Graphic Designer

Summary

A graphic designer is a confident and competent designer who can develop designs based on evidence of user needs and organisational outcomes. At this role level, you will:

be trusted to make good decisions

recognise when to ask for further guidance and support

contribute to the development of design concepts

interpret evidence-based research and incorporate this into your work

support the quality of design delivery across teams

lead multiple or highly complex services

Work Activity Components

Title	Details
Visual design and branding (Level 3)	Consistently applies visual design and branding guidelines
Web usage data (Level 3)	In response to complex requests, obtains and analyses website usage data from web analytics software, server logs or other sources, and presents it effectively.
Web pages and sites (Level 3)	Designs the structure and appearance of moderately complex web-sites within agreed style guidelines and in close collaboration with clients/users and content authors. Builds and maintains web-sites. Is aware of the special requirements of the visually impaired and hard of hearing.

Behavioural Skills

Title	Details
Customer Focus	Understanding the needs of the internal or external customer and keeping these in mind when taking actions or making decisions.
Creativity	Taking innovative approaches to problem solving and/or devising inventive and creative solutions.
Attention to Detail	Applying specific quality standards to all tasks undertaken to ensure that deliverables are accurate and complete.
Verbal Expression	Communicating effectively using the spoken word.
Written Expression	Communicating effectively in writing, such as reports and via emails.
Teamwork	Working collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal.

Technical Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Application Development Tools	Software tools which automate or assist part of the development process.	Proficient in
Database Software	Software that enables the user to capture, create, populate and manipulate data structures and where appropriate unstructured data.	Familiar with
Graphical User Interfaces (GUI)	Graphical human/computer interfaces that facilitate effective communication between human operator and computer.	Proficient in
Programming Languages	A set of codes and syntax (supported by software tools) that enables the unambiguous translation of specified functionality into source code for the creation of computer programs.	Proficient in
Graphic Design	The creation of graphical designs that are appealing to the viewer, appropriate to the material and the commissioning organisation and that project the desired 'presence'.	Familiar with
Systems Ergonomics and Iterative Design	Iterative methods and techniques to allocate and optimise the division of functions between the human, machine and organisational elements of IT systems and the functions themselves in terms of ergonomic impact. Systematic and iterative design of the physical and cognitive interfaces to create an effective user experience in a software system, product or service with attention paid to variety of locations and access devices employed by users.	Familiar with
Information Architecture	Methods, techniques and technologies for ingesting, securing, processing and using data and information within and beyond an organisation.	Familiar with
Information and Data Visualisation/Presentation	The ability to visualise and present information and data in an appropriate format that helps stakeholders understand the significance of the information and data.	Familiar with
Data Handling	The ability to harvest, clean, curate, manage, process and manipulate data in a variety of formats.	Familiar with

Other Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Legislation	Relevant national and international legislation.	Familiar with
Organisational Brand and Culture	Knowledge and understanding of the brand image and personality of the organisation's products and/or services and the overall culture and personality of the work environment.	Aware of

Training

Title	Details
Human Factors Techniques	Methods and techniques for understanding human needs and limitations and for designing usable, accessible and ergonomically sound systems. Examples: Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) approaches and iterative design methods and accessibility. Recognising ever evolving user expectations for use of a variety of access devices and locations and opportunities for environmental savings e.g. reducing office space, travel, etc.
Usability Evaluation Techniques	Methods and techniques for the assessment of IT product usability, accessibility and health and safety throughout the lifecycle of development projects.
Security Awareness	Tools and techniques to help users and employees understand the role they play in helping to combat information security breaches and for IT and security professionals to prevent and mitigate risk.

Professional Development Activity (PDA)

Title	Details	PDA Group
Deputising	Standing in for supervisor or manager on a temporary basis during periods of absence.	Broadening Activities
Job Shadowing and Special Assignments	Undertaking temporary periods or secondments in other roles, particularly those that offer a new perspective on own function or exposure to other environments and cultures.	Broadening Activities
Gaining Knowledge of Employing Organisation	Gaining basic knowledge of the employing organisation, its business, structure, culture, policies, products/services, operations and terminology.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Knowledge of Surrounding Technical Areas	Gaining knowledge of IT activities in employing organisation external to own function.	Increasing Knowledge
Research Assignments	Exploring a topic which is not part of own normal responsibilities and presenting findings to colleagues and/or management	Increasing Knowledge
Involvement in Professional Body Activities	Attending meetings, seminars and workshops organised by professional body and reading published material, such as journals and web content.	Participation in Professional Activities
Communications	Undertaking learning and practice in oral and written communications, including report writing and presentation.	Developing Professional Skills

Organisational Skill Name and Description

Framework	Skill	Level
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Agile working Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.	Working Agile working You can: demonstrate experience working in Agile, and an awareness of Agile tools and how to use them advise colleagues on how and why Agile methods are used and provide a clear, open and transparent framework in which teams can deliver adapt and reflect and be resilient see outside of the process
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Communicating between the technical and non-technical	Practitioner Communicating between the technical and non-technical You can: listen to the needs of technical and business stakeholders, and interpret them effectively manage stakeholder expectations manage active and reactive communication support or host difficult discussions within the team or with diverse senior stakeholders
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Community collaboration Collaboration in the DDaT Profession typically involves working in a multidisciplinary project team, and contributing to working groups and wider professional communities. It requires a broad understanding of the technologies, principles and perspectives of related professions.	Practitioner Community collaboration You can: work collaboratively in a group, actively networking with others adapt feedback to ensure it’s effective and lasting use your initiative to identify problems or issues in the team dynamic and rectify them identify issues through Agile ‘health checks’ with the team, and help to stimulate the right responses
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Digital perspective Process optimisation involves ensuring your processes are accurately defined and capture the most efficient way to complete a task by monitoring modified procedures.	Working Digital perspective You can: demonstrate responsiveness to changes in technology, adapting your approach accordingly make decisions to meet user needs in the government context understand the importance of assisted digital and can design services and make decisions to meet user needs
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Evidence- and context-based design	Practitioner Evidence- and context-based design You can: absorb large amounts of conflicting information and use it to produce simple designs
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Leadership and guidance IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure.	Working Leadership and guidance You can: contribute to best practice guidelines understand the sustainability and consequences of your decisions and can make decisions characterised by managed levels of risk and complexity resolve technical disputes between wider peers and indirect stakeholders, taking into account all views and opinions
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Prototyping Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.	Practitioner Prototyping in code You can: create static HTML and CSS prototypes code for different screen sizes version and host a prototype
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Prototyping in code Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.	Practitioner Prototyping in code You can: create static HTML and CSS prototypes code for different screen sizes version and host a prototype
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Strategic thinking Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.	Practitioner Strategic thinking You can: define strategies and policies, providing guidance to others on working in the strategic context evaluate current strategies to ensure business requirements are being met and exceeded where possible
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Tools and software Testing involves ensuring that requirements have been fully met by using appropriate tools and techniques to verify that a product or service works.	Practitioner Tools and software You can: use software proficiently, quickly and fluidly use shortcuts and tricks, and know what not to do choose appropriate technology and outputs, for example, paper size and weight
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	User focus User focus involves understanding the user needs to develop a detailed understanding of the problems that need to be solved.	Practitioner User focus You can: collaborate with user researchers and can represent users internally explain the difference between user needs and the desires of the user champion user research to focus on all users prioritise and define approaches to understand the user story, guiding others in doing so offer recommendations on the best tools and methods to use
Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework	Working within constraints Web performance optimisation involves improving the efficiency and speed with which web pages load in a browser.	Working Working within constraints You can: identify, communicate and work within constraints challenge the validity of constraints ensure standards are being met

Framework

Skill

Level