Product Designer - Inky

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - Inky Company: Kraken Location: United States (Remote) Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) Date Posted: 2025-09-16 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design and delivery of Kraken's new "degen trading app," Inky, from concept to launch, focusing on creating intuitive and aesthetically excellent user experiences.
• Elevate industry standards through visually rich, forward-thinking designs that enhance Kraken's brand and establish new benchmarks for excellence in the crypto trading space.
• Own the end-to-end product design process, taking accountability for design quality, user experience outcomes, and measurable business results.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, and other designers to craft exceptional user experiences and drive product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is labeled "Product Designer," the emphasis on "Inky," a "dopamine fueled degen trading app," suggests a strong focus on UX/UI design, user engagement, and potentially gamified elements within a financial trading context. The "operations" aspect here relates to the operational excellence required to deliver a high-quality, user-centric digital product in a fast-paced, competitive market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for the Inky app, translating user needs and business requirements into compelling and functional design solutions.
• Develop and refine Inky's visual language, contributing to and strengthening Kraken's overarching design system and brand expression across mobile platforms.
• Craft detailed user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups to effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions.
• Conduct user research and leverage customer insights to inform design decisions, ensuring a user-centered approach throughout the product lifecycle.
• Present design concepts and rationales clearly and persuasively to cross-functional stakeholders, advocating for design quality and user experience best practices.
• Actively participate in design reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work across the design team.
• Collaborate with product managers to define product strategy and roadmap, ensuring design alignment with business objectives and market opportunities.
• Partner with engineers to ensure the accurate and high-quality implementation of designs, troubleshooting any design-related challenges during development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can operate autonomously (IC - Individual Contributor) while being a strong collaborator. The emphasis on "owning your work fully" and "measurable results" points to a results-oriented approach, common in operations roles that focus on efficiency and impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is beneficial, but not strictly required if equivalent practical experience is demonstrated.

Experience:

• Proven track record of 2-5 years delivering end-to-end product design for complex digital products, with a strong emphasis on mobile application design.
• Experience in fast-paced environments, ideally within tech, fintech, or cryptocurrency sectors, demonstrating an ability to adapt to evolving requirements.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional UX and visual design skills, with a strong portfolio showcasing high-fidelity mobile app work and a deep understanding of user-centered design principles.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping tools (e.g., Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite, InVision, ProtoPie) for creating wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI assets.
• Ability to conduct or collaborate on user research and translate findings into actionable design improvements.
• Strong understanding of human-centered design principles and research methodologies, with a proven ability to apply them to enhance user experiences.
• Data-informed approach to design, demonstrating the ability to balance user insights, business needs, and technical feasibility in design decisions.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale clearly and influence stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively in a remote, collaborative environment.
• Open-minded, collaborative spirit with a strong desire to learn from feedback and iterate on designs.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Bitcoin, cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, or financial products and trading platforms.
• Experience contributing to or building design systems for scalable applications.
• Knowledge of accessibility standards (WCAG) and best practices for inclusive design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "HODL" terminology in the original listing implies a need for candidates who understand crypto culture or are at least willing to learn. The emphasis on "data-informed approach" and "measurable results" aligns with operations-focused roles that require analytical thinking and impact assessment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 significant product design projects, with a clear focus on mobile applications.
• Projects should demonstrate the full product design lifecycle, from problem definition and user research to ideation, prototyping, visual design, and final implementation.
• Evidence of problem-solving skills, showcasing how user pain points were identified and addressed with thoughtful, user-centered solutions.
• Clear articulation of your role and contributions within each project, especially in collaborative team settings.
• Visual examples of user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity UI designs.
• Case studies that detail the design process, rationale behind key decisions, and the impact of your work, ideally with quantifiable results.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of iterative design processes, including how you gather feedback, conduct usability testing, and iterate on designs based on insights.
• Showcase your ability to work with design systems, illustrating how you leverage and contribute to consistent design patterns and components.
• Examples of collaboration with engineering teams, highlighting how you hand off design assets and ensure design fidelity during implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a product design role in a company like Kraken, a portfolio is paramount. It serves as the primary evidence of an applicant's operational design capabilities – their ability to systematically produce high-quality, user-centric designs that drive product success. The emphasis on process and measurable outcomes is crucial for demonstrating operational efficiency in design execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $86,000 - $134,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Generous paid time off and sick leave policies.
• Retirement savings plan with company match (e.g., 401(k) in the US).
• Professional development opportunities, including access to online courses, conferences, and workshops.
• Remote work stipend or home office setup allowance.
• Opportunities for stock options or equity in a rapidly growing company.
• Access to Kraken's suite of crypto products and educational resources.
• Collaborative and mission-driven work environment.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week.
• Flexibility is provided, as expected in a remote-first company, allowing individuals to manage their schedules effectively to meet project deadlines and collaborate across time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer in the US tech market, particularly in remote roles. The benefits package is typical for a well-established tech company, with added perks relevant to the crypto industry. The flexibility in working hours aligns with the operational needs of a globally distributed remote workforce.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Cryptocurrency / Financial Technology (FinTech) Company Size: Kraken is a large, established company in the crypto space, employing a significant number of people globally (likely in the thousands, though specific numbers aren't provided). This size suggests structured processes and opportunities for impact within defined teams. Founded: 2011. Kraken has a long history in the cryptocurrency industry, positioning it as a pioneer and a stable, experienced player in a volatile market.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of the Inky product team, which includes product managers and engineers.
• They will likely collaborate with other designers within a broader design organization at Kraken, contributing to a unified design vision.
• Reporting structure will likely be to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, with direct project reporting to a Product Manager for Inky.

Methodology:

• Kraken emphasizes a mission-focused, crypto-native approach, valuing conviction, transparency, and decentralization principles.
• Design work is expected to be data-informed, user-centric, and focused on delivering measurable business outcomes and user satisfaction.
• Collaboration is described as open, trusting, and centered around sharing candid feedback to achieve optimal results.

Company Website: https://www.kraken.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kraken's culture is deeply rooted in crypto values, which means a fast-paced, innovative, and often experimental environment. For a designer, this means being adaptable, comfortable with uncertainty, and passionate about the crypto space. The emphasis on "10+ years" of experience and "crypto conviction" suggests a company that values deep domain knowledge and long-term commitment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Product Designer. This role is an individual contributor position with significant ownership over a specific product (Inky). It requires strong execution skills and the ability to influence product direction through design excellence.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a design leadership position within Kraken, likely a Design Manager or Director, and works closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads for the Inky product. This structure allows for both strategic guidance and tactical execution.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct impact on the success of Inky, a new and strategic product for Kraken. Their ability to create engaging, user-friendly, and visually appealing experiences will directly influence user acquisition, retention, and overall satisfaction, which are critical operational metrics for a trading platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in mobile UX/UI design, crypto product design, and potentially areas like gamification or behavioral design.
• Leadership Potential: Progress into a Senior Product Designer role, leading larger initiatives or mentoring junior designers.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of product management, engineering best practices, and business strategy within the crypto industry.
• Product Ownership: Potentially transition into a Product Manager role or lead design for other key Kraken products.
• Industry Influence: Contribute to shaping the design standards and user experience within the broader cryptocurrency industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "degen trading app" focus suggests an opportunity to design for a niche, high-excitement segment of the crypto market. This could be a fast track for designers who can demonstrate success in driving engagement and retention in such environments.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. Kraken operates as a remote-first company, with no central physical office for this role.

Office Location(s): Krakenites are located in 70+ countries. While the role is remote, candidates are specified to be in Canada or the United States. This implies a need for seamless remote collaboration tools and practices.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect frequent virtual meetings, asynchronous communication via tools like Slack, and collaborative design sessions using shared platforms.
• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design software, project management tools, and communication platforms is standard. Kraken likely provides necessary hardware or a stipend for home office setup.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for interaction will be primarily through digital channels. Regular team syncs, design reviews, and cross-functional project meetings are expected.

Work Schedule:

• While the core expectation is 40 hours per week, Kraken, as a global remote company, values flexibility. This allows employees to structure their day to optimize productivity and accommodate collaboration across different time zones, provided core responsibilities and team needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The distributed nature of Kraken's workforce requires a high degree of self-discipline, proactive communication, and comfort with asynchronous workflows. Designers must be adept at creating clear, contextualized design documentation to facilitate remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A recruiter or hiring manager will review your application, resume, and portfolio. Emphasis will be placed on relevant mobile design experience and a strong portfolio.
2. Design Challenge/Take-Home Assignment: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or take-home assignment to assess your problem-solving skills, design process, and ability to deliver thoughtful solutions within a given timeframe.
3. Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A more in-depth session where you present your portfolio, discuss your design process, rationale, and impact for key projects. This will likely involve collaboration with other designers and product managers.
4. Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and technical understanding.
5. Culture/Values Interview: A conversation to gauge cultural fit, understanding of Kraken's mission, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 2-3 of your strongest, most relevant mobile design projects that demonstrate end-to-end ownership and impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, key design decisions, trade-offs made, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to illustrate your points.
• Highlight Process: Detail your user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration methods. Show how you used data to inform your decisions.
• Demonstrate Collaboration: Explain how you worked with PMs, engineers, and other stakeholders.
• Focus on Inky: If possible, tailor a small portion of your presentation to how you might approach designing for a crypto trading app like Inky, demonstrating your understanding of the domain and user needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Prompt: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design challenge.
• Define Success: Identify the key objectives and success metrics for the challenge.
• Structure Your Approach: Outline your design process before diving in, similar to how you would approach a real project.
• Time Management: Allocate time for research, ideation, design, and presentation preparation.
• Presentation Clarity: Prepare a concise and clear presentation of your solution, highlighting your thought process and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to test not just design skills, but also operational capabilities like problem-solving, communication, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making. A strong, well-documented portfolio that showcases process and impact is critical for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
• Prototyping/Interaction: InVision, ProtoPie, Principle, or Figma's built-in prototyping capabilities.
• Collaboration & Communication: Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace (Docs, Sheets, Slides), Jira, Confluence.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's tool, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) and the ability to interpret user data and A/B test results is valuable for data-informed design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant for this design role, but understanding how user data flows through CRM systems might inform design for user onboarding or account management features if they were part of Inky.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is almost a given for modern product designers. The ability to leverage these tools efficiently to produce high-quality outputs and communicate designs effectively is key to operational success in this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to Kraken's mission of accelerating crypto adoption and enabling financial freedom.
• Crypto Native: Understanding and embracing the culture, values, and ethos of the cryptocurrency space.
• Data-Informed: Using data and user insights to guide design decisions and measure impact.
• User-Centricity: Prioritizing the user experience and solving user problems effectively.
• Excellence & Detail: A focus on high-quality execution and attention to the smallest details in design.
• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for one's work and its outcomes.
• Collaboration & Feedback: Fostering an open, trusting environment for sharing candid feedback and continuous improvement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers is essential to ensure alignment and successful product delivery.
• Open Communication: Expect direct, honest communication and a willingness to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Iterative Process: Design work is viewed as a continuous cycle of creation, feedback, and refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "crypto conviction" and "mission-focused" suggests that cultural alignment with the company's core purpose is as important as technical design skills. Designers are expected to be passionate advocates for the product and the mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving Market: The cryptocurrency space is dynamic; staying abreast of new trends, technologies, and user behaviors will be critical.
• Designing for a Niche Audience: Creating an engaging experience for a "degen trading app" audience requires understanding specific user motivations and risk appetites.
• Balancing Innovation with Stability: Ensuring the design is cutting-edge while maintaining the reliability and security expected in a financial product.
• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and building rapport with a globally distributed team across various time zones.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Crypto Domain Expertise: Gain deep knowledge of cryptocurrency, trading mechanics, and DeFi.
• Advanced Design Skills: Hone skills in mobile UX/UI, interaction design, and potentially animation or motion design.
• Product Strategy: Contribute to and learn from product strategy discussions, understanding how design influences business outcomes.
• Industry Exposure: Work with industry pioneers and gain insights into the operational challenges and successes of a leading crypto exchange.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for roles in innovative tech sectors like crypto. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to develop specialized skills and gain exposure to a high-growth industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Product Strategy: "How would you approach designing a mobile trading app for users who are highly engaged and seeking fast-paced action, considering potential risks and responsible trading practices?" (Focus on user journey mapping, information architecture, and risk mitigation through design.)
• Collaboration: "Describe a time you had a disagreement with a Product Manager or Engineer about a design decision. How did you resolve it, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight your ability to articulate rationale, compromise, and focus on shared goals.)
• Problem-Solving: "Walk me through a challenging UX problem you solved in a previous role. What was your process, what were the key insights, and how did you measure success?" (Prepare a case study focusing on impact and process.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• Company Mission: "What excites you about Kraken's mission, and how do you see your role as a Product Designer contributing to it?" (Research Kraken's mission and values; connect your passion for design with their goals.)
• Team Dynamics: "How do you typically collaborate with engineers and product managers? What makes for a successful cross-functional partnership in your opinion?" (Focus on communication, empathy, and shared ownership.)
• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your designs? Can you provide an example of a design that had a quantifiable positive impact?" (Be ready to discuss metrics like conversion rates, engagement, task completion, and user satisfaction.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a brief overview of Kraken and Inky. For each project, present the context, problem, your role, process, key design solutions, and outcomes.
• Narrative: Tell a compelling story for each project, emphasizing your thought process, decision-making, and the impact of your work.
• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and user flows. Explain why you made certain design choices.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it's clear, engaging, and within the allotted time.
• Q&A Readiness: Anticipate questions about your process, trade-offs, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for how well you can apply design thinking to solve business problems, communicate effectively, and integrate into a fast-paced, collaborative remote team. Demonstrating an understanding of the crypto space or a strong willingness to learn is also a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.ashbyhq.com.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and clearly showcases your mobile app design experience, with a focus on end-to-end product delivery and demonstrable impact. Select projects that best highlight your problem-solving skills and visual design capabilities.
• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight relevant keywords such as "Product Design," "UX Design," "UI Design," "Mobile Apps," "Prototyping," "Figma," "User-Centered Design," and any experience with financial products or crypto. Quantify achievements whenever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, presenting your portfolio confidently, and answering behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and handling feedback. Be ready to discuss your approach to designing for a "degen trading app."
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kraken's mission, values, products (especially Inky if possible), and culture. Understand the crypto industry landscape and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the space.

⚠️ 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.