At a Glance
- Tasks: Create stunning websites and digital products from concept to launch.
- Company: Join a creative studio focused on quality over quantity.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive team culture that values your unique perspective.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on digital experiences while exploring new technologies.
- Qualifications: 5-10 years in digital design, UX/UI, and a strong portfolio.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
We're looking for an experienced digital designer to help shape the websites and digital products we create for our clients, and for 3800 itself. This is a broad, hands-on role for someone who loves to be involved in every step of the process. You'll work across research, UX, UI, interaction and full Figma designs, taking projects from early thinking through to launch and working closely with developers along the way.
We're not a high-volume digital agency. We'd rather make a handful of genuinely brilliant websites a year than churn through one every few weeks. That gives us the space to understand the organisation behind the website, the people using it, and what the experience really needs to do - then push the work as far as we can. You'll have a lot of ownership here. You'll be expected to bring your own thinking, challenge ideas, shape the approach and care about the details right through to the finished product. And as 3800 grows, there's a clear opportunity to help define how we approach digital work and, over time, lead that capability.
THE ROLE
- Digital design: Creating thoughtful, distinctive digital experiences with a high level of visual craft.
- UX: Understanding audiences, journeys, information architecture, accessibility and how people need to move through an experience.
- Research: Planning and collaborating on UXR tasks, from interviews and usability testing to analytics, competitor research and customer behaviour.
- UI: Taking projects through to complete, high-fidelity Figma designs, prototypes, components and design systems.
- Interaction: Considering how websites move and respond - animation, transitions, scroll behaviour, micro-interactions and the smaller details that shape the experience.
- Development: Working closely with developers, writing clear briefs, understanding technical considerations and reviewing the finished build against the design.
- Digital products: Working beyond traditional websites when the project requires it, including apps, tools, portals and other interfaces.
- Clients: Presenting ideas clearly, contributing to workshops and helping clients make good decisions about their digital products.
- AI & new workflows: Exploring where new AI tools can genuinely improve research, design, prototyping, production and development workflows.
- 3800: Helping improve our own website, digital tools, processes and the way we approach digital work as a studio.
You don't need to be a developer. But we're particularly interested in designers who understand how their work gets built, enjoy getting closer to the code, and can work confidently with development teams and technologies.
EXPERIENCE
You'll probably have around 5-10 years' experience working across digital design, UX/UI, web or product design. Importantly, you'll have a strong body of work that shows what you can do. We care about depth more than volume, and would much rather see a handful of projects where you can explain the thinking and detail behind the work than fifty websites produced at speed. You'll be comfortable taking significant ownership of projects, working directly with clients and collaborating closely with 3800's creative lead, founder, and external developers.
ABOUT YOU
You care about how things work as much as how they look. You're a strong visual designer, but you want to understand the problem before opening Figma. You move comfortably between the bigger picture and the smallest details, from working out what a digital product needs to achieve to refining the way a button, transition or page behaves. You're curious about people and comfortable asking questions, conducting research and challenging assumptions when something doesn't feel right. You immerse yourself in an organisation and bring your own thoughts, ideas and approaches to the table. You're confident working independently, but enjoy collaborating with strategists, designers, filmmakers, clients and developers to make the work better. You're interested in where digital design is heading and actively exploring how AI and new technology can improve the way you work - without losing the judgement, craft and thinking that makes the work good in the first place. You want to make work you're proud of. And, as 3800 grows, you're interested in helping shape what our digital capability becomes.
DIVERSITY
As people and as a studio, we see the power and potential of a diverse team. As we grow, we're actively looking for the best people to join us in our inclusive space. So if you're committed, caring and honest, you'll be welcomed with open arms, whatever your identity, orientation, ethnicity, faith or abilities.
As a bonus:
- A good working knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript
- Experience working with modern front-end frameworks such as React or Next.js
- Familiarity with headless CMS platforms
- The ability to prototype, experiment with or build front-end interactions yourself
Senior Digital Designer — Web & Product in Sheffield employer: Critical Playground LLC
Critical Playground LLC is an exceptional employer located in Wellingborough, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a commitment to employee growth, the company provides ample opportunities for professional development alongside competitive benefits such as 25 days of holiday and a matched pension scheme. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our creative projects and client relationships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Digital Designer — Web & Product in Sheffield
✨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 Critical Playground LLC for a Senior Digital Designer — Web & Product, 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 Critical Playground LLC before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Digital Designer — Web & Product in Sheffield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Senior Digital Designer — Web & Product at Critical Playground LLC, 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 Critical Playground LLC 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 Critical Playground LLC. 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 Critical Playground LLC.
How to prepare for a job interview at Critical Playground LLC
✨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 Critical Playground LLC, 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. Critical Playground LLC 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 Critical Playground LLC!
✨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 Critical Playground LLC is looking for.