Digital Product Designer - Football Startup

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Digital Product Designer - Football Startup

Company: Prematch

Location: Cologne, Germany (Hybrid - 1-3 days in office) / Fully Remote Possible

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2025-11-16

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

Remote Status: Hybrid / Remote Options Available

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design vision and execution for a digital platform revolutionizing amateur football experiences, integrating gamification and professional-level insights.

• Drive user-centric design principles throughout the product lifecycle, from initial concept and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and final implementation.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, product management, and marketing, to translate user needs and business objectives into intuitive and engaging digital solutions.

• Contribute to a fast-paced, dynamic startup environment focused on rapid iteration, data-driven decision-making, and impactful product development within the sports technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a startup context, demanding adaptability, initiative, and a hands-on approach to product design. The "Digital Product Designer" title, combined with responsibilities like UX/UI design, user research, and prototyping, strongly indicates a focus on user experience and interface design for digital products. The emphasis on football and gamification suggests a niche but rapidly growing market within sports tech. The hybrid/remote flexibility and startup environment are key differentiators for attracting talent seeking dynamic work arrangements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead UX/UI Design: Conceptualize, design, and deliver intuitive, user-centric interfaces and experiences for mobile applications, ensuring seamless user journeys and high engagement rates.

• Conduct User Research & Usability Testing: Proactively engage in product discovery, user interviews, surveys, and usability testing sessions to gather critical insights that inform and validate design decisions.

• Develop Wireframes and Prototypes: Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows to stakeholders and development teams.

• Maintain Design Consistency: Champion and uphold design consistency and coherence across the entire product ecosystem, ensuring a unified brand experience and adherence to established design systems.

• Cross-Departmental Design Support: Extend design expertise beyond core product features to support other departments, including brand partnerships and marketing collateral, demonstrating versatility and a holistic understanding of design's impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a full-spectrum product design role, requiring a blend of strategic thinking (product discovery, user research) and tactical execution (wireframing, prototyping, visual design). The "Cross-Team Support" responsibility is common in startups where individuals often wear multiple hats, suggesting the need for strong communication and collaboration skills beyond the immediate product team.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is often preferred for foundational knowledge in design principles and methodologies. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of demonstrable experience in product design, with a proven track record of successfully launching and iterating on digital products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: 2+ years of proven experience as a Product Designer, with a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, problem-solving abilities, and visual design skills.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Demonstrated experience in conducting user research, gathering insights, and performing usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficiency in creating wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs using industry-standard tools.

• Visual Design Skills: Excellent visual design capabilities with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout, coupled with a strong sensitivity to user-system interaction.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Solid understanding of fundamental user-centered design (UCD) principles, interaction design patterns, and responsive design best practices.

• Language Fluency: Fluent command of both German and English, essential for effective communication within the diverse European team and with local users.

• Football Domain Knowledge: A genuine understanding and passion for amateur football, including familiarity with its culture, players, processes, and unique challenges on and off the pitch.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design Skills: Experience or proficiency in motion design, adding dynamic and engaging elements to user interfaces.

• Experience with Gamification: Familiarity with gamification mechanics and their application within digital products to drive user engagement and retention.

• Familiarity with Design Systems: Experience in developing or working within established design systems to ensure scalability and consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "You know football" requirement is a unique and critical differentiator for this role, emphasizing the need for domain expertise beyond pure design skills. This suggests the company values candidates who intrinsically understand their target audience's needs and motivations. The combination of required languages also points to the international nature of the team and user base.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Design Process: Showcase a clear and logical design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, and final design solutions.

• Highlight Problem-Solving: Present case studies that clearly articulate the user problems or business challenges addressed, the design solutions implemented, and the rationale behind key decisions.

• Showcase User Impact: Include examples of how your designs have positively impacted user experience, engagement, or key business metrics, ideally with quantifiable results.

• Visual Excellence & Interaction: Provide examples of high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes that demonstrate strong visual design skills and an understanding of intuitive interaction design.

Process Documentation:

• User Research Insights: Document findings from user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, and explain how these insights directly influenced design iterations.

• Prototyping Workflows: Illustrate the evolution of designs through wireframes and prototypes, showing how feedback and testing led to refined solutions.

• Design System Contributions (if applicable): If you have experience with design systems, showcase examples of components designed or contributions made to ensure consistency and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just be a collection of pretty screens but a narrative of how the candidate approaches design challenges, from understanding the problem space to delivering a user-validated solution. Emphasizing the "why" behind design choices and the impact of those choices is critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on market research for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in Germany, particularly in tech hubs like Cologne or Berlin, and considering the startup environment, a competitive salary range is estimated between €50,000 - €70,000 annually. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary package commensurate with experience and market standards.

• Employee Participation (VSOP): Virtual Stock Option Plan, allowing direct benefit from the company's success and growth.

• 27 Vacation Days: Generous paid time off per year for rest and rejuvenation, with additional arrangements for parents.

• Team Events: Regular team gatherings and social events to foster connection and camaraderie.

• Offsites: Annual team offsite events for focused collaboration, strategic planning, and team building.

• Flexible Work Environment: Options for hybrid work (1-3 days in office) or fully remote arrangements, with flexibility for international remote work.

• Modern IT Equipment: Provision of necessary tools and devices to ensure productivity and comfort.

• Office Access: Access to three modern offices in Cologne, Berlin, and London, with opportunities to work from different locations.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes flexibility, allowing for remote work and adaptable schedules, particularly for Tech & Product roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical compensation for mid-level product designers in Germany, adjusted for a startup environment that often offers equity (VSOP) as a significant part of the compensation package. The "Employee Participation (VSOP)" is a strong indicator of a startup aiming to align employee success with company growth. The generous vacation days and parental leave arrangements are attractive benefits that signal a commitment to employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Technology (Sports Tech), Digital Platforms, Gamification, Mobile Applications. Prematch operates at the intersection of sports media, technology, and community platforms, specifically targeting the amateur football market.

Company Size: Prematch is a growing startup, likely in the range of 50-200 employees, given its funding and ambition. This size implies a dynamic, agile, and collaborative environment where individual contributions have a significant impact.

Founded: Founded in 2021, Prematch is a relatively young company, characterized by rapid growth, innovation, and a startup mentality.

Team Structure:

• Distributed Teams: The company has a distributed team structure with marketing and business functions in Cologne, Berlin, and London, and tech and product teams working remotely across Europe. This necessitates strong asynchronous communication protocols and a culture of self-management.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Product designers work closely with development teams, product managers, and marketing/business development. This implies a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives are valued.

• Reporting Lines: While not explicitly stated, a Product Designer typically reports to a Head of Product, Design Lead, or CTO in a startup environment.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Startup environments often utilize agile methodologies (e.g., Scrum, Kanban) for rapid iteration and product development.

• Data-Driven Design: The emphasis on user research and insights suggests a data-driven approach to product design, where decisions are validated by user feedback and performance metrics.

• User-Centricity: The core mission revolves around enhancing the amateur football experience, underscoring a strong commitment to understanding and serving user needs.

Company Website: https://prematch.notion.site/Prematch-auf-einen-Blick-b7158d037c414dd0b19e7a6b97e8fdbe (Note: This is a Notion link, not a typical company website, often used by startups for initial information sharing).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on amateur football and its startup nature suggest a culture that is passionate, fast-paced, and community-oriented. The distributed team structure is a key characteristic that influences communication and collaboration styles, requiring strong remote work practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role. The expectation is for the candidate to operate with a degree of autonomy, lead design initiatives within their scope, and contribute significantly to product strategy and user experience. They are expected to mentor junior designers if the team grows and influence design direction.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Product Lead, Design Manager, or CTO, depending on the company's current structure. This position offers exposure to key decision-makers and the opportunity to influence product strategy.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, retention, engagement, and overall product success. By creating intuitive and delightful experiences, they contribute to the platform's growth and its mission to transform amateur football. Their designs will be instrumental in achieving business objectives, such as user growth, feature adoption, and partnership integrations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: As the company scales, opportunities to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, or even build and manage a design team may arise.

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in areas like gamification design, mobile UX, or user research methodologies within the sports tech domain.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to product strategy discussions, influencing the roadmap and future direction of Prematch based on user insights and design expertise.

• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in the burgeoning sports technology sector, working with innovative features like gamification and data analytics.

📝 Enhancement Note: In a startup like Prematch, career growth is often tied to the company's trajectory. A successful candidate can expect significant opportunities to shape product direction and potentially take on leadership responsibilities as the company expands. The role offers a chance to make a tangible impact on a growing platform in a passionate niche.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Prematch offers a hybrid work environment with offices in Cologne, Berlin, and London. These are described as "cool offices" with "true startup vibes," suggesting a modern, dynamic, and collaborative workspace designed to foster creativity and teamwork.

Office Location(s):

• Cologne, Germany

• Berlin, Germany

• London, United Kingdom

Candidates can choose to work from an office (1-3 days/week) or fully remote. The company also supports flexible work from outside usual locations for short periods.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The offices are likely designed with collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and open-plan areas to encourage interaction and team synergy.

• Tools & Technology: Employees are provided with modern IT equipment, ensuring they have the necessary tools to be productive, whether in the office or working remotely. This includes access to design software and collaboration platforms.

• Team Interaction: The company emphasizes maintaining a connected team spirit through various tools and virtual office setups, even for remote employees, facilitating regular interaction and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: While a standard full-time work week (approx. 40 hours) is expected, Prematch offers significant flexibility. Employees can choose their work arrangement (hybrid or remote) and potentially adapt their daily schedules to suit their productivity peaks, especially within the tech and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "startup vibes" in the offices suggests an energetic, informal, and possibly open-plan workspace conducive to innovation. The flexibility in work arrangements (hybrid, remote, temporary international remote work) is a significant perk, catering to diverse employee needs and preferences.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application & Portfolio Review: Submit CV and portfolio. The hiring team (led by Lisa) will review to assess design skills, process, and relevant experience.

• Screening Call: A brief call to discuss your background, motivation, understanding of the role, and cultural fit, potentially with the hiring manager or a member of the product team.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or present a case study from your portfolio that demonstrates your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to address specific user needs relevant to Prematch's domain.

• Team Interviews: Discussions with key team members (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Developer) to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and how you would integrate into the team.

• Final Interview: Potentially a conversation with a founder or senior leader to discuss strategic alignment, long-term vision, and finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Tell a Story: Don't just show finished screens. Explain the problem, your process, your role, the challenges you faced, and the impact of your design.

• Show Your Football Passion: If possible, include projects related to sports, gaming, or community platforms. Highlight your understanding of the amateur football domain.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores).

• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate and that your contributions are clearly identified, especially if you worked in a team.

• Visual Presentation: High-quality visuals and a professional presentation are crucial. Ensure prototypes are interactive and easy to test.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Domain: Research Prematch, the amateur football market, and competitors. Think about the unique challenges and opportunities in this space.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your thinking process, not just the final solution. Show how you would approach user research, ideation, and iteration.

• Consider Constraints: Be mindful of the startup environment – solutions should be practical and scalable.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to clearly articulate your design decisions and rationale, anticipating questions about trade-offs and alternatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Startups often prioritize a candidate's ability to think critically, adapt quickly, and demonstrate passion for their domain. The design challenge is likely to assess these qualities alongside core design skills. Highlighting a genuine understanding of football will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Figma (highly probable given industry trends and startup preference), Sketch, Adobe XD.

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet), surveys (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).

• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Notion (used extensively by Prematch), Jira, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, Firebase Analytics for tracking user behavior and feature adoption.

• Data Visualization: Tools might be integrated into analytics platforms or require basic proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly the designer's primary responsibility, awareness of CRM systems (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce) and marketing automation tools can be beneficial for understanding user journeys and campaign integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the de facto standard for collaborative design in startups. Proficiency in this tool, along with experience in user research and analytics platforms, is essential. The mention of Notion as a company tool suggests its importance for documentation and internal communication.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion for Football: A deep enthusiasm for the sport and its community is likely a core value, driving the team's mission.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of amateur footballers and fans.

• Innovation & Agility: Embracing new ideas, rapid iteration, and adapting quickly to market changes.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where team members work together effectively, share knowledge, and contribute to collective success.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing insights derived from user research and analytics to guide product development.

• Ownership & Accountability: Encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their work and contribute to the company's overall goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional: Expect close collaboration with product managers, engineers, marketing, and business development teams.

• Open Communication: A culture that encourages open feedback, constructive criticism, and transparent communication, especially important in a remote/hybrid setup.

• Agile Practices: Working in sprints, participating in stand-ups, and contributing to a continuous improvement loop.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactive sharing of insights, best practices, and design learnings across teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of passion for football with startup agility and a data-driven approach defines Prematch's likely culture. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where individual passion can translate into tangible product improvements.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Growth Environment: Navigating the fast-paced, often unpredictable nature of a growing startup, requiring adaptability and resilience.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating diverse user needs and sophisticated gamification concepts into feasible, impactful product features that also align with business objectives.

• Maintaining Design Consistency Across Distributed Teams: Ensuring a cohesive user experience and brand identity across a geographically dispersed team and potentially evolving product features.

• Domain Specificity: Deeply understanding the nuanced needs and behaviors of the amateur football community to design genuinely resonant features.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Sports Tech: Gaining specialized knowledge in a rapidly evolving industry sector.

• Gamification Design Expertise: Developing advanced skills in designing engaging gamified experiences.

• Product Strategy Contribution: Opportunity to influence product roadmaps and strategic decisions.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Learning from engineers, product managers, and marketing professionals, broadening understanding of the entire product lifecycle.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced team members or even mentor junior designers as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a startup, emphasizing the need for a proactive, problem-solving mindset. The growth opportunities are significant, offering substantial professional development within a niche but growing market.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a new feature for a mobile app, starting from a vague idea." (Focus on user research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration.)

• "How would you approach designing a gamification element for amateur football players to increase engagement?" (Assess understanding of gamification principles and domain knowledge.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to balance conflicting user feedback or stakeholder requirements. How did you resolve it?" (Evaluate problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Prematch and our mission to transform amateur football?" (Gauge passion for the domain and company vision.)

• "How do you see your skills and experience contributing to a startup environment?" (Assess adaptability, initiative, and cultural fit.)

• "How do you prefer to collaborate with engineers and product managers?" (Understand your teamwork and communication style.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline: The Problem, Your Role, The Process, The Solution, and The Outcome/Impact.

• Highlight Your Football Connection: If you have personal experience or projects related to sports, gaming, or community platforms, weave them into your narrative.

• Showcase Your Process: Emphasize your thinking, research methods, and how you iterated based on feedback, not just the final polished designs.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and what you would do differently.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: If a challenge is given, focus on demonstrating your process and problem-solving approach, even if you don't have a "perfect" solution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong understanding of design principles, a clear and adaptable design process, and a genuine passion for football and the startup environment. Be prepared to articulate your value and how you can contribute to Prematch's growth.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Digital Product Designer position:

• Submit your current CV and a strong portfolio through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant projects, especially those involving mobile applications, user research, prototyping, and ideally, any connection to sports, gaming, or community platforms. Clearly articulate your role and the impact of your designs.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience, core design skills (UX/UI, User Research, Prototyping), language proficiency (German & English), and any specific football domain knowledge. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to discuss your design process, your passion for football, and why you're excited about Prematch's mission during screening calls and interviews. Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely.

• Research Prematch: Understand their product, target audience, and company values. Be prepared to articulate how your skills and passion align with their vision.

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

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