Technology Industrial Placement Review

Produced production-ready, annotated high-fidelity prototypes for Nationwide’s Mobile Banking app, using the Nationwide Experience Library (NEL) and accounting for platform-specific behaviours (iOS, Android, tablet), accessibility (WCAG), and interaction states. Designs supported features used by over 6 million active app users and were aligned with backend logic, system events, and API constraints through close collaboration with engineers and solution architects.
Combined UX design with product strategy, translating complex requirements into scalable, user-centred solutions that balanced customer needs with regulatory, operational, and commercial goals. Led end-to-end design processes — from discovery workshops and journey mapping to validation and QA — while actively engaging with stakeholders across Product, Engineering, Legal, Risk, and Compliance to ensure business alignment, technical feasibility, and a measurable impact on service performance and customer experience.

Led a high-impact, end-to-end, four-month UX design initiative, managing the full product design lifecycle from initial discovery through comprehensive stakeholder engagement and user research. This included competitive benchmarking, problem definition, user journey mapping, and delivering fully annotated, production-ready prototypes. Designs leveraged scalable component libraries, reusable Figma instances, and design system standards (Nationwide Experience Library - NEL) to ensure consistency, maintainability, and rapid iteration. Close collaboration with engineers and solution architects ensured seamless alignment with backend architecture, system event flows, and API constraints, facilitating efficient implementation within Nationwide’s complex mobile banking ecosystem.
As the lead UX designer and primary liaison, collaborated across multidisciplinary teams—including Product Management, Engineering, Legal, Risk, and Compliance—to drive alignment on design vision, project scope, and success metrics. Designed and facilitated senior stakeholder presentations, effectively communicating complex design rationale and securing executive buy-in. Oversaw the creation and management of detailed design specifications and interaction states to bridge UX intent and technical feasibility, including accessibility compliance (WCAG) and platform-specific behaviours (iOS, Android, tablet).
Demonstrated the ability to navigate and balance competing priorities across regulatory, operational, and commercial domains, delivering user-centred solutions that met stringent compliance requirements while enhancing business performance and customer satisfaction. The outcome was a transformative user experience impacting over six million active users, significantly improving payment workflows by enhancing usability, system reliability, and secure transaction processes.

Throughout the placement, significant growth was achieved both in developing existing skills and acquiring new competencies critical to the role of a Technology Product Designer. Early exposure to real-world design constraints highlighted the importance of bridging user-centred design with technical feasibility, leading to enhanced proficiency in tools such as Figma—particularly in building scalable, accessible design systems using auto layout, variants, and component properties.
The transition from supporting roles to leading full projects required rapid development in project ownership, stakeholder management, and communication skills. This included facilitating discovery workshops, conducting segmentation and competitor analysis, and translating research insights into actionable product strategies. Close collaboration with engineers and solution architects deepened understanding of backend system architectures, asynchronous processing, and API integrations, which informed more technically aligned design decisions.
Moreover, skills in balancing regulatory, legal, and commercial requirements alongside user experience were strengthened by regular engagement with cross-functional teams. Delivering presentations to diverse stakeholder groups refined persuasive communication and the ability to justify design choices through data-driven insights and business impact.
Finally, personal development in adaptability, resilience, and emotional intelligence grew significantly, especially when navigating organisational restructures and shifting project timelines. These softer skills complemented technical expertise, fostering a holistic professional growth that integrates design thinking, business acumen, and collaborative leadership.

The onboarding experience included a fully expensed, week-long trip to Swindon with all the other industrial placement interns. This was a great chance to meet everyone, make friends, and gradually feel welcomed into the Nationwide community. Managers were lovely and genuinely supportive, always taking the time to check in and offer guidance. Whenever challenges or uncertainties arose, both managers and senior team members were incredibly approachable and patient, helping to turn difficulties into valuable learning opportunities. Their encouragement made it easy to ask questions and grow confidently in the role.
There was also a year-long Industrial Placement project that involved all the interns, which helped us keep in touch regularly and brought everyone closer together, leading to some really strong friendships. The Early Careers team stayed in close contact throughout the placement, providing full support with careers advice, project guidance, and regular quarterly meetings. Each of us had a personal Early Careers manager assigned who offered tailored support and ensured we were on track.
Everything felt very well planned and organised, with excellent communication from start to finish. This made it easy to focus on learning and development, knowing that support was always there when needed and that the team genuinely cared about our growth and wellbeing.

The company culture at Nationwide felt genuinely inclusive and supportive from day one. I remember during the first week in Swindon, everyone—from fellow interns to senior leaders—was so approachable and down-to-earth, which really helped ease any nerves. It wasn’t just about work; there were plenty of informal moments, like coffee breaks and social events, where I got to know colleagues across different teams. This created a friendly atmosphere where collaboration felt natural rather than forced.
One moment that really stood out was when I hit a roadblock on a complex design challenge. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, I reached out to my manager, who not only helped me break down the problem but also shared some of their own early-career struggles. That honesty and encouragement made me feel valued and motivated to push through.
The wider team culture encouraged curiosity and continuous learning. People were always willing to offer advice or share knowledge, no matter how busy they were. This openness extended beyond just my immediate team; I often found myself learning from colleagues in Legal, Risk, Product and Engineering during cross-functional meetings.
Overall, the atmosphere was calm yet energetic—there was a clear focus on delivering quality work but balanced with genuine care for wellbeing. I felt trusted to take ownership of projects, but also supported whenever I needed help, which made for a really positive and growth-focused environment.

I absolutely loved my placement experience. The work itself was engaging and challenging, giving me the chance to contribute to meaningful projects and grow my skills. Beyond the day-to-day tasks, there were plenty of fantastic social opportunities that made the placement truly memorable—everything from free rock climbing sessions to BBQs and after-work drinks that helped build a strong sense of community.
One of the highlights was the Industrial Placement (IP) project, where a group of us stepped into consultant roles, meeting with external startup CEOs and working on real business challenges outside of our usual responsibilities. This not only broadened my perspective but also created a great bonding experience with other interns.
Beyond the core responsibilities, the company provided excellent support for continuous learning, including free access to Udemy courses. This allowed me to upskill in areas like UX design, cloud technologies, and software tools, empowering me to take on more complex tasks and improve the quality of my work.
I was also fortunate to go on a trip to Europe with fellow IPs, which forged lasting friendships and added an exciting personal dimension to the placement. Overall, the friendly and inclusive atmosphere combined with the balance of professional and social activities made this placement an incredibly enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Yes