Design Jobs Board

We are a world class research-intensive university. We deliver teaching and learning of the highest quality. We play a leading role in economic, social and cultural development of the North East of England. Attracting and retaining high-calibre people is fundamental to our continued success.

What’s in it for you? Newcastle University is a great place to work, with excellent benefits. We have a generous holiday package; plus the opportunity to buy more, great pension schemes and a number of health and wellbeing initiatives to support you.

Newcastle is an inclusive global University community where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. As a University of Sanctuary, we aim to provide a welcoming place of safety for all, offering opportunities to people fleeing violence and persecution.

Newcastle University is committed to being a fully inclusive Global University which actively recruits, supports and retains colleagues from all sectors of society. We value diversity as well as celebrate, support and thrive on the contributions of all our employees and the communities they represent. We are proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from everybody, regardless of race, sex, ethnicity, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital status/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, as well as being open to flexible working practices.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a CV and covering letter. In your covering letter please outline how you are either working towards, meet or exceed all of the requirements for this role and the essential criteria in the Knowledge, Skills and Experience section below. Provide examples and highlight expertise relevant to the role. Please also provide a link to your portfolio of your work if available.

The Role
Thank you for your interest in joining the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing (NICA) on our journey in bringing intelligence to ageing and longevity.

Situated in the state-of-the-art city quarter Newcastle Helix, NICA’s mission is to create a world in which we all live better, for longer. We work with innovation experts, industry, academics, research and technology organisations and citizens, to develop solutions that enhance life as we age, promoting a positive impact on society at scale.

We’re in search of an experienced, Digital Designer with high attention to detail, to design digital projects and meaningful user experiences for social causes, relevant topics and stories that matter. You will take responsibility for leading the delivery of key programmatic design projects by championing user centred design methods to develop citizen focused, digitally enabled products and services. You will work on the global expansion of our VOICE community and contribute towards the design and development of Ageing Intelligence® platform as well as day-to-day operational needs.

As a Digital Designer, you’ll work with creatives and developers to design quality interactive and digital experiences and tools, coordinating with project managers and delivery teams to deliver projects on time, on budget and in line with clients’ expectations. You’ll work on multiple projects simultaneously from initial briefing through to successful completion and be comfortable working independently and collaboratively as part of a multi-disciplinary team.

The UK’s National Innovation Centre for Ageing at Newcastle University has been funded by Government and the University. We are committed to the professional career development of all our colleagues. You will benefit from a range of excellent development opportunities including internal and external training, access to specialist networking groups and opportunities to gain experience in the wider space of ageing and longevity. We provide a great range of benefits and discounts for all colleagues at Newcastle University, including the opportunity for blended working and flexible hours. You can learn more about what is available on our Benefits website page.

To apply, please complete the online application and attach a CV and covering letter. In your covering letter please outline how you are either working towards, meet or exceed all of the requirements for this role and the essential criteria in the Knowledge, Skills and Experience section below. Provide examples and highlight expertise relevant to the role and provide a link / or copy of your portfolio of work.

For informal enquiries, please contact Tom Nappey tom.nappey@newcastle.ac.uk

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the design of digital products and applications from discovery and wireframing, to high fidelity mock-ups, prototypes and design systems
• Translate project requirements and user research insights into intuitive, user-centred designs for digital and or physical applications
• Effectively communicate complex design rationale to various stakeholders, including team members, current and prospective clients
• Work with both the design & VOICE team to develop innovative digital applications and solutions whilst maintaining a cohesive brand and visual style across user interface design, iconography, typography and imagery
• Work with and contribute to our design system to create consistent, functional and beautiful UI’s and experiences
• Work alongside the development team to deliver new features and improve on existing ones
• Participate in design reviews and ideation sessions, giving and receiving constructive feedback
• Be a great team player with the ability to collaborate company-wide, working closely with developers, managers and designers
• Have a genuine passion for UI//UX and creating meaningful digital experiences maintaining a knowledge of wider industry UI/UX trends and relevant technology trends
• Represent NICA and disseminate information about them and their work at events, seminars and webinars
• Other duties within the scope and general nature of the grade as required

The Person

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• An in-depth and proven career within the UX/UI design space, within a digital agency developing quality digital experiences
• Experience in designing digital applications from conception through to the creation of robust design systems utilising a variety of techniques such as wireframing, user journeys, prototyping, and high-fidelity mock-ups
• Have experience working in and designing responsive web design applications and user experiences for digital products (desktop, tablet and mobile)
• Expert knowledge and experience of designing in Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud
• Experience in the facilitation and delivery of workshops using a broad range of design methods (e.g. User Centred
• Design, User Research, Personas and Storyboarding, Customer Journey Mapping, Service Blueprints and A/B Testing)
• Broad understanding of web/mobile UI standards and accessible design
• Strategic thinking; you’ll be able to identify industry trends and opportunities and shape the direction of projects
• The ability to balance creativity and production workload, with concurrent and conflicting deadlines
• Must have an eye for visual design excellence, an attention to detail and experience applying human-centred design principles
• Have a solid portfolio demonstrating your skills across a variety of projects and outputs
• Must have strong organizational skills and be able to determine priorities based on business strategy and schedule needs
• Ability to collaborate and work effectively with a cross-functional team of designers, developers and programme managers, and others to deliver the product vision and designs
• Excellent communication skills including the ability to present complex or technical information and design solutions to a multi-disciplinary team

Attributes and Behaviour

Works continually towards achieving success through understanding and meeting or exceeding the expectations of project collaborators, the University, students, colleagues and other stakeholders. Is enthusiastic in getting the job done on time and demonstrates high energy and commitment to the delivery of excellent service

Generates a range of viable options and decides on an appropriate course of action that best fits organisational and area goals. Encourages creative and innovative thinking in self and others and makes decisions based on understanding the wider organisational needs and having considered a range of possible options

Operates in a number of different teams and groups across the organisation, confident in adopting a range of team roles. Looks at ways of developing cross functional co-operation and support and looks to build alliances and relationships outside of the group

Understands individual or group motives, understands the culture of a particular area, school or faculty. Is able to quickly and effectively learn the methods and language used within other groups

Works in a planned and structured way, uses own and others’ time effectively. Sets own priorities in conjunction with team and area objectives. Quickly identifies what is important and prioritises accordingly whilst monitoring and controlling workflow of teams

Qualifications

Degree in a design / graphics / human computer interaction related field or closely related discipline or equivalent and demonstrable work experience

A web-accessible portfolio that includes design samples that effectively communicate your process, including project insights and solutions required