Head of Graphic Design

Summary

A head of graphic design is an expert practitioner with broad industry experience, who can define and assure best practice while influencing, leading and mentoring others. At this role level, you will:

influence both design and organisational strategy and priorities

collaborate with counterpart colleagues across government

focus on ensuring the right conditions and environment for designers to work effectively

Work Activity Components

Title	Details
Commitment and maturity (Level 6)	Obtains organisational commitment to policies, standards and strategies to deliver required usability, accessibility and security. Undertakes or initiates assessment of organisation's maturity in usability and accessibility, and takes appropriate follow-up action.
Content assurance (Level 6)	Protects and defends published content, its providence and source information by defining content policies to ensure their availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and non-repudiation. Ensures that these policies permit individuals to access only information and network facilities for which they are authorised.

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.
Organisational Awareness	Understanding the hierarchy and culture of own, customer, supplier and partner organisations and being able to identify the decision makers and influencers.
Interacting with People	Establishing relationships, contributing to an open culture and maintaining contacts with people from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines. Effective, approachable and sensitive communicator in different communities and cultures. Ability to adapt style and approach to meet the needs of different audiences.
Influence, Persuasion and Personal Impact	Conveying a level of confidence and professionalism when engaging with stakeholders, influencing positively and persuading others to take a specific course of action when not in a position of authority.
Leadership	Clearly articulating goals and objectives, and motivating and leading others towards their achievement.

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.	Proficient in
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'.	Expert in
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.	Proficient in
Information Architecture	Methods, techniques and technologies for ingesting, securing, processing and using data and information within and beyond an organisation.	Proficient in
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.	Expert in
Data Handling	The ability to harvest, clean, curate, manage, process and manipulate data in a variety of formats.	Proficient in

Other Skills

Title	Details	Depth
Legislation	Relevant national and international legislation.	Proficient in
Techniques for Effective Meetings	Methods and techniques for running effective meetings and for understanding and influencing the roles played by participants.	Proficient in
Project Planning and Control Techniques	Methods and techniques associated with planning and monitoring progress of projects.	Proficient in
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.	Expert in

Training

Title	Details
Data Management	Data management concepts, methods, tools and techniques relating to the planning, development, implementation, administration and curation of data.
Advanced Programming Methods and Techniques	Complex methods and techniques for the creation of program code. Typically for use in scientific calculation, for improving operational efficiency of programs or for enhancing the productivity of experienced programmers.
Financial Planning and Budgeting	Principles, regulations, procedures and tools for the financial management of both ongoing activities (business as usual) and time-bounded (project) activities.
Coaching	Concepts, methods and techniques for providing coaching in subject specialisms to individuals or groups (e.g. GROW model).
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.
Latest Cyber Security Threats for Senior Execs	Short, high-level, up-to-date and to-the-point briefing on the latest threats and vulnerabilities in cyber security.

Professional Development Activity (PDA)

Title	Details	PDA Group
Mentoring	Acting as a mentor, advising those for whom there is no direct responsibility, on matters to do with their job role, career and professional development.	Broadening Activities
Gaining Knowledge of Broader IT Issues	Increasing and maintaining currency of knowledge of broader IT issues through reading, attending and participating in seminars or conferences, special studies, temporary assignments etc.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Strategic Knowledge of Employing Organisation	Developing a comprehensive understanding of the business environment in which the employing organisation operates and its position, policies and direction in relation to health and care, country and global issues.	Increasing Knowledge
Gaining Knowledge of Standards and Legislation	Gaining and maintaining knowledge of relevant national and international standards and legislation.	Increasing Knowledge
Participation in Professional Body Affairs	Taking an active part in professional body affairs at branch, specialist group, committee or board level.	Participation in Professional Activities
Management Development	Undertaking learning and best practice of the skills appropriate to managing all or part of an organisation, including business and financial management, benefits management, people management, management of change and strategic planning. This will require both on and off the job learning and may include participation in an appropriate development programme such as MBA or DMS (Diploma in Management Studies).	Developing Professional Skills

Qualification Components

Title	Awarding Bodies
FEDIP Leading Practitioner	FEDIP - The Federation for Informatics Professionals

Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills

Skill	Level
Leading Design Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development.	Expert Leading Design You can: set a vision for and lead design across multiple teams or a whole organisation work effectively with senior leaders across your organisation or wider public sector support a culture of learning and experimentation in your organisation iterate and measurably improve design maturity within your organisation and its partners
Iterative Design	Expert Iterative Design You can: embed the practice of iterative design and agile working in teams or wider organisation lead on prototyping complex ideas at any fidelity help teams adapt quickly to changes in requirements, priorities or user needs iterate delivery processes or team structures to help teams work effectively
Evidence-Based Design	Expert Evidence-Based Design You can: embed a practice of hypothesis-driven design in a team guide the organisation in how to use evidence to improve services analyse, synthesise and use evidence to improve the way the organisation works ensure user insights are shared with and used by the wider organisation and across government
Designing Together	Expert Designing Together You can: effectively plan and run design sessions that include senior leaders or stakeholders help teams connect and work across organisational boundaries coach other designers in how to involve stakeholders of any level in the design process develop or introduce more effective ways to design together
Designing Strategically Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.	Expert Designing Strategically You can: work with others to ensure design becomes part of the development and implementation of your organisation’s strategy work with leaders to ensure design is included in policy, technology and delivery processes early enough to inform effective decision-making enable use of patterns and components across the organisation
Designing For Everyone	Expert Designing For Everyone You can: measurably improve the practice of inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable design in multiple teams or across your organisation help others understand and mitigate the influence of privilege and power on the design and delivery of content and services
Design Communication Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.	Expert Design Communication You can: gain support for design decisions and design strategy from senior leaders communicate design strategy across organisational boundaries coach others in how to effectively communicate design develop or introduce more effective methods of communicating design and working in the open
Agile working Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.	Expert Agile working You can: coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes act as a recognised expert and advocate for the approaches, continuously reflecting and challenging the team
Communicating between the technical and non-technical	Expert Communicating between the technical and non-technical You can: mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government
Community collaboration Collaboration in the Government Digital and Data 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.	Expert Community collaboration You can: solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community
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.	Expert Digital perspective You can: demonstrate knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology, and understand how these impact in a government context make decisions that set the standards for others to follow understand working using Agile methodology at an organisational level create an environment for success
Evidence- and context-based design	Expert Evidence- and context-based design You can: design systems for use across multiple services and can identify the simplest of a variety of approaches
Leadership and guidance IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure.	Expert Leadership and guidance You can: change organisational structures to fixable and sustainable designs lead on the strategy for the whole organisation, marrying business needs with innovative analysis make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent and diverse stakeholders solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level understand the psychology of a team and have strong mediation skills coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution
Prototyping Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.	Expert Prototyping You can: use a variety of prototyping methods share best practice and coach others look at strategic service design end to end
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
Strategic thinking Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.	Expert Strategic thinking You can: lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met
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
User focus User focus involves understanding the user needs to develop a detailed understanding of the problems that need to be solved.	Expert User focus You can: give direction on which tools or methods to use demonstrate experience in meeting the needs of users across a variety of channels bring insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they're met by the business apply strategic thinking to provide the best service for the end user
Working within constraints Web performance optimisation involves improving the efficiency and speed with which web pages load in a browser.	Expert Working within constraints You can: influence, challenge and coach anticipate how constraints might change and know where to challenge or remove constraints

Skill

Level

Leading Design

Leadership and guidance involves providing effective leadership and management through team motivation, decision making, risk management, mediation and professional development.

Expert Leading Design

You can:

set a vision for and lead design across multiple teams or a whole organisation
work effectively with senior leaders across your organisation or wider public sector
support a culture of learning and experimentation in your organisation
iterate and measurably improve design maturity within your organisation and its partners

Iterative Design

Expert Iterative Design

You can:

embed the practice of iterative design and agile working in teams or wider organisation
lead on prototyping complex ideas at any fidelity
help teams adapt quickly to changes in requirements, priorities or user needs
iterate delivery processes or team structures to help teams work effectively

Evidence-Based Design

Expert Evidence-Based Design

You can:

embed a practice of hypothesis-driven design in a team
guide the organisation in how to use evidence to improve services
analyse, synthesise and use evidence to improve the way the organisation works
ensure user insights are shared with and used by the wider organisation and across government

Designing Together

Expert Designing Together

You can:

effectively plan and run design sessions that include senior leaders or stakeholders
help teams connect and work across organisational boundaries
coach other designers in how to involve stakeholders of any level in the design process
develop or introduce more effective ways to design together

Designing Strategically

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Expert Designing Strategically

You can:

work with others to ensure design becomes part of the development and implementation of your organisation’s strategy
work with leaders to ensure design is included in policy, technology and delivery processes early enough to inform effective decision-making
enable use of patterns and components across the organisation

Designing For Everyone

Expert Designing For Everyone

You can:

measurably improve the practice of inclusive, accessible and environmentally sustainable design in multiple teams or across your organisation
help others understand and mitigate the influence of privilege and power on the design and delivery of content and services

Design Communication

Communication involves conveying information using the most effective medium and language for the audience.

Expert Design Communication

You can:

gain support for design decisions and design strategy from senior leaders
communicate design strategy across organisational boundaries
coach others in how to effectively communicate design
develop or introduce more effective methods of communicating design and working in the open

Agile working

Agile delivery involves encouraging teams to build incrementally, test and iterate their work based on regular feedback and other useful data.

Expert Agile working

You can: coach and lead teams in Agile and Lean practices, determining the right approach for the team to take and evaluating this through the life of a project think of new and innovative ways of working to achieve the right outcomes act as a recognised expert and advocate for the approaches, continuously reflecting and challenging the team

Communicating between the technical and non-technical

Expert Communicating between the technical and non-technical

You can: mediate between people and mend relationships, communicating with stakeholders at all levels manage stakeholder expectations and moderate discussions about high risk and complexity, even within constrained timescales speak on behalf of and represent the community to large audiences inside and outside of government

Community collaboration

Collaboration in the Government Digital and Data 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.

Expert Community collaboration

You can:

solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level
coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution, while also building and growing the community

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.

Expert Digital perspective

You can: demonstrate knowledge of the wider digital economy and advances in technology, and understand how these impact in a government context make decisions that set the standards for others to follow understand working using Agile methodology at an organisational level create an environment for success

Evidence- and context-based design

Expert Evidence- and context-based design

You can: design systems for use across multiple services and can identify the simplest of a variety of approaches

Leadership and guidance

IT infrastructure involves ensuring systems and processes are available, adaptable, reliable and secure.

Expert Leadership and guidance

You can: change organisational structures to fixable and sustainable designs lead on the strategy for the whole organisation, marrying business needs with innovative analysis make and justify decisions characterised by high levels of risk, impact and complexity build consensus between organisations (private or public) or highly independent and diverse stakeholders solve and unblock issues between teams or departments at the highest level understand the psychology of a team and have strong mediation skills coach the organisation on team dynamics and conflict resolution

Prototyping

Prototyping a service or product involves exploring, testing and sharing different concepts before committing to the final design.

Expert Prototyping

You can: use a variety of prototyping methods share best practice and coach others look at strategic service design end to end

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

Strategic thinking

Strategy involves creating a plan to achieve a team or organisation's objectives.

Expert Strategic thinking

You can: lead the design and implementation of strategy, directing the evaluation of strategies and policies to ensure business requirements are being met

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

User focus

User focus involves understanding the user needs to develop a detailed understanding of the problems that need to be solved.

Expert User focus

You can: give direction on which tools or methods to use demonstrate experience in meeting the needs of users across a variety of channels bring insight and expertise in how user needs have changed over time to ensure they're met by the business apply strategic thinking to provide the best service for the end user

Working within constraints

Web performance optimisation involves improving the efficiency and speed with which web pages load in a browser.

Expert Working within constraints

You can: influence, challenge and coach anticipate how constraints might change and know where to challenge or remove constraints

The Professional Body Responsible for this job family is BCS. This job role profile was created in collaboration with BCS, using Role Model Plus.

Summary

Work Activity Components

Behavioural Skills

Technical Skills

Other Skills

Training

Professional Development Activity (PDA)

Qualification Components

Government Digital and Data Profession Capability Framework Skills

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