Visual Designer (12-Month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer (12-Month FTC)

Company: Lloyds Banking Group

Location: Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time, Temporary

Category: User Interface & Visual Design, Digital Experience Design

Date Posted: May 18, 2026

Experience Level: 7-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the quality and visual direction for Digital Cards and Wallets experiences, enhancing customer-facing mobile applications.

• Apply creative problem-solving to complex challenges, translating them into simple, engaging user interfaces.

• Design production assets, including infographics and logos, ensuring brand consistency and aesthetic appeal.

• Create compelling digital experiences across web and mobile platforms, leveraging a central design system for UI elements.

• Collaborate closely with agile cross-functional teams, including researchers, content writers, and strategists, to deliver impactful human-centered designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role focuses on enhancing the visual appeal and user experience of specific digital financial products (Cards and Wallets) within a large, established financial institution. The emphasis on "raising the quality bar" and "delight and joy" suggests a need for a designer who can elevate standard UI to a more engaging and aesthetically pleasing level, while also adhering to established design systems and accessibility standards. The 12-month fixed-term contract (FTC) indicates a project-based need, likely tied to specific product development cycles or strategic initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the visual design execution for Digital Cards and Wallets, ensuring a high standard of quality and aesthetic appeal in mobile applications.

• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive and visually engaging interface designs for web and mobile platforms.

• Develop and produce a range of visual assets, including production-ready graphics, logos, and infographics, that align with brand guidelines.

• Strategically utilize and contribute to a central design system, ensuring consistency and efficiency in UI element application and layout.

• Actively participate in agile team ceremonies, contributing to problem identification, solution visualization, and scope definition to deliver human-centered digital experiences.

• Advocate for and implement accessibility standards in all visual design outputs to ensure inclusivity for all users.

• Collaborate effectively with researchers, interaction designers, content writers, and developers to ensure design integrity from concept through to delivery.

• Present design concepts and solutions to stakeholders, articulating the rationale behind visual choices and their impact on user experience and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution, strategic thinking within an agile framework, and a strong emphasis on user-centricity and accessibility. The mention of "rich storytelling" suggests that the role requires not just aesthetic design but also the ability to communicate a narrative and emotional connection through visuals.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating visual design expertise and a comprehensive understanding of design principles is essential. Relevant certifications or coursework in visual design, UX/UI, or graphic design are advantageous.

Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience as a Visual Designer, with a proven track record of driving visual design quality for digital products.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 7-10 years of experience in Visual Design, with demonstrable success in improving product visual quality.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for prototyping, UI design, and asset creation.

• Strong command of the Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Expertise in Microsoft Office Suite, including PowerPoint for presentations and Excel for data-related design tasks.

• Proficiency with Adobe Acrobat for document management and review.

• Experience in creating engaging digital interfaces for both web and mobile applications.

• Deep understanding of and experience contributing to digital Design Systems.

• Proven ability to advocate for and implement accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).

• Experience in designing production assets, infographics, and logos.

• Ability to translate complex problems into simple, creative visual solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working collaboratively within a full-stack design team, including Researchers, Content Designers, Service Designers, and Interaction Designers.

• Strong ability to manage the design lifecycle from concept through to development delivery.

• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with developers and stakeholders.

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and integrating user feedback into design iterations.

• Experience in the financial services industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7-10 years of experience positions this as a senior or lead visual design role, emphasizing the need for a candidate who can independently drive quality and strategy. The explicit mention of Figma as the primary tool, alongside Adobe and Microsoft suites, underscores the practical software proficiencies expected. The emphasis on Design Systems and Accessibility indicates a need for a designer who understands modern, scalable design practices.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7-10 years of visual design work, with a clear emphasis on digital products (mobile and web applications).

• Demonstrations of how you have "raised the quality bar" for visual design in previous roles, providing before-and-after examples or case studies.

• Specific examples of design outputs for digital cards and wallets, or similar financial products, highlighting user engagement and problem-solving through design.

• Case studies detailing your process for designing with and contributing to a central design system, including examples of component usage and UI layout.

• Evidence of applying accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG guidelines) in your design work, with explanations of the considerations made.

• Examples of production assets, infographics, and logos created for digital platforms.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of your process for collaborating with cross-functional teams (researchers, interaction designers, developers) to bring designs to life.

• Documentation of how you have translated complex problems into simple visual solutions, with clear explanations of your design thinking.

• Examples of how you have ensured designs meet specifications and are usable by a broad range of users.

• Case studies that illustrate your approach to agile development and how your design work integrates into this methodology.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the senior nature of the role and the emphasis on driving quality and process, the portfolio is critical. Candidates must be prepared to clearly articulate their design process, demonstrate tangible impact through metrics where possible, and showcase their ability to work within established design systems and agile environments. The inclusion of specific financial product experience will be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £61,344 - £68,160 per annum.

Benefits:

• Pension Contribution: A generous contribution of up to 15% from the employer.

• Annual Performance-Related Bonus: A bonus tied to individual and company performance.

• Share Schemes: Opportunities to own a part of the company through various share schemes, including free shares.

• Lifestyle Adaptable Benefits: Access to a range of discounts and benefits that can be tailored to personal needs, such as discounted shopping.

• Holiday Entitlement: 30 days of annual leave, in addition to public bank holidays.

• Wellbeing Initiatives: Comprehensive programs and resources focused on employee well-being.

• Generous Parental Leave: Extensive policies for parental leave, supporting new parents.

Working Hours: 35 hours per week, Full-Time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a senior Visual Designer role in Edinburgh, reflecting the experience level and the responsibilities associated with a major financial institution. The benefits package is extensive, offering strong financial incentives, work-life balance support, and professional development opportunities, which are attractive to experienced professionals. The mention of "Flexibility Works policy" and hybrid working indicates a commitment to employee well-being and modern work arrangements.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services. Lloyds Banking Group is one of the UK's largest financial services groups, offering a broad range of banking and financial services. This industry context implies a strong emphasis on security, compliance, customer trust, and data integrity.

Company Size: Large enterprise (employs tens of thousands of people globally, with a significant presence in the UK). This scale means established processes, potential for broad impact, and a structured environment for operations and design.

Founded: 2009 (Lloyds Banking Group as it is known today, formed from the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS). The company has a long heritage through its constituent brands, suggesting a blend of tradition and modern innovation.

Team Structure: The Visual Designer will join the Experience Design team, which comprises interaction designers, researchers, content writers, and strategists. This team works within agile structures, collaborating closely with product development teams. The reporting structure likely places the designer within a UX/Design leadership hierarchy, with direct collaboration across multiple product squads focused on digital customer experiences.

Methodology: The team operates within agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, cross-functional collaboration, and a customer-centric approach. Data analysis and insights from user research inform design decisions, while workflow planning and optimization are crucial for efficient delivery. Automation is likely leveraged where possible, particularly in design system management and asset production.

Company Website: Company URL

📝 Enhancement Note: The financial services industry dictates a rigorous approach to design, balancing creativity with strict regulatory and security requirements. The company's size offers stability and extensive resources, while the agile team structure promotes a dynamic and collaborative work environment. The emphasis on "helping Britain prosper" suggests a purpose-driven culture that values customer and community impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Visual Designer, requiring 7-10 years of experience. It signifies a level of expertise where the individual is expected to not only execute design tasks but also to influence visual direction, drive quality standards, and contribute to the evolution of design systems and processes. The role is focused on product-level visual design for specific digital experiences.

Reporting Structure: The Visual Designer reports into the Experience Design team. They will work closely with Interaction Designers, Researchers, Content Designers, and Strategists. Collaboration with agile teams and likely reporting to a Head of Design or Design Manager will be part of the structure. The 12-month FTC nature means the role is likely project-specific within a larger team.

Operations Impact: The Visual Designer's impact is directly tied to the quality and usability of the Digital Cards and Wallets customer-facing interfaces. By elevating visual design, they contribute to improved customer engagement, satisfaction, and potentially conversion rates. Their work on the design system ensures consistency, efficiency, and scalability across digital products, impacting the overall brand perception and operational efficiency of the digital channels.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in visual design for financial services, focusing on areas like secure user interfaces, accessible design for diverse user groups, and mobile-first design strategies.

• Design System Contribution: Potential to influence and expand the existing digital design system, contributing to its scalability and adoption across more products.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Exposure to and collaboration with UX researchers, content designers, and service designers, fostering a holistic understanding of the end-to-end user experience design process.

• Project Leadership: While a 12-month FTC, there may be opportunities to lead visual design efforts on specific features or product enhancements within the Cards and Wallets domain.

• Potential for Extension/Permanent Roles: Successful performance in a fixed-term contract role can sometimes lead to extensions or opportunities for permanent positions within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth within the visual design discipline, particularly within the complex and regulated financial services sector. The emphasis on design systems and accessibility provides avenues for specialization. While a contract role, the experience gained at a large institution like Lloyds Banking Group is highly valuable for future career progression.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid working model. This means the role involves a blend of remote work and in-office presence, requiring at least two days per week (or 40% of time) spent at one of Lloyds Banking Group's office sites, specifically Edinburgh (New Uberior House Head Office). This setup aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Edinburgh, United Kingdom (New Uberior House Head Office). This location provides access to a vibrant city with a strong talent pool and professional infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and team structure foster collaboration. The Edinburgh office likely offers modern workspaces designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is provided. The company likely utilizes robust IT infrastructure to support both remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with the Experience Design team and agile squads, both virtually and in person, to discuss projects, share feedback, and align on design strategies.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours of 35 per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in structuring the work week, allowing for a balance between focused individual work (potentially remote) and collaborative sessions (in-office). The company emphasizes a "Flexibility Works policy."

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, requiring self-discipline and effective communication for both remote and in-office collaboration. The Edinburgh office serves as a central hub for in-person activities, emphasizing the importance of physical presence for team cohesion and strategic alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of CV and portfolio against the stated requirements, followed by a brief screening call with HR or a recruiter.

• Portfolio Presentation & Technical Interview: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, detailing specific projects, their role, design process, and the impact of their work. This will be followed by technical questions related to visual design, Figma, design systems, accessibility, and problem-solving.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on cultural fit, collaboration style, and how the candidate would operate within the agile team structure. This may involve scenario-based questions.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in visual design for digital products, especially mobile and web applications. Prioritize work that showcases your ability to "raise the quality bar" and create "delightful" experiences.

• Highlight Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem you solved, your specific contribution, the design process followed, the tools used (especially Figma), and the measurable outcomes or impact (e.g., improved user engagement, efficiency gains, positive feedback).

• Showcase Design System & Accessibility: Dedicate specific examples or sections to your experience with design systems and accessibility standards. Explain your understanding and application of these principles.

• Tell a Story: Present your projects as narratives. Explain the context, your challenges, your solutions, and the results. This demonstrates your communication and problem-solving skills.

• Figma Proficiency: Be prepared to walk through interactive prototypes in Figma, explaining your design choices and how you utilized its features.

• Tailor to Lloyds: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to align with Lloyds Banking Group's industry (financial services) and their stated values or goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design exercise, which might involve a short, timed task to solve a visual design problem or critique an existing interface. Focus on demonstrating your design thinking, problem-solving approach, and ability to apply design principles under pressure.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Practice answering questions about how you would handle specific design challenges, collaborate with developers, or contribute to a design system.

• Understanding of Agile: Be ready to discuss how your design process integrates with agile methodologies and how you manage feedback and iterations in such environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio review and practical design skills. Candidates should be prepared to deeply articulate their thought process and demonstrate tangible value, particularly in areas like Figma proficiency, design systems, and accessibility.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for prototyping, UI design, and asset creation. Proficiency is essential, including advanced features for component management, auto layout, and collaborative design.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design tasks, including Photoshop for image manipulation, Illustrator for vector graphics and logos, and potentially After Effects for motion graphics if applicable.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Required for presentations, stakeholder updates, and potentially for creating visual assets or storyboards.

• Microsoft Excel: Used for data analysis, tracking design metrics, or organizing design-related information.

• Adobe Acrobat: Necessary for managing and reviewing design documentation, specifications, and final assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Visual Designer role's core responsibilities, but an understanding of how design integrates with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms might be useful in understanding the broader customer journey.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on industry-standard design software, with a strong emphasis on Figma. Candidates should ensure their skills are up-to-date with the latest features of these tools. Familiarity with how design outputs are consumed by development teams and inform analytics is also a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: A core value at Lloyds Banking Group, driving all design decisions to meet customer needs and enhance their experience. Expect to prioritize user-centricity in all aspects of your work.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards and trust is paramount in financial services. Designs must be accurate, transparent, and secure.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: The emphasis on agile teams and cross-functional work means a strong collaborative spirit is vital. Expect to work closely with diverse skill sets and contribute to a shared team success.

• Excellence: A drive to deliver high-quality work—evident in the "raise the quality bar" requirement—suggests a culture that values craftsmanship, attention to detail, and continuous improvement.

• Inclusivity: As stated, Lloyds Banking Group is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Designs must be accessible and considerate of all users.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile and Iterative: Designs are developed and refined through iterative cycles, with frequent feedback loops from team members and stakeholders.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with researchers, content designers, interaction designers, and developers is expected, fostering a holistic approach to product development.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open dialogue, constructive feedback, and knowledge sharing. Expect regular design critiques and brainstorming sessions.

• Data-Informed: While creativity is key, design decisions should be informed by user research, data analytics, and usability testing to ensure effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Lloyds Banking Group, especially within its design teams, is likely to be professional, collaborative, and purpose-driven. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding of these values and how they translate into practical design work within the financial services context.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Constraints: Navigating the strict regulatory, security, and compliance requirements inherent in financial services while still delivering innovative and engaging visual designs.

• Maintaining Design Quality at Scale: Ensuring consistent high-quality visual design across a large organization and a complex product suite, especially within a hybrid work model.

• Integrating with Established Systems: Working within and contributing to a mature design system, which may involve adhering to existing patterns while also pushing for improvements or new additions.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively communicating design rationale and technical requirements to non-designers, including developers and business stakeholders, to ensure accurate implementation.

• Fixed-Term Contract Duration: Adapting to a 12-month timeframe, which requires rapid integration, significant contribution, and potentially a focus on delivering specific project milestones within that period.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Financial UX: Gaining specialized knowledge in designing user experiences for banking and financial products, understanding unique user needs and regulatory landscapes.

• Advanced Design System Mastery: Becoming an expert in contributing to and leveraging a large-scale enterprise design system, understanding its architecture, governance, and impact.

• Accessibility Expertise: Enhancing skills in inclusive design and accessibility standards, becoming a go-to resource for ensuring products are usable by everyone.

• Agile Design Practices: Refining skills in working within agile frameworks, optimizing design workflows for speed and collaboration.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of emerging trends in visual design, UI/UX, and digital product development within and outside the financial sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior role in a large, regulated industry. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering deep specialization and valuable experience in enterprise-level design operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to significantly raise the visual design quality bar for a digital product. What was your approach, and what were the results?" (Focus on your process, specific design choices, and quantifiable impact.)

• "How do you approach integrating new visual elements or components into an existing Design System while ensuring consistency and scalability?" (Highlight your understanding of design system principles, collaboration with system owners, and testing methodologies.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for Lloyds Banking Group, and how do you see your visual design skills contributing to our mission of 'helping Britain prosper'?" (Research the company's values and mission; connect your skills to their goals.)

• "Our team works in a hybrid model. How do you ensure effective collaboration and maintain strong working relationships with colleagues when working remotely?" (Discuss your communication strategies, use of collaboration tools, and proactivity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, present 2-3 key projects that best align with the job description (digital products, design systems, quality improvement). For each project:

  • Context & Problem: Clearly state the challenge.
  • Your Role & Process: Detail your specific contributions and the steps you took.
  • Tools & Techniques: Mention Figma, Adobe Suite, and any other relevant tools.
  • Solutions & Outcomes: Showcase the final designs and any measurable results or positive feedback.

• Highlight Figma & Design Systems: Be prepared to do a live walkthrough of a Figma prototype, explaining your design decisions and demonstrating your mastery of the tool. Explicitly discuss your experience with design systems.

• Address Accessibility: Integrate discussions on accessibility within your project walkthroughs, explaining specific considerations you made.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to be clear, engaging, and within the allotted time frame. Focus on quality over quantity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on demonstrating practical skills with Figma, understanding of design systems and accessibility, and the ability to articulate design strategy and impact within a large, regulated organization. Be ready to showcase your "quality raising" capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Lloyds Banking Group careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature digital product design work (mobile/web apps), with specific examples of how you've improved visual quality, used Figma effectively, and contributed to or utilized design systems. Tailor your case studies to highlight relevant financial services or complex product challenges.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 7-10 years of experience as a Visual Designer, directly mentioning proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft tools. Quantify achievements where possible, focusing on driving quality and user experience improvements.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, rationale, and impact. Prepare to answer questions about your experience with design systems, accessibility, and working within agile environments. Rehearse responses to strategy and behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Lloyds Banking Group's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives. Understand their commitment to customer experience, accessibility, and their position within the financial services industry. This will help you tailor your answers and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.