Product Designer, Creatives at IPG Mediabrands

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer, Creatives

Company: IPG Mediabrands

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design

Date Posted: June 12, 2025

Experience Level: 2-5 years (Mid-Level)

Remote Status: Remote OK

🎨 Role Summary

Drive organizational design initiatives and innovations within a leading media and marketing solutions company.
Contribute to the full product design lifecycle, from initial research and ideation to prototyping and developer handoff.
Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams including product, engineering, and creative professionals.
Focus on enhancing user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) across a suite of impactful products, integrating business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the description emphasizing UX, UI, and the full product lifecycle, this role aligns with a core Product Designer function. The mention of "Creatives" in the title suggests a focus on products or platforms related to creative workflows or content within the marketing/advertising context. The experience level is inferred as Mid-Level (2-5 years) based on the responsibilities and technical competencies listed, which require a solid foundation in design practice and collaboration.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Lead and facilitate UX research activities such as user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights and inform design decisions.
Develop low-fidelity wireframes and user flows based on research findings to define information architecture and optimize user journeys, identifying happy paths and reducing friction.
Create high-fidelity UI designs and interactive prototypes that align with the established product design system and brand guidelines.
Collaborate effectively with product managers, engineers, creative technologists, QA analysts, and other stakeholders throughout the design and development process.
Prepare and deliver detailed, development-ready design assets and functional specifications to engineering teams for seamless implementation.
Proactively identify and solve complex design problems, streamlining workflows to achieve product goals and maximize impact.
Actively seek feedback from end-users and stakeholders, iterating on designs based on qualitative and quantitative data.
Stay informed about emerging creative trends, design patterns, and technological innovations, particularly concerning AI tools that integrate with the design process.
Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, adapting to changing timelines and last-minute requests while maintaining high-quality output.
Contribute to and evolve the existing product design system by creating and revising components based on product needs and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities outline a standard product design workflow but place particular emphasis on research, collaboration, and iteration within an agile-like environment. The inclusion of "creative technologists" and "marketers" in the collaboration list highlights the specific context of working within a media and marketing organization. The responsibility for functional specifications and development-ready assets indicates a need for strong technical understanding and communication skills for design handoff.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is typically preferred, or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, UX/UI design, or a related design role, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design process and successful product launches.

Required Skills:

Advanced mastery of UX Research methodologies (e.g., user interviews, surveys, usability testing) and UI Design principles, including visual design, typography, and layout.
Demonstrated experience working with and contributing to Design Systems, understanding component libraries, documentation, and version control.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively with Product and Engineering teams throughout the entire product development lifecycle, owning projects from concept to launch.
Strong skills in design iteration, actively seeking and incorporating feedback from users and stakeholders to refine designs.
High proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs.
Experience with interaction design tools and principles to create intuitive and engaging user experiences.
Ability to design at various levels of fidelity to effectively test workflows and edge cases with different audiences.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with leveraging AI tools that can integrate with and enhance the design process, improving efficiency and quality.
Experience in the media, marketing, or advertising technology industries.
Understanding of front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better communication with engineers.
Experience with agile development methodologies and working in cross-functional teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills clearly define the core competencies expected for a Product Designer at this level, with a strong emphasis on practical application of UX/UI principles, design systems, and collaboration. The preferred skills highlight areas that would be beneficial in the context of IPG Mediabrands' industry and the evolving landscape of design tools, including AI. The education and experience requirements are based on typical industry standards for a mid-level product design role.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Include 3-5 detailed case studies showcasing end-to-end product design projects, highlighting your role and contributions.
Demonstrate your design process from problem definition and research through ideation, prototyping, and final implementation.
Present visual designs with attention to detail, typography, color, and overall aesthetic quality.
If applicable, include examples of interaction design and prototyping to illustrate user flows and micro-interactions.

Process Documentation:

Clearly articulate the research and discovery phase, including methodologies used and key insights gathered.
Explain your ideation and iteration methods, showing how you explored different solutions and refined your designs based on feedback.
Detail your validation and testing approaches, including usability testing setup, participant recruitment, and findings.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, a strong portfolio demonstrating process and impact is critical. The emphasis on case studies, end-to-end process, and research/testing documentation is standard for evaluating product design candidates. The requirement for visual design quality and interaction design examples reflects the need for both functional and aesthetically pleasing solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided salary range of $1 - $1 USD appears to be a placeholder or error. Based on industry data for a Mid-Level Product Designer in the United States, particularly within a large media/advertising company, a realistic salary range is estimated to be between $80,000 and $130,000 annually. This estimate considers factors such as average salaries for this role and experience level across major US tech and media hubs, adjusted for potential variations based on exact location and specific experience. Data sources include industry reports, salary comparison websites, and aggregated compensation data for similar roles.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health insurance (medical, dental, vision) with potential options for individuals and families.
Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) with potential company match to support long-term financial planning.
Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and company holidays, providing flexibility for personal time and rest.
Professional development opportunities, such as access to training programs, workshops, or conference attendance, to support continuous learning and skill enhancement in design and related fields.
Potential access to employee assistance programs, wellness initiatives, and other perks common in large corporate environments.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, typically 40 hours per week. Flexibility may be available depending on project needs and team structure, common in creative and product development environments to accommodate different work styles and collaboration needs across time zones if working remotely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range was clearly incorrect and required an estimate based on industry standards for a mid-level Product Designer in the US. The estimated range reflects typical compensation in tech and media sectors for this role. Benefits are inferred based on common offerings at large companies like IPG Mediabrands, tailored to potential relevance for design professionals (e.g., professional development).

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Advertising Services. IPG Mediabrands is a global leader in media and marketing solutions, operating within the dynamic and competitive advertising technology landscape. This context means the design work will likely involve platforms and tools used by media planners, buyers, creative teams, and clients, requiring a strong understanding of the advertising ecosystem and user needs within it.

Company Size: 10,001+ employees globally. As a large organization, IPG Mediabrands offers opportunities for collaboration across diverse teams and exposure to large-scale projects. For design professionals, this often means working within established processes and potentially contributing to a broader design system used across multiple products or brands.

Founded: While a specific founding date for IPG Mediabrands is not provided, it is the media and marketing solutions division of Interpublic Group (IPG), a major holding company with a long history in the advertising industry. This suggests a well-established organizational structure and a culture potentially influenced by decades of experience in media and marketing.

Team Structure:

The role reports to a Senior Product Designer within a specific product group, indicating a hierarchical structure with mentorship and guidance available.
The team sits at the "forefront of organizational innovations and design initiatives," suggesting a focus on new product development and strategic projects.
Collaboration is expected with a wide range of stakeholders including designers, product leads, strategists, creative technologists, developers, product managers, QA, producers, and marketers, highlighting a highly cross-functional environment.

Methodology:

The description mentions working across all phases of the design process, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, and handoff, suggesting a comprehensive approach to product design.
Emphasis on iterating on designs based on user feedback and proactively seeking input indicates an iterative and user-centered design methodology.
Fluency with working with design systems and contributing to them suggests an adherence to established design principles and components for consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: http://www.ipgmediabrands.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company information including industry, size, and team structure is derived from the provided data and IPG Mediabrands' public profile. The interpretation of the design culture and methodology is based on the responsibilities and skills outlined in the job description, particularly the emphasis on research, iteration, collaboration with diverse teams, and working with a design system, which are indicative of a structured product design practice within a large organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer, responsible for executing design tasks across the full product lifecycle under the guidance of a Senior Product Designer. The scope of responsibility includes conducting research, designing solutions, and collaborating with various teams, requiring a solid understanding of design principles and processes but not necessarily extensive leadership or strategic decision-making authority.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer reports directly to a Senior Product Designer. This structure provides an opportunity for mentorship, skill development, and learning from more experienced designers. It also suggests a clear path for growth within the design team, potentially advancing to a Senior Product Designer role in the future.

Design Impact: The role is described as contributing to products at the "forefront of organizational innovations and design initiatives," indicating that the design work will have a direct impact on the products used by internal teams or clients within IPG Mediabrands. The emphasis on streamlining workflows and problem-solving suggests an opportunity to significantly improve user efficiency and experience.

Growth Opportunities:

Advancement to a Senior Product Designer role by demonstrating increased autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers.
Specialization in specific areas of product design, such as UX research, interaction design, or design systems management.
Development of leadership skills through leading design initiatives or contributing to cross-functional projects.
Opportunities to work on a diverse suite of products across different areas of media and marketing, expanding domain knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career level and growth analysis are based on the reporting structure, responsibilities, and the typical career progression within product design teams in large organizations. The potential for advancement to Senior Product Designer and specialization areas are standard growth paths for mid-level designers. The impact analysis is derived from the job description's emphasis on innovation and workflow streamlining.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: While the job description indicates "Remote OK," suggesting a distributed team, the context of IPG Mediabrands as a large global company implies the existence of physical office locations or "studios" where teams may collaborate. The work environment for a remote designer would likely involve virtual collaboration tools and practices.

Office Location(s): IPG Mediabrands has headquarters in New York, NY, and other global locations. For a remote role in the United States, the work environment would not be tied to a specific office, but there might be opportunities for occasional in-person team meetings or company events.

Design Workspace Context:

As a remote role, the primary workspace is the designer's home office, requiring a setup conducive to focused work and virtual collaboration.
Access to digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro) is essential for interacting with the distributed team and stakeholders.
The work environment is likely fast-paced and requires adaptability to changing project needs and timelines, as mentioned in the job description.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically requiring standard business hours. However, given the remote nature and potential for collaboration across different time zones within a global company, some flexibility in daily scheduling might be necessary to accommodate meetings and collaboration with team members in other locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are based on the "Remote OK" status and the nature of IPG Mediabrands as a large global company. While specific office details are less relevant for a remote role, understanding the company's physical presence provides context. The workspace context and work schedule inferences are standard for remote positions, emphasizing the reliance on digital tools and potential need for scheduling flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial Screening: Expect a recruiter screen followed by an interview with the hiring manager or a Senior Product Designer to assess your background, experience, and fit for the role. Be prepared to discuss your resume and highlight relevant design projects.
Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where you will present and walk through selected case studies from your portfolio. Focus on your design process, problem-solving skills, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your design decisions and rationale in detail.
Design Challenge or Whiteboarding Session: You may be given a design problem to solve in real-time or as a take-home assignment. This evaluates your ability to think through design problems, generate ideas, and communicate your process.
Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with potential team members, including other designers, product managers, and engineers, to assess collaboration skills and cultural fit. Be prepared to discuss how you work in a team and handle feedback.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Select case studies that are most relevant to product design and showcase your end-to-end process, including research, ideation, iteration, and outcomes.
Clearly articulate the problem you were trying to solve, your design process, key decisions, and the impact of your work using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
Highlight your contributions to the project, especially in collaborative environments.
Present your work clearly and concisely, focusing on the story behind each project rather than just showing final screens.

Challenge Preparation:

Approach the challenge by first understanding the problem and user needs. Ask clarifying questions.
Structure your thinking process, outlining your steps from understanding the problem to proposing solutions.
Focus on demonstrating your design process and rationale rather than delivering a perfect final design.
Practice articulating your design decisions and explaining your thought process clearly and concisely.

ATS Keywords: UX Research, UI Design, Product Design, Design Systems, Figma, Interaction Design, Wireframing, Prototyping, User Interviews, Usability Testing, Design Iteration, Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Design Handoff, Functional Specifications, Agile, User-Centered Design, Design Thinking, Problem Solving, Creative Process, Product Lifecycle, Case Studies, Portfolio, User Journeys, Information Architecture, Visual Design, Component Library, Creative Trends, AI in Design, Adaptability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process steps are standard for product design roles. The specific tips for portfolio review and challenge preparation are tailored to highlight the skills and processes emphasized in the job description, such as process documentation, iteration, and collaboration. The ATS keywords are a comprehensive list derived directly from the job description and common design industry terminology to help candidates optimize their resumes.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Figma: Essential for creating wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes. Mastery of Figma's features for collaboration, component creation, and design system management is required.
Interaction Design Tools: Tools used to create detailed interactions and animations within prototypes to simulate the user experience realistically. This could include advanced prototyping features within Figma or dedicated tools.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Collaboration Tools: Platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for communication and real-time collaboration with cross-functional teams.
Handoff Tools: Tools or features within design software (like Figma's Inspect mode) or dedicated platforms (like Zeplin or Abstract) for providing specifications, assets, and documentation to developers.
Documentation Tools: Platforms for creating and maintaining functional specifications and design system documentation.

Research & Testing:

User Research Tools: Tools for conducting user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and usability testing (e.g., Maze, UserTesting.com).
Analytics Tools: While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or product analytics platforms can be beneficial for understanding user behavior and validating design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools and technology stack are inferred based on the explicit mention of Figma and interaction design tools, combined with the responsibilities related to research, collaboration, and handoff. The listed tools are common in the product design industry and align with the described workflow. The inclusion of research and analytics tools is based on the requirement to conduct user research and iterate based on feedback.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Innovation: The team sits at the "forefront of organizational innovations," suggesting a value placed on exploring new ideas and pushing creative boundaries within the product space.
User-Centeredness: Emphasis on conducting user research, gathering feedback, and iterating based on user needs indicates a strong commitment to a user-centered design approach.
Collaboration: The requirement to collaborate with a diverse group of stakeholders highlights a value placed on teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnership.
Adaptability and Learning: The ability to adapt to changing requirements and the eagerness to learn new skillsets suggest a culture that values flexibility, continuous improvement, and a growth mindset.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative with cross-functional teams, including product, engineering, and creative disciplines.
Iterative design process with active feedback seeking from users and stakeholders.
Contribution to and utilization of a shared design system, indicating a focus on consistency and shared knowledge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The design values and collaboration style are inferred directly from the language used in the job description, such as "forefront of organizational innovations," "conduct user research," "collaborate across designers, product leads...developers," and "actively proactively seeks feedback." These phrases provide insight into the expected behaviors and working relationships within the design team and the broader organization.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Navigating design within a large, complex organization and potentially influencing established processes or systems.
Balancing user needs with business objectives and technical constraints within the advertising technology domain.
Adapting to fast-paced timelines and managing multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining design quality.
Staying current with rapidly evolving creative trends, design tools, and the integration of new technologies like AI in the design workflow.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deepen expertise in specific areas of product design such as UX research methodologies or interaction design patterns.
Learn and contribute to a robust design system, gaining experience in design operations and governance.
Develop stronger collaboration and communication skills by working with diverse cross-functional teams.
Gain exposure to the advertising technology industry and the unique design challenges within this space.
Potential for mentorship from experienced Senior Product Designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The design challenges are identified based on the context of working in a large company within the dynamic advertising technology industry, as well as the job description's mention of adapting to changing timelines and handling multiple projects. The learning and development opportunities are derived from the required skills, reporting structure, and the environment described, offering pathways for both specialization and broader experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

"Walk me through your end-to-end design process for a recent project." (Be prepared to discuss each step from research to handoff, using a case study from your portfolio.)
"Describe a time you had to iterate significantly on a design based on user feedback. What did you learn?" (Highlight your adaptability and user-centered approach.)
"How do you collaborate effectively with product managers and engineers throughout the design process?" (Provide specific examples of successful cross-functional collaboration.)

Company Culture Questions:

"What interests you about working as a Product Designer at IPG Mediabrands?" (Show that you've researched the company and understand its role in the media and marketing industry.)
"Describe a time you had to adapt to changing requirements or timelines on a project. How did you handle it?" (Demonstrate flexibility and problem-solving skills.)
"How do you stay updated on design trends and new technologies?" (Show your eagerness to learn and curiosity about innovation, including AI in design if applicable.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Choose 2-3 strong case studies that demonstrate the skills and responsibilities outlined in the job description (e.g., research, design systems, collaboration).
Structure each case study logically: Problem, Process (Research, Ideation, Iteration), Solution, Outcome/Impact.
Focus on telling a compelling story about your design journey for each project, highlighting your rationale and decisions.
Be prepared to answer questions about specific design choices, challenges you faced, and how you measured success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation questions are designed to prompt candidates to discuss their design process, collaboration skills, and cultural fit, aligning with the key areas emphasized in the job description. The portfolio presentation strategy provides tactical advice on how to best showcase relevant experience and demonstrate the required skills during the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Customize your design portfolio to highlight case studies that demonstrate your experience with UX research, UI design, design systems, and collaboration with cross-functional teams, specifically tailoring project descriptions to align with the language and requirements in the job description.
Optimize your resume by incorporating relevant ATS keywords from the list provided, ensuring your skills and experience in Figma, interaction design, user research, and design iteration are clearly visible.
Prepare for the interview process by practicing walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on your process and the impact of your design work, and thinking through potential responses to design process and culture-related questions.
Research IPG Mediabrands and its position within the media and marketing industry to demonstrate your interest and understanding during interviews, paying attention to their recent work or innovations, particularly related to creative technologies or platforms.

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

Product Designer, Creatives