Skip to main content

Are you creative and good at solving problems? Do you have an interest in coding and how a digital product is made? Product Designers are great communicators and get to work with clients and wider teams to create usable and attractive designs. Experience the journey of a Product Designer in this interview with Hackney resident Carlos Pontes and explore further career information below. 

What do Product Designers do? 

Product Designers are responsible for creating and refining a range of products, from everyday goods such as mobile phones, household appliances and cars, to larger items such as industrial tools, equipment and machinery. They are tasked with crafting user-centred design solutions that align with business goals and user needs. Product Designer is a broader term that encompasses various design roles. A more specialised role that lies underneath this would be that of a Digital Product Designer.  They focus on designing digital products such as websites, mobile apps, software interfaces, and digital services.   

Soft skills:  

  • Creativity   
  • Good communication  
  • Problem-solving   
  • Attention to detail  
  • Adaptability   
  • Collaboration    

Hard skills:  

  • UI Design using design tools like Sketch, Figma, Adobe XD, etc  
  • UX Design, creating user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes.  
  • Understanding typography principles and layout design   
  • Coding basics - A basic understanding of HTML, CSS, and even JavaScript  
  • Familiarity with user research techniques, such as interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to inform design decisions 
  • Knowledge of colour theory, composition, and visual hierarchy to create visually appealing designs.  

Typical progression pathway  

Product Designers start their careers as Junior Product Designers. In this role, they will assist more experienced designers and learn the fundamentals of design principles, tools and methods.

As they gain experience, Junior Product Designers work more independently on design projects as a Product Designer. They create wireframes, prototypes, and visual designs. They also collaborate with user experience (UX) designers and developers to implement design solutions. Progressing further, product designers can rise to the level of Senior Product Designer or Chief Design Officer. These roles provide leadership to multiple design teams and drive innovation within design practices.   

Routes into a career into Product Design 

  • Degree – Product Design, Graphic Design, UX Design, Industrial Design  
  • Courses – Flipside, design courses with General Assembly, Google UX Design certificate  
  • Pre-entry experience is highly desirable in this field, you can gain this through industrial placements, freelance work, design competitions, exhibitions or specific projects
  • Flipside industry led bootcamp from A New Direction in Product Design 

Salary expectations 

Entry-level salaries range between £34,500. According to Glassdoor the average base pay for mid-weight Product Designer is £56,925 per year   

Experienced, high-level and consulting jobs can command £75,000 or more.    

Top industries to explore: 

  • Technology   
  • Fintech   
  • Healthcare   
  • Retail   
  • Transportation