Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer
Company: Prematch
Location: Cologne, Germany (Remote OK)
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: August 19, 2025
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: 100% Remote (with office options in Cologne/Berlin)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end design process for Prematch's web and mobile applications, focusing on user-centric interfaces and intuitive user experiences.
• Collaborate closely with product management and engineering teams to translate complex product requirements and business objectives into innovative and actionable design solutions.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including usability testing and feedback analysis, to inform design decisions and ensure the product meets user needs and expectations.
• Develop detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that effectively communicate design concepts and functionality.
• Ensure design consistency and adherence to user-centered design principles across all product touchpoints and platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the responsibilities lean heavily into UI/UX design, user research, and prototyping, indicating a strong need for someone who can bridge the gap between user needs and technical implementation within the product development lifecycle. The "Cross-Team Support" responsibility suggests a need for versatility in applying design skills beyond core product features.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and refine user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) for web and mobile platforms, ensuring a seamless and engaging user journey.
• Collaborate with Product Managers to define product strategy, translate business goals into design requirements, and prioritize features based on user impact and business value.
• Partner with Software Engineers throughout the development lifecycle to ensure design feasibility, provide clear specifications, and maintain design integrity.
• Conduct user research activities, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather qualitative and quantitative data that informs design iterations and product improvements.
• Create detailed user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes (low and high fidelity), and final visual designs using industry-standard design tools.
• Maintain and evolve the design system and style guides to ensure brand consistency and efficient design implementation across the product suite.
• Contribute to cross-departmental design initiatives, including marketing materials, brand partnerships, and internal tools, as needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who is not only skilled in creating beautiful and functional interfaces but also deeply understands product strategy, user research methodologies, and collaborative development processes. The mention of "design system" implies a need for someone who can contribute to or manage design consistency at a foundational level.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for foundational understanding. However, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and skills is paramount.
Experience: A minimum of 2 years of proven professional experience in Product Design, UI/UX Design, or a closely related role, with a demonstrable track record of successful product launches and design contributions.

Required Skills:

• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in Product Design or UI/UX Design.
• A strong, well-curated portfolio showcasing a range of design projects, user-centered design processes, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, InVision, or similar.
• Solid understanding of user-centered design principles, interaction design, and responsive design methodologies.
• Experience conducting user research, including user interviews, surveys, and usability testing, and translating insights into actionable design improvements.
• Excellent visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, typography, color theory, and layout.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions effectively to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Fluency in English, both written and spoken.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Motion Design principles and tools (e.g., After Effects, Principle) to create engaging animations and micro-interactions.
• Basic understanding or practical experience with Frontend Development (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better collaborate with engineers and understand technical constraints.
• Familiarity with agile development methodologies and working within a startup environment.
• Passion for football and an understanding of the amateur football community, its users, processes, and challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Amateur football is not new to you" is a unique and critical qualifier. Candidates should be prepared to articulate how their personal connection to or understanding of football informs their design approach and ability to empathize with the target user base. The portfolio is explicitly mentioned as a key requirement, underscoring its importance in demonstrating practical skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant product design projects that highlight your end-to-end design process, from initial concept and user research to final UI and prototyping.
• Demonstrate a clear understanding of user-centered design principles, problem definition, and how you translated user needs into design solutions.
• Include case studies that detail your thought process, design iterations, challenges faced, and the rationale behind your design decisions.
• Present interactive prototypes or detailed mockups that effectively communicate the user experience and functionality of your designs.
• Highlight your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., product managers, engineers) and how you incorporated their feedback.
• Quantify impact where possible, using metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their typical design process, including how they approach user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final visual design.
• Be ready to articulate how you ensure design consistency and maintain a design system or style guide.
• Explain your methods for gathering and incorporating user feedback throughout the design lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary way to assess a candidate's practical skills and design thinking. It should not just be a collection of pretty screens but a narrative that explains the why and how behind each design decision, emphasizing process and problem-solving.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Cologne, Germany, a competitive annual salary range would typically fall between €45,000 and €65,000. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Germany, considering the cost of living in a major city like Cologne and the startup environment which may offer equity.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary that is benchmarked against industry standards.
• Shares (VSOP): Employee stock options, offering direct participation in the company's success and growth.
• Flexible Work Culture: Freedom to choose between working remotely or from the company's offices in Cologne or Berlin.
• IT Equipment: Provision of suitable IT equipment necessary for the role.
• Flexible Working Hours: Adaptable work schedules to accommodate personal needs and optimize productivity.
• Generous Vacation: A minimum of 27 vacation days per year, promoting work-life balance.
• Team Events & Offsites: Regular team-building activities and off-site events to foster camaraderie and collaboration.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically expected to be around 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes flexible working hours, allowing employees to structure their day to best suit their productivity and personal schedule, within the bounds of team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of VSOP (Virtual Stock Option Plan) is a significant benefit for a startup, indicating the company's desire to align employee success with business success. The flexibility in work culture and hours is also a key draw for many candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Technology, Media, and Fan Engagement. Prematch operates within the rapidly growing sports tech sector, aiming to digitize and enhance the experience for amateur footballers and fans, leveraging data, gamification, and community features. Company Size: Prematch is a startup founded in 2021. While the exact number of employees isn't provided, it can be inferred that it's a growing team, likely ranging from 20-50 employees, with a distributed structure across Cologne, Berlin, and remote locations in Europe. This suggests a dynamic, fast-paced, and hands-on work environment. Founded: 2021. This indicates a relatively young company with a strong growth trajectory, likely still defining many of its core processes and culture.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will likely be part of a Product & Tech team, which is described as working remotely across Europe.
• This team will include Product Managers, Software Engineers (likely frontend and backend), potentially other designers, and QA testers.
• Collaboration with the Marketing & Business team based in Cologne and Berlin is also expected.
• Reporting likely goes to a Head of Product or Lead Product Designer, depending on the current team structure.

Methodology:

• Prematch operates in a startup environment, suggesting an agile and iterative approach to product development and design.
• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making, leveraging user analytics and feedback to guide product evolution.
• A culture of innovation and experimentation is likely encouraged to find the best solutions for the target audience.
• Collaboration and open communication are crucial given the remote and distributed nature of some teams.

Company Website: https://prematch.notion.site/Prematch-auf-einen-Blick-b7158d037c414dd0b19e7a6b97e8fdbe (Notion page providing company overview) and potentially prematchapp.de for the product itself.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on amateur football is a key differentiator. Candidates who understand this niche will have a significant advantage in cultural fit and design intuition. The startup environment implies a need for adaptability, proactivity, and a willingness to wear multiple hats.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer. It requires a solid foundation of 2+ years of experience and the ability to work independently on design tasks, while also contributing to broader product strategy and team collaboration. The designer is expected to take ownership of specific product areas and drive design solutions from conception to implementation.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Product Lead, Head of Product, or a Design Manager. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, collaborating on sprint planning, feature development, and product roadmap discussions.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer plays a critical role in shaping the user experience of the Prematch platform, directly impacting user acquisition, engagement, retention, and overall product satisfaction. Their work will influence how millions of amateur footballers interact with the platform, directly contributing to the company's mission and business success. Effective design can drive key metrics such as user sign-ups, feature adoption, and time spent on the platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas of product design, such as user research, interaction design, or visual design, potentially leading to a Senior Product Designer role.
• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or even transition into a Design Lead or Manager role.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Exposure to product management, engineering, marketing, and business development functions provides a holistic understanding of the product lifecycle and business operations.
• Industry Expertise: Developing deep knowledge of the sports tech industry and the amateur football community can lead to specialized career paths within this niche.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a mid-level role in a growing startup, career progression is often tied to the company's growth. Demonstrating initiative, ownership, and a proactive approach to problem-solving will be key to unlocking future opportunities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Prematch offers a flexible work environment with the option to work 100% remotely or from their offices in Cologne or Berlin. This hybrid approach caters to diverse working preferences. The offices likely provide a collaborative space for team meetings, workshops, and focused work.

Office Location(s):

• Cologne, Germany
• Berlin, Germany

Workspace Context:

• Remote Work: Candidates working remotely will need a suitable home office setup. The company provides IT equipment.
• Office Collaboration: When working from the office, expect a typical startup environment – likely open-plan or co-working spaces, designed to foster collaboration and informal communication.
• Team Interaction: Regular virtual and potentially in-person (if opting for office work or for team events) interactions with Product Managers, Engineers, and other team members are expected.

Work Schedule: While full-time (40 hours/week), the company offers flexible working hours. This means employees can largely set their own schedules, provided they meet their responsibilities and are available for core team collaboration times (e.g., stand-ups, meetings). This flexibility is conducive to deep work and integrating work with personal life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "100% remote" option is a significant plus for candidates who prefer location independence. However, the presence of offices in Cologne and Berlin suggests that occasional in-person collaboration or team events might be part of the culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A brief conversation, likely with a recruiter or hiring manager, to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session where the candidate walks through their portfolio, discussing their design process, problem-solving approach, and impact on previous projects. Expect questions probing the "why" behind design decisions.
• Technical/Design Challenge: Potentially a take-home assignment or a live design exercise focused on a specific problem relevant to Prematch's product. This assesses practical design skills, strategic thinking, and ability to work under constraints.
• Team Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and possibly other designers to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and technical understanding.
• Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader (e.g., CEO, Head of Product) to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process undertaken, key decisions, challenges, and the final outcome/impact.
• Focus on User-Centricity: Emphasize how user research and feedback informed your design decisions.
• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Include wireframes, user flows, and iterations to demonstrate your thought process.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics whenever possible to illustrate the success of your designs.
• Tailor to Prematch: If possible, include a project that shows an understanding of sports or community-focused platforms, or adapt a project to highlight how you'd approach a Prematch-like challenge.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself with Prematch's current app and target audience.
• Embrace Constraints: If given a challenge, be mindful of the time and scope. Show how you prioritize and make trade-offs.
• Think Strategically: Consider the business goals and user needs the challenge aims to address.
• Communicate Clearly: Even if the solution isn't perfect, a clear explanation of your thought process and rationale is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most critical stage. Candidates should invest significant time in preparing their portfolio to clearly articulate their value proposition and design methodology, specifically relating it back to user needs and business objectives. Understanding the football context will be a significant advantage during this stage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly likely, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe XD. Candidates should be proficient in at least one, with Figma being the most in-demand.
• User Research & Testing: Tools like UserTesting.com, Maze, Lookback, or even simple survey tools (Google Forms, SurveyMonkey) depending on the depth of research.
• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools such as Jira, Asana, Trello, Notion, Slack for team communication and task management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude for tracking user behavior and product performance.
• Data Visualization: Potentially tools like Tableau or Looker if deeper data analysis is required, though this might be more on the Product Manager's side.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not directly a designer's tool, understanding CRM principles (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can be beneficial for context on user data and journey mapping.
• Automation: Familiarity with workflow automation concepts might be useful for understanding how design impacts automated processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product design roles. Beyond design tools, an understanding of how designers integrate with analytics platforms and project management workflows is important for a collaborative environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of amateur footballers and fans.
• Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by user research, analytics, and performance metrics.
• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across departments.
• Innovation & Agility: Willingness to experiment, iterate quickly, and adapt to the fast-paced startup environment.
• Passion for Football: A shared enthusiasm for the sport and its community, fostering a sense of purpose.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with Product Managers to define requirements and Engineers to build solutions, requiring strong communication and empathy for different disciplines.
• Iterative Feedback Loops: A culture of continuous feedback, where designs are reviewed, critiqued constructively, and refined based on input from peers and stakeholders.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design learnings, and new tools within the team and across the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Passion for Football" value is a key cultural element. Candidates who can demonstrate this, either through personal involvement or a genuine interest, are likely to resonate well with the existing team and contribute positively to the company's mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively navigating the inherent tension between creating ideal user experiences and meeting business objectives within a startup's resource constraints.
• Rapid Iteration and Adaptation: The dynamic nature of a startup means priorities can shift, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to change.
• Scaling Design Processes: As the company grows, establishing and refining scalable design processes, systems, and documentation will be crucial.
• Niche Market Understanding: Deeply understanding the nuances of the amateur football community and translating those insights into universally appealing design solutions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in areas like motion design, advanced prototyping, and user research methodologies.
• Product Strategy Involvement: Greater involvement in product strategy discussions, roadmap planning, and feature prioritization.
• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced product managers and engineers, and later mentor junior designers.
• Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the sports tech and startup ecosystems, potentially attending industry events or webinars.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of balancing startup agility with the need for robust design processes is significant. Candidates who can demonstrate a proactive approach to process improvement and documentation will be highly valued.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a feature to increase user engagement for amateur football players on Prematch?" (Focus on user research, ideation, and metrics)
• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting feedback from stakeholders or users. How did you resolve it?" (Focus on communication, negotiation, and decision-making)
• "Walk me through your process for conducting user research for a new feature. What methods would you use and why?" (Focus on research methodology and rationale)
• "How do you ensure design consistency across a product as it scales?" (Focus on design systems, style guides, and process)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Prematch's mission and the amateur football community?" (Demonstrate genuine interest and understanding)
• "How do you prefer to collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Describe your ideal working relationship." (Focus on teamwork and communication style)
• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and best practices?" (Showcase continuous learning)
• "Describe a time you failed on a project. What did you learn from it?" (Focus on self-awareness and learning from mistakes)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling is Key: Frame your projects as compelling stories with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process/solution), and end (outcome/impact).
• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially in team projects. Use "I" for your individual work and "we" for collaborative efforts.
• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your points.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs, and your rationale.
• Connect to Prematch: Where possible, draw parallels between your past work and the challenges Prematch faces.

📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare to speak passionately and knowledgeably about both design principles and the world of amateur football. Demonstrating an understanding of the target user and the company's mission will be as important as showcasing your design skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your current CV and a link to your online portfolio through the provided application link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate user-centered design, problem-solving, and impact, ideally with examples relevant to community platforms or sports.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 2+ years of experience, key skills (UI/UX, research, prototyping), and quantifiable achievements. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through your portfolio, focusing on storytelling and clearly explaining your design process and decisions. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the Prematch product and its user base.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Prematch, its mission, its target audience (amateur footballers), and its competitors. Understand the startup culture and the company's values.

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

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