Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer Company: Prematch Location: Cologne, Germany (100% Remote Option Available) Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / GTM Operations Support Date Posted: 2025-08-19 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote Flexible

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end design process for Prematch's web and mobile applications, focusing on creating intuitive and engaging user experiences.
• Drive user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions and product strategy, aligning with Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, and Marketing teams to translate business objectives into impactful design solutions that enhance user adoption and retention.
• Develop and maintain a consistent design system and visual language across all product touchpoints, ensuring brand integrity and a seamless user journey.
• Contribute to cross-departmental design needs, including brand partnerships and marketing collateral, demonstrating a broad understanding of GTM support functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the mention of "Cross-Team Support: Take on further design tasks across departments (e.g. brand partnerships)" and the company's focus on the "super-platform for non-professional soccer" suggests a role with a significant GTM component. The designer will likely support marketing efforts and partnership integrations, requiring an understanding of how design impacts user acquisition and retention strategies.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design user-centric interfaces and experiences for web and mobile applications, ensuring alignment with product roadmaps and GTM strategies.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to identify user needs, pain points, and opportunities for improvement.
• Create detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for new features and platform enhancements.
• Collaborate with product managers and engineers throughout the product development lifecycle, providing design specifications and ensuring successful implementation.
• Maintain and evolve the design system, ensuring consistency in UI elements, components, and interaction patterns across the platform.
• Support marketing and business development teams by creating visual assets, mockups, and design concepts for strategic partnerships and campaigns.
• Analyze user feedback and product analytics to iterate on designs, optimize user journeys, and drive key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement and conversion.
• Champion design best practices, user empathy, and a data-informed approach within the product team and broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Take on further design tasks across departments (e.g. brand partnerships)" is critical. This implies the designer will need to understand how to visually represent partnership value, create marketing-aligned assets, and potentially design onboarding flows for new partners or user segments, directly supporting GTM efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is typically expected, though a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and skills is paramount.

Experience: A minimum of 2 years of proven experience as a Product Designer, UI/UX Designer, or similar role, with a demonstrable track record of shipping successful digital products.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design: Proficiency in designing intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and seamless user experiences for both web and mobile platforms.
• User Research & Usability Testing: Experience in planning, conducting, and synthesizing user research and usability testing to inform design decisions.
• Prototyping: Expertise in creating interactive wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes using industry-standard tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
• Visual Design: Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout, ensuring sensitivity to user-system interaction.
• Interaction Design: Solid understanding of interaction design principles and best practices for creating engaging and efficient user flows.
• Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, communicate design concepts clearly, and incorporate feedback from stakeholders.
• English Fluency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design Skills: Experience with motion design principles and tools (e.g., After Effects) to create dynamic and engaging animations.
• Frontend Development Skills: Basic understanding of frontend development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers and understand technical constraints.
• Design Systems: Experience in building, maintaining, or contributing to design systems.
• Agile/Scrum: Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working in a startup environment.
• Football Knowledge: Passion for or understanding of amateur football, its community, and associated processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "football knowledge" requirement is unusual for a typical Product Designer but crucial for Prematch. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their passion for the sport or understanding of its ecosystem informs their design approach and decision-making, especially for user-generated content and community features.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 in-depth case studies demonstrating your design process from problem identification to solution implementation, highlighting your role and impact.
• User-Centered Design: Clearly articulate the user problems you addressed and how your designs solved them, referencing user research and testing throughout.
• Visual and Interaction Design: Provide examples of high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and demonstrate your ability to create aesthetically pleasing and functionally sound interfaces.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Include examples or descriptions of how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to bring designs to life.
• Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your design solutions where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Design Workflow: Detail your typical design workflow, including stages like discovery, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration.
• Research Synthesis: Demonstrate how you translate user research and testing findings into actionable design insights and product improvements.
• System Thinking: Show an understanding of how your designs fit into the broader product ecosystem and contribute to a cohesive user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the startup environment and potential for supporting GTM initiatives, the portfolio should ideally include examples of designs that drove user acquisition, engagement, or supported partnership integrations, showcasing an understanding of business objectives beyond pure usability.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Germany, a competitive salary range would typically be between €50,000 - €70,000 per year. This estimate considers the startup environment, the specified experience level, and the cost of living in major German cities.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary commensurate with experience and market benchmarks.
• Employee Participation (VSOP): Opportunity to benefit directly from the company's success through a Virtual Stock Option Plan.
• Flexible Work Arrangement: Option for 100% remote work or hybrid model (1-3 days in the office) in Cologne or Berlin, with flexibility for remote work from outside usual locations.
• Modern IT Equipment: Provision of necessary tools and devices to ensure productivity.
• Generous Vacation: 27 vacation days per year, with additional arrangements for parents.
• Team Spirit & Events: Fostering a connected team through virtual tools, team events, and annual offsites.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth within a fast-paced startup environment.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through remote work options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation for a Product Designer in Germany with 2-5 years of experience. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific skills, experience, and negotiation. The VSOP is a significant benefit, indicating a desire to align employee success with company growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Technology / Digital Media; focusing on amateur soccer. Company Size: Prematch was founded in 2021 and is a growing startup. The team is described as "smart and hungry," indicating a dynamic, ambitious, and fast-paced work environment. Founded: 2021. This indicates a relatively young company with a foundational stage of product development and market penetration.

Team Structure:

• The team is distributed across Cologne and Berlin (Marketing & Business) and works remotely across Europe (Tech & Product).
• This Product Designer role is part of the Tech & Product team, implying close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering.
• The mention of supporting "brand partnerships" suggests interaction with the Marketing & Business team as well.

Methodology:

• Prematch operates in a startup environment, likely utilizing agile methodologies for product development.
• Emphasis on user research, data-driven decisions, and iterative design processes to refine the platform and user experience.
• A "fast, easy & transparent application process" indicates an efficient and candidate-friendly approach.

Company Website: https://prematch.notion.site/Prematch-auf-einen-Blick-b7158d037c414dd0b19e7a6b97e8fdbe

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "non-professional soccer" and its support network (adidas, Serge Gnabry, David Raum) suggest a strong connection to the sports community and a passion for the product's mission. This cultural element is important for candidates to understand and potentially align with.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer, requiring at least 2 years of experience and the ability to work independently on design tasks. It offers the opportunity to take significant ownership and shape the product's user experience.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Head of Product, Product Lead, or a Senior Product Manager. Collaboration will be extensive with engineers and product managers.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly impacts user acquisition, engagement, retention, and potentially revenue through feature development and user experience optimization. By creating delightful and intuitive interfaces, they contribute to the overall success of the "super-platform" and its GTM strategies.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to deepen expertise in UI/UX, user research, and prototyping, potentially expanding into areas like motion design or frontend development as mentioned in preferred skills.
• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, there could be opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or specialize in specific product areas.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Involvement in brand partnerships and marketing design provides valuable GTM experience, broadening career horizons into product marketing or strategic design roles.
• Startup Growth: Participating in the growth of a startup offers unparalleled learning experiences in agility, adaptability, and direct impact on business outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The opportunity to influence product direction and support GTM efforts in a growing startup is substantial. Candidates looking to make a visible impact and grow rapidly should highlight this aspect.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Prematch has offices in Cologne and Berlin, described as "cool offices" with "true startup vibes." While not explicitly detailed, startup offices often foster collaborative, open-plan environments.

Office Location(s): Cologne, Germany and Berlin, Germany. The role also explicitly offers 100% remote work, allowing flexibility for candidates not located near these hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaboration: The environment encourages collaboration, with tools and virtual offices used to maintain team connection, especially for remote members.
• Technology: Modern IT equipment is provided, suggesting a well-equipped digital workspace.
• Flexibility: A key aspect is the flexible work arrangement, allowing employees to choose between office-based, hybrid, or fully remote work, catering to diverse preferences and needs.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility for remote work arrangements, allowing for a balance between focused work and personal life, which is beneficial for deep design thinking and iterative processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "flexible work from outside your usual location" and "100% remote" options indicates a modern, trust-based work culture highly attractive to talent across Europe, not just within Germany.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV through the provided link.
• Portfolio Review: Expect a thorough review of your portfolio, focusing on case studies, design process, and demonstrable impact.
• Interviews: Likely include interviews with the hiring manager (e.g., Head of Product), product managers, and potentially engineering leads. These will assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and cultural fit.
• Design Challenge: A practical design exercise or case study presentation may be required to evaluate your approach to a specific problem relevant to Prematch's platform.
• Cultural Fit Assessment: Discussions will likely cover your passion for football and how you align with the startup's values and fast-paced environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process: Clearly articulate your design process, from research and ideation to iteration and final delivery. Use visual aids to support your explanation.
• Showcase Impact: Quantify the results of your design work whenever possible. Use metrics to demonstrate how your designs solved problems or achieved business goals.
• Tailor to Prematch: If possible, tailor your portfolio presentation to Prematch's context. Show an understanding of their product and user base. Consider how your skills can address their specific challenges, especially those related to user engagement and community building in amateur soccer.
• Explain Your Role: Be precise about your individual contributions within team projects.
• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, collaboration experiences, and how you handle feedback and challenges.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully analyze any design challenge provided, ensuring you understand the goals, constraints, and target audience.
• Structure Your Approach: Plan your time effectively. Outline your steps, from initial analysis to solution proposal.
• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain the "why" behind your design choices, referencing user needs, design principles, and business objectives.
• Focus on Solutions: Demonstrate your ability to solve problems creatively and efficiently, considering the context of a fast-growing startup.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, be prepared to discuss how your design thinking specifically addresses the unique aspects of the amateur soccer community and how you would approach designing for a sports-focused platform with potential partnership integrations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Proficiency in industry-standard tools is essential. Expect Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for UI design, wireframing, and prototyping.
• User Research Tools: Familiarity with tools for user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, SurveyMonkey, Typeform).
• Collaboration Platforms: Experience with tools like Slack, Notion, Jira, or Trello for team communication and project management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Exposure to tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar for tracking user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data and potentially work with dashboards created in tools like Tableau or Looker.

CRM & Automation:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the designer, understanding how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation tools integrate with product features can be beneficial, especially for GTM-related design tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in a leading design tool like Figma is highly probable and often a prerequisite for modern design roles. Candidates should be ready to showcase their expertise in their chosen tools.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding and serving the needs of the amateur soccer community.
• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics.
• Agility & Iteration: Embracing a fast-paced startup culture that prioritizes quick iteration and continuous improvement.
• Collaboration: Working effectively across product, engineering, marketing, and business teams.
• Passion for Football: A genuine interest in the sport and its community is a significant cultural element.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The designer will work closely with Product Managers to define features and Engineers to ensure feasibility and implementation. Collaboration with Marketing will be key for GTM support.
• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for providing and receiving constructive feedback on designs and processes.
• Shared Ownership: Team members are encouraged to take ownership of their work and contribute to the overall success of the product.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they foster a user-centric approach and contribute to a collaborative environment, particularly in a remote or hybrid setting. Demonstrating an understanding of the amateur football ecosystem will be seen as a strong cultural alignment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating user insights and business objectives into cohesive and impactful designs within a fast-growing startup.
• Rapid Iteration: Adapting to frequent changes in product direction and user feedback in a dynamic startup environment.
• Cross-Departmental Design: Managing diverse design requests from various departments, including marketing and partnerships, while maintaining product consistency.
• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication and collaboration with a distributed team, maintaining design quality and alignment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen Domain Expertise: Gain in-depth knowledge of the amateur soccer market and user behaviors within that niche.
• Expand Design Skillset: Opportunities to learn and apply motion design, gain frontend development insights, or specialize in specific areas of UX/UI.
• GTM Strategy Exposure: Develop a stronger understanding of Go-To-Market strategies through involvement in brand partnerships and marketing design.
• Startup Environment Learning: Acquire invaluable experience in a high-growth startup, honing skills in agility, problem-solving, and direct impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they tackle these challenges and leverage the growth opportunities to advance their careers and contribute to Prematch's mission.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for Prematch that aims to increase user engagement within amateur football leagues?" (Focus on process, research, and user needs)
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from product management and engineering. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on collaboration and negotiation skills)
• "Walk us through a complex design problem you solved, highlighting your process and the impact of your solution." (Focus on problem-solving and portfolio case study)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Prematch's mission and the amateur soccer community?" (Show passion and understanding)
• "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a remote or hybrid setup?" (Assess cultural fit)
• "How do you measure the success of your designs, and what metrics are most important to you?" (Focus on data-driven approach and impact)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as narratives, clearly outlining the problem, your process, your solutions, and the outcomes.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your designs are presented cleanly and professionally. Use interactive prototypes where possible to showcase functionality.
• Quantify Impact: Be ready to discuss the metrics and KPIs your designs influenced.
• Explain Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions and decision-making processes within each project.
• Address GTM: Be prepared to discuss how your design work supports broader business objectives, such as user acquisition or brand partnerships.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, be ready to discuss your passion for football and how that informs your design decisions. Prepare specific examples of how you've supported marketing or partnership initiatives through design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your current CV and a link to your portfolio through the provided application link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant case studies demonstrating UI/UX design, user research, prototyping, and any experience with sports-related platforms or GTM support.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 2+ years of experience, key skills in UI/UX, and any achievements that align with Prematch's mission or startup environment.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, collaborative experiences, and passion for football. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and potentially undertake a design challenge.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Prematch's platform, target audience, and recent news to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business.

⚠️ 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.