About Curzon Street VenturesCurzon Street Ventures is the UK's first place-based venture studio systematically creating high-growth, investment-ready startups in the West Midlands. Currently, the region receives just £75 in venture capital per capita (vs £995 in London). We're directly addressing this £2.54B annual funding gap by building companies rather than waiting for them to emerge.We don't support existing startups; instead, we proactively identify high-value problems, validate solutions with real customers, and assemble elite founding teams.Our Sector FocusWe're building ventures across five strategic sectors where global market shifts, enabling technologies, and regional advantages converge:Advanced Manufacturing: Manufacturing is undergoing its most significant transformation since the Industrial Revolution, driven by supply chain fragility and urgent need for reshoring critical production capabilities. The convergence of AI, robotics, digital twins, and advanced materials is enabling intelligent, automated production that competes on speed and quality rather than labour costs.Low Carbon + Environmental: Every major corporation faces mounting regulatory and commercial pressure to decarbonise operations, yet current solutions are either prohibitively expensive or simply don't exist for many industrial processes. The intersection of AI, IoT sensors, and materials science are enabling breakthrough approaches to carbon accounting, energy optimisation, and circular economy business models.Health + Life Sciences: Healthcare systems worldwide are breaking under pressure from ageing populations and rising chronic disease rates, whilst patients increasingly demand personalised, digital-first care experiences. AI-driven diagnostics, remote monitoring, and digital therapeutics are transforming care delivery from a reactive to a predictive approach.Professional + Financial Services: Financial services and professional industries face fundamental disruption as AI automates traditional processes whilst regulatory complexity increases globally. The convergence of AI, blockchain, and open banking is enabling new business models that are faster, cheaper, and more accessible than traditional approaches.Transport + Logistics: Global supply chains are under unprecedented strain from e-commerce growth, sustainability requirements, and efficiency demands, creating massive opportunities for technology solutions that optimise complex logistics networks. AI-driven route optimisation, electrification, and automation are enabling new approaches to warehousing, delivery, and supply chain management.Your Role as Design LeadAs our founding Design Lead, you'll transform market opportunities into compelling product experiences across our venture portfolio. You'll lead the product design process from initial concept through MVP launch, working across 4 ventures annually while establishing design standards and processes that scale with our growing portfolio.Key Responsibilities:Lead end-to-end product design process from market research insights through user testing and iteration, translating complex business requirements into intuitive user experiencesDevelop comprehensive user experience strategies for each venture including user journey mapping, information architecture, and interaction designCreate rapid prototypes and wireframes to test product concepts with target customers, iterating based on user feedback and market validationDesign and execute user testing programmes including usability studies, A/B tests, and customer feedback sessions to validate product-market fitCollaborate closely with our Technology Lead to ensure design feasibility and optimal user experience within technical constraintsEstablish design systems and component libraries that enable consistent experiences across our venture portfolioLead product discovery workshops with founders, stakeholders, and customers to align on product vision and requirementsCreate compelling product demonstrations and investor materials that effectively communicate product value and user experienceSupport go-to-market efforts through design of marketing materials, product positioning, and customer onboarding experiencesMentor founders on design thinking methodologies and customer-centric product development approachesBuild relationships with design and product communities in the West Midlands to support talent pipeline and ecosystem developmentAdapt design approaches across diverse sectors, from enterprise software to consumer applications to industrial interfacesWhat we're looking for:Product Design Experience: 5-10 years in product design, UX/UI design, or service design with portfolio demonstrating successful product launches across multiple industriesEnd-to-End Skills: Proven experience taking products from initial concept through market launch, including user research, prototyping, testing, and iterationUser-Centric Approach: Deep understanding of user-centered design principles with experience conducting user research, usability testing, and translating insights into design decisionsTechnical Collaboration: Strong working relationship with engineering teams, understanding technical constraints and ability to design within feasibility boundariesDesign Tools Mastery: Expert proficiency in industry-standard design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) and prototyping platformsCross-Sector Adaptability: Ability to quickly understand different business contexts and user needs across multiple B2B applicationsSystematic Thinking: Experience building design systems, component libraries, and scalable design processesCommunication Skills: Exceptional presentation and stakeholder management skills with ability to articulate design decisions to technical and non-technical audiencesBusiness Acumen: Understanding of business models and commercial constraints with ability to balance user needs with business objectivesStartup Experience: Previous experience in early-stage companies or consultancies/agencies with comfort managing uncertainty and changing requirementsCollaborative Leadership: Ability to work effectively across disciplines and influence without direct authorityPortfolio Quality: Strong portfolio demonstrating design thinking process, problem-solving approach, and measurable impact on business outcomesWhy Join CSVThis is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build the startup engine for an entire region and define your career as a pioneer in the venture studio movement.Tangible Benefits: Equity in ALL spinout ventures via ESOPPrivate health insurance (comprehensive coverage)5% pension contributions from day one28 days annual leave plus bank holidaysCompetitive salary with annual reviewsAdditional Perks: Professional development budget for training and conferencesWork with world-class corporations from around the globeAccess to cutting-edge technologies across multiple sectorsClear career progression as you scale from 4 to 80+ venturesBe part of founding team of UK's first place-based venture studio
Job Title
Design Lead (£55k Equity)