A product designer is responsible for the overall user experience of a product and typically collaborates with product management on the product’s commercial goals and objectives. Product designers are often linked with visual and tactile features. However, they may also assist with information architecture and system design in some situations.
Depending on the type of company, the size, and diversity of the design department, and the specific individual’s area of expertise, a product designer may also be referred to as a User Experience Designer, Customer Experience Architect, User Interface Designer, Interaction Designer, or Information Architect.
A product designer is in charge of directing the whole product design process, from concept to completion, or is responsible for enhancing an existing product. A product designer may brainstorm solutions to present problems, solicit feedback from stakeholders, liaise between designers, engineers, and researchers, and develop mockups using wireframes and prototypes. They are aware of the product’s larger aims, while also aware of the minutiae required to attain them.
What Are a Product Designer’s Primary Responsibilities?
Product designers may be asked to work on both high-level (such as building the overall system or information architecture) and low-level (such as designing individual components) projects (pixel-specific mockups or CSS templates). In all of their endeavors, the user experience is critical.
Product designers may create a variety of artifacts as part of their job, including but not limited to:
- Prototypes
- Wireframes
- Mockups
- User Journey Diagrams
Instead of passing a product off to product designers once the requirements were identified, many product designers are now participating with the product team throughout the development process. They may impact the product’s content and delivery by being involved throughout and keeping the user experience in mind.
Because the primary goal of product designers is to create an excellent product experience, they are typically in charge of prototyping and user testing. They may also do some coding (typically in front-end presentation languages like HTML and CSS) and create digital assets like logos, icons, and buttons and contribute to the product’s content development.
When it comes to solutions that incorporate authentic items or hardware, a product designer has extra responsibilities, such as selecting materials, colors, and textures, and maybe using 3-D printers for prototypes or advising on manufacturing techniques. In addition, for future reference, product designers will keep a design library for the product suite.
How Do You Get a Job as a Product Designer?
A product designer’s toolbox is one-of-a-kind, with talents ranging from “creative” to “techie.” To describe their concept, they must be both creative and exceptional communicators and storytellers.
As customer advocates, they must be aware of the business environment while also having the confidence to say “no” when confronted with a choice that may negatively influence the customer experience. Another recurring topic in describing the function of this role in this context is “customer empathy.”
Design thinking is essential for this career because product designers will be requested to create user stories (including edge cases), storyboards, and mockup interfaces. Product designers might also be tasked with doing user research.
Many product designers use graphic design software such as PhotoShop and Sketch and CAD software if necessary. The bulk of duties needs knowledge of design suites, which will be used to prototype and deliver final products to the engineering department, and understanding of color palettes, typography, and layout.
Particular product designers may be requested to create copy for language necessary for a UX design, such as tooltips and help text.
Furthermore, user testing is more complex than it appears, and product designers may be needed to create and deliver tests and evaluate and recruit participants.
Understanding Google Analytics and other similar technologies are crucial for online and mobile product designers since they give considerable insights into real-world usage and can be leveraged to drive product innovations and design adjustments.