At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the development of a design system and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
- Company: Join Nando’s, a vibrant brand focused on creating lasting happiness.
- Benefits: Flexible contract, creative environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team that values creativity and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on user experiences while working with innovative design tools.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in design systems, strong collaboration, and attention to detail.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 70000 £ per year.
This is an outside IR35 contract.
Nando’s is on a journey to Create Lasting Happiness, making a difference to the lives of our people, our customers, and the communities we work in.
Originally started in Johannesburg, South Africa, we pride ourselves on creating memorable experiences for everyone involved in Nando’s: from our employees, communities, founders, and suppliers, but most importantly, our customers.
We’re looking for an exceptionally detailed oriented, Design Systems Designer with a strong sense of flair and negotiation skills.
We’ve built a robust system run by a strong, dedicated team.
While workflows, tooling and processes are in place, there’s plenty of room for you to bring your ideas, make an impact, and shape how we continue to evolve.
A day in the life...
- Lead the development of the design system, working with the Head of UX Design and Tech Lead to ensure scalable components across platforms and use cases.
Collaborate with product managers, designers, and engineers to define design requirements for the system.
- Possess the necessary UI skills to take existing conceptual work and transform them into scalable and user-friendly designs while maintaining their unique style and visual appeal.
- Create and maintain design guidelines, patterns, and component documentation across Figma and Zeroheight, ensuring what is documented accurately reflects what has been implemented in code.
This includes identifying and resolving drift between the Figma library, Zeroheight, and the component library.
- Conduct systematic reviews of the design system to identify inconsistencies between design, documentation, and implementation.
Make principled decisions about what to consolidate, update, or deprecate, and communicate those decisions clearly to the team.
- Ensure we design our experiences to enable Customers and Nandocas to seamlessly transition between our digital and physical channels.
A champion of accessibility, you will ensure our digital products and services are inclusive for all.
- Uses AI-assisted tools fluently in design practice and can set up workflows that other team members can pick up and build on.
- Brings considered judgement about where AI accelerates design system work and where it risks fragmenting it, with a critical eye for the \"almost right\" outputs that are hardest to catch.
- Comfortable using AI-assisted design tools to accelerate component production, with a clear methodology for validating outputs against system standards before publication.
- Understands design token architecture at a practical level, including Figma variables and token hierarchy, and can structure and document tokens in a way that supports both adoption and downstream AI-assisted workflows.
- Have excellent negotiation skills and work closely with designers and engineers to ensure seamless integration and implementation of the design system within our digital products.
- Know that words and narrative play a strong part in explaining design decisions and presenting work with the relevant context to the UXD team, peers and stakeholders.
- Suggest improvements in existing methodologies and best practices for design systems.
Contribute to our communities of practice through knowledge-sharing and presentations with other members of the UXD and design system team.
- Hot Skills
- 5+ years of experience in a Design System role
- Delivered multiple instances of successful work within product areas, with a solid understanding of design systems, the double diamond process, heuristics and UX methodologies.
- Be a strong collaborator, balancing the voice of the systems user with business goals, while pushing for the best end user experience possible.
- Excellent attention to detail and craft, you pick on up the little things before anyone else.
- Experience in the use of motion with UI to production level.
- Proficiency in Figma is essential, including the ability to build and maintain design components, ensuring consistent and efficient design implementation across projects.
- Passionate about all things design with a good level of product thinking, market fit and customer experience.
- Aware your words count. How you describe your design decisions is as important to the success of your work as the work itself.
- Someone who wants to show up as the best version of you at work.
- Inspiring. What can we learn from you as much as what can you learn from us.
- In depth knowledge in your subject matter, strong knowledge other domains, the holistic customer experience and the business.
Design Systems Designer in London employer: Nando's UK & IRE
Nando's UK & IRE is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant work culture in Salford, where team members are encouraged to grow and develop into future leaders. With competitive salaries, benefits like free food at work, and opportunities for travel, Nando's prioritises employee satisfaction and career advancement, making it a rewarding place to build your career while delivering outstanding customer experiences.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Systems Designer in London
✨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 Design Systems Designer in London
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 Nando's UK & IRE:When applying for the freelance role of Design Systems Designer at Nando's UK & IRE, 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 Nando's UK & IRE 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 Nando's UK & IRE
✨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.
