At a Glance
- Tasks: Design user-centred experiences and tackle real user problems in a collaborative environment.
- Company: Join The Key, a socially conscious leader in the education sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible hours, generous holiday allowance, and a supportive work culture.
- Other info: Work remotely with a dynamic team and enjoy regular socials.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact in education while developing your design skills.
- Qualifications: 5 years of product design experience with a strong portfolio and Figma skills.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Hybrid: London office, once per month | up to £55,000 | full time
Are you looking for a product designer role in a fast-growing business where people are at the heart of everything we do? Would you like to work within a socially conscious organisation that is making a real impact in the education sector?
The company The Key is the country’s most trusted provider of knowledge and know-how to education leaders determined to make a difference. We provide authoritative, up-to-the-minute sector intelligence, tools, services and resources that give leaders the knowledge to act.
The role We are looking for a Product Designer to join our Product team. As a Product Designer at The Key, you will tackle user problems and shape intuitive, user-centred experiences across The Key, GovernorHub and Robin. You'll be one of two designers covering the whole product suite, working across two empowered product squads and partnering closely with Principal Product Leads, Engineering Leads, Content Leads and engineers through discovery, delivery and iteration.
Responsibilities include:
- Discovery & problem definition
- Partner with Principal Product Leads to frame problems clearly, identify user pain points and deliver product experience improvements.
- Work in cross-functional teams to identify issues, evaluate solutions and improve outcomes.
- User research & insights
- Plan and run comprehensive qualitative and quantitative user research, including discovery interviews and usability testing.
- Analyse user feedback, sector trends, and product usability metrics to make informed, evidence-led design decisions.
- Turn raw research discoveries into clear user flows, journey maps, and behavioral personas to support and inform the wider product function.
- Interaction design & prototyping
- Construct interactive low-fidelity wireframes and rapid prototypes to quickly validate concepts and test usability hypotheses.
- Formulate high-fidelity UI mockups that support complex interactive behaviors and display information cleanly and clearly.
- Use AI design and prototyping tools to support rapid prototyping, user testing and idea sharing.
- Iterate continuously upon ideas, based on the results of rigorous hallway testing, formal research rounds, and engineering feedback.
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Work closely with Engineering Leads and engineers on technical feasibility, scope and sensible trade-offs during the build, whilst championing the user need.
- Communicate design intent through whatever medium fits: written briefs, flows, wireframes, prototypes or working sessions.
- Present work confidently to internal audiences, then triage and act on the feedback you get.
- Design system & accessibility
- Help uphold, evolve and maintain the design system, ensuring visual consistency and front-end efficiency across products and projects.
- Champion inclusive design, including - but not limited to - ensuring all user interfaces and experiences adhere to WCAG standards and accessibility best practices.
Requirements
Must have:
- Minimum 5 years' experience as a Product Designer (UX/UI), with a strong portfolio showing end-to-end ownership from research to shipped experiences and outcomes.
- Strong, demonstrable visual/UI craft and fluency in Figma, and experience working within an established design system.
- Experience designing data-dense interfaces and multi-step workflows.
- Experience using AI prototyping/coding tools as part of your day-to-day workflow, and actively building on these skills.
- Confidence acting as an expert partner to Product, Content and Engineering colleagues in both discovery and delivery.
- Track record of planning and running user research (quant and qual) and translating findings into informed decisions and outcomes.
- Comfortable working independently and proactively in a remote team.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills.
Nice to have:
- Experience designing for complex, regulated or compliance-related products and workflows.
- Experience in designing for non-expert or casual users, especially where they're under time pressure or acting in a voluntary capacity.
- Experience in the edtech or education sector.
- Some front-end literacy (HTML/CSS/JS) to support communication and handover.
If you don’t meet all of the above but have a genuine interest in joining our team please get in touch - we’d be very happy to chat.
Benefits
Why work for us
We place huge importance on caring for and developing our people. If you join us you can expect a good work-life balance and the training and support you need to succeed in your role and continue to progress. We are a socially conscious company, but one that also likes to have fun. We offer a generous holiday allowance, flexible hours, buying and selling holiday, enhanced maternity pay, free breakfast, fruit, and drinks, regular socials and much more.
How to apply
Please upload your CV, portfolio and cover letter. In your cover letter please explain why you think you would be right for this role, how your experience fits, and why you would like to work at The Key.
Product Designer employer: The Key Support Services
As a Strategic Finance Manager, you will thrive in a dynamic and supportive environment that prioritises employee development and work-life balance. Our company fosters a collaborative culture where your analytical skills will directly influence strategic decisions, while offering generous benefits such as flexible hours, enhanced maternity pay, and regular social events. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team at the forefront of AI adoption in finance, with clear pathways for career progression.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Designer
✨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 The Key Support Services for a Product 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 The Key Support Services before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Designer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Product Designer at The Key Support Services, 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 The Key Support Services 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 The Key Support Services. 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 The Key Support Services.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Key Support Services
✨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 The Key Support Services, 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. The Key Support Services 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 The Key Support Services!
✨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 The Key Support Services is looking for.
