Universal Design Studio is an architecture and interiors practice based in London and New York, dedicated to creating spaces that inspire and endure. Founded in 2001 by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, the studio has built an international reputation for delivering thoughtful, finely crafted environments grounded in design-led strategy and research.
We design from the inside out, crafting spaces that elevate everyday experiences. Through the ideas, objects, and spaces we create, we seek to cultivate intelligence, find beauty, and drive transformation, all while deepening connections, inspiring participation, and unlocking creative potential in every interaction. We are looking for a talented Senior Designer to join Universal Design Studio in London on a fixed term contract. Reporting to the Senior Creative Team, you will take responsibility for leading projects day-to-day, ensuring the highest standards of creative and technical delivery while inspiring and motivating your team.
As a Senior Designer, you will play a key client-facing role, guiding projects from concept through to completion. You will balance strong conceptual thinking with technical rigour, ensuring accuracy and quality throughout. This is an exciting opportunity for a confident, proactive designer to take on greater responsibility, leading teams and shaping design outcomes across a range of projects.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the day-to-day design and delivery of small to medium-sized projects.
- Implement creative direction in collaboration with the Senior Creative Team.
- Manage and support Designers, Design Assistants, and Interns.
- Oversee design intent and technical drawing packages, ensuring quality and deadlines are met.
- Represent Universal in client and site meetings, resolving issues while protecting design intent.
- Build strong client relationships and present design concepts with clarity.
- Contribute to recruitment, mentoring, and knowledge-sharing across the studio.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience leading project teams in architecture, interiors, or spatial design.
- Strong conceptual design skills with excellent attention to detail.
- Confident communicator, able to present ideas and solutions clearly to clients and colleagues.
- Solid understanding of RIBA stages, technical detailing, and construction processes.
- Positive, proactive, and collaborative approach to leadership.
About Universal Design Studio
Universal Design Studio (part of WPP) is an architecture and interior design practice based in London and New York. We design from the inside out—crafting spaces that elevate everyday experiences. Through the ideas, objects, and spaces we create, we seek to cultivate intelligence, find beauty, and drive transformation—deepening connections, inspiring participation, and unlocking creative potential in every interaction. Our curiosity drives us to challenge boundaries and ignite emergence, seeking a more vibrant, and sustainable future.
Our services include architecture, interior design and creative strategy and we work with leading global brands and organisations to create physical spaces across multiple sectors and regions.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.
Skills Required
- Proven experience leading project teams in architecture, interiors, or spatial design
- Strong conceptual design skills with excellent attention to detail
- Confident communication and ability to present ideas and solutions clearly to clients and colleagues
- Solid understanding of RIBA stages, technical detailing, and construction processes
- Positive, proactive, and collaborative leadership approach
What We Do
Universal Design Studio is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice based in London. Driven by a deeply held belief in the transformative power of well designed, finely crafted spaces, it creates boutique hotels and restaurants, retail environments, workspaces, galleries and cultural institutions all over the world.Underpinned by a rigorous research and development process and inspired by the creativity that comes from the close collaboration of a diverse group of designers and architects with their clients, the studio employs a bespoke approach for every project, resulting in better spaces, better experiences and better cities.Universal Design Studio was founded in 2001 by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby in response to the growing demand for their distinctive design aesthetic and clever use of material details in architectural and interior design contexts. The studio is co-directed by Jason Holley and Paul Gulati. Through a process of research and experimentation, carefully chosen materials and crafted details are used to help create unique and beautiful spaces. Universal’s work ranges in scale, from the design of a bespoke door handle (the first touch point in a building) and the interior spaces through to large scale architecture and building façades. Universal collaborate closely with clients, consultants, contractors and makers in the pursuit of creating finely crafted spaces that enhance the experience of the end users. We offer a range of services from design strategy and research to full service architecture and interior design, working from the initial brief through to the finished project.
