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Product designers are the creative minds behind the products you purchase. They have a key role in the product creation and design process. With their architectural, marketing, artistic and design knowledge and skills, they can develop products and design strategies from scratch to finish.
We’ve prepared this guide to introduce you to the leading roles and responsibilities of product designers and made a brief list of websites where you can look for jobs in the product and UX/UI design field.
In a nutshell, a product designer’s primary role is to solve problems that might arise during the design process. They focus on crafting the user experience of a product while aligning it with the business goals set by clients and company managers.
Their role often extends beyond just the visual or tactile elements. In most cases, they must have prior experience in information architecture and system design.
Depending on the company, the scope of the design department, and the individual's specific skills, a product designer might have a different job title, such as the following:
Product designers are undoubtedly invaluable assets to any type of company that is involved in product design. Their knowledge and skills are essential during specific phases of product development.
For example, during the initial stages, such as design and proof-of-concept, product designers always play a vital role in transforming the product's objectives into practical UX and provide essential feedback on all of the necessary requirements. Hence, the product meets the unique wants and needs of the target audience.
We can differentiate three main product design types:
These design fields have an essential role in product design, as they all have their own purpose throughout the UX development process.
UI design primarily focuses on creating a product's visual and interactive aspects. Product designers, whose primary task is UI design, go through all the touchpoints where the target audience will interact with the product and ensure the product interface is intuitive, user-friendly, and aesthetically aligned with the customer's expectations.
This type of design is vital for enhancing user experience and making products accessible and engaging.
System design is all about a specific product's broader, interconnected structure. This type of design involves meticulous planning and organising of various components and elements of a product or service so they can work together seamlessly. Additionally, it ensures that the entire design system functions efficiently and effectively.
Finally, process design optimises the methods and workflows used to create and maintain a product’s sustainability.
It involves streamlining procedures, coming up with sustainable solutions, i.e. reducing waste, and ensuring that each step in the product development process will effectively contribute to the outcome. Good process design is vital to improving efficiency and product quality.
Product designers can often be referred to as UX or UX/UI designers and vice versa. However, although the term UX designer is interchangeable with product designer in many companies, there are specific differences in tasks and responsibilities in some cases.
For example, UX designers’ main task is to analyse and monitor the target audience’s journey. On the other hand, product designers focus on the product’s usability and the pre-set goals.
Now that we’ve covered all the basics let’s learn more about the day-to-day tasks of product designers.
Product designers have a wide range of responsibilities when it comes to product design. They are constantly working on different aspects, from conceptualizing high-level ideas to perfecting the smallest details.
Keep in mind the tasks product designer do daily differs in every company (based on the company organisation, culture, business, product etc)
Their primary focus is always to find suitable and deliverable ways to enhance and improve the user experience for a specific product.
Some of their creative day-to-day tasks are:
These days, product designers collaborate with other team members involved in the different stages of product development. By working alongside other professionals in the product and UX/UI design fields, they can shape the product's functionality and usability much faster.
Since they also play an essential role in prototype creation, their skillset may have to extend to at least the basic coding knowledge, typically involving front-end languages (HTML and CSS). Product designers often contribute to creating digital assets such as logos, icons, buttons, and even the product’s descriptive content.
In some companies, product designers can even be in charge of maintaining a design library. They are also likely to be involved in the user testing phase, so having prior knowledge of UX research methods can be a great asset.
For projects involving physical products or hardware, a product designer’s role expands to select various materials, colours, and textures. They might have to use tools like 3-D printers for prototyping and suggest production techniques.
Nowadays, there are many online platforms where you can search for various online and in-person internships and entry, mid and senior-level jobs in the design industry.
Here’s a brief list of some of our top picks:
With the growing need for product designers, many companies offer attractive salaries worldwide. Product designers’ yearly median wage depends on the required knowledge and prior experience for the position (early, mid or late-career) and the hiring company’s type and location.
Referring to Glassdoor's data, the average earnings for US-based product designers, including bonuses, commissions, tips, shared profits, and other incentives, is around $95,183 yearly. This is the annual paycheck product designers receive in some of the largest US cities:
In addition, this is the current data on product designers’ median yearly income in several European countries:
The role of a product designer is multifaceted and integral to creating functional and appealing products. They blend creativity with practicality, focusing on aesthetics and usability.
For those aspiring to become product designers, developing a solid foundation in design principles, gaining proficiency in relevant software tools, and building a portfolio showcasing your skills and creativity is essential.
Also, remember that if you’re willing to become a successful product designer, you’ll need to constantly learn new skills and get familiar with the latest design trends and technologies. If you’d like to gain more knowledge in product design, check out our blog article on how to become a product designer.