Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer
Company: Prematch
Location: Cologne, Germany (Remote Optional)
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Product Design / GTM Operations
Date Posted: August 19, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2+ years)
Remote Status: Hybrid (Office optional) / Fully Remote possible for Tech & Product roles

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design strategy and execution for Prematch's web and mobile applications, focusing on intuitive and delightful user experiences.
• Drive user-centric design by conducting comprehensive user research and usability testing to inform product development roadmaps.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers and Engineers, to translate business objectives into innovative and functional design solutions.
• Maintain and enhance design consistency and coherence across the entire product suite, ensuring a unified user journey.
• Contribute to broader design initiatives, including brand partnerships and cross-departmental design needs, showcasing versatility and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the nature of the role, particularly the "Cross-Team Support" responsibility and the company's focus on a "super-platform" for a large community, indicates a strong connection to Go-To-Market (GTM) operations. This designer will directly influence user adoption, engagement, and overall product-market fit, which are critical GTM functions. The emphasis on user research and translating product goals into solutions also aligns with operationalizing user feedback for business impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• UI/UX Design & Prototyping: Design user-centric interfaces and experiences for web and mobile applications, creating wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes to visualize new features and improvements.
• User Research & Usability Testing: Plan and execute user research initiatives, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing sessions, to gather actionable insights that drive design decisions and product enhancements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with Product Managers to define product requirements and with Engineers to ensure seamless implementation of designs, acting as a bridge between product vision and technical execution.
• Design System & Consistency Management: Develop and maintain a comprehensive design system to ensure visual and interactive consistency across all product touchpoints, enhancing user familiarity and brand recognition.
• Brand Partnership Design Support: Undertake additional design tasks that support broader business objectives, such as creating assets or user flows for brand partnerships, demonstrating adaptability and a holistic understanding of the business.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility of "further design tasks across departments (e.g. brand partnerships)" is a key indicator of this role's GTM operational impact. It means the designer will be involved in initiatives that directly support sales, marketing, and partnership efforts, requiring them to translate business development needs into tangible design outputs that drive engagement and value for partners and users alike.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles and methodologies is expected, often acquired through formal education in Design, HCI, or related fields, or through extensive self-study and practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of proven experience as a Product Designer, with a demonstrable track record in creating engaging and user-friendly digital products.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: 2+ years of hands-on experience in product design, with a strong portfolio showcasing end-to-end design processes for web and mobile applications.
• User Research & Usability Testing: Proficiency in conducting user research methodologies (interviews, surveys) and executing usability testing to gather qualitative and quantitative data.
• Interaction & Visual Design: Solid understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design patterns, and responsive design across various platforms.
• Prototyping Tools: Skilled in using industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD) to create wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes.
• English Fluency: Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, facilitating clear collaboration with a diverse, international team.
• Football Acumen: A genuine understanding and passion for amateur football – whether through playing, active participation in a club, or a deep appreciation for the community's nuances and challenges.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design Skills: Ability to incorporate motion graphics and animations to enhance user experience and product engagement.
• Frontend Development Skills: Basic understanding or experience with frontend development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better inform design decisions and collaborate with engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Football Acumen" is unique and critical. For a GTM operations perspective, this means the designer can empathize deeply with the target user base, leading to more resonant and effective product designs that drive adoption and community engagement within the amateur football ecosystem. This is a significant differentiator for a product role tied to a niche market.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your end-to-end product design process, from problem definition to final solution and impact measurement.
• Problem-Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed in each project, and how your design solution effectively solved it.
• Process Documentation: Illustrate your design methodology, including user research findings, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing iterations, and final UI design.
• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or user satisfaction.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Demonstrate experience in mapping out user journeys and designing intuitive workflows that streamline user interaction.
• Iterative Design: Highlight how you incorporate feedback from user research and testing to iterate on designs and improve usability.
• System Cohesion: Show examples of how you ensured design consistency across different product features or platforms, potentially referencing a design system.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, a portfolio is not just a showcase of aesthetics but a demonstration of problem-solving and process. The "Football Acumen" requirement suggests that case studies involving community-driven platforms or user-centric problem-solving would be particularly compelling. Demonstrating how design decisions were informed by an understanding of user needs within a sports context will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: 📝 Enhancement Note: As no specific salary range is provided, and given this is a mid-level Product Designer role in Cologne, Germany, a competitive range can be estimated. Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 2-5 years of experience in Germany, a salary range of €50,000 - €70,000 annually is a strong estimate. This range considers the cost of living in Cologne, the startup environment, and the company's investor backing.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary commensurate with experience and market standards.
• Employee Participation (VSOP): Virtual Stock Option Plan, allowing employees to directly benefit from the company's success and growth.
• 27 Vacation Days: Generous paid time off per year, with additional provisions for parents to support work-life balance.
• Flexible Work Arrangement: Options for hybrid work (1-3 days in office) or fully remote for Tech & Product roles.
• International Office Access: Opportunity to work from cool offices in Cologne, Berlin, or London, with support for inter-office visits.
• Remote Work Flexibility: Ability to work remotely from locations outside the usual office, including international travel for short periods.
• Modern IT Equipment: Provision of necessary tools and devices to ensure productivity.
• Team Events & Offsites: Regular team gatherings, both virtual and in-person (including multi-day offsite trips), to foster strong team spirit and collaboration.

Working Hours: Full-time (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered through hybrid and remote work options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of VSOP (Virtual Stock Option Plan) is a significant benefit for a startup role, aligning with "Employee participation" and offering a direct stake in the company's future success. This is a strong incentive for ambitious professionals looking to grow with a company.

📍 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Technology / Digital Media / Community Platforms (focus on amateur football). Prematch operates at the intersection of sports fan engagement, data analytics, and digital community building, aiming to bring professional-level experiences to the amateur sports world.

Company Size: Startup environment (specific size not provided, but implies a dynamic, fast-paced, and growing team). The presence of multiple offices and remote employees suggests a team that is scaling rapidly.

Founded: 2021, in Cologne, Germany. This indicates a relatively young company with a strong growth trajectory and a focus on innovation.

Team Structure:

• Agile & Cross-functional: The team comprises individuals from Product, Tech, Marketing, and Business departments, working collaboratively.
• Decentralized & Remote-Friendly: A significant portion of the Tech & Product team works remotely across Europe, indicating a mature approach to distributed collaboration.
• Reporting Lines: Likely flat or semi-flat typical of startups, with direct access to leadership and product managers.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Development: Emphasis on user research and feedback to drive product decisions.
• Data-Informed Design: Utilizing data analytics to understand user behavior and inform design improvements.
• Agile Development Cycles: Likely employing agile methodologies for rapid iteration and deployment.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "non-professional soccer" and its mission to provide "pro-level experiences" to a massive community are key cultural drivers. This implies a passion for the sport, a deep understanding of its audience, and a drive to innovate within this specific market. The blend of office-based and remote teams suggests a culture that values flexibility and asynchronous communication.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Product Designer. This role is pivotal, offering the opportunity to significantly shape the product's user experience and contribute directly to user adoption and engagement metrics, which are core to GTM success.

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

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly influences user acquisition, retention, and overall platform engagement. By creating intuitive and compelling user experiences, they are instrumental in achieving GTM objectives, such as increasing active users, improving feature adoption, and driving community growth. Their designs also support partnership initiatives, indirectly impacting revenue streams.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like user research, interaction design, or visual design, potentially leading to a Senior Product Designer role.
• Leadership Potential: As the product and team grow, there will be opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or even move into a Design Lead or Product Management role.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience in areas like brand partnerships provides broader business acumen, valuable for transitioning into product strategy or GTM roles.
• Industry Expertise: Developing deep knowledge within the sports tech and community platform space, becoming a subject matter expert.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "football acumen" requirement, combined with the startup environment and potential for high impact, creates a unique growth trajectory. A designer who excels here could become a key voice in product strategy for the amateur sports market, blending design craft with deep market understanding.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model is encouraged with offices in Cologne, Berlin, and London. The company emphasizes "startup vibes" within these offices.

Office Location(s): Cologne, Germany; Berlin, Germany; London, United Kingdom. For the Tech & Product team, 100% remote is also an option.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are designed to foster collaboration and "startup vibes," encouraging interaction and team building.
• Flexible Work: A significant portion of the week can be worked remotely, offering flexibility for deep work and personal needs.
• Tech-Enabled: Modern IT equipment is provided, ensuring seamless connectivity and productivity regardless of location.
• Virtual Collaboration Tools: The company utilizes tools to maintain team connection even with a distributed workforce.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility in daily schedule due to the hybrid/remote options, allowing for efficient management of design tasks, user research sessions, and team meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "startup vibes" in the offices suggests an energetic, open, and potentially informal work environment, which can be very appealing to designers who thrive on collaboration and a sense of shared mission. The flexibility for remote work, especially for the Tech & Product team, indicates a trust-based culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV and potentially a brief introductory message.
• Portfolio Review: A curated portfolio showcasing relevant design work is crucial. Expect to discuss your process, decision-making, and the impact of your contributions.
• Skills Assessment: Likely includes a design challenge or a deep dive into your experience with user research, interaction, and visual design.
• Team/Culture Fit Interviews: Conversations with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration style and alignment with company values.
• Final Interview: May involve leadership for final assessment and discussion of role expectations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Process: Don't just show final screens. Detail your problem-solving process, research methodologies, and iteration cycles.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs. For this role, user engagement, community growth, or feature adoption metrics would be highly relevant.
• Showcase Football Acumen: If possible, include projects related to sports, community platforms, or user-centric problems that align with the amateur football context.
• Visual Clarity & Storytelling: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and tells a compelling story for each project.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Design Exercises: Be prepared for tasks that might involve designing a specific feature, improving an existing user flow, or analyzing a user problem within the amateur football domain.
• Focus on User Needs: Frame your solutions around user needs and business objectives.
• Articulate Your Rationale: Clearly explain the "why" behind your design choices, referencing user research and design principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "football acumen" requirement means candidates should tailor their portfolio and interview responses to demonstrate an understanding of this specific user base. Case studies that show empathy for amateur athletes, fans, or club organizers will resonate strongly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, as it's a current industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD.
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Hotjar, or internal survey/interview tools.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Notion (company uses it for internal info), Jira, Asana, Trello.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/App Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar platforms to track user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Tools to understand and present data insights, potentially integrated with analytics platforms.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (Potentially): While not directly a designer tool, understanding CRM principles (like Salesforce, HubSpot) might be beneficial for understanding user segmentation and customer journeys, especially relevant for GTM aspects.
• Integration Tools: Awareness of how design integrates with backend systems and APIs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Figma is almost a given for modern product design roles. The company's use of Notion suggests a preference for integrated, collaborative documentation and information sharing, which designers should be comfortable with. Understanding how design outputs feed into analytics and CRM systems will be valuable for demonstrating GTM operational thinking.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the amateur football community.
• Passion for Football: A genuine enthusiasm for the sport and its culture, driving innovation and connection.
• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing the fast-paced nature of a startup, with the ability to pivot and iterate quickly.
• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across departments and locations.
• Innovation: Constantly seeking new and better ways to engage the community and enhance the product.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Using insights from research and analytics to inform design and product strategies.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnerships: Working closely with Product Managers and Engineers to achieve shared goals.
• Open Feedback Loops: Encouraging constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.
• Shared Ownership: Fostering a sense of collective responsibility for the product's success.
• Asynchronous Communication: Proficient in using tools and methodologies that support effective collaboration across different time zones and locations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "passion for football" and "user-centricity" values are paramount for this role. A designer who can authentically connect with these values will likely thrive and contribute significantly to the product's authenticity and market resonance.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively translating the diverse needs of the amateur football community with the company's strategic objectives and revenue targets.
• Scaling Design Systems: Ensuring design consistency and maintainability as the product and user base grow rapidly.
• Remote Collaboration Effectiveness: Maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient workflows in a hybrid/remote environment.
• Unique Market Niche: Designing for a specific and passionate audience requires deep empathy and understanding, which can be a challenge to consistently achieve.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Sports Tech: Becoming an expert in the rapidly evolving sports technology and fan engagement landscape.
• Product Strategy Influence: Gaining significant influence over product direction and strategy within a growing startup.
• Advanced Design Methodologies: Exploring and implementing cutting-edge design techniques and tools.
• Leadership and Mentorship: Opportunities to guide junior team members or take on design leadership roles as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of "designing for a unique market niche" is directly mitigated by the "football acumen" requirement. Candidates who possess this can turn a potential challenge into a significant advantage, demonstrating a unique ability to connect with the target audience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a feature for amateur footballers to connect with local teams or leagues, considering their diverse technical savviness and available time?" (Focus on user research, problem framing, and iterative design).
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from product management, engineering, and user research. How did you arrive at a final design solution?" (Focus on collaboration, negotiation, and prioritizing user needs).
• "How do you ensure design consistency across a product, especially in a fast-growing startup environment with a hybrid/remote team?" (Focus on design systems, documentation, and communication).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What aspects of Prematch's mission and the amateur football community resonate most with you, and why?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).
• "How do you approach collaboration with remote team members and stakeholders?" (Highlight experience with asynchronous communication and collaboration tools).
• "How would you measure the success of a new design feature you implemented for Prematch?" (Focus on KPIs relevant to user engagement, community growth, or feature adoption).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, guide the interviewer through the problem, your process, key decisions, challenges, and the impactful outcome.
• Emphasize Football Context: If you have relevant sports or community-based projects, highlight them and explain how your design addressed specific user needs within that context.
• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Expect questions about your specific contributions, design choices, and how you handled trade-offs.
• Showcase Tools & Techniques: Briefly mention the tools and methodologies used, but focus on the why and the result.

📝 Enhancement Note: Questions will likely probe your understanding of the amateur football world. Prepare to discuss your personal connection to the sport and how that empathy informs your design approach. Demonstrating an understanding of the "super-platform" concept and its implications for user experience will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your CV through the provided application link on join.com.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your end-to-end product design process, user research capabilities, and problem-solving skills. Prioritize projects that demonstrate impact and, if possible, relate to community platforms or sports.
• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight keywords such as "Product Design," "UI/UX," "User Research," "Prototyping," "Figma," "User-Centered Design," and any experience relevant to community platforms or sports. Quantify your achievements with metrics.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your football acumen and how it informs your design perspective.
• Research Prematch: Understand their mission, target audience, and current product offering. Familiarize yourself with their brand and the amateur football landscape.

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