What Does the Product Designer Career Path Look Like?
Junior Product Designer
Ownership
Delivers end-to-end designs to solve known problems.
General info
Has a good sense of visuals and some experience in creating user interfaces in digital environments. Eager to learn, a good communicator, and a fine team comrade. Has a mentor to work with.
Top skills
Wireframing and mockups
Proficiency in UI Design tools
Familiarity with design basics (color theory, typography, graphic design)
Ability to build basic user journeys
Familiarity with design systems
Effective communication
Curiosity
Having a “growth mindset“
Passion for solving problems
Ability to work in a team as well as independently
Mid-level Product Designer
Ownership
Delivers impactful solutions that solve customer problems and move business metrics.
General info
Has plenty of experience in creating customer experiences in digital with tools that he/she/they use confidently. Learns proactively and by doing, willing to try new techniques. Has a good sense of user needs and knows and uses our processes well. Works independently in a cross-functional team.
Top skills (in addition to Junior)
Thorough knowledge of the tools and principles of design, typography, color theory, and motion principles
Ability to understand the basics of the technology their product is built with
Ability to work within and extend design systems
Ability to communicate with engineers about implementation details
Ability to write detailed documentation of user journeys
Ability to use data to shape their work proactively
Ability to drive team consistency & process
Ability to identify and replicate design trends
Ability to understand the user experience, customers, and business needs
Ability to evolve a product or feature based on feedback, customers, and business needs
Senior Product Designer
Ownership
Delivers impactful solutions that solve customer problems and move business metrics.
General info
Has significant experience designing complex digital products and beyond. Has empathy and a business mindset, willing to shape our processes and create her/his/their own tools. Has a high tolerance for an ever-changing environment and can work on complex problems. Works with Cross-Functional Team (XFT) and mentors Level junior and mid-level designers.
Top skills (in addition to Mid-level)
Ability to understand the metrics that drive the business and use design to affect them
Ability to understand technical implementation details
Ability to guide and evolve the company aesthetic and experience direction
Ability to build and document complicated design components and user journeys
Ability to design a project from beginning to end, taking into account all inputs along the way
Ability to review project goals and assumptions with Product Managers
Initiating product ideas and working with PMs and developers to build them
Ability to analyze and evaluate complex trends and UX patterns
Ability to provide the most accurate execution timelines to meet stakeholders’ expectations
Ability to prioritize work and determine what will be most efficient to build at any given time
Lead Product Designer
Ownership
Leads design delivery across the group. Drives the group's product vision in collaboration with group leads. Leads design within a product team if it's short-staffed.
General info
Has experience in product design and management/coaching practices. Works with a team of product designers, and manages personal and professional development, conflicts. Sets expectations and measures performance, partners with HR.
Top skills (in addition to Senior)
Regularly collaborate with design leadership
Years of significant revenue and KPI contributions
Years of experience cultivating and maintaining relationships with employees at all levels and teams
Years of impact and value to the company’s various levels and teams
Years of experience measuring and improving work processes
Proven ability to handle a variety of projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines
Ability to prioritize tasks and deliver high-quality work under strict time constraints
Ability to determine the right approach for a specific project based on its goals, team, and capabilities
Have an in-depth understanding of user needs
Have a historical perspective of industry shifts and market demands
Principal Product Designer
Ownership
Contribute to design delivery across the group. Drives the group's product vision as an individual contributor. Leads design within a product team if it's short-staffed.
General info
Has a very high level of competence in a given field and a strong general design knowledge. Works on processes and frameworks the team uses. Works on high-level and very complex problem-solving. The professional coach of the product design team.
Top skills (in addition to Senior)
Ability to mentor and coach other designers on the team
Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
Ability to demonstrate a high level of expertise in one or more product design specializations
Ability to easily adapt and scale their communication for developers, designers, stakeholders, and executives
Ability to carry out the design vision by leading the design team by example
Assisting the team in selecting new tools and processes
Ability to assume a Product Manager role for specific projects
Ability to take part in strategic meetings with upper management to help shape product development
A strong grasp of business metrics and a track record of delivering results for the company
Experience in adapting to product design and development trends and best practices
Director of Product Designer
Ownership
Direct the design org being a servant leader, hiring and onboarding new team members. Report and solve issues on the director's level.
General info
Has relevant experience in management, budgeting, accounting, people management, hiring, coaching, and goal setting.
Top skills (in addition to Lead)
Direct and coach team and leads
Envision the future of products
Provide regular, timely, and helpful feedback
Line up the right internal and external resources when needed
Years of experience motivating teams
Influence strategy decisions with years of expertise in the product design field
Manage the relationship between Design org and other organizations in the company
Years of experience in business and goals setting
Ability to give structure where missing (e.g. initiatives, processes)
Ability to start initiatives at org and company level
Ability to create or streamline processes for the org