Cog is a digital design agency, working exclsuively in arts and culture since 1991. The majority of our work is designing world-class websites for exceptional venues. We have an unprecedented portfolio of the most interesting and exciting arts organisations in the UK.

Overview

We’re looking for an experienced designer, ready to step up and take the design lead on our projects.
You’ll be working concurrently across multiple challenges: from big picture concepts, to systematic implementation.
We do work across branding and campaigns but the majority of our work is well considered and often complex websites for theatres, venues and arts organisations. You’ll need to understand websites and how to design sites that will be content managed by our clients.
You’ll need to know (or quickly learn) what’s important to our cultural sector clients and what inspires their audiences.
You’ll need to initiate discussions, lead presentations, interpret and digest feedback and assimilate multiple (sometimes contrary) perspectives.
You’ll need to be a plain spoken advocate, championing our values with colleagues, clients, and the wider world.
We’re a hybrid team so we expect you to be in our London studio at least Monday to Wednesday.

Package

Salary: around £55K
We’re genuinely open to a discussion if you feel you are worth more (or if you feel you’d need to work up to this level).
Hybrid working: studio-based on Mon – Wed (and Thu/Fri if you’d like) plus some client meetings.
Flexible hours: Flexibility around core hours: 10am – 4pm, start early or finish later to allow for school runs and relaxed evenings.
Leave: 33 days (including Xmas and bank holidays) increasing after you’ve been here two years. Plus the option to buy or sell up to five days each calendar year.

Things that mark us out:

The world’s best portfolio of the best (and nicest) arts clients
A proven record of meeting the highest standards of social responsibility and environmental impact
Funded monthly cultural outing with the team
Lunchtime learning sessions delivered by team members and guests
Annual team discussion days – where we celebrate the past and play an active part in planning your future
Membership of the Arts Marketing Association with access to online resources
Occasional team dinners
Recruitment referral bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Travelcard loans (interest free)
Free tickets and opportunities to attend shows and client events
A well stocked kitchen with cupboards full of fancy teas, coffee and biscuits

Qualities and knowledge required

We’re looking for someone who can show us they’d be a great addition to our team. That probably means they can demonstrate the following:

Experience designing outstanding websites, branding and campaigns – proven through a portfolio of examples
Ability to inspire, support lead the design process – demonstrated through significant time spent in a similar role in a design studio or similar set-up
Proven competence working with real world clients or an enthusiasm and aptitude to do so, shown through examples of similar working relationships
Ability to explain complex tasks in everyday English
In-depth knowledge of Figma and Adobe software
Enthusiasm for the sector we work in and empathy for the needs of our arts-based clients, perhaps through personal or professional experience
A team player with a desire to constantly improve, and to help others do the same

It would be an advantage if you could demonstrate the following:

An understanding of the topic of accessibility and a desire to implement best practise and push for inclusivity
Experience designing site plans and wireframes
Knowledge of ticketing platforms

How to apply

Write to us about your experience, your ambitions and the reasons why you’d be the ideal fit for our team; include a few examples of your work in a small PDF with images, links and context about why your design is the perfect solution to each client’s needs.

We’ve got work to get on with straight away. But we’ll happily wait for the right person.

A note about AI

We know it's tempting to use AI to help you craft a response but you really will stand out if you use your own words. It doesn’t need to be a long application; efficient and succinct can be very effective.

The process

We’ll respond to everyone. If we need more clarification we’ll ask for it.

If we select you for the next stage then we’ll arrange an online chat between you and a couple of our team. We’ll send our questions in advance and invite you to do the same so the meeting is as productive as possible.

We might then invite you to the studio to meet in person. Again, we’ll send discussion topics in advance.

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