Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: PC Financial

Location: 500 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX)

Date Posted: August 21, 2025

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is for an Intermediate Product Designer focused on creating user-centered digital experiences for PC Financial's web and mobile platforms, with a significant emphasis on native iOS and Android applications.

• The position requires a strong understanding of design thinking, iterative design processes, and the ability to translate user needs and business goals into intuitive and engaging interfaces.

• A key aspect of the role involves contributing to and evolving the company's design system, creating reusable components and interaction patterns to ensure consistency and scalability across products.

• The Product Designer will collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and other stakeholders to deliver high-quality, polished interfaces while ensuring accessibility and adherence to design best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data specifies "Product Designer," the detailed responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a strong UX/UI focus, particularly within native mobile application design. The role's emphasis on user journeys, heuristic evaluations, and design system contributions places it squarely within the UX/UI discipline, with a specialization in mobile-first design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for digital products, from problem framing and ideation through to high-fidelity UI design and detailed interaction documentation.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, journey maps, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and polished user interface designs, with a mobile-first approach and specialized knowledge of iOS and Android design conventions.

• Conduct thorough heuristic evaluations to identify usability pain points and formulate actionable recommendations for design improvements.

• Actively contribute to the company's design system by creating new components, defining interaction patterns, and ensuring adherence to brand guidelines and scalability requirements.

• Collaborate with product management, engineering, and business stakeholders to ensure design solutions are aligned with strategic objectives, technical feasibility, and user needs.

• Prepare and package design assets and specifications for development teams, including Figma files, micro-interaction details, and behavioral documentation to facilitate smooth implementation.

• Plan and execute usability testing sessions, analyze user feedback, and iterate on designs to optimize user experience and achieve desired outcomes.

• Ensure all digital experiences meet accessibility standards, including AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) A/AA compliance and inclusive design principles.

• Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to cross-functional teams and stakeholders to gain buy-in and foster a shared understanding of design decisions.

• Stay abreast of the latest UX/UI trends, design methodologies, and emerging technologies to continuously improve design practices and product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description extensively covers the typical responsibilities of a Product Designer with a strong UX/UI focus. The emphasis on mobile-first design, design systems, and AODA compliance are key differentiators for this role within the financial services sector. The responsibilities are well-articulated, covering the full design lifecycle.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Formal education in a design-related field, such as a Bachelor of Design (BDes) or Master of Design (MDes), or a degree in Industrial Design or Interaction Design.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2–4 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record demonstrated through a strong portfolio.

• Demonstrated experience in designing for both iOS and Android native applications is essential, showcasing a deep understanding of mobile-first design principles and platform-specific conventions.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Expertise in crafting intuitive and user-friendly digital experiences across various platforms.

• UX Design: Strong foundation in user experience principles, including user research, journey mapping, and information architecture.

• UI Design: Proficiency in creating visually appealing and consistent user interfaces that align with brand standards.

• Heuristic Evaluation: Ability to conduct systematic evaluations to identify usability problems in user interfaces.

• Design Systems: Experience in creating, maintaining, and evolving design systems, including components, patterns, and style guides.

• Prototyping: Skill in developing interactive prototypes using tools like Figma to simulate user flows and test concepts.

• User Research: Familiarity with various UX research methods such as user interviews and usability testing, and the ability to translate insights into design decisions.

• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and stakeholders.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly.

• iOS Design: In-depth knowledge of Apple's Human Interface Guidelines and best practices for native iOS app design.

• Android Design: In-depth knowledge of Google's Material Design guidelines and best practices for native Android app design.

• Accessibility: Strong understanding of AODA compliance and inclusive design practices to ensure products are usable by everyone.

• Design Thinking: Application of a human-centered, iterative design process to solve complex problems.

• Problem Solving: A keen ability to identify design challenges and develop effective, user-centric solutions.

• Figma: High proficiency in Figma for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Competency in using Adobe Creative Suite applications for design tasks.

• Miro: Experience with Miro or similar collaborative whiteboarding tools for ideation and process mapping.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-end Development Knowledge: Familiarity with front-end technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript frameworks like React.

• Banking/Fintech Experience: Previous design experience within the financial services or fintech industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required experience level (2-4 years) combined with the need for a post-graduate UX program or certificate suggests the company is looking for a candidate who has moved beyond entry-level and can demonstrate practical application of UX principles. The explicit mention of native iOS and Android design experience, along with Figma proficiency, are critical qualifications. The preferred skills in front-end development and fintech add significant value.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong foundation in interaction design, UI design, and problem-solving through UX.

• Specific examples of end-to-end design processes for digital products, highlighting your approach from research and ideation to final implementation.

• Case studies demonstrating experience designing for both native iOS and Android applications, detailing your understanding of platform-specific design patterns and best practices.

• Projects that illustrate your ability to create and evolve design systems, including examples of components, interaction patterns, and style guides.

• Evidence of your proficiency in using design tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and collaborative platforms like Miro.

Process Documentation:

• Portfolio pieces should clearly document your design process, including how you frame problems, conduct user research, ideate solutions, prototype, and test designs.

• Showcase examples of how you translate insights from heuristic evaluations and usability testing into actionable design improvements.

• Include documentation of your contributions to design systems, detailing the creation of new components, interaction patterns, and the rationale behind them.

• Provide examples of how you package design requirements for development, including Figma assets, micro-interaction specifications, and behavioral documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is central to this role. Candidates should prepare case studies that not only display polished UI but also clearly articulate their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact, especially concerning mobile applications and design system contributions. Demonstrating proficiency with Figma and an understanding of the full design lifecycle are crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for an Intermediate Product Designer in Toronto, Ontario, with 2-5 years of experience and specialized skills in native mobile design and design systems, the estimated annual salary range is CAD $75,000 - $105,000.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, often with extended health benefits and wellness programs.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Likely includes a company-matched pension or RRSP (Registered Retirement Savings Plan) program, common in Canadian financial institutions.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, and statutory holidays, reflecting a commitment to work-life balance.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continuous learning, including access to training, conferences, and workshops relevant to UX/UI design and product development.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for employees and their families.

• Employee Discounts: Potential for discounts on PC Financial products or services and other Loblaws Company Inc. offerings.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment type.

• While the role is on-site, PC Financial, as part of Loblaws, may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, as long as core business hours and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: A salary range has been estimated based on industry standards for similar roles in Toronto. The benefits package is inferred from typical offerings at large Canadian financial institutions and Loblaws Company Inc. The role is explicitly on-site, and while specific flexibility isn't detailed, a standard 40-hour work week is assumed.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services / Retail Banking / Payments. PC Financial operates within the Canadian financial sector, leveraging its partnership with Loblaws to offer payment solutions and banking services, focusing on rewarding customers and making everyday financial tasks simpler.

Company Size: PC Financial is a significant player, serving over 3 million customers. As a subsidiary of Loblaws Company Inc., it benefits from the scale and resources of one of Canada's largest retailers. This implies a structured but dynamic environment with opportunities for impact.

Founded: PC Financial was established in 1997. Its history is rooted in a partnership that aimed to provide financial services to Loblaws customers, evolving over the years to offer a range of payment and banking products. This long-standing presence suggests stability and a deep understanding of the Canadian consumer market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will likely be part of a larger Product, Design, or Digital Experience team.

• This team will include Product Managers responsible for product strategy, other Designers specializing in various aspects of UX/UI, and potentially UX Researchers.

• The structure will involve reporting to a Design Lead, Senior Product Designer, or a Director of Product/Design, with close collaboration across product squads or feature teams.

Methodology:

• The team likely employs a human-centered, iterative design-thinking process for product development.

• Data analysis and user feedback are integral to informing design decisions and measuring product success.

• Workflow planning and optimization are key, with a focus on creating efficient and seamless user journeys.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely integrated into the design and development processes to enhance user experience and operational effectiveness.

Company Website: pcfinancial.ca (though the provided URL is for the job portal, pcfinancial.ca is the public-facing site)

📝 Enhancement Note: PC Financial's positioning as a financial services provider tied to a major retail entity (Loblaws) suggests a culture that balances customer-centricity with business objectives. The emphasis on "making the everyday simple and better" and "making every dollar worth more" indicates a focus on practical value and user convenience. The size of the company and its customer base mean that design decisions have a broad impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an "Intermediate" Product Designer role, signifying a level beyond entry-level. It implies a requirement for foundational formal training and 2-4 years of practical experience, where the individual can work with some autonomy but still benefits from guidance from senior team members. The scope of work involves contributing to design systems and collaborating across teams.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Senior Product Designer, a Design Lead, or a Manager of Product Design. They will work within product teams or squads, collaborating daily with Product Managers and Software Developers. This structure provides exposure to strategic product decision-making and hands-on development processes.

Operations Impact: The work of a Product Designer directly impacts the customer experience, influencing user adoption, satisfaction, and engagement with PC Financial's digital products. Well-designed interfaces contribute to increased customer loyalty, transaction efficiency, and ultimately, business growth by making it easier for customers to manage their finances and utilize PC Financial's services.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in native mobile design (iOS/Android), advanced UX research techniques, and design system management.

• Specialization: Potential to specialize further in specific product areas (e.g., mobile payments, loyalty programs) or design disciplines (e.g., interaction design, visual design).

• Leadership Potential: Progression to Senior Product Designer roles, where one might lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and contribute more significantly to design strategy.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience in areas like product management or front-end development through collaboration and internal learning opportunities.

• Industry Exposure: Deepening knowledge within the competitive fintech and banking sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Intermediate" designation is key here. It suggests the role is a step up from an Associate or Junior Designer, requiring more independent contribution and a more developed portfolio. The growth path likely leads to Senior Designer roles, with potential for specialization or team leadership within PC Financial's design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," meaning the primary work location is a physical office. PC Financial is located at 500 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, ON, which is a modern office setting within a major urban center.

Office Location(s): The primary office is at 500 Lake Shore Blvd W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2V9. This location is accessible via public transportation and is situated in a prominent business district.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be a collaborative office environment, conducive to the design thinking and team collaboration emphasized in the role.

• Employees will have access to standard office amenities and likely the necessary hardware and software for design work, including high-performance computers and licenses for design tools.

Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, with typical business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 5 PM EST), totaling 40 hours per week.

• While the role is on-site, there might be some flexibility in daily start and end times, depending on team needs and company policy, to accommodate personal schedules while ensuring coverage for core collaboration periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement means candidates should be prepared to work from the Toronto office regularly. The environment is likely professional and collaborative, typical of a corporate setting in the financial services industry.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and design capabilities against role requirements.

• Initial Interview (Phone/Video): Typically with a recruiter or hiring manager to discuss background, motivation, and initial fit for the role and company culture.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or a deep dive into the candidate's portfolio to evaluate design skills, problem-solving approach, and communication clarity. This often involves presenting case studies and discussing design rationale.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues (e.g., other designers, product managers, developers) to assess collaboration style, technical understanding, and cultural alignment.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., Director of Design) for a final assessment and discussion on strategic fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills in Product Design, UX/UI, native mobile design, and design systems.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions, and the impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Mobile Expertise: Ensure your portfolio includes specific examples of native iOS and Android app designs, detailing your understanding of platform conventions.

• Showcase Design System Contributions: If possible, include projects where you contributed to or created design system components or patterns. Explain the benefits and challenges.

• Demonstrate Process: Clearly outline your design process, from research and ideation to testing and iteration. Include wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI designs.

• Explain Your Rationale: Be prepared to articulate why you made specific design choices, referencing user needs, business goals, and design principles.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased user satisfaction).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Format: Be prepared for either a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual design exercise during the interview process.

• Focus on Process: Even if a specific solution is required, emphasize your thought process, how you approach problem-solving, and your understanding of user-centered design.

• Time Management: If given a time-limited challenge, practice managing your time effectively to deliver a well-reasoned output.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work clearly and concisely, anticipating questions about your design decisions and process.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with PC Financial's products and brand to tailor your approach and demonstrate your interest.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a critical gate. Candidates must be ready to walk through their work, explaining their thought process and design decisions, particularly concerning mobile UX and design systems. A practical design challenge is also a strong possibility.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is a key requirement.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Commonly used for graphic design, image editing, and potentially motion graphics (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects).

• Miro: Utilized for collaborative whiteboarding, brainstorming, user flow mapping, and journey mapping.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated as a direct responsibility for the designer, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) can be beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role, but an understanding of how design impacts the customer journey within a CRM context might be helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is highlighted as a primary tool, indicating its central role in the design workflow at PC Financial. Proficiency in this tool is non-negotiable. Adobe Creative Suite and Miro are also expected. While designers may not directly manage analytics or CRM systems, understanding how their designs integrate with these platforms and impact user data is advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Care, Ownership, Respect, Excellence (CORE Values): PC Financial, as part of Loblaws, adheres to these core values.

  • Care: Demonstrating empathy for customers and colleagues, fostering a supportive environment.
  • Ownership: Taking responsibility for tasks and outcomes, driving initiatives to completion.
  • Respect: Valuing diverse perspectives and treating everyone with dignity.
  • Excellence: Striving for high quality in work, continuous improvement, and delivering outstanding results.

• Customer-Centricity: A strong focus on making the everyday simpler and better for customers, ensuring that design decisions directly benefit the user.

• Innovation: Encouraging creative thinking and the exploration of new ideas to improve financial products and services.

• Collaboration: Fostering a team-oriented environment where cross-functional partnerships are essential for success.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, requiring strong communication and the ability to build consensus.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs to ensure continuous improvement and alignment.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and design expertise within the design team and across the organization.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While creative, design decisions are expected to be grounded in user research, data analytics, and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Loblaws' CORE values provides a clear framework for understanding the expected team culture. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work and interactions, particularly "Care" for users and "Excellence" in design output.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: A constant challenge in product design is ensuring that user experience aligns with business objectives and technical constraints.

• Evolving Design Systems: Maintaining and expanding a design system to support new features and evolving user needs requires meticulous attention to detail and strategic planning.

• Adhering to Financial Regulations: The financial industry is heavily regulated, requiring designers to be mindful of compliance and security in their work.

• Designing for Diverse User Segments: PC Financial serves a broad customer base, requiring designs that are accessible and intuitive for users with varying levels of digital literacy and financial knowledge.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Working in a dynamic sector like fintech often means adapting to rapid changes and delivering solutions efficiently.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Training: Access to workshops and courses focused on advanced UX/UI techniques, mobile design patterns, and design system best practices.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend relevant conferences (e.g., design, fintech) to stay updated on industry trends and network with peers.

• Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from senior designers or product leaders within PC Financial or Loblaws to guide career development.

• Skill Diversification: Exposure to different product areas and technologies, allowing for the development of a broader skill set.

• Contribution to Design Strategy: As an intermediate designer, there's an opportunity to influence the direction of design within specific product initiatives and contribute to the overall design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability, strong problem-solving skills, and a commitment to continuous learning, especially within the regulated financial sector. The growth opportunities are geared towards professional development and career advancement within the design field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process: "Walk me through a recent project where you designed a mobile application from concept to launch. What was your process, what challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on structure, user-centricity, and problem-solving).

• Design Systems: "Describe your experience with design systems. How have you contributed to or maintained a design system? What are the benefits and challenges of using one?" (Highlight your understanding of scalability, consistency, and component creation).

• Problem Solving: "Imagine a user is struggling to complete a specific task on our mobile app. How would you approach diagnosing the problem and designing a solution?" (Demonstrate your use of UX principles and iterative design).

• Collaboration: "How do you collaborate with product managers and developers to ensure design ideas are understood and implemented effectively?" (Showcase your communication and teamwork skills).

• Mobile Design: "What are the key differences and considerations when designing for iOS versus Android native applications?" (Demonstrate your platform-specific expertise).

• Accessibility: "How do you ensure your designs are accessible to all users, particularly in line with AODA requirements?" (Showcase your commitment to inclusive design).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding PC Financial: "What excites you about PC Financial and our mission to make everyday financial experiences better?" (Research the company's values, products, and target audience).

• Team Fit: "How do you see yourself contributing to our design team and upholding our CORE values?" (Align your personal values and work style with the company's culture).

• Learning: "How do you stay current with the latest UX/UI trends and best practices?" (Show your dedication to continuous learning).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Begin each case study by clearly stating the user problem or business objective you aimed to address.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your design process and final solutions.

• Explain Your Decisions: For each step in your process, articulate the rationale behind your choices. Why did you choose a particular layout, interaction, or component?

• Highlight Your Role: Be clear about your specific contributions within team projects.

• Demonstrate Impact: Quantify the results of your work whenever possible (e.g., "improved task completion rate by X%", "reduced user errors by Y%").

• Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it flows smoothly, is concise, and effectively communicates your skills and experience. Be ready for questions and to dive deeper into specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing a strong understanding of the entire design lifecycle, with a particular emphasis on mobile-first design, design systems, and the ability to articulate design decisions with clear rationale. Understanding PC Financial's context and values is also crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday portal link.

• Customize your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your experience in product design, UX/UI, native iOS/Android design, and design systems. Use keywords from the job description and quantify your achievements with relevant metrics.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, easily accessible (e.g., via a link on your resume or cover letter), and showcases your strongest projects, especially those demonstrating mobile design and design system contributions.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that expresses your enthusiasm for PC Financial, highlights your most relevant skills and experiences, and explains why you are a strong fit for this specific role and the company culture.

• Research PC Financial: Familiarize yourself with PC Financial's products, services, brand values, and recent news. Understand their target audience and competitive landscape.

• Practice Your Interview Responses: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, articulate your design process, and answer questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and mobile design best practices.

⚠️ 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.