At a Glance
- Tasks: Design intuitive and engaging digital experiences for students and staff.
- Company: Join the University of Surrey's innovative digital transformation team.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, up to 40 days holiday, and a market-leading pension.
- Other info: Dynamic workplace with excellent career growth and a beautiful campus.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on user experience in a vibrant university environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in UX/UI design and front-end development skills required.
The predicted salary is between 57692 - 70512 £ per year.
As part of an exciting digital transformation, the University of Surrey is seeking a UX-UI Designer. This role will help shape intuitive, accessible and engaging digital experiences for students, staff and external users. You will combine user-centred design with front-end development skills to improve websites, portals and digital services across the University.
We value, empower and support every member of staff to get the best out of your unique talents, so you'll be rewarded with a generous salary, 32 days holiday PLUS Bank Holidays, pension contribution of 14.5%, and a unique and vibrant working environment.
Role & Responsibilities
- The role acts as a UX/UI specialist within cross-functional digital delivery teams, ensuring that user needs, accessibility and design quality are embedded throughout the design and development lifecycle.
- Lead user-centred design activities, including user research, journey mapping, persona development, wireframing and rapid prototyping.
- Translate research and analytics insights into intuitive, accessible and visually compelling interfaces aligned with University standards.
- Design front-end components and interfaces using modern web technologies, including HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
- Ensure the user experience can be delivered as a functional, technically viable and maintainable solution.
- Embed accessibility best practice, including WCAG 2.2 AA, into design and development approaches and recommend improvements.
- Collaborate with application owners, developers, content designers, business analysts and stakeholders to clarify needs and agree effective solutions.
- Contribute to the development and governance of the University design system, reusable UI components and interaction patterns.
- Plan and facilitate usability testing, synthesise findings and iterate designs to improve user experience.
- Provide specialist UX/UI advice and coaching to colleagues, supporting a culture of user-centred design and continuous improvement.
- Maintain current knowledge of UX methods, interaction design, accessibility standards and emerging digital technologies.
The IT team at Surrey are plugged in to the whole University, and our digital transformation work underpins the University's strategy. IT is growing our digital transformation capability, improving student experience, and helping increase our research impact. It's a vibrant and exciting time to join a great and well-respected team at the heart of the University's strategic plans.
What's in it for you?
We think Surrey is an amazing place to work, and we are carefully crafting a dynamic, flexible, and fun place to work and thrive. Our campus is a beautiful, leafy environment with carefully designed gardens, vibrant green playing fields, and a picturesque lake. With the buzz of student life and superb working facilities, the University is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research in an inspiring, innovative and diverse environment.
Apart from our gorgeous campus setting, collegiate on-site atmosphere and plentiful development opportunities, we also offer:
- Competitive Salary
- Market leading Pension
- Up to 40 DAYS Holiday: 25 Days annual leave + 7 University Days + Bank Holidays
- Travel & Family benefits including cycle to work scheme and on-site childcare
- Access to on-site leisure facilities at discounted rates
UX-UI Designer in Guildford employer: Surrey
Surrey offers a vibrant working environment that empowers employees to leverage their unique talents. The university provides generous benefits, including 32 days of holiday plus bank holidays and a substantial pension contribution of 14.5%. With a focus on professional growth and collaboration across disciplines, Surrey is committed to making a real difference in education and research.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land UX-UI Designer in Guildford
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Surrey for a UX-UI Designer, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Surrey before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace UX-UI Designer in Guildford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like UX-UI Designer at Surrey, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Surrey does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Surrey. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Surrey.
How to prepare for a job interview at Surrey
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Surrey, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Surrey might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Surrey!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Surrey is looking for.
