Lead Digital Designer; UX​/UI​/AI

Lead Digital Designer (UX/UI/AI) Permanent / Full-time Southampton LDOT (  ) & Lead Tap® (  ) Salary: £45k+ DOE

We back talent and ambition - whether you’re a high-performing Senior ready to step into leadership or an experienced Lead looking to build and shape a design function properly.

• This is not a “sit in the corner and design” role.
• This is a chance to own the standard, raise the bar and help build the future of design at LDOT.
• Show us the impact you can make and we’ll show you the package to match.

God-mode designers. Performance perfectionists. Straight-talkers.

• We are LDOT, a digital-first marketing agency in Southampton with a simple obsession: design that blows jaws off and campaigns that actually deliver ROI. No jargon. No fluff. Just world-class work that punches above its weight and makes competitors cry into their dashboards.
• We are scaling - fast. Bigger clients. More complex builds. Higher expectations. And that means our design function needs leadership, structure and ambition to match.
• We’re not hiring “another designer.”
• We’re hiring the person who will lead design as we grow.

This is a genuine Lead role.

You will:

• Set the standard for what great looks like at LDOT.
• Own the quality of our digital output.
• Mentor and direct freelance and in-house designers.
• Champion innovation, including the intelligent use of AI.
• Work alongside strategy and leadership to shape the direction of the agency.

Yes, you’ll still design - this is a hands‑on role. Roughly 80% web design and 20% digital artwork.

But you’ll also:

• Guide projects from strategy through to delivery.
• Protect the LDOT standard before work reaches clients.
• Build systems and processes that allow design quality to scale.
• Help us grow from a brilliant design team into a formidable design function.

You’ll combine strategic thinking with serious design craft. You’ll bring ideas to life in Figma. And you’ll present them with the confidence of someone who knows design changes businesses.

• Join client kick‑offs and extract the insights that shape project strategy.
• Design websites, landing pages and systems that blend performance with creativity.
• Build and maintain component‑driven design systems in Figma.
• Create wireframes and lo‑fi prototypes that evolve into stunning hi‑fi designs.
• Support with content updates for client sites (Word Press preferred).
• Deliver digital and occasionally print design as part of wider client accounts.
• Present and hand over designs confidently — in person or via tools like Loom.
• Collaborate closely with strategists, developers and marketers to deliver campaigns that look as good as they perform.
• Contribute thought leadership through articles, playbooks, social posts, award entries and more.

• Take ownership of the design function at LDOT, setting the standard for craft, performance and presentation.
• Lead and mentor freelance and in‑house designers, providing clear briefs, constructive feedback and quality control.
• Manage design resourcing across projects, ensuring the right talent is deployed at the right time.
• Establish and evolve internal design processes, templates and best practice to improve speed and consistency.
• Review and sign off key deliverables before client presentation, protecting the LDOT standard.
• Support hiring and onboarding of additional designers as we scale.
• Help shape the long‑term vision for LDOT’s design capability.

• Champion the smart use of AI within the design process to increase speed, quality and creative exploration.
• Identify and implement AI tools that enhance ideation, wire framing, asset creation and workflow efficiency.
• Lead experimentation with AI‑assisted design while maintaining LDOT’s craft, originality and performance standards.
• Upskill the wider team in practical AI applications within UX/UI and digital design.
• Treat AI as a performance multiplier, not a gimmick.

• Confidence during design phase onboarding.
• Clear communication and presentation skills, live or recorded.
• Ability to align design decisions with business goals and performance metrics.
• A collaboration mindset - working seamlessly with…