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- Tasks: Lead and elevate our design team while staying hands-on with exciting projects.
- Company: Join a dynamic company at a pivotal growth stage in the design field.
- Benefits: Flexible working, equity options, enhanced parental leave, and generous annual leave.
- Other info: Opportunity to work remotely or from a vibrant office space.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while making a real impact on user experience.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in high-stakes design environments and strong UX instincts.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
The role: We're looking for an experienced Director of Product Design to help take our small design team to the next level of maturity at an exciting stage of business growth. Partnering closely with the Director of Product, this is a high-impact leadership role with a genuine hands-on element. You'll be the voice of the user across the organisation, while still rolling up your sleeves and contributing to day-to-day design work. If you're an experienced designer ready to step into a senior leadership role without wanting to leave behind the craft, this could be a great move.
A key part of this role is creating the conditions for great design to happen - carving out time for best practices, advocating for the right level of design rigour, and ensuring design is always an enabler and never a bottleneck.
What you'll do:
- Define and lead our design practice - build the processes, rituals, and standards that set the team up for success as we scale.
- Be the voice of the user - ensure user needs are represented in every significant product and business decision, from early discovery through to delivery.
- Make research stick - establish how we learn from users, and make sure those insights are visible, accessible, and shaping what we build. You’ll help us build a more active, methodologically rigorous research practice.
- Own the design system - keep it healthy, consistent, and evolving alongside the product, with an eye on AI-readiness and long-term scalability. You’ll establish the governance that keeps it consistent as we grow.
- Shape our approach to AI - lead the way in integrating AI tools into the design workflow, and help the team build confidence and good habits around them.
- Bring data into the design process - champion the use of quantitative and qualitative data together, helping the team make evidence-led decisions.
- Stay in the craft - contribute directly to designing complex clinical and patient-facing features, staying close to the work and leading by example.
- Own the vision: Lay out to the business and our users how the platform will evolve as we execute on our product roadmap.
What we're looking for:
- A track record of designing in high-stakes, regulated, or clinical environments where consistency, clarity, and safety are non-negotiable.
- Technically fluent - able to hold a credible conversation with engineers, understand constraints, and design pragmatically in an environment where the cost of rework is high.
- Sharp UX instincts backed by evidence - you use data, research, and clinical context to identify opportunities and make a compelling case for the right decisions.
- You stay close to where AI is heading - experimenting with new tools, understanding what they make possible, and bringing that knowledge into how we design and build.
- A confident communicator who can articulate design rationale to clinical, product, and engineering stakeholders alike - and influence decisions without always having the loudest voice in the room.
- Strong instincts for process, quality, and what makes design teams function well at pace.
Benefits:
- Work from home or at our office in 131 Finsbury Pavement – Industrious
- Equity options available and pension contributions
- Flexible working times
- Work abroad for up to 90 days per year
- Enhanced parental leave
- 25 days annual leave
Director of Design in London employer: Isla Care
Contact Detail:
Isla Care Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Design in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world and let them know you're on the hunt for a Director of Design role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to highlight your best work. Tailor your portfolio to showcase projects that align with their needs, especially those involving high-stakes or clinical environments.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by diving deep into the company’s design philosophy. Understand their products and be ready to discuss how you can elevate their design practice. Bring fresh ideas on integrating AI tools and data-driven design to the table!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search!
We think you need these skills to ace Director of Design in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Design: When you're writing your application, let your love for design shine through! Share specific examples of your work and how you've made an impact in previous roles. We want to see your personality and what drives you as a designer.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to fit the Director of Design role. Highlight your experience in high-stakes environments and how you've successfully led teams. This shows us that you understand what we're looking for and that you're genuinely interested in joining our team.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language and avoid jargon where possible. We appreciate a well-structured application that makes it easy for us to see your qualifications and experience at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it's super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Isla Care
✨Know Your Design Process Inside Out
Make sure you can clearly articulate your design process and how it aligns with the company's goals. Be ready to discuss specific methodologies you've used in past projects, especially in high-stakes environments. This will show that you understand the importance of consistency and clarity in design.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role involves a hands-on element, be prepared to share examples of your direct contributions to design work. Highlight any complex features you've designed, particularly in clinical or regulated settings, to demonstrate your ability to stay close to the craft while leading a team.
✨Bring Data to the Table
Emphasise your experience with both qualitative and quantitative data in the design process. Be ready to discuss how you've used user research to inform design decisions and how you plan to integrate data into the team's workflow to make evidence-led choices.
✨Communicate Like a Pro
As a confident communicator, practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced stakeholders in previous roles without being the loudest voice in the room. This will showcase your ability to advocate for user needs effectively across the organisation.