AVP, Product Designer, Group Design, Consumer Banking Group

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: AVP, Product Designer, Group Design, Consumer Banking Group

Company: DBS Bank

Location: Singapore (DBS Asia Central)

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-17

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (Implied 5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in translating complex user insights and business objectives into intuitive and impactful product designs for DBS Consumer Banking Group.

• You will be instrumental in shaping the user experience across a wide range of financial products and services, impacting millions of customers.

• This position requires a blend of creative design thinking, strategic product development, and strong collaboration with cross-functional teams.

• You will be expected to drive design initiatives, from initial research and concepting through to detailed wireframing, prototyping, and ensuring successful implementation in a complex banking environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The title "AVP, Product Designer" suggests a role with significant responsibility, likely involving design leadership and strategic input, bridging the gap between individual contribution and management. The "Group Design" aspect indicates a central role within the design function, supporting various initiatives within the Consumer Banking Group. This role is not a typical Revenue Operations or Sales Operations role, but rather a crucial part of the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy through product design excellence. The emphasis on "simplifying very complex products and ideas" and working with "tech systems and legal restrictions of a bank" highlights the unique challenges and opportunities in this domain.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with user researchers to translate qualitative and quantitative user insights into tangible design solutions that address customer needs and achieve business goals.

• Analyze relevant data, including product performance metrics and revenue models, to inform design decisions and problem definition.

• Engage with stakeholders from product management, technology, legal, and compliance to understand constraints and opportunities, and to co-create product roadmaps and design strategies.

• Lead user testing sessions and incorporate feedback to iteratively refine designs and ensure user validation.

• Develop comprehensive design artifacts, including user journey maps, service design blueprints, information architecture, wireframes, and interactive prototypes for user validation.

• Advocate for user-centered design principles and best practices throughout the product development lifecycle.

• Effectively communicate design concepts, rationale, and solutions to diverse stakeholder groups to gain buy-in and ensure clear understanding.

• Contribute to a collaborative and innovative design culture through active participation in team activities, knowledge sharing, and creative problem-solving.

• Mentor and inspire junior designers, and contribute to the overall growth and development of the design team.

• Design for a diverse customer base, ranging from small sole-proprietorships to large global institutions, understanding their varied needs and operational contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on design role with significant strategic involvement. The mention of "revenue models," "product performance," and working with "tech systems and legal restrictions" suggests that while this is a design role, an understanding of business drivers and operational constraints is crucial, aligning with GTM considerations. The need to work with "different departments and army of staff of varying levels with different needs" underscores the complexity and need for adaptable design solutions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design (e.g., Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Product Design), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a related field.

• Equivalent practical experience will also be considered. Experience:

• Minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in product design, UX design, or a similar role, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.

• Experience in leading and inspiring design teams, guiding them to produce high-quality work.

• Experience working within a complex, regulated industry such as banking or finance is highly advantageous. Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create compelling and user-centered product designs across digital platforms.

• User Research & Insights Translation: Proficiency in working with user research findings to inform design decisions and address customer needs.

• Information Architecture & UX Design: Strong skills in organizing information, defining user flows, and creating intuitive user experiences.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Mastery of industry-standard tools for creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user journey maps.

• Stakeholder Management & Communication: Excellent ability to articulate design ideas, rationale, and solutions clearly to diverse audiences and build consensus.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for dissecting complex problems, identifying root causes, and developing innovative design solutions.

• Design Prioritization: Ability to effectively prioritize design tasks, focusing on critical UX elements over less impactful visual details when necessary.

Preferred Skills:

• Service Design: Experience in mapping out customer journeys and interactions across multiple touchpoints.

• Behavioral Science Knowledge: Understanding of behavioral science principles and their application in influencing user behavior and design outcomes.

• Design Leadership: Experience in mentoring junior designers or leading design initiatives.

• Data Analysis for Design: Ability to leverage product performance data and revenue models to inform design strategy.

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with working in agile development environments.

• Finance Industry Knowledge: Understanding of banking products, regulations, and customer needs within the financial sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "leading and inspiring a group of designers" and the "AVP" title strongly suggest a mid-to-senior level role, likely requiring 5-10 years of experience. The emphasis on "improving processes" and "following through" on designs indicates a need for a proactive and results-oriented individual.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating your ability to tackle complex design challenges within a regulated environment.

• Include case studies that detail your process from problem identification through to solution implementation and post-launch analysis.

• Highlight your contribution to user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing phases.

• Demonstrate how you have translated business goals and user needs into effective design solutions.

• Quantify impact where possible, using metrics to show the success of your designs (e.g., improvements in conversion rates, user satisfaction, task completion times). Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, including user-centered methodologies, research techniques, and iterative design practices.

• Detail your approach to collaborating with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders.

• Provide examples of how you have managed design trade-offs due to technical constraints, legal requirements, or business priorities.

• Show your proficiency in creating and utilizing design artifacts such as user journey maps, personas, service blueprints, and information architecture diagrams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level, a portfolio is critical. It should not just showcase final designs but the thinking and process behind them, especially how complex problems were solved and how business objectives were met. Given the banking context, demonstrating an understanding of compliance and technical feasibility in designs will be a significant advantage.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for an Assistant Vice President (AVP) level Product Designer in Singapore with 5-10 years of experience in a major financial institution, the estimated annual salary range is SGD 90,000 - SGD 130,000. This range can vary based on specific qualifications, experience, and the bank's compensation structure. Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.

• Competitive retirement savings plan (e.g., CPF contributions in Singapore).

• Paid time off, including annual leave, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, including training programs and conference attendance.

• Access to internal learning resources and workshops.

• Employee assistance programs for well-being.

• Team Dinners: Regular team gatherings to foster camaraderie and collaboration.

• Drinks: Opportunities for informal team social events.

• Creative Day: Monthly dedicated time for fun, creative activities with the team, promoting innovation and team bonding.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time work week, typically 40 hours, Monday to Friday.

• While on-site, there may be flexibility depending on project demands and team agreements, but adherence to core business hours is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market research for similar roles in Singapore's financial services sector. Benefits are standard for a large, established bank like DBS in Singapore. The "Team Dinners," "Drinks," and "Creative Day" are highlighted as specific cultural perks mentioned in the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Banking and Financial Services. DBS Bank is a leading financial services group in Asia, renowned for its digital innovation, customer-centricity, and strong market position in consumer banking.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (DBS Bank is one of the largest banks in Southeast Asia, with tens of thousands of employees globally). This means a structured environment with ample resources but also potential for navigating complex organizational processes.

Founded: 1968. DBS Bank has a long-standing history, evolving from a development bank to a modern, digitally-focused financial institution.

Team Structure:

• The role sits within the Group Design team for the Consumer Banking Group (CBG).

• This team likely comprises various design specialists (UX/UI designers, researchers, content strategists) working collaboratively.

• Designers will report to a Design Manager or Head of Design within CBG, and work closely with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and business stakeholders across different departments.

• Collaboration extends across various customer segments, from individual consumers to large institutions, requiring an understanding of diverse user needs and operational contexts. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using product performance data, revenue models, and user insights to inform design decisions.

• User-Centricity: A core principle, ensuring that customer needs are at the forefront of all design efforts.

• Agile Development: Likely operating within agile frameworks, requiring iterative design processes and close collaboration with development teams.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working with diverse teams to ensure holistic product development and successful implementation.

Company Website: https://www.dbs.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: DBS Bank is known for its significant investment in digital transformation and innovation, making this a dynamic environment for a product designer. The "Consumer Banking Group" context means the work will directly impact a broad customer base. The company's scale implies opportunities for impact but also the need for strong navigation skills within a large corporate structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Assistant Vice President (AVP). This level signifies a seasoned professional with significant design expertise, capable of leading projects, influencing strategy, and potentially mentoring others. It's a critical mid-to-senior role that bridges individual contribution and early-stage leadership.

Reporting Structure: The AVP Product Designer will report into a senior design leader within the Consumer Banking Group. They will work closely with Product Managers and Tech Leads, influencing their roadmaps and strategies through design.

Operations Impact: While this is a Product Design role, its impact is deeply intertwined with Go-To-Market (GTM) success. By creating user-friendly and effective financial products, the designer directly influences customer acquisition, retention, transaction volume, and overall customer satisfaction – all critical drivers of revenue and business growth for DBS Consumer Banking Group.

Growth Opportunities:

• Craft Specialization: Continue to deepen expertise as an individual contributor, becoming a go-to expert in specific design disciplines or product areas within consumer banking.

• Design Leadership: Transition into managerial roles, leading teams of designers, setting design vision, and managing design operations for larger product portfolios.

• Product Strategy: Develop a stronger strategic voice, influencing product roadmaps and business objectives from a design perspective.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain deeper insights into finance, technology, and business strategy through close collaboration with other departments.

• Innovation Labs/Projects: Opportunities to work on cutting-edge projects or explore new design technologies and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The AVP title is a significant indicator of the role's scope. The growth paths outlined reflect typical career trajectories for experienced designers within large organizations, emphasizing both deep expertise and leadership potential. The impact on revenue is indirect but substantial, achieved through enhancing the customer experience and product adoption.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at "DBS Asia Central," implying a modern, corporate office environment designed for collaboration and productivity. Given DBS's reputation for innovation, expect a well-equipped workspace that supports creative and analytical work.

Office Location(s): DBS Asia Central, Singapore. This is a prime business location, likely offering good accessibility via public transport.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: The job description emphasizes teamwork and interaction, suggesting an environment where designers work closely with researchers, product managers, and engineers.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, prototyping tools, and potentially advanced collaboration platforms.

• Focus Time: While collaboration is key, the description also mentions respecting "headphones-on" time for focused work, indicating a balance between interaction and individual concentration.

• Team Engagement: Regular team activities like dinners and creative days foster a sense of community and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Primarily a standard Monday-Friday schedule, typical for corporate roles. However, the nature of product development may occasionally require flexibility to meet project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Asia Central" location suggests a hub for financial operations and innovation. The emphasis on a collaborative yet focused environment is typical for design teams in forward-thinking companies.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: Discussion focusing on your design philosophy, experience, and how you handle complex problems. Expect questions about your past projects and contributions.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a detailed case study from your portfolio. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to articulate your work.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Tech Leads, and potentially other senior stakeholders to evaluate your collaboration skills, business acumen, and ability to integrate design into the broader product development lifecycle.

• Cultural Fit Assessment: Evaluation of your alignment with DBS's values and the team's collaborative working style.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline the problem statement, your role and responsibilities, the design process undertaken, key decisions made, challenges faced, and the final outcome or impact.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, efficiency gains).

• Showcase Your Process: Don't just present final mockups. Explain your research, ideation, iteration, and testing phases. This demonstrates your strategic thinking and problem-solving approach.

• Tailor to the Role: Highlight projects that are most relevant to designing complex financial products and working with regulated environments.

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you collaborated with teams.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly understand the business context and user needs presented.

• Define Assumptions: Clearly state any assumptions you make to frame the problem.

• Prioritize: Focus on the most critical aspects of the problem and design a solution that addresses them effectively.

• Communicate Your Process: Articulate your thought process clearly and logically, just as you would in a portfolio presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely rigorous, typical for a financial institution aiming for high-quality talent. A strong portfolio that showcases not just aesthetics but also strategic thinking and problem-solving is paramount. The "AVP" level suggests that candidates will be expected to demonstrate leadership potential and a mature design process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools like InVision, Axure, or Principle.

• User Journey Mapping & Service Design Tools: Familiarity with tools like Miro, Mural, or dedicated service design platforms.

• Information Architecture Tools: Experience with tools for creating sitemaps and user flows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Familiarity with tools that provide product performance data (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, internal BI dashboards) to inform design decisions.

• User Feedback Platforms: Experience with tools for collecting and analyzing user feedback.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/automation role, an understanding of how design impacts CRM systems and customer journeys managed by automation is beneficial. Awareness of how design choices integrate with backend systems and APIs is also valuable.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for a product designer. The emphasis on using data from analytics and feedback platforms is crucial for demonstrating the impact of design decisions, aligning with the role's data-informed approach.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs.

• Innovation: A drive to find new and better ways to solve problems and improve experiences.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence: Striving for high-quality outcomes in all aspects of design and execution.

• Integrity: Upholding the highest ethical standards in a regulated industry.

• Efficiency: A focus on simplifying complexity and optimizing processes to deliver value.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with product, engineering, research, and business teams as true partners in product development.

• Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, constructive feedback, and sharing of ideas.

• Data-Informed Debate: Using data and user insights to inform discussions and drive decisions, while remaining open to different perspectives.

• Iterative Improvement: A culture that embraces continuous learning and refinement through feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: DBS Bank's stated values often revolve around trust, integrity, innovation, and customer focus. The design team will likely embody these, with a particular emphasis on innovation and customer-centricity in their daily work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Simplifying Complexity: The primary challenge will be distilling highly complex financial products and banking regulations into simple, intuitive user experiences.

• Navigating Large Organizations: Working within a large, established bank requires understanding and navigating intricate processes, stakeholder landscapes, and legacy systems.

• Balancing Needs: Effectively balancing diverse stakeholder requirements (business, legal, tech, user) to create cohesive and effective designs.

• Driving Change: Influencing product direction and championing user-centered design in an industry that can be slow to adopt new approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Financial Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of banking products, financial services, and regulatory environments.

• Advanced Design Techniques: Explore emerging design methodologies, tools, and technologies relevant to financial services.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to hone leadership skills through project leadership, mentoring, and potential managerial roles.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Work closely with experts in technology, data science, marketing, and business strategy to broaden your understanding of the business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to designing within a large, regulated financial institution. The growth opportunities are substantial, leveraging the bank's scale and resources to foster professional development in both specialized design skills and broader business acumen.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to simplify a highly complex product or service for users. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving methodology, user research, and impact.)

• "How do you balance user needs with business goals and technical/legal constraints in a banking environment?" (Highlight your ability to negotiate, prioritize, and find creative solutions.)

• "Tell me about a time you disagreed with a stakeholder about a design decision. How did you handle it, and what was the resolution?" (Demonstrate your communication, persuasion, and collaboration skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about DBS Bank's digital transformation and its approach to customer experience?" (Show your research and understanding of the company's strategic direction.)

• "How do you stay current with UX trends, especially those relevant to the financial industry?" (Discuss your learning habits and industry engagement.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment and how you contribute to a positive team culture." (Align your response with the team's emphasis on collaboration and innovation.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, weave a narrative that guides the interviewer through the problem, your process, your decisions, and the impact.

• Highlight Your Role: Be explicit about your specific contributions, especially if you led aspects of the project or mentored others.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively to illustrate your design process and outcomes.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, the rationale behind them, and how you iterated based on feedback.

• Connect to DBS: Where possible, subtly link your experience and approach to DBS's known values or strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a robust design process, strong communication skills, an understanding of business context, and adaptability within a complex industry. Emphasize how your work drives tangible business results.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the DBS Careers portal via the provided URL.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your ability to tackle complex product design challenges, particularly within regulated industries if possible. Ensure they highlight your end-to-end design process and quantifiable results.

• Tailor Your Resume: Update your resume to clearly articulate your experience in product design, user research, stakeholder management, and any relevant financial industry exposure. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and highlighting your strategic thinking and impact. Be ready to answer in-depth questions about your design decisions.

• Research DBS Bank: Familiarize yourself with DBS's recent innovations, digital strategy, and their approach to customer experience in consumer banking. Understand their stated values.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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