Using digital design for a better future: Rita’s story
bp is establishing a user centric approach across its design function. And with a Master’s degree in User Experience, Rita has taken a lead in developing this approach across the organisation
When Rita joined bp as a digital designer, she found a shared passion for human-centric design. “Digital design is more than just selling a product,” she explains.
bp is establishing a user-centric approach across its design function. And with a Master’s degree in User Experience, Rita has taken a lead in developing this approach across the organisation.
Before she joined bp, Rita’s design career spanned various design agencies where she learnt how to cope under pressure. “It’s an environment where you’re constantly being challenged as there is an expectation to attract clients”, she says. She joined bp last October after years spent doing hands-on design work.
Learning to lead
At bp, Rita now leads teams of designers from external agencies across a wide scope of projects that relate to bp’s new strategy. “I used to be one of those people who just complains about the world’s problems, but when the opportunity arose to work for bp, I saw it as a way to use my design capabilities to work towards a better future”, she says.
Rita recalls one her first projects, designing for bp’s electric vehicle charging product:
More broadly, Rita’s role is about establishing quality control within bp’s design function. The goal is to develop a unified design process where the focus is on the end-user. “It’s an important shift that will serve bp teams across the world. We’re instilling design thinking into everything we do to create an army of designers across the organisation”, Rita explains.
It’s this hand-off approach that has meant Rita has gained leadership experience, managing different teams and high profile projects:
Building a diverse digital team
Rita believes that now is the perfect time for digital talent to join bp.
In Rita’s mind, this freedom means design at bp comes with a lot of responsibility as the business moves fowards.
“bp is also a very diverse organization, so I've met people from all walks of life,” Rita says. As an open member of the LGBTQ+ community, Rita truly values that bp is not just inclusive in name.