At a Glance
- Tasks: Design intuitive user experiences for a children's toothbrushing app and programme.
- Company: A dentist-led team dedicated to improving children's dental health.
- Benefits: Paid freelance project with potential for ongoing work, flexible hours, and meaningful impact.
- Other info: Hybrid role based in Manchester with a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's lives while honing your design skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in UX/UI design, especially for children or educational tools.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.
Help build something that changes children's lives in Greater Manchester.
Tooth decay is the number one reason children in England end up in hospital. Nearly all of it is preventable. Almost none of it makes the news, and it hits the poorest children hardest. We're a dentist-led team building the thing that helps fix it, and we're looking for a designer who wants to help.
We run a supervised toothbrushing programme across hundreds of nurseries and schools, and we build the app that carries the habit home, where it has to survive to become a habit for life. Think Duolingo, but for a child's smile, and built with a great deal more care for how a small child actually feels. Every child is on their own journey. We celebrate progress, never shame it.
The role involves taking existing products that are already in real use and making them genuinely effortless to use. Our users are very young children, busy teachers and nursery staff, and families at home. None of them should need a manual. The real work here is making the features so simple and intuitive that they need almost no explanation or guidance to get going. That's the heart of the brief: lower the barriers, strip out the friction, and make the right thing the easy thing.
We're not looking for someone to redecorate. We want someone who understands these users deeply and designs around how they actually behave, with real room to question, test, and bring their own ideas.
We're hoping to hear from candidates who genuinely want to make an impact: someone designing a new level of interaction with teachers and children in mind, not just another organisational tool. If you've designed for children, for teachers, or are simply keen to make a difference for these audiences, that matters to us more than any tool on your CV. This is for someone who wants their craft to mean something.
This is a paid freelance project, scoped as focused short-term work (4 to 6 weeks) rather than a long‑term commitment, though there's a good chance of continued work beyond that at a reduced capacity. Part‑time and full‑time will both be considered. We're Greater Manchester based, and this is a hybrid role with our office in Manchester city centre.
There will be a learning curve and a fair amount of back and forth shaping what we need around our experience on the ground, and we'd much rather that happen in person than remotely. For that reason, we're prioritising candidates who can commute into Manchester. We'd want to meet you, walk you through it properly, and introduce you to the small team you'd be helping. We'll discuss rate and structure when we talk. We're looking to start as soon as possible, so an immediate start would be ideal.
User Experience Designer in Manchester employer: My Dental Buddy
Join a passionate team dedicated to transforming children's dental health in Greater Manchester. As a User Experience Designer, you'll enjoy a collaborative work culture that prioritises meaningful impact over mere aesthetics, with opportunities for personal growth and the chance to shape user-friendly solutions for young children and educators. With a hybrid working model and a supportive environment, this role offers the unique advantage of directly contributing to a cause that truly matters.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land User Experience Designer in Manchester
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a freelance UX/UI designer, your portfolio is your best mate. Make sure to showcase a variety of projects that highlight your design process, not just the final product. Include case studies that tell a story about how you approached the problem and the impact of your design solutions.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Dive into online design communities like Dribbble, Behance, or even UX forums on Reddit. These platforms not only allow you to showcase your work but also help you connect with potential clients and fellow designers. Plus, attending local design meetups or online webinars can open up freelance opportunities that aren’t advertised elsewhere.
✨Nail Your Pitch
When reaching out to potential clients, tailor your pitches to their specific needs. Highlight how your skills align with their projects and mention any related work you've done. Remember, clients love to see how you can add value to their business, so be clear about what you can bring to the table.
✨Leverage Social Media for Visibility
Showcase your design work on platforms like Instagram or LinkedIn. Post regularly and engage with your audience; ask for feedback on your designs or share insights into your creative process. This not only builds your brand but can lead to potential clients sliding into your DMs!
We think you need these skills to ace User Experience Designer in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Portfolio:As a freelance UX/UI designer, your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it’s packed with your best work, showcasing your design process, user flows, and final products. Highlight projects that demonstrate not just your aesthetic skills but also your ability to solve real user problems.
Tailor Your Application to My Dental Buddy:When applying for the freelance role of User Experience Designer at My Dental Buddy, take a moment to research their style and design language. Customising your CV and portfolio to align with their brand aesthetics shows you're not just any designer, but the perfect fit for their team.
Crisp and Clear Proposals:When you pitch yourself, be direct about what you can bring to the table. Outline your skills clearly and mention your rates upfront. A straightforward proposal lets My Dental Buddy know you're professional and ready to hit the ground running!
Highlight Collaboration Experience:Freelance roles often involve working with various clients. Make sure to showcase any previous collaboration experiences in your CV. Mention how you’ve worked with developers, marketers, or stakeholders to create designs that keep all parties happy — that's a key selling point for us!
How to prepare for a job interview at My Dental Buddy
✨Showcase Your Portfolio like a Pro
Your portfolio is your calling card, so make sure it’s not just pretty but also tells a story. Arrange your best UX/UI design projects in a way that highlights your thought process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Talk about the challenges you faced and how you tackled them—freelancers need to show they can handle real-world problems.
✨Use Design Tools Effectively
Familiarity with design tools such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe XD is crucial in our field. Be ready to discuss your experience with these tools in real scenarios. They might ask specific technical questions about how you’d approach a design problem or your workflow, so brush up on those details and think of examples from your previous freelance projects.
✨Prepare for Client-Centric Questions
As a freelancer, you'll be client-facing, so expect questions about handling client feedback and managing expectations. Prepare examples of how you've dealt with difficult situations or miscommunications in previous projects. Your ability to communicate effectively with clients is a major selling point, and it’s worth stressing how well you can read and meet their needs.
✨Demonstrate Flexibility and Self-Management
Freelance work requires a lot of self-discipline and time management. Be prepared to discuss how you organise your time, juggle multiple clients, and prioritise tasks. Sharing how you've successfully managed deadlines and client relationships in the past can really set you apart from the competition and show that you're more than just a designer—you're a complete package.
