At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead interaction design for impactful government digital services, from discovery to live phases.
- Company: Join GAIN, a creative-led company blending data, tech, and creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy private medical insurance, life assurance, and a cycle-to-work scheme.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for mentorship and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape user-centred experiences that drive real change in public services.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in UX design, with expertise in GOV.UK Design System and accessibility standards.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 € per year.
Business Unit GAIN Experience: We create user-centered experiences that drive measurable business impact for public and private sector organisations.
About GAIN: We are a creative-led, insight-driven company that blends data, tech and creativity. We believe the best ideas emerge where intelligence and creativity unite, where insight sparks imagination, and where innovation turns possibility into progress. Our specialist teams provide the vision, data, and confidence brands and organisations need to make braver, more impactful decisions. Today as GAIN, we work as a united force, using data to fuel creativity, and technology to unlock new possibilities.
Our Experience team has a strong and growing presence in the public sector, working with UK government departments and arm’s length bodies to design and deliver high-quality, accessible digital services. We work within GDS standards, Design System principles, and agile delivery frameworks to create services that genuinely work for the people who use them.
The Role: We're looking for a Senior UX Designer with a strong track record of working within UK government digital services to join our Experience team. This is a practitioner-level role aligned to the GDS Interaction Designer career framework. You'll be a skilled, confident designer who can lead complex interaction design work across agile delivery teams, helping government clients design and iterate services that meet the Digital Service Standard.
Interaction Design:
- Lead interaction design across complex government service projects, taking ownership from discovery and prototyping through to live service, in line with GDS phases and the Digital Service Standard.
- Design and iterate user flows, wireframes, screen designs, and high-fidelity prototypes using the GOV.UK Design System components, patterns, and guidance.
- Create low and high-fidelity prototypes (using GOV.UK Prototype Kit or Figma) that can be used directly in user research sessions and presented to stakeholders.
- Make design decisions based on user research findings, analytics, and accessibility audits, clearly documenting and communicating the rationale behind them.
- Design for the full range of users, including those with low digital literacy, limited English, or who rely on assistive technologies.
Accessibility and Inclusion:
- Champion accessibility across every stage of the design process, applying WCAG 2.1 AA (and where appropriate, 2.2 AA) standards as a baseline minimum.
- Conduct and contribute to accessibility audits of prototypes and live services.
- Collaborate with researchers on inclusive research practice, ensuring representative and diverse research participation.
Agile Delivery:
- Work within agile delivery environments, contributing to sprint ceremonies, stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, and design critiques.
- Manage and prioritise your own design workload across sprint cycles.
- Support the team in defining and refining acceptance criteria for design-related stories.
Collaboration and Communication:
- Work day-to-day within multidisciplinary teams alongside user researchers, content designers, service designers, product owners, and engineers.
- Participate in and facilitate design workshops, co-design sessions, and collaborative activities with team members and end users.
- Build strong, trusted relationships with government client stakeholders.
Design Systems, AI and Evolving Practice:
- Actively contribute to the development and governance of design systems.
- Identify opportunities to improve design system tooling and workflows.
- Bring curiosity and critical thinking to how agentic AI tools are changing interaction design.
Requirements:
- Significant experience (typically 5+ years) in interaction design, UX design, or digital product design.
- Demonstrable experience working within the GDS delivery framework.
- Expert working knowledge of the GOV.UK Design System.
- Deep, practical knowledge of WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
- Experience working within agile delivery teams.
Desirable:
- Experience contributing to GOV.UK Design System community discussions.
- Knowledge of the GDS Service Design career framework.
- Understanding of government content design principles.
How You'll Work:
- Rebel Thinking: We don't accept 'good enough'.
- Make It Happen: Making it Happen is about turning ambition into action.
- Swarming Our Expertise: We win together by combining diverse skills, perspectives, and experiences.
Benefits:
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life Assurance
- Income protection
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme
- Tech
GAIN Experience - Senior Interaction Designer employer: Gain
GAIN Experience is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, where creativity and data-driven insights converge to create impactful user experiences. With a strong commitment to employee growth, GAIN offers opportunities for mentorship and collaboration within multidisciplinary teams, ensuring that every team member can thrive in their career while contributing to meaningful public sector projects. Located in the dynamic cities of Bristol and London, GAIN provides a hybrid working environment that promotes flexibility and work-life balance, making it an ideal place for innovative thinkers looking to make a difference.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land GAIN Experience - Senior Interaction Designer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend design meetups, workshops, or even online webinars. The more you engage, the better your chances of landing that Senior Interaction Designer role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to government digital services. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and showcases your design process, not just the final product.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common design questions and scenarios. Think about how you can demonstrate your experience with GDS standards and accessibility. Remember, it’s all about showing how you can make a real impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team. Tailor your application to reflect our values of rebel thinking and making it happen, and let us know how you can contribute to our mission.
We think you need these skills to ace GAIN Experience - Senior Interaction Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for User-Centred Design:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for user-centred design shine through. Share specific examples of how you've created impactful experiences in your previous roles, especially within the UK government context.
Tailor Your Application to Us:Make sure to customise your application to reflect our values and the specifics of the role. Highlight your experience with the GOV.UK Design System and your commitment to accessibility, as these are key to what we do at GAIN.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to communicate your design decisions and processes, making it easy for us to see your thought process and how you tackle complex challenges.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity to join our team at GAIN.
How to prepare for a job interview at Gain
✨Know Your GDS Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the GDS delivery framework and the Digital Service Standard. Brush up on your knowledge of the GOV.UK Design System, as you'll need to demonstrate how you've applied these principles in your past work.
✨Showcase Your Accessibility Expertise
Prepare to discuss your experience with WCAG 2.1 AA standards and how you've implemented accessible design in previous projects. Bring examples that highlight your commitment to inclusion and how you've designed for diverse user needs.
✨Be Agile and Adaptable
Familiarise yourself with agile methodologies and be ready to talk about your experience in sprint ceremonies. Highlight how you manage your workload and adapt your design processes to meet tight deadlines while still delivering quality work.
✨Engage in Collaborative Storytelling
Demonstrate your ability to work within multidisciplinary teams by sharing stories of successful collaborations. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve facilitated workshops or co-design sessions, and how you handle feedback from stakeholders.
