Junior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Product Designer

Company: OAK'S LAB

Location: Prague, Czechia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design & Development

Date Posted: 2025-10-10

Experience Level: 0-2 Years

Remote Status: On-site (with flexible hours)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on the end-to-end design of digital products, websites, and brands, from initial concept through to delivery.

• You will be empowered to take ownership of challenging design initiatives, collaborating closely with experienced engineering and product teams.

• The position emphasizes a steep learning curve, supported by dedicated mentorship from senior design leadership.

• Successful candidates will demonstrate a proactive approach, a keen interest in technology, and a commitment to maintaining a high standard of quality in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Junior Product Designer," the description emphasizes client-facing product teams and the creation of market-leading software solutions. This suggests a strong focus on end-user experience and business impact, common in GTM-adjacent product roles. The role also highlights collaboration with Product Managers and Tech Leads, indicating a need for strong cross-functional communication skills and an understanding of product development lifecycles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and deliver digital products, websites, and branding initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Tech Leads to drive product decisions and ensure alignment with project goals.

• Conduct user testing and research to gather insights, understand user needs, and validate design proposals.

• Develop and maintain a strong visual direction, ensuring consistency across all project deliverables.

• Uphold and enforce UX/UI standards, leveraging established elements, patterns, and specifications.

• Develop and contribute to consistent design systems and project documentation.

• Manage design delivery timelines in accordance with project plans and milestones.

• Proactively explore and integrate new technologies, including AI, into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities list includes "Manage your design delivery based on project plan & milestones" and "Closely collaborate and drive product decisions alongside Tech Lead and Product Manager." These are critical for operations-minded designers who need to track project progress, manage scope, and influence product strategy, aligning with GTM objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree is listed, but a design-focused educational background or equivalent practical experience is implied.

Experience: 1-2 years of direct design experience, or equivalent experience gained through design-focused schooling. A portfolio demonstrating design outcomes is essential.

Required Skills:

• 1+ years of design experience or design-focused education.

• A portfolio showcasing aesthetic sensibility, design solutions, and application of UX/UI patterns and principles.

• Strong interest in visual design, user experience, and ideally branding.

• Fluent English communication skills for effective presentation and advocacy of ideas.

• Basic proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Adobe Suite and Figma.

• A strong drive for continuous learning and self-improvement.

• Proactive team spirit and collaborative work ethic.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with AI technologies in design.

• Contribution to or development of design systems.

• Experience conducting user testing and synthesizing feedback.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "fluent English with strong communication skills to present and effectively advocate for your ideas" is crucial for roles involving cross-functional collaboration and stakeholder management, a hallmark of effective operations. The emphasis on "drive to learn and continuously improve" and "explore new approaches, AI technologies" points to a need for adaptability and a growth mindset, essential in fast-paced tech environments.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong eye for design and aesthetics.

• Demonstrate the outcomes of design solutions, illustrating the application of UX/UI patterns and principles.

• Include examples of digital products, websites, and branding projects.

• Highlight collaboration with cross-functional teams (even if conceptual in academic projects).

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of conceptualizing and designing from discovery to delivery phases.

• Examples of collaboration with Product Managers and Tech Leads.

• Demonstrations of user testing methodologies and how feedback informed designs.

• Documentation of visual direction and its consistent application.

• Contributions to or understanding of design systems and their implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that "demonstrates the outcomes of your design solutions" and "showcasing the outcomes... by applying UX/UI patterns & principles" is a key indicator for operations roles. This implies a need to articulate not just the aesthetic but the functional and user-centric rationale behind design choices, linking them to product success metrics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As per our research for Junior Product Designers in Prague with 1-2 years of experience, a competitive salary range typically falls between 45,000 CZK to 70,000 CZK gross per month. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific portfolio, interview performance, and the exact scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Flexible working hours to accommodate personal schedules and optimize productivity.

• Generous paid time off: 26 days plus an additional day for each year of service, capped at 30 days.

• Provision of a top-of-the-line MacBook and a hardware budget for necessary equipment.

• A dedicated budget for professional growth, covering books, courses, and conferences.

• Free English language lessons to enhance communication skills.

• Regular team bonding activities, including happy hours, online games, and annual offsite trips.

• Access to cross-department clubs for hobbies and interests (yoga, traveling, football, dancing, etc.).

• A dog-friendly office environment located in Prague's Old Town Square.

Working Hours: Flexible working hours are offered, with an assumed standard full-time commitment of approximately 40 hours per week, allowing for adaptability in scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on average market rates for junior design roles in Prague, considering the cost of living and typical compensation structures for tech companies. Benefits like a growth budget and flexible hours are highly valued by operations professionals seeking continuous development and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Services & Software Development, specifically focused on building software solutions for startups, scale-ups, and enterprises. OAK'S LAB acts as a technology partner, deploying empowered product teams.

Company Size: Founded in 2016, OAK'S LAB has built and launched over 65 products, with a combined client valuation of $1.7B. While an exact employee count isn't provided, this indicates a growing, established company with significant project experience.

Founded: 2016. This relatively young but experienced company has a track record of successful product development.

Team Structure:

• The design team consists of 7 designers, with a Head of Design or Senior Designer providing mentorship.

• Designers work within cross-functional product teams, collaborating directly with Product Managers and Tech Leads.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on building innovative software solutions and empowering product teams.

• Focus on creating market leaders through technology partnerships.

• Commitment to design as a central element of product development.

• Encouragement of experimentation and operation on the edge of technology.

Company Website: https://oakslab.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to be dynamic, innovation-driven, and client-focused. The emphasis on "empowered product teams" and "design is central to everything we build" suggests an environment where designers have significant influence, a key aspect for operations professionals who thrive on impact and autonomy.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Junior level (0-2 years experience), positioned for rapid growth and increased responsibility. This role is an entry point into hands-on product design within a client-facing, project-driven environment.

Reporting Structure: Reports to either the Head of Design or a Senior Designer for mentorship and guidance. Works collaboratively within project-specific, cross-functional teams (Product Manager, Tech Lead).

Operations Impact: As a Junior Product Designer, your impact will be direct and visible through the design of digital products and websites that create market leaders. Your contributions will directly influence user experience, product adoption, and client success. The role emphasizes "real-world value creation."

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Intensive mentorship and coaching to rapidly develop UX/UI, visual design, and product strategy skills. Exposure to diverse projects and technologies.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, branding, or emerging technologies like AI.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and growth, potential to move into mid-level and senior design roles, leading design initiatives and potentially mentoring future junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "steep learning curve fully supported" and "quick empowerment to take full ownership" indicate a structured but fast-paced growth path. This is ideal for operations-minded individuals who seek rapid skill acquisition and tangible contributions to business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The office is described as "The most photographed office in Prague," located directly on Old Town Square. This suggests a vibrant, aesthetically pleasing, and potentially collaborative workspace. It is also dog-friendly.

Office Location(s): Prague, Czechia. The specific location on Old Town Square is a prime city center address.

Workspace Context:

• A highly visual and inspiring office environment conducive to creative work.

• Proximity to a major city hub, offering amenities and accessibility.

• A dog-friendly policy contributes to a relaxed and inclusive atmosphere.

• Designed to foster collaboration among design and product teams.

Work Schedule: Flexible working hours are a key benefit, allowing for adaptation to personal productivity peaks and project demands, while maintaining a full-time commitment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "most photographed office" and prime location suggest a company that values aesthetics and employee experience. The flexibility in working hours, combined with an inspiring physical workspace, caters to professionals who need both autonomy and a stimulating environment for creative problem-solving.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application and portfolio to assess design skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing their design process, problem-solving approach, and outcomes. Expect questions about specific projects, design decisions, and user testing.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Simulation/Discussion: Interviews may involve discussions or hypothetical scenarios focusing on collaboration with Product Managers and Tech Leads, assessing communication and decision-driving abilities.

• Mentorship Discussion: Conversation about learning style, receptiveness to feedback, and eagerness to grow under mentorship.

• Cultural Fit: Assessment of proactive team spirit, interest in tech, and alignment with OAK'S LAB's innovative culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Outcome-Oriented: Focus on the results of your design solutions, not just the aesthetics. Quantify impact where possible (e.g., user satisfaction improvements, task completion rates).

• Process Clarity: Clearly articulate your design process, from problem definition and user research to ideation, iteration, and final delivery. Explain why you made certain decisions.

• Tool Proficiency: Showcase proficiency in Figma and Adobe Suite, and mention any experience with design systems or AI tools.

• Storytelling: Craft a narrative around your projects that highlights your problem-solving skills, collaboration, and ability to learn and adapt.

• Relevance: Tailor your portfolio to showcase projects that align with digital product design, websites, and branding, as specified in the responsibilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for potential design exercises or case studies that test your ability to conceptualize, design, and justify solutions under time constraints.

• Practice articulating your design thinking clearly and concisely, especially when explaining your process and rationale.

• Prepare to discuss how you would approach user testing and incorporate feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "driving product decisions" and "collaborating closely" suggests interviewers will probe into how candidates influence outcomes. Portfolio examples should highlight instances where design choices led to tangible product improvements or business value.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is expected.

• Adobe Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator): Useful for visual design, asset creation, and branding elements.

• Design Systems: Experience contributing to or working within design systems is preferred, as it ensures consistency and efficiency.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design integrates with product roadmaps and development pipelines is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Adobe Suite, alongside the concept of design systems, indicates a modern, efficient design workflow. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with these tools and their understanding of how design systems contribute to scalable product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: Encouragement to "operate on the edge of technology" and explore new approaches, including AI.

• Quality: Maintaining a "consistent high bar of quality" across all design outputs.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, with designers working closely alongside Product Managers and Tech Leads.

• Ownership & Empowerment: Junior designers are "quickly empowered to take full ownership of challenging design initiatives."

• Continuous Learning: A "drive to learn and continuously improve" is fundamental.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly integrated within cross-functional product teams.

• Open communication and advocacy for design ideas.

• Collaborative problem-solving with engineering and product management.

• Mentorship and knowledge sharing within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a proactive, learning-oriented culture where designers are integral to product success and encouraged to push boundaries. This aligns with operations principles of continuous improvement and data-informed decision-making.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Steep Learning Curve: Rapidly acquiring new skills and taking on significant responsibility in a client-facing environment.

• Balancing Creativity with Project Constraints: Delivering innovative designs within project timelines and technical limitations.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating and driving consensus among Product Managers, Tech Leads, and potentially clients.

• Staying Current: Keeping pace with evolving design trends and emerging technologies, especially AI.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mentorship: Direct guidance from experienced Senior Designers or the Head of Design.

• Project Diversity: Exposure to a wide range of products, industries, and technologies.

• Skill Development Budget: Financial support for books, courses, and conferences to enhance design expertise.

• English Language Improvement: Free lessons to bolster communication capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for resilience, adaptability, and strong problem-solving skills, all critical for operations roles. The growth opportunities are structured to rapidly accelerate a designer's career trajectory.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a project in your portfolio. What was the problem, your approach, the challenges, and the outcome?" Focus on how you translated user needs into design solutions.

• Collaboration: "Describe a time you disagreed with a Product Manager or Tech Lead on a design decision. How did you handle it, and what was the resolution?" Prepare examples showcasing negotiation and data-driven advocacy.

• Problem-Solving: "Imagine you're tasked with redesigning a core feature of an existing product. What would be your first steps, and how would you ensure user needs are met?" Focus on structured thinking and user-centricity.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about OAK'S LAB and our approach to product development?" Research their client work and company ethos.

• "How do you approach receiving and giving constructive feedback?" Discuss your openness to mentorship and collaboration.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Storytelling: Structure your presentation around key projects, focusing on the problem, your unique contribution, the process, and the quantifiable results.

• Highlight UX/UI Principles: Explicitly connect your design decisions to established UX/UI patterns and principles.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Show examples of your work in Figma and mention how you leverage its features.

• Address AI Interest: If applicable, showcase any projects or concepts involving AI.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your workflow, decision-making, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will look for a blend of creative talent, technical proficiency, and the ability to integrate seamlessly into a product team. Demonstrating an understanding of the impact of design on business outcomes will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating digital product design, website design, and branding. Highlight UX/UI application and design outcomes clearly.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 1-2 years of design experience, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Suite, and any experience with design systems or user testing. Use keywords like "product design," "UX/UI," "visual design," and "collaboration."

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, articulating your design process, and answering behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and learning. Be ready to discuss your interest in technology and AI.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with OAK'S LAB's work, client portfolio, and company culture. Understand their approach to building software solutions and empowering product teams.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions tailored for product design roles within a GTM context. All details should be verified directly with OAK'S LAB before making application decisions.