At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and elevate our design team while staying hands-on with exciting projects.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing start-up focused on innovative healthcare solutions.
- Benefits: Flexible working, equity options, enhanced leave, and a monthly wellbeing bonus.
- Other info: Enjoy a dynamic work culture with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in healthcare design while shaping the future of AI integration.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in high-stakes design environments and strong UX instincts.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 € per year.
We're looking for an experienced Director of 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.
Key Responsibilities- 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. 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. 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.
- 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.
- Staying 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.
- 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 (on top of bank holidays).
- Take your birthday off and another significant day off of your choice.
- Treat your friends or family to a meal each quarter (up to £75).
- A monthly wellbeing bonus (£50 per month for gym membership/wellbeing activities) or private medical insurance.
- Quarterly team socials.
- An annual learning budget to support your growth.
- Delivering social impact through improved patient healthcare.
- Working at a well-funded and rapidly growing start-up, solving a global problem in a new way.
Director of Design in London employer: Isla Health | B CorpTM
As a Director of Design at our innovative start-up located in the vibrant area of 131 Finsbury Pavement, you'll thrive in a dynamic work culture that values creativity and collaboration. We offer flexible working arrangements, generous leave policies, and an annual learning budget to support your professional growth, all while making a meaningful impact on patient healthcare. Join us to lead a passionate design team and shape the future of our platform in a supportive environment that champions both user needs and design excellence.
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 folks in your industry, especially those who are already in leadership roles. A casual chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best design work and the impact it had. When you apply through our website, make sure to link to it so we can see your craft in action.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by understanding our company culture and values. Think about how your experience aligns with our mission and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to our design practice.
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you note can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in our minds as we make decisions.
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 projects you've worked on that highlight your skills and how they align with our mission at StudySmarter.
Be the Voice of the User:Remember, we want someone who can advocate for users. In your application, discuss how you've incorporated user feedback into your design process and how you plan to continue doing so in this role.
Keep It Relevant and Concise:While we love a good story, make sure your application is focused and relevant to the Director of Design role. Highlight your experience in high-stakes environments and your ability to lead a team effectively.
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 don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Isla Health | B CorpTM
✨Know Your Design Principles
Before the interview, brush up on your design principles and methodologies. Be ready to discuss how you've applied these in high-stakes environments, especially in clinical settings. This will show that you understand the importance of consistency and clarity in your work.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role involves a hands-on element, prepare examples of your direct contributions to design projects. Highlight specific instances where you rolled up your sleeves and made a tangible impact, demonstrating that you can balance leadership with craft.
✨Be the Voice of the User
Prepare to discuss how you've represented user needs in past projects. Bring examples of how you've used research to inform design decisions and ensure that user insights are integrated into the product development process. This will resonate well with the company's focus on user-centric design.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and confidently. Be ready to explain your thought process to various stakeholders, including engineers and product managers. This will demonstrate your ability to influence decisions and collaborate effectively across teams.