Senior Product Designer UX/UI

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer UX/UI

Company: Hastings Direct

Location: Leicester, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Operations

Date Posted: 27 August 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead comprehensive end-to-end UX/UI design initiatives, encompassing discovery, research, prototyping, delivery, and ongoing iterative improvements within the digital insurance product landscape.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of Product Design professionals, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Collaborate closely with product management and technical teams to ensure seamless alignment between user needs, strategic business objectives, and technical feasibility.

• Craft detailed user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to effectively convey design solutions and facilitate stakeholder understanding.

• Conduct rigorous usability testing, customer research, and data-driven analysis to validate design concepts and optimize user experiences for complex insurance products.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on the strategic application of UX/UI principles within a regulated industry (insurance), requiring a deep understanding of how design impacts customer acquisition, retention, and operational efficiency. The emphasis on AI integration suggests a forward-thinking approach to design processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee the entire product design lifecycle, from initial concept generation and user research to final implementation and post-launch optimization, ensuring a user-centric approach at every stage.

• Drive the development and implementation of design systems and best practices to ensure consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products.

• Champion data-driven decision-making by leveraging analytics, A/B testing, and user feedback to inform design iterations and measure the impact of design changes on key business metrics.

• Simplify complex insurance products and regulatory requirements into intuitive, accessible, and user-friendly digital experiences that meet customer needs and business goals.

• Present design strategies, insights, and solutions to diverse stakeholder groups, including senior leadership, effectively articulating the rationale and anticipated outcomes.

• Integrate emerging AI technologies into design workflows to enhance efficiency, explore new design possibilities, and drive innovation in user experience.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritizing effectively to meet deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while maintaining high standards of quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Simplify complex insurance processes and regulatory requirements" is a critical aspect of this role, highlighting the need for a designer who can translate intricate information into clear, actionable user journeys. The mention of AI integration suggests that candidates should be comfortable experimenting with and advocating for new design technologies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field; Master's degree or equivalent practical experience is a plus.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives and managing design teams. Experience in the consumer, fintech, or insurance sectors is highly desirable.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrable expertise in end-to-end UX/UI design processes, including user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design.

• Proven experience in leading and mentoring design teams, fostering professional development and ensuring high-quality design output.

• Proficiency with industry-standard design tools, specifically the Figma suite, for creating wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and design systems.

• Strong understanding of user-centred design principles, usability best practices, and accessibility standards (WCAG).

• Experience conducting various forms of user research and usability testing to gather insights and validate design decisions.

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively with diverse audiences.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and adapt to changing requirements in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI-enabled design tools and platforms, such as Copilot or similar, for enhancing design workflows and generating creative solutions.

• Familiarity with working within and contributing to established design systems.

• Experience designing for complex regulatory environments, such as insurance or financial services.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better inform design decisions and collaboration with developers.

• Portfolio showcasing successful product launches and demonstrable impact on user experience and business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for proficiency in "Figma suite" and "AI tools such as the Figma suite, Copilot and other emerging AI-enabled design platforms" is a key technical differentiator for this role. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their experience with these specific tools and their ability to integrate AI into their design workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 comprehensive case studies demonstrating end-to-end UX/UI design projects, preferably from the consumer, fintech, or insurance sectors.

• Clearly articulate your role and contributions within each project, detailing the design process, challenges encountered, and solutions implemented.

• Highlight the use of user-centred design methodologies, including user research, persona development, journey mapping, and usability testing.

• Demonstrate proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, and visual design using tools like Figma, showcasing high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.

• Quantify the impact of your design solutions with relevant metrics, such as improvements in conversion rates, task completion times, user satisfaction scores, or reduction in support queries.

• Include examples of your experience with design systems, illustrating how you've contributed to or utilized them to ensure consistency and scalability. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your ability to document design processes, from initial research and ideation to final delivery and iteration.

• Illustrate how you translate complex requirements into clear design documentation, including user flows, wireframes, and interaction specifications.

• Showcase examples of how you've used data and user feedback to iterate on designs, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and optimization.

• Detail your experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and QA, and how you document and communicate design decisions to these stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is a critical component for this role. It must clearly demonstrate not only design skills but also leadership capabilities, process management, and the ability to translate complex requirements into user-friendly solutions, with a strong emphasis on quantifiable results and the integration of AI where applicable.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in the UK, particularly in the insurance/fintech sector in Leicester, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £55,000 to £75,000 per annum. This range reflects the leadership responsibilities, specialized skills, and the strategic importance of the role within Hastings Direct.

Benefits:

• Car Allowance: £5,000 per annum, providing flexibility for commuting and personal use.

• Competitive Bonus Scheme: Eligibility for an annual 4Cs performance bonus, tied to company and individual performance.

• Private Medical Insurance (PMI): Provided for Band 4 colleagues, offering comprehensive coverage for specialist consultations and treatments.

• Life Assurance: 4x salary coverage, providing financial security for beneficiaries.

• Income Protection: Comprehensive coverage at no additional cost, ensuring financial stability in case of illness or injury.

• Matched Pension Contributions: Up to 10% matched contributions, supporting long-term financial planning.

• Financial Wellbeing Package: Includes discounts, cashback, free independent mortgage advice, and access to financial wellbeing support services.

• Mental Wellbeing Programme: Access to the Thrive mental health app, 24/7 colleague assistance program, in-house mental health first aiders, and support groups.

• Annual Leave: 27 days plus bank holidays, with the option to buy or sell one week of leave.

• Additional Benefits: Health care cash back plans, dental plans, discounted health assessments, Cycle to Work scheme, tech scheme, discounted and free onsite facilities, and various social events.

Working Hours: Standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. Hastings Direct champions a flexible hybrid working approach, encouraging discussion with the recruiter for specific details.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical market rates for a Senior Product Designer in a UK city like Leicester, considering the experience level and industry. The comprehensive benefits package is a significant draw for this role, highlighting Hastings Direct's commitment to employee well-being and financial security.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance. Hastings Direct operates within the competitive UK insurance market, focusing on digital transformation and customer-centricity. This industry context means design solutions must balance user needs with stringent regulatory requirements and complex product offerings.

Company Size: Hastings Direct is a significant player in the UK insurance market, serving over four million customers. This implies a large organizational structure with established processes but also a drive for innovation and agility, especially within its digital and commercial teams.

Founded: While the exact founding date is not specified, Hastings Direct has a history of growth and investment in digital capabilities, indicating an evolution from traditional insurance models to a modern, digitally-focused enterprise. This journey shapes its culture towards embracing new technologies and customer-centric strategies.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is part of the broader Digital, Commercial, and Marketing functions, indicating strong cross-functional interaction.

• As a Senior Product Designer, you will manage and develop a team of Product Design professionals, suggesting a clear reporting hierarchy and leadership responsibility.

• The role requires close partnership with product management and technical teams, emphasizing a collaborative, agile, and integrated approach to product development. Methodology:

• Data-Led Decision Making: The company emphasizes using data analytics, customer insights, and AI to inform product development and customer experience strategies.

• User-Centred Design: A core tenet is delivering market-leading customer experiences through a deep understanding of customer needs, translated into intuitive digital journeys.

• Agile & Iterative Development: The focus on continuous improvement and iterative design suggests an agile methodology, where designs are tested, refined, and deployed in cycles.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Hastings Direct's culture is described as having a strong "4Cs culture" (Colleagues, Customers, Company, Community). For a Senior Product Designer, this means balancing team development, customer needs, business objectives, and community impact, all within a data-driven and digitally focused environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior level, signifying not just individual contribution but also team leadership and strategic influence. A Senior Product Designer at Hastings Direct is expected to guide design strategy, mentor junior designers, and contribute significantly to the product roadmap, particularly in enhancing digital customer experiences within the insurance sector.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product Design, Head of Digital Product, or a similar senior leadership role within the Digital, Commercial, or Marketing departments. They will directly manage a team of Product Designers, indicating a clear line management responsibility.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is substantial, influencing customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction through intuitive digital interfaces. By simplifying complex insurance processes and leveraging data and AI, the designer directly contributes to operational efficiency, cost reduction (e.g., through reduced customer support inquiries), and revenue growth by improving conversion rates and customer lifetime value.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to grow into a Head of Design or equivalent leadership role, managing larger teams and broader product portfolios.

• Specialization in AI & Design: Deepen expertise in integrating AI into design workflows, becoming a subject matter expert in this evolving field.

• Industry Expertise: Further develop specialized knowledge within the insurance and fintech sectors, becoming a go-to expert for complex product design challenges.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to high-level product strategy discussions, shaping the future direction of Hastings Direct's digital offerings.

• Mentorship & Training: Formalize mentorship programs and potentially lead training initiatives for design best practices and new tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title, coupled with team management responsibilities, indicates a significant step towards leadership. The emphasis on AI and complex industry challenges provides avenues for specialized growth within the product design domain.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hastings Direct operates a hybrid working model. This suggests a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration, with employees expected to be present in the Leicester office for specific days or for key meetings and team events.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is Leicester, United Kingdom. This location likely offers modern facilities designed to support collaboration and innovation, with access to amenities for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional teams suggest a workspace designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, hot-desking areas, and communal spaces.

• Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary design software (Figma, AI tools), collaboration platforms, and IT infrastructure required for their roles. The company's investment in digital capabilities implies a well-equipped technological environment.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with product managers, developers, researchers, and fellow designers will be available both in person and through digital collaboration tools.

Work Schedule: While the core working hours are around 40 per week, the hybrid nature of the role allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, balancing remote productivity with in-office collaboration. This flexibility is beneficial for managing personal appointments and optimizing work-life balance, while still ensuring team cohesion and project continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the work environment requires individuals to be self-motivated and adept at managing their time effectively, balancing independent work with team-based collaboration, both physically and virtually.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A recruiter will likely conduct an initial phone screen to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss your career journey and why you're interested in Hastings Direct.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: This is a key stage where you'll present your portfolio to a panel, likely including hiring managers and senior designers. Be ready to walk through 2-3 detailed case studies, explaining your process, decision-making, and impact. Expect questions about your leadership style, experience with Figma and AI tools, and how you handle complex design challenges.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: You may meet with cross-functional team members (e.g., Product Managers, Developers) and potentially other stakeholders to assess collaboration skills and alignment with the company's 4Cs culture.

• Final Interview: A final conversation with senior leadership to discuss strategic fit, leadership potential, and overall alignment with the company's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio with a clear narrative for each case study: Problem, Your Role, Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing), Solution, and Results (quantified impact).

• Highlight Leadership: For this senior role, explicitly showcase instances where you led design initiatives, mentored team members, or influenced product strategy.

• Demonstrate AI Integration: If possible, include examples of how you've used or explored AI in your design process, even if it's conceptual. Discuss its potential benefits and limitations.

• Tool Proficiency: Clearly showcase your expertise with Figma and mention any experience with AI design tools like Copilot.

• Focus on Outcomes: Emphasize the business impact and user benefits of your design work. Use data and metrics to support your claims.

• Tailor to Hastings: Research Hastings Direct's products and customer base. Consider how your portfolio examples can resonate with their specific challenges and goals in the insurance sector.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or an in-interview exercise that simulates a real-world problem. This might involve simplifying a complex insurance process or designing a new feature.

• Process & Rationale: Focus on articulating your thought process, the tools you'd use, and the rationale behind your design decisions, rather than just the final output.

• AI Integration: Consider how AI could be leveraged in solving the challenge, even if it's just a speculative approach.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your solutions concisely and persuasively, anticipating questions about trade-offs, user impact, and technical feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio presentation and the ability to articulate design strategy and leadership. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their technical design skills but also their strategic thinking and experience in managing and developing teams, with a keen eye on AI integration.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma Suite: This is the core design tool required. Proficiency is expected for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and creating/maintaining design systems. Experience with Figma's collaborative features and plugins is beneficial.

• AI-Enabled Design Platforms: Explicit mention of "Copilot and other emerging AI-enabled design platforms" indicates a requirement or strong preference for candidates familiar with AI tools that assist in design generation, analysis, or workflow optimization. This could include AI-powered ideation tools, content generation aids, or automated design adjustments.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has robust prototyping capabilities, experience with other specialized prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) might be beneficial for broader understanding.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behaviour, track conversion funnels, and measure the impact of design changes.

• A/B Testing Tools: Experience with tools like Optimizely, VWO, or built-in platform A/B testing capabilities to validate design hypotheses and optimize user journeys.

• Data Visualization Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, an understanding of how data is presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can help in designing more effective reporting interfaces and understanding key performance indicators.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: While not a primary design tool, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) store customer data can inform design decisions related to customer profiles and personalized experiences.

• Workflow Automation: Awareness of workflow automation principles is useful, especially when designing processes that aim to simplify complex tasks for users or internal teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and AI tools like Copilot signifies a need for candidates to be current with modern design technology and open to leveraging AI to enhance design processes and outcomes.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A primary value, driven by the need to deliver market-leading customer experiences. This translates to designs that are intuitive, helpful, and solve real customer problems, especially within the complex insurance domain.

• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are informed by data, research, and analysis, ensuring that design choices are validated and have a measurable impact. This requires a designer comfortable with metrics and analytics.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The "4Cs culture" and emphasis on cross-functional partnerships highlight the importance of working effectively with product, tech, and marketing teams. Open communication and shared ownership are key.

• Innovation & Continuous Improvement: Hastings Direct is a digital-first company investing in new capabilities, including AI. This fosters a culture that encourages experimentation, learning from failures, and constantly seeking ways to improve processes and user experiences.

• Efficiency & Simplicity: The role involves simplifying complex insurance processes, indicating a value placed on creating clear, efficient, and user-friendly solutions that reduce friction for customers.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect to work closely with Product Managers, Developers, Business Analysts, Researchers, and Marketing teams. Collaboration is essential for aligning user needs with business objectives and technical feasibility.

• Evidence-Based Communication: Design discussions and presentations should be supported by user research, data insights, and clear rationale. This fosters a culture of constructive feedback and informed decision-making.

• Agile & Iterative: The team likely operates using agile methodologies, involving frequent communication, iterative design cycles, and adaptability to changing requirements.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the team and wider organization to promote collective growth and consistent quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "4Cs culture" is central. Candidates should be able to articulate how their design approach aligns with serving customers, supporting the company's growth, contributing to the community (through accessible design), and fostering a positive environment for colleagues.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The inherent complexity of insurance products and regulatory requirements presents a significant design challenge. Translating these into intuitive user journeys requires deep empathy, strong information architecture skills, and creative problem-solving.

• AI Integration: Effectively integrating AI into design workflows requires understanding its capabilities, limitations, and ethical considerations. It also involves managing potential resistance to new technologies and demonstrating tangible benefits.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse stakeholder expectations from product, business, legal, and technical teams, while advocating for the user, requires strong negotiation and communication skills.

• Pace of Digital Change: Keeping pace with evolving digital trends, user expectations, and new design technologies in a competitive market requires continuous learning and adaptability.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI in Design Specialization: Opportunity to become a leader in applying AI to UX/UI design within the insurance sector, potentially attending specialized workshops or conferences.

• Leadership and Team Management: Formal training and practical experience in managing and developing a design team, progressing towards senior leadership roles.

• Industry-Specific Design: Deepening expertise in the nuances of financial services and insurance product design, understanding customer lifecycles and regulatory impacts.

• Strategic Product Development: Gaining exposure to broader product strategy, contributing to long-term roadmaps and business objectives beyond individual feature design.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Enhancing understanding of product management, agile development, and data analytics through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are primarily centered around complexity, technological adoption (AI), and stakeholder management. Growth opportunities are strongly aligned with leadership, specialized tech skills, and strategic contributions within the insurance domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach simplifying a complex insurance product, like home insurance, for a new digital customer?" (Focus on process: research, user flows, information hierarchy, testing).

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements with user needs. How did you resolve it?" (Highlight communication, negotiation, and data-driven advocacy).

• "How do you see AI impacting the future of UX/UI design, and how would you integrate it into our design processes at Hastings Direct?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking, practical application, and awareness of tools like Copilot). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Hastings Direct, and why are you interested in working in the insurance industry?" (Research company values, market position, and connect personal career goals).

• "How would you foster a strong design culture within your team and across cross-functional departments?" (Discuss mentorship, collaboration, and the 4Cs culture).

• "How do you measure the success of your design work, and what metrics are most important to you?" (Focus on quantifiable outcomes, user satisfaction, and business impact). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each case study as a narrative with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process/solution), and end (results).

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading, mentoring, and influencing design decisions. Use "we" when referring to team efforts but "I" for your specific contributions and leadership actions.

• Quantify Impact: Use specific numbers and data points to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., "Increased conversion by 15%", "Reduced task completion time by 20%").

• Showcase Process: Clearly illustrate your design process, including research methods, ideation techniques, wireframing, prototyping, and testing. Explain why you made certain choices.

• AI Integration Discussion: Be ready to discuss any AI tools you've used or explored, and how they can be applied to the design challenges presented by Hastings Direct.

• Conciseness: Respect the time allotted for your presentation. Practice to ensure you can cover key points efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating leadership, strategic thinking, and a practical understanding of how to apply UX/UI principles within a regulated industry, with a specific emphasis on integrating modern tools like Figma and AI.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer UX/UI position at Hastings Direct:

• Submit your application: Complete the online application form via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your leadership, end-to-end UX/UI process, experience with complex products (ideally insurance/fintech), and proficiency with Figma and AI-enabled design tools. Ensure your case studies clearly articulate your process and quantifiable results.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your senior-level experience, team management capabilities, and achievements relevant to the job description. Use keywords from the listing, such as "UX/UI Design," "Figma," "AI tools," "Stakeholder Management," and "User Research."

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio presentation, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design rationale, and quantifying your impact. Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you would integrate AI into design workflows. Research Hastings Direct's 4Cs culture and their digital strategy.

• Company Research: Deepen your understanding of Hastings Direct's business, their digital offerings, and their customer base. Consider how your design philosophy and experience align with their mission to be the best and biggest digital insurance provider in the UK.

⚠️ 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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