case studies from your portfolio and answer strategy-related questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with AXA's brand, products, mission, and recent digital initiatives. Understand their commitment to customer experience and digital transformation.

⚠️ 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.