At a Glance
- Tasks: Design and enhance digital products for a vibrant hospitality community.
- Company: Join Knife & Fork, a fast-growing tech company in the hospitality sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work setup, competitive salary, and a generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Be part of a close-knit team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape user experiences and influence product direction in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: 3-5 years of design experience with strong skills in Figma and UI design.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Knife & Fork is a fast-growing membership, media and technology business for people who love hospitality. Through our two brands - CODE Hospitality and Good Food Guide – we build products and communities that help hospitality professionals and food lovers discover the best of the industry through trusted recommendations, member benefits, content and events.
We’re looking for a Product Designer to own the look, feel and flow of our digital products; the CODE app and Good Food Guide. This is a hands-on, end-to-end role: as our first in-house designer you’ll work closely with our Product Lead to take features from rough idea to shipped, design the system everything is built on, and work shoulder-to-shoulder with our developers to get it right in the build. You'll be joining established products with engaged communities, helping shape the next generation of features, UX and design systems.
This role would suit a designer who enjoys operating with autonomy, wants to influence product direction, and is excited by the opportunity to build a design function from the ground up.
The opportunity
We're a small, AI-native product team. We use AI extensively across research, design, development and delivery, and every product team member receives a budget for AI tools. We’re looking for someone who sees AI as a way to iterate faster, explore more ideas and improve how teams work.
This is primarily a product design role. We expect approximately 70-80% of your time to be focused on our digital products, with the remainder supporting brand, marketing and commercial design. If the idea of splitting your week between a Figma design system and a launch campaign sounds energising, you’ll fit right in.
Day-to-day you’ll work closely with the Product Lead on digital products, while partnering with the Creative Director and wider team on brand and marketing initiatives.
What you’ll do
- Product & UI (the larger share)
- Design UI for the CODE app (Flutter, iOS and Android), CODE website (WordPress) and Good Food Guide (web, PWA), from concept through to developer-ready designs in Figma.
- Own user flows, wireframes, prototypes and high-fidelity screens, designing experiences that are beautiful and intuitive.
- Build and maintain the design system across both products - components, tokens and patterns - keeping it consistent, scalable and on-brand.
- Work collaboratively with developers throughout the build: efficient handoff, design QA, and the iteration that gets things pixel-right.
- Use data and qualitative feedback to guide decisions, advocating for the user and for UX best practice (including mobile and accessibility) across the business.
- Present and rationalise design decisions to stakeholders, and fold their feedback back into the work.
- Work within our two-week sprint cadence and contribute to product thinking; how things should work, not just how they look.
- Brand & Marketing (the smaller share)
- Create marketing and campaign assets across email, social and print, keeping CODE and Good Food Guide’s identity sharp and consistent.
- Design pitch decks and sales presentations that help win partners and commercial clients.
- Build templates so the marketing and commercial teams can self-serve on routine assets, keeping you focused on the work that needs a designer’s eye.
- Support membership marketing and promotional materials.
What we’re looking for
- Essential
- 3–5 years of professional design experience, with a strong core in digital product/UI design.
- A portfolio demonstrating strong end-to-end product design work across mobile products and web.
- Advanced Figma skills, including design systems, prototyping and developer handoff.
- Exceptional UI craft, including interaction design, typography, visual hierarchy and accessibility.
- A human-centred approach - you advocate for the user, identify meaningful problems to solve, and use data and feedback to inform decisions.
- Experience working closely with developers and a strong understanding of component-based systems and the realities of building for web and mobile.
- Comfort working autonomously - you’ll be the only designer in the room most days, so you need to be self-directed, organised across competing priorities, and confident in your creative decision making & stakeholder management.
- Nice to have
- Experience in hospitality, food & drink, events, lifestyle or membership brands, and a genuine interest in the industry.
- Strong visual design skills and experience working within brand systems.
- Strong brand and marketing design instincts.
- Canva proficiency and the ability to turn around marketing assets quickly.
- Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
- Familiarity with user research and usability testing.
- Motion design skills (After Effects, Lottie) for in-app micro-interactions and social content.
Why join us
- Full ownership of the design function, with direct access to leadership.
- The opportunity to shape products that a passionate community actively uses and cares about.
- A small, close team where your work is visible and your voice carries weight.
- A hybrid setup: 3 days a week in our London office and 2 days remote.
- A CODE membership - access to the best restaurants and bars in London at genuine industry rates.
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and a Christmas office closure.
- Your birthday off.
- Employer pension contribution.
- Two charity days and two industry days per year.
- £100 annual learning budget, with additional training support available subject to business need.
- Cycle to work scheme.
- Invitations to industry dinners and events.
How to apply
Send your CV, a link to your portfolio, and a short note telling us a little about yourself and why the role interests you to ryan@knifeandforkmedia.co.uk.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Designer in City of London
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at CODE Hospitality for a Product Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like CODE Hospitality before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Designer in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Product Designer at CODE Hospitality, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work CODE Hospitality does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to CODE Hospitality. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at CODE Hospitality.
How to prepare for a job interview at CODE Hospitality
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with CODE Hospitality, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. CODE Hospitality might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at CODE Hospitality!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what CODE Hospitality is looking for.