Experience Design Director
Experience Design Director

Experience Design Director

Full-Time 66000 - 77000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and build a transformative design function, embedding AI into innovative experiences.
  • Company: Join a tech consultancy that redefines digital experiences and drives business growth.
  • Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, benefits, and a flexible office environment in Manchester.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of design, lead a talented team, and make a real impact in the industry.
  • Qualifications: Experience in leading design teams, strategic thinking, and a passion for AI in design.
  • Other info: Opportunity to meet the founder and team during the interview process.

The predicted salary is between 66000 - 77000 £ per year.

Building a design capability from the ground up isn’t for everyone. But for the right person, it’s a rare opportunity to truly make your mark. This is a chance to shape products, services, ways of working, and a growing team while also defining and embedding AI-powered experience design into everything this studio does. We’re looking for a strategic, hands-on leader who thrives in ambiguity, loves to build, and is ready to take ownership of a transformative design function within a fast-growing agency.

This is more than an agency leadership role. It’s a chance to lead in AI-driven experience design, win exciting new clients, and carve out your own space in the industry.

About the client:

They are a technology and transformation consultancy that helps businesses rethink, innovate, and grow. They partner with clients to build AI-powered digital experiences, craft new business models, and develop cutting-edge products and services. As they continue to expand, they’re looking for someone to establish and grow their Experience Design capability, embedding AI, human-centered design, and future-forward thinking into everything they do.

About the role:

As Experience Design Director, you’ll build and lead the design practice from the ground up. You’ll define how design drives innovation, work with clients to shape new digital experiences, and develop a high-performing team. You’ll be at the forefront of AI-driven design, embedding intelligent experiences across their work and helping businesses unlock the full potential of emerging technology. This is a role for someone who wants to shape, not inherit. You’ll create new ways of working, set the vision for design, and play a key role in winning and delivering major client engagements.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Build and lead the Experience Design function, setting the vision and strategy for design.
  • Embed AI and emerging technology into design processes to create innovative, intelligent experiences.
  • Develop and scale a high-performing team, hiring and mentoring exceptional design talent.
  • Define and implement new ways of working, ensuring design is at the heart of how they build products and services.
  • Partner with clients to shape digital experiences that drive business growth.
  • Work closely with leadership to position as a leader in AI-driven design.
  • Play a key role in winning new business, shaping proposals and pitches to demonstrate the value of experience design.

Is This You?

We’re looking for someone who:

  • Has built and led design teams in an agency or consultancy setting.
  • Is comfortable operating at both strategic and hands-on levels.
  • Has a strong interest in AI and its role in experience design.
  • Can win the trust of clients and shape large-scale design engagements.
  • Is a natural leader, mentor, and coach who can inspire and grow a team.
  • Has experience working across product, service, and digital experience design.
  • Thrives in ambiguity and sees the unknown as an opportunity, not a problem.

What you’ll want to know:

Salary circa £110,000 + Benefits. Office based in Manchester (ideally 3 Days/week on-site).

Interview process:

  • Stage 1: Meet the Founder – A conversation to understand your vision for Experience Design and theirs for the studio and whether they align.
  • Stage 2: Meet the Team – An opportunity to discuss ways of working, collaboration, dive deeper on design expertise and your approach to leadership.

Interested in learning more? Hit Apply Now!

Experience Design Director employer: Raven

As an Experience Design Director at our Manchester-based agency, you'll join a forward-thinking team dedicated to innovation and growth in AI-driven design. We foster a collaborative work culture that values creativity and strategic thinking, offering ample opportunities for professional development and mentorship. With competitive benefits and the chance to shape the future of design within a rapidly expanding consultancy, this role is perfect for those looking to make a significant impact in the industry.
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Contact Detail:

Raven Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Experience Design Director

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in AI-driven experience design. Being well-versed in how AI can enhance user experiences will not only impress during interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to innovation.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare to discuss your previous experience in building and leading design teams. Highlight specific examples where you successfully shaped a design function, as this role requires a strategic leader who can inspire and mentor others.

✨Tip Number 3

Think about how you would approach client engagements. Be ready to share your ideas on how to win trust and shape large-scale design projects, as this is crucial for the role and will set you apart from other candidates.

✨Tip Number 4

Embrace the ambiguity that comes with building a new design capability. Prepare to discuss how you see challenges as opportunities and how you would create new ways of working that embed design at the heart of product development.

We think you need these skills to ace Experience Design Director

Experience in building and leading design teams
Strategic thinking and hands-on leadership
Strong understanding of AI and its application in experience design
Client relationship management and trust-building
Mentoring and coaching skills
Expertise in product, service, and digital experience design
Ability to thrive in ambiguous situations
Visionary thinking for innovative design processes
Collaboration and teamwork skills
Proficiency in developing and implementing new ways of working
Strong communication and presentation skills
Business development and proposal shaping expertise

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role: Take time to thoroughly read the job description for the Experience Design Director position. Understand the key responsibilities and required skills, especially the emphasis on AI-driven design and team leadership.

Tailor Your CV: Customise your CV to highlight relevant experience in building and leading design teams, particularly in agency or consultancy settings. Showcase your strategic thinking and hands-on capabilities, as well as any specific projects that demonstrate your expertise in AI and experience design.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that reflects your passion for experience design and your vision for integrating AI into design processes. Use this opportunity to share specific examples of how you've successfully led design initiatives and built high-performing teams.

Prepare for Interviews: Anticipate questions related to your leadership style, experience with AI in design, and how you handle ambiguity. Be ready to discuss your approach to winning new business and shaping client engagements, as these are crucial aspects of the role.

How to prepare for a job interview at Raven

✨Articulate Your Vision

In the first stage of the interview, when meeting the founder, clearly articulate your vision for Experience Design. Make sure to align it with their vision for the studio, showcasing how your ideas can drive innovation and growth.

✨Demonstrate Hands-On Experience

During discussions about your design expertise, be prepared to share specific examples of your hands-on experience in building and leading design teams. Highlight how you've successfully integrated AI into design processes in previous roles.

✨Showcase Leadership Skills

As a natural leader, mentor, and coach, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to inspire and grow a team. Share stories that illustrate your leadership style and how you've fostered collaboration and creativity within your teams.

✨Embrace Ambiguity

Since the role thrives in ambiguity, be ready to discuss how you approach uncertainty as an opportunity. Provide examples of past experiences where you've navigated unclear situations and turned them into successful outcomes.

Experience Design Director
Raven
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  • Experience Design Director

    Full-Time
    66000 - 77000 £ / year (est.)

    Application deadline: 2027-05-17

  • R

    Raven

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