Product Designer (Mid Level)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Mid Level) Company: Apex Network Location: Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria Job Type: FULL_TIME Category: Product Design / User Experience Operations Date Posted: 2026-01-05 Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design process, from initial concept and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and final implementation.
• Champion user-centered design principles to ensure intuitive, engaging, and effective user experiences across all Apex Network products.
• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering teams to translate user needs and business objectives into innovative design solutions.
• Contribute to the strategic direction of product development by influencing design decisions and identifying opportunities for user experience enhancement.
• Leverage a comprehensive understanding of design tools and methodologies to deliver high-quality, scalable design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a Product Design/User Experience Operations context, emphasizing the operational aspects of design execution, process adherence, and cross-functional collaboration essential for successful product development. The "Mid Level" designation suggests a need for demonstrated experience and the ability to work with some autonomy while also contributing to team-wide design standards.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conduct thorough user research, including interviews, surveys, and competitive analysis, to deeply understand user needs, pain points, and behaviors.
• Develop user personas, journey maps, and user flows to articulate user experiences and inform design decisions.
• Create detailed wireframes, mockups, and interactive prototypes to visualize design concepts and gather feedback.
• Design intuitive and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces that align with Apex Network's brand guidelines and product strategy.
• Collaborate with engineers to ensure accurate and efficient implementation of designs, providing detailed specifications and assets.
• Participate in usability testing sessions to gather user feedback and iterate on designs based on insights.
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and scalability across products.
• Actively participate in design critiques and provide constructive feedback to peers.
• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in product design and user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to highlight the operational execution of design, focusing on structured processes like user research, prototyping, and implementation collaboration, which are critical for a "Product Design Operations" perspective.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Psychology, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring deep understanding of user-centered design principles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience:

• 3+ years of professional experience in product design, with a demonstrated track record of successfully delivering user-centered digital products.
• Proven experience in working within cross-functional teams, collaborating effectively with product managers, developers, and stakeholders.
• Experience in designing for web and mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• User Research: Ability to plan, conduct, and analyze user research to inform design decisions.
• Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes.
• Design Tools: Expert-level proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).
• User-Centered Design Principles: Deep understanding and application of UX/UI best practices and design thinking methodologies.
• Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for articulating design concepts and working effectively with diverse teams.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills to identify and solve complex design challenges.
• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy in visual elements, interactions, and specifications.

Preferred Skills:

• Usability Testing: Experience in planning and conducting usability testing sessions.
• Design Systems: Familiarity with creating and maintaining design systems for consistency and scalability.
• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Experience working in agile development environments.
• Basic Understanding of Front-End Development: Familiarity with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to better inform design decisions and collaborate with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The skills are categorized to differentiate between essential operational design competencies and those that would enhance a candidate's effectiveness within a product development lifecycle, aligning with operations principles of efficiency and integration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 projects that demonstrate a full product design lifecycle.
• Each project should clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process undertaken (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), and the final outcome.
• Emphasis on showcasing how user research and data informed your design decisions and led to measurable improvements.
• Visual examples of wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and final UI designs.
• Documentation of problem-solving approaches and how challenges were overcome through design.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to document design processes clearly and concisely.
• Highlight examples of how you have collaborated with development teams to ensure design fidelity during implementation.
• Showcase an ability to contribute to or utilize design systems and style guides.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to assess not just design output, but the candidate's ability to execute design as an operational discipline, emphasizing process, documentation, and measurable impact, which are core to operations roles.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Level Product Designer in Nigeria, a competitive annual salary range of ₦8,000,000 - ₦15,000,000 is estimated. This range accounts for the hybrid work modality, the company's provision of a world-class workspace and tools, and the additional benefits offered.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary package commensurate with experience and market rates.
• Hybrid Work Modalities: Flexibility to work both remotely and from a world-class office space.
• World Class Work Space and Tools: Access to a modern, well-equipped office environment and the necessary design tools to perform effectively.
• Thirteenth Month Salary: An additional month's salary paid annually, often as a bonus or end-of-year incentive.
• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Coverage for medical expenses, providing peace of mind for employees and their families.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in structuring these hours, with core collaboration times likely established for team meetings and cross-functional alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on typical mid-level product designer compensation in Nigeria, adjusted for the stated benefits and work arrangement. The inclusion of a thirteenth-month salary is a common practice in some regions and is noted as a significant benefit.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Software Development. Apex Network is likely involved in developing software solutions, potentially SaaS, fintech, or other digital platforms, aiming to leverage technology to solve business or consumer problems. Company Size: The description implies a growing company that can afford world-class facilities and comprehensive benefits, suggesting a mid-sized organization (likely 50-250 employees) that values employee experience and investment in its talent. Founded: [Founding date not provided] Apex Network's founding date would indicate its maturity and market presence. Newer companies may offer more dynamic, startup-like environments, while established ones might have more structured processes.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a broader Product or Engineering department.
• Designers will report to a Design Lead or Head of Product.
• Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers who define product strategy and requirements, and Software Engineers who build the product.
• A cross-functional approach is central, with designers embedded in product squads or working closely on specific features.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on using user research, analytics, and performance metrics to inform design choices and measure impact.
• Agile Development: Likely follows agile methodologies, with iterative design and development cycles, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to feedback.
• User-Centricity: A core philosophy where user needs and experiences are paramount throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Continuous Improvement: A culture that encourages ongoing learning, refinement of processes, and iteration on designs.

Company Website: https://apexnetwork.io

📝 Enhancement Note: Inferences about company culture, size, and methodology are drawn from the provided job description and typical tech company structures. The emphasis on "world-class work space and tools" suggests a company that invests in its infrastructure and employee experience, aligning with operational excellence.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role. It signifies a transition from an individual contributor focused on executing tasks to a role that requires more autonomy, strategic input, and potentially mentoring junior designers. The focus is on delivering high-quality design solutions independently and contributing to the operational efficiency of the design process. Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Design, or a senior Product Manager, depending on the specific organizational structure of Apex Network. They will work closely with Product Managers and Software Engineers. Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is measured by their ability to translate user needs into intuitive product interfaces that drive user adoption, engagement, and satisfaction. Effective design operations contribute directly to the product's success, influencing conversion rates, customer retention, and ultimately, revenue.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: Progression to a Senior role with increased responsibility for complex projects, strategic design thinking, and potentially leading design initiatives.
• Design Leadership: Opportunity to move into management roles (e.g., Design Lead, Manager) if interested in leading teams, setting design direction, and managing people.
• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas like UX research, interaction design, visual design, or design systems.
• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Gaining deeper insights into product management, engineering processes, and business strategy through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth analysis focuses on the typical career trajectory for product designers within a technology company, emphasizing how this mid-level role serves as a crucial stepping stone for further specialization or leadership within the design and product operations sphere.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Apex Network offers a "Hybrid work Modalities" and a "World Class work space," indicating a modern, well-equipped office environment designed for collaboration and productivity. This suggests a company that values employee comfort and provides advanced facilities. Office Location(s): Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. This location is a prominent commercial and residential hub in Lagos, offering accessibility and a vibrant working environment. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The "world-class work space" likely includes dedicated areas for team collaboration, brainstorming, and design reviews, facilitating effective cross-functional interaction.
• Tools & Technology: Access to high-end design software, hardware, and potentially specialized equipment necessary for prototyping and user testing.
• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineers, fostering a dynamic and integrated work environment.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model provides flexibility. While standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) apply, employees can balance remote work with in-office days, allowing for focused individual work and scheduled team collaboration. This structure supports efficient workflow management and adherence to project timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the workspace and hybrid model is interpreted to highlight an environment conducive to operational efficiency and effective collaboration, crucial for a designer working within a product development framework.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion about experience, motivation, and understanding of the role.
• Design Challenge/Portfolio Review: A practical exercise or in-depth discussion of portfolio projects to evaluate design process, problem-solving skills, and communication abilities. Expect to walk through your process, decisions, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Interview: Meeting with potential collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Lead Engineer) to assess teamwork and communication skills.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss cultural fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling: Clearly articulate the narrative of each project, focusing on the problem, your approach, and the impact of your design solutions.
• Process Over Polish: While visual quality is important, demonstrate your design thinking, research methodologies, and iterative process.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to show the positive results of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores).
• Tailor to Apex Network: Research Apex Network's products and target audience. Highlight projects that demonstrate relevant skills or experience.
• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, how you handle feedback, and your collaboration style.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully grasp the problem statement and constraints.
• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively across research, ideation, and presentation.
• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to explain your thought process, even for a condensed exercise. Focus on demonstrating your approach to problem-solving.
• Consider the Business Context: Think about how your design solutions align with business goals and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is detailed to provide actionable advice for operations-minded candidates, emphasizing structured presentation, data-driven justification, and clear articulation of process, which are key in operations roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, wireframing, prototyping, and handoff. Mastery of its features for component-based design and prototyping is expected.
• Sketch: Another industry-standard tool for UI design, often used for its robust plugin ecosystem and vector editing capabilities.
• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator): Useful for image editing, asset creation, and graphic design elements that complement UI designs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude): Familiarity with how to interpret user data to understand product usage and identify areas for design improvement.
• A/B Testing Tools (e.g., Optimizely, VWO): Understanding how A/B tests are conducted and how design variations are evaluated for performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used by Product Designers, an understanding of how CRM systems (like Salesforce) and marketing automation tools integrate with products can provide valuable context for user journeys and data flow.

Design Systems & Collaboration:

• Zeplin / Avocode: Tools for design handoff, allowing developers to inspect design elements, export assets, and understand spacing and styles.
• Jira / Confluence: Project management and documentation tools commonly used for tracking design tasks, user stories, and design specifications within agile teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools list is expanded to include common design operations and collaboration platforms, emphasizing their role in streamlining the design process, ensuring consistency, and facilitating communication between design, product, and engineering teams.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user, ensuring that all design decisions prioritize user needs and create positive experiences.
• Collaboration: A belief in the power of teamwork, encouraging open communication, constructive feedback, and shared ownership of product success.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Valuing insights derived from user research, analytics, and performance metrics to guide design choices and measure impact.
• Iterative Improvement: Embracing a mindset of continuous learning and refinement, where designs are seen as evolving based on feedback and performance data.
• Excellence in Execution: A drive to deliver high-quality, well-crafted designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and technically sound, with meticulous attention to detail.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless integration with Product Managers and Engineers, working as a cohesive unit to define, build, and launch products.
• Open Feedback Loops: Encouraging regular design critiques and constructive feedback sessions to foster growth and collective problem-solving.
• Knowledge Sharing: A culture of sharing best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the team and broader organization.
• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders to ensure alignment and manage expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are extrapolated to reflect a design team operating with an operational mindset, emphasizing efficiency, data, collaboration, and continuous improvement – all hallmarks of robust operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Effectively navigating the inherent tension between creating ideal user experiences and meeting company objectives, requiring strong negotiation and strategic thinking.
• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to frequent changes in project scope, user feedback, or market demands while maintaining design quality and timelines.
• Ensuring Design Consistency Across Platforms: Maintaining a cohesive user experience across various devices and product features, especially as the product suite grows.
• Effectively Communicating Complex Design Decisions: Clearly articulating the rationale behind design choices to stakeholders who may not have a design background.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like interaction design, animation, accessibility, or user research methodologies.
• Product Strategy Involvement: Gaining greater influence in product strategy discussions and contributing to the long-term vision of Apex Network's offerings.
• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers or be mentored by senior leaders in the field.
• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to professional development opportunities to stay current with design trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed within an operational context, highlighting the need for adaptability, strategic thinking, and effective process management, common in operations roles. Growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and strategic contribution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex design problem you solved. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your methodology, problem-solving steps, and quantifiable results.)
• "How do you balance user needs with business objectives? Provide an example." (Demonstrate your understanding of trade-offs and strategic alignment.)
• "How do you approach designing for a new feature or product from scratch?" (Walk through your end-to-end process, emphasizing research and validation.)
• "Tell me about a time you received difficult feedback on your design. How did you handle it?" (Showcase your resilience, ability to incorporate feedback, and collaborative spirit.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Apex Network and our products?" (Research their offerings, mission, and recent news. Connect your skills and interests to their work.)
• "How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment?" (Highlight your communication style, willingness to share knowledge, and experience working with cross-functional teams.)
• "What are your thoughts on our current product's user experience?" (Prepare a brief, constructive critique, focusing on potential improvements rather than just flaws.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your role, the user, your process, the solution, and the impact (with data if possible).
• Highlight Your Process: Emphasize the "why" behind your decisions – your research insights, the design principles you applied, and how you iterated.
• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about specific design choices, user flows, or technical constraints.
• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools you used and how they facilitated your workflow, especially collaborative aspects.
• Keep it Concise: Aim for clarity and impact, respecting the interviewer's time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is geared towards demonstrating operational proficiency – structured thinking, data-backed decisions, and clear communication of process and impact, which are crucial for operations-focused roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link, ensuring your resume and portfolio are up-to-date.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your expertise in user research, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design within a product development context. Showcase at least one project that clearly illustrates your end-to-end design process from problem identification to solution implementation.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3+ years of experience, specific design tool proficiencies (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Suite), and experience with user research and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords like "user-centered design," "UX/UI," "prototyping," and "agile" where applicable.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, key decisions, and project outcomes clearly and concisely, as you will likely be asked to walk through your portfolio during the interview.
• Research Apex Network: Familiarize yourself with Apex Network's products, mission, and target audience to better understand their design challenges and to tailor your responses to their specific needs.

⚠️ 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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