Do you know 90% of a product designer’s work is not design? The visual layout made is the outcome of the whole work they do. Then what do they do? They assess real people with real problems and use an iterative human-centered design process to generate and verify solutions to those challenges while addressing business goals.
They conduct user research, communicate with users, analyze, plan, build prototypes, and user-testing.
In short, a product designer determines how a product should work based on business goals and user needs. It does sound like a UX designer, doesn’t it? Well, these two are interchangeable sometimes, as they have very similar job descriptions, but there are differences, which will be discussed in this blog.
In this article, we have covered every spectrum of a product designer’s roles and responsibilities and how it differs from other designers. So that after you finish reading this, you won’t have any confusion.
Product Designer vs. UX Designer
UX designers address usability issues, and guarantee products have a logical flow. They are heavily involved in early user and market research to identify and comprehend user issues and develop design solutions to address them.
A UX designer is responsible for transforming a concept into a functional prototype, including designing UI elements and components for new products and features.
Product designers, on the other hand, perform many of the same tasks as UX designers but concentrate more on developing a product. They may work on existing and new products and design new features, and maintain them.
Product designers collaborate with sales and marketing teams to identify business value opportunities through competitor, market, and user research. They play a crucial role in ensuring a digital product remains relevant and competitive by adapting to market trends and consumer needs.
Product Designer vs. Product Manager
Both designer and manager must align and stay on the same team to build a successful product. Close collaboration between product management and design teams means the customer experience will be fully integrated into the product roadmap and backlog, ensuring a customer-centric approach to prioritization.
A product manager is in charge of the whole lifecycle of a product, from making a roadmap to developing and launching it. He needs to focus on product experience (PX) and user experience (UX) to align with the business’s goals and objectives as a whole.
In a similar manner, product designers need to know about both PX and UX, but they usually focus more on the design and user interface (UI) to make sure the product meets the goals of the customer experience (CX).
For example, if a product manager notices an increase in customer churn, he would investigate product issues that directly lead individuals to unsubscribe to ensure the organization reaches annual revenue targets. However, if product designers notice consumers heading back and forth between product pages without taking action. They’ll investigate user navigation and accessibility concerns and propose product modifications to boost CX.
Why Must You Hire A Product Designer for Your Business to Grow?
If you own a business, you must build a team of talented people in different roles to make your business grow. How many people you need to hire depends on the size of your business and your business needs, but I am sure the need for a product designer will always be there.
The following points explain why product design is so important:
- It is an integral part of an organization’s success because it determines the features, functions, and performance of the service or goods that customers want.
- It is a key part of lowering the cost of production to gain a competitive edge.
- Designers make you ready for future opportunities. Because no one understands the potential of a product more than the designs. The designer will also have a vision for the product, foreseeing potential future updates and enhancements.
- It can also be a fundamental way for key people in the supply chain to coordinate what they are doing.
- Product design is essential for companies that want to compete in a global market.
- The designers can help you evaluate your business models and improve the scalability of your business.
- A designer can spot problems caused by “too many cooks.” They address difficulties by identifying common patterns and providing solutions.
Should You Hire In-house Designers or Agencies or Studios? – Find The Reasons!
Both offer advantages and disadvantages; you must choose based on your organization’s needs. The following considerations will help your decision:
- Depending on your design requirements, engaging an internal designer incurs a consistent annual cost. If you do not have enough work for an internal designer, it is likely more cost-effective to hire freelancers or a ui design agency, which will cost you less on an annual basis.
- A designer cannot do everything. You’ll need to assemble a team of designers if you want to satisfy all of the design requirements that most businesses have (brand, digital, performance, email, etc.) This is when it’s better to consult with agencies because they have the right people for the right jobs.
- If you have a business like eCommerce or any sort of business that constantly needs changes for seasonal or festivals, you should hire in-house designers. They will always be present to fulfill the requirements, and on top of that, they are well-aligned with companies objectives and values.
- When it comes to reliability, agencies are better than freelancers. Because doesn’t matter how professional a freelancer is; if unavoidable circumstances like sickness or emergencies, your project will be delayed. Where agencies have a team, others can back them up if something occurs.
Some Faq’s
What are some of the benefits of hiring a product designer for a startup or small business?
Hiring a product designer can bring numerous benefits to a startup or small business. One of the primary benefits is that a product designer can help to create a user-centered design that improves the user experience and increases engagement. This can help to create a more loyal customer base and ultimately drive revenue growth. Additionally, a product designer can help to differentiate your product from competitors by creating a unique and memorable design. Finally, by avoiding costly design mistakes, a product designer can actually save your company time and money in the long run.
How can a product designer help to differentiate our product from competitors?
A product designer can help to differentiate your product from competitors in a number of ways. First, by conducting user research, a product designer can identify user needs and preferences and create a design that meets those needs. Additionally, a product designer can create a unique and memorable design that sets your product apart from others in the market. Finally, a product designer can help to ensure that your product has a consistent and cohesive design across all of its touchpoints, which can help to create a strong brand identity and increase brand recognition.
What are some of the challenges that startups and small businesses face when hiring a product designer, and how can we overcome them?
Some of the challenges that startups and small businesses face when hiring a product designer include finding a designer with the right skills and experience, fitting the cost of hiring a designer into a tight budget, and ensuring that the designer is a good fit for the company culture. To overcome these challenges, startups and small businesses can consider working with freelance designers or design agencies, conducting thorough interviews and evaluations, and clearly communicating expectations and goals.
What specific skills and experience should we look for when hiring a product designer for our business?
When hiring a product designer for your business, it’s important to look for specific skills and experience that are relevant to your company’s needs. Some key skills and experience to consider include a strong portfolio of previous work, experience with user research and design thinking, proficiency in design software, and strong communication and collaboration skills. Additionally, it can be helpful to look for a designer who has experience working in your industry or with similar products or services.
How can we work collaboratively with a product designer to ensure that our vision is realized in the final product?
To work collaboratively with a product designer, it’s important to establish clear communication channels, establish project milestones and deadlines, and provide feedback and input throughout the design process. Additionally, it can be helpful to involve stakeholders from across the organization in the design process to ensure that everyone’s needs and concerns are addressed. By working closely with the product designer throughout the process, you can help to ensure that your vision is realized in the final product.
How can a product designer help to improve the user experience of our digital products, and what metrics should we use to measure success?
A product designer can help to improve the user experience of your digital products by conducting user research, creating a design that is intuitive and user-friendly, and testing and iterating on the design based on user feedback. Metrics such as user engagement, user retention, and conversion rates can be used to measure the success of the design. By tracking these metrics, you can identify areas where the design can be further improved and optimized for maximum impact.
What are some of the benefits of hiring a product designer for a startup or small business?
Hiring a product designer can bring numerous benefits to a startup or small business. One of the primary benefits is that a product designer can help to create a user-centered design that improves the user experience and increases engagement. This can help to create a more loyal customer base and ultimately drive revenue growth. Additionally, a product designer can help to differentiate your product from competitors by creating a unique and memorable design. Finally, by avoiding costly design mistakes, a product designer can actually save your company time and money in the long run.
How can a product designer help to differentiate our product from competitors?
A product designer can help to differentiate your product from competitors in a number of ways. First, by conducting user research, a product designer can identify user needs and preferences and create a design that meets those needs. Additionally, a product designer can create a unique and memorable design that sets your product apart from others in the market. Finally, a product designer can help to ensure that your product has a consistent and cohesive design across all of its touchpoints, which can help to create a strong brand identity and increase brand recognition.
What are some of the challenges that startups and small businesses face when hiring a product designer, and how can we overcome them?
Some of the challenges that startups and small businesses face when hiring a product designer include finding a designer with the right skills and experience, fitting the cost of hiring a designer into a tight budget, and ensuring that the designer is a good fit for the company culture. To overcome these challenges, startups and small businesses can consider working with freelance designers or design agencies, conducting thorough interviews and evaluations, and clearly communicating expectations and goals.
What specific skills and experience should we look for when hiring a product designer for our business?
When hiring a product designer for your business, it’s important to look for specific skills and experience that are relevant to your company’s needs. Some key skills and experience to consider include a strong portfolio of previous work, experience with user research and design thinking, proficiency in design software, and strong communication and collaboration skills. Additionally, it can be helpful to look for a designer who has experience working in your industry or with similar products or services.
How can we work collaboratively with a product designer to ensure that our vision is realized in the final product?
To work collaboratively with a product designer, it’s important to establish clear communication channels, establish project milestones and deadlines, and provide feedback and input throughout the design process. Additionally, it can be helpful to involve stakeholders from across the organization in the design process to ensure that everyone’s needs and concerns are addressed. By working closely with the product designer throughout the process, you can help to ensure that your vision is realized in the final product.
How can a product designer help to improve the user experience of our digital products, and what metrics should we use to measure success?
A product designer can help to improve the user experience of your digital products by conducting user research, creating a design that is intuitive and user-friendly, and testing and iterating on the design based on user feedback. Metrics such as user engagement, user retention, and conversion rates can be used to measure the success of the design. By tracking these metrics, you can identify areas where the design can be further improved and optimized for maximum impact.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, being a product designer entails more than just design. To discover a competent specialist, you must first establish your requirements and select a platform that can provide you with what you require.
Whether you choose an agency or in-house, first look up their portfolio; their work will help you decide whether they are fit for your organization or not. For varieties of work, you can look in Behance and dribble as well.