Find the best Product Design jobs

What does a Product Designer do?

Product designers are similar to user interface designers in that both are involved in digital product design. Both work on the interaction experiences between people and interfaces like devices, apps, and websites. They apply design thinking to repeatedly design and test products and product prototypes, developing an understanding of a product’s users, their problems, and the right solutions for them through an iterative process.

Though different companies may use titles like product designers, UI designers, user experience designers, and interaction designers interchangeably, technically, these positions are slightly different in focus. For instance, whereas UI designers focus on the look of an interface, UX designers concern themselves more with its usability, relying heavily on user research and testing to make sure that, for instance, all the buttons on a website do what they claim to do, like submitting a form or taking a user from one page to the next.

But product design also involves project management and business thinking. Product designers may work much closer with business, engineering, and research teams to make sure that all of a business’s needs are met. In addition, they may also be expected to act as PMs, leading a team and overseeing the entire design process of a product.

What skills do I need to become a Product Designer?

Many people might think a designer and an illustrator are similar professions. However, product design doesn’t tend to involve a lot of drawing. Rather, product designers use tools like typography, colors, art assets, and even sound and animations to inform users how certain elements on a page behave when interacted with.

Skills a product designer should possess include:

• Working knowledge of design software including Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch, InVision, and Photoshop
• Understanding of design processes and concepts including wireframing, information architecture, prototyping, and workflow ideation
• Familiarity with product, software, and web development methodologies
• The Gestalt principles of UI design
• UX/UI design patterns and design systems, and how to apply them

For the project management and business sides of the job, you also want to possess:

• Excellent interpersonal skills, especially for driving design review cycles and presenting design solutions to various stakeholders
• Understanding of interdisciplinary teamwork, as you may be working cross-functionally with business, engineering, and research teams, as well as other product and content designers
• Experience leading teams and overseeing projects from A to Z
• A data-oriented mindset, for considering metrics while building products

What are the core Product Designer job responsibilities?

Product designer job descriptions tend to call on designers to:

• Plan, design, and build end-to-end hardware and digital products including devices, apps, and websites
• Lay out user-centered information architectures and interaction flows for user interfaces
• Construct user experience artifacts such as wireframes and prototypes
• Work cross-functionally with stakeholders on product design teams including project managers, engineers, content designers, UX researchers, data scientists, and more
• Lead product teams in making sure products meet all business objectives and deadlines, as well as user needs
• Rely on user testing, metrics, customer feedback, and market analyses to approach designs and products with a data-first mentality
• Apply design patterns and standards as outlined in design systems, branding guides, style guides, and more
• Track the performance of products to find areas for improvement and problem solve these issues

Should I get a Product Designer degree or certification?

A strong portfolio of your most impressive design work experiences such as on Behance or Dribbble is the first element clients will look at when considering whether to work with you. However, showing that you have training in design can only strengthen your profile.

Job posters frequently seek product designers with bachelor’s degrees in:

• Graphic design
• Human-computer interaction
• Psychology
• Anthropology
• Computer science

New designers can also seek an education in design principles, fundamentals, and skill sets through a boot camp. Take online courses, learn about the best design tools, and start building your design career at strong programs like:

• Memorisely
• Design+Code
• Designlab
• BrainStation

Looking for a one-off tutorial or design course? You can also get useful design tips from sites like Skillshare and YouTube.