Product Designer (mobile)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (mobile)

Company: Prematch

Location: Cologne, Germany (Remote OK)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2025-11-16

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the user experience of Prematch's mobile applications, focusing on intuitive design and user engagement, aligning with GTM strategies for customer acquisition and retention.

• The Product Designer will be responsible for the end-to-end design process, from initial concept and user research to high-fidelity prototyping and visual design, directly impacting the product's market fit and user adoption.

• Collaboration with experienced design, development, and product teams is essential, ensuring seamless integration of design principles with technical capabilities and business objectives.

• The position requires a strong understanding of user-centered design, interaction design, and responsive design principles, ensuring consistency and coherence across the entire product ecosystem to support Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the core role is Product Design, its impact on user acquisition, engagement, and retention places it squarely within the GTM Operations umbrella. The emphasis on user experience and product success directly supports sales and marketing efforts by creating a compelling and user-friendly platform.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design of user-centric interfaces and experiences specifically for mobile applications, ensuring they are intuitive, engaging, and aligned with overall product strategy.

• Conduct comprehensive product discovery, user interviews, and usability testing to gather actionable insights that inform and validate design decisions, directly contributing to product-market fit.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity designs for new features and enhancements, facilitating clear communication of design intent to development teams.

• Maintain and evolve design consistency and coherence across the entire product, including UI elements, interaction patterns, and visual aesthetics, to reinforce brand identity and user trust.

• Support cross-departmental design needs, potentially including brand partnerships and marketing collateral, ensuring a unified brand experience across all touchpoints.

• Translate user needs and business requirements into elegant, functional design solutions that drive user adoption and satisfaction.

• Collaborate closely with product managers and engineers throughout the development lifecycle to ensure designs are technically feasible and effectively implemented.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes, tools, and best practices within the product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of "Cross-Team Support: Take on further design tasks across departments (e.g. brand partnerships)" indicates a broader GTM support function beyond pure product design, suggesting the candidate will be involved in initiatives that directly support sales and marketing efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical knowledge in Product Design, UX/UI Design, or a related field is essential.

Experience: Minimum of 2 years of proven experience in Product Design, with a demonstrable track record of designing and shipping successful mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Proven ability to lead the design process for mobile applications from conception to launch.

• User Research & Usability Testing: Proficient in conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to gather insights and validate design hypotheses.

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skilled in creating low-fidelity wireframes, interactive prototypes (e.g., using Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD), and high-fidelity mockups.

• Visual Design: Excellent visual design skills with a keen eye for aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout, ensuring a polished and professional user interface.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Deep understanding and practical application of user-centered design (UCD) methodologies, ensuring the user's needs are at the forefront of all design decisions.

• Interaction Design: Strong grasp of how users interact with digital products, creating intuitive and efficient navigation and functionality.

• Responsive Design: Understanding of how to design for various screen sizes and device types, ensuring a consistent experience across mobile platforms.

• Language Proficiency: Fluent in both German and English, crucial for effective communication within the international team and with the target user base.

• Football Domain Knowledge: A genuine understanding and passion for amateur football, including its community, processes, and on-pitch challenges, to design authentically for the target audience.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design: Experience with motion design principles and tools to create engaging animations and micro-interactions.

• Design Systems: Experience in developing or contributing to design systems to ensure scalability and consistency.

• Agile Methodologies: Familiarity with agile development processes and cross-functional team collaboration within an agile framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for football knowledge is unique and highly specific, indicating that understanding the user's context is as critical as technical design skills. This suggests a focus on deeply resonant user experiences that align with the target demographic's passion for the sport.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2 years of product design work, with a strong emphasis on mobile applications.

• Present case studies that detail the design process, from problem identification and user research to solution development and outcomes.

• Demonstrate expertise in UX/UI design, user research methodologies, prototyping, and visual design for mobile platforms.

• Include examples of user-centered design principles in action and how they led to successful product outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly outline the user research process employed in case studies, including methods used and insights gained.

• Detail the wireframing and prototyping stages, illustrating the iterative design process.

• Showcase the visual design application, including the rationale behind aesthetic choices and adherence to design principles.

• Provide examples of how design consistency was maintained across different features or product areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is non-negotiable for a Product Designer. For this role, it must specifically highlight mobile UX/UI, user research, and the ability to translate insights into tangible product improvements that resonate with a football-loving community. The emphasis on process within case studies is key for demonstrating problem-solving skills.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Germany, a competitive salary range is estimated between €50,000 - €70,000 annually. This range accounts for cost of living in Cologne/Berlin and the startup environment, with potential for upward adjustment based on exceptional experience and candidate fit.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary package designed to be attractive and reflect the candidate's experience and contribution.

• Employee Participation (VSOP): Opportunity to benefit directly from the company's success through virtual stock options.

• 27 Vacation Days: Generous annual leave to ensure work-life balance and rest.

• Parental Leave Adjustments: Special arrangements to support parents in balancing family and work.

• Modern IT Equipment: Provision of necessary tools and devices to ensure productivity and efficiency.

• Flexible Working Arrangements: Options for hybrid work (1-3 days onsite depending on proximity) or 100% remote for Tech & Product roles, as well as flexible work from outside usual locations (e.g., abroad).

• Team Events & Offsites: Regular team gatherings, including local events and multi-day offsite trips, fostering strong team cohesion and collaboration.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes flexibility, with hybrid and remote options allowing for personal schedule adjustments where feasible, particularly for the Tech & Product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on typical German tech startup compensation for this role and experience level. The benefits list is directly extracted but framed to emphasize their value to operations professionals seeking work-life balance and growth opportunities.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports & Recreation Technology (specifically, non-professional football platform), Technology, Creative & Media. Prematch operates at the intersection of sports, technology, and community, aiming to professionalize the amateur football experience.

Company Size: Prematch is a dynamic startup founded in 2021, indicating a growing team with a lean and agile structure. The company has marketing and business teams in Cologne, Berlin, and London, and remote tech/product teams across Europe.

Founded: 2021. This recent founding suggests a fast-paced, innovative environment where early employees have a significant impact on shaping the company's trajectory and culture.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design role is part of the Tech & Product teams, which are distributed remotely across Europe.

• Collaboration is expected with experienced design, development, and product management teams.

• The structure likely emphasizes cross-functional teams working in agile sprints to deliver product features.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: User research, interviews, and usability testing are central to informing design decisions, reflecting a commitment to evidence-based product development.

• Agile Development: The startup environment and remote teams suggest an agile or hybrid agile methodology, prioritizing iterative development and rapid feedback loops.

• User-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and meeting user needs is evident in the core responsibilities and required skills.

• Collaborative Innovation: The company fosters a culture of shared ownership and collaboration, encouraging team members to contribute ideas and solutions across departments.

Company Website: https://prematch.notion.site/Prematch-auf-einen-Blick-b7158d037c414dd0b19e7a6b97e8fdbe (Company Profile), https://join.com/companies/prematchapp/15208898-product-designer-mobile (Job Application)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on amateur football is a significant cultural differentiator. Candidates who can authentically connect with this passion will likely thrive. The remote-first or hybrid approach for tech/product teams implies a need for strong self-management and virtual collaboration skills.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer (2-5 years of experience). It offers an opportunity to take significant ownership over mobile product design and contribute to a rapidly growing platform.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report into a Lead Product Designer or Head of Product within the remote Tech & Product team. Close collaboration with Product Managers and Development Leads is expected.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work directly influences user acquisition, engagement, and retention – key metrics for GTM success. By creating intuitive and delightful user experiences, they contribute to customer satisfaction, product adoption, and ultimately, revenue growth. Their designs can also support marketing efforts by creating compelling product features and user journeys.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in mobile UX/UI design, user research, or potentially motion design if skills are developed.

• Product Ownership: With proven success, there's potential to take on more ownership of specific product areas or features, leading design initiatives.

• Leadership Potential: As the company grows, opportunities for mentoring junior designers or leading design projects may emerge.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Involvement in brand partnerships and other GTM initiatives provides exposure to broader business strategy and marketing operations.

• Industry Impact: Contributing to a platform that aims to revolutionize amateur football offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact in a niche but passionate market.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Startup" environment implies that growth can be rapid and organic. The emphasis on "Be part of it from the start" suggests that individuals who contribute significantly will be recognized and have opportunities to grow with the company, potentially into more senior or specialized roles within product or GTM operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Prematch maintains three physical offices in Cologne, Berlin, and London. However, for the Tech & Product teams, the environment is largely remote-first or hybrid, offering flexibility.

Office Location(s): Cologne, Berlin (Germany), and London (United Kingdom). The job description mentions the possibility of working from these offices or fully remote.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Flexibility: The primary work environment for this role is remote, allowing for flexible work arrangements, including working from home and even internationally for short periods.

• Collaborative Tools: The company utilizes "cool tools and a virtual office" to maintain team connection, suggesting a reliance on digital collaboration platforms.

• Office Hubs: For those who prefer it or are closer to an office, there are physical spaces available in Cologne, Berlin, and London, fostering a sense of community and providing options for in-person collaboration.

• Tech & Product Focus: The Tech & Product teams are specifically mentioned as offering 100% remote possibilities, indicating a strong trust in remote work capabilities.

Work Schedule: While full-time employment is standard (approx. 40 hours/week), the remote and hybrid nature of the role allows for significant flexibility in scheduling, accommodating personal needs and time zone differences within the European remote team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on flexibility and remote work for the Tech & Product teams is a key aspect of the work environment. This is crucial for attracting talent across Europe and requires a culture that supports asynchronous communication and independent work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV and potentially other information via the provided application form.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be assessed based on their portfolio, with a focus on mobile design projects, user research, and problem-solving.

• Interviews: Likely includes multiple stages:

  • Initial screening with HR or a hiring manager (e.g., Lisa).
  • Technical interview focusing on design skills, process, and problem-solving, potentially involving a design challenge.
  • Interviews with key team members (e.g., product managers, developers, other designers) to assess cultural fit and collaborative ability.
  • Final interview to discuss role expectations and potential impact.

• Design Challenge: A common step for design roles, where candidates might be asked to solve a specific design problem or critique an existing design. This will likely focus on mobile UX/UI and understanding the football community.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Mobile Focus: Ensure your portfolio prominently features mobile design projects, showcasing your expertise in platform-specific UI/UX.

• Process Over Polish: Clearly articulate your design process in each case study. Explain the problem, your approach, the research conducted, design iterations, and the final outcome with metrics if possible.

• User-Centricity: Demonstrate how you incorporated user feedback and research into your designs.

• Football Context: If possible, include projects that show an understanding of sports communities or user engagement within niche interests. Even if not football-specific, highlight how you've approached understanding and designing for specific user groups.

• Visual Communication: Present your work clearly and concisely, using high-quality visuals, mockups, and prototypes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the User: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach designing for the amateur football community. Think about their needs, motivations, and pain points.

• Mobile UX/UI Best Practices: Refresh your knowledge of current mobile design trends and best practices.

• Problem-Solving Approach: Be ready to walk through your thought process for tackling a new design challenge, emphasizing user research and iterative design.

• Collaboration: Prepare to discuss how you collaborate with developers and product managers to bring designs to life.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "football knowledge" suggests that interviewers will probe this area. Candidates should be ready to discuss their personal connection to the sport or how they would quickly gain the necessary insights to design effectively for this user base.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is essential for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs. Figma is often preferred in collaborative, remote-first environments.

• User Research Platforms: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey, Google Forms).

• Collaboration & Communication Tools: Proficiency in platforms like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for daily team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Potential Tools:

• Design System Management Tools: (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook) if the company utilizes a design system.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Jira, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks within development sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is a de facto standard for many modern design teams, especially those working remotely and collaboratively. Highlighting experience with it will be a strong advantage. The role requires a designer who can not only create but also understand how their designs will be implemented and measured.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental value, ensuring that user needs and experiences are at the core of all design decisions.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, marketing) to achieve shared goals.

• Innovation & Agility: A startup mentality that embraces new ideas, rapid iteration, and adaptability to market changes.

• Passion for Football: A shared enthusiasm for the sport and its community, driving a desire to build a meaningful product.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing user research and analytics to validate design concepts and measure impact.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First & Hybrid: Expect a collaborative environment that leverages digital tools for communication and teamwork, with flexibility for in-person interaction.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Close working relationships with Product Managers and Developers are crucial for translating user needs into functional, well-executed features.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of open feedback and transparent communication to foster continuous improvement and problem-solving.

• Shared Ownership: A culture where team members feel empowered to contribute ideas and take ownership of their work, driving collective success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "passion for football" is a cultural cornerstone. Candidates who can demonstrate genuine interest or understanding of the amateur football scene will likely connect better with the team's values and mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for a Niche Audience: Effectively understanding and catering to the specific needs, preferences, and cultural nuances of amateur footballers and fans.

• Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Ensuring designs are user-friendly while also driving business objectives such as engagement and potential monetization.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong communication and collaboration across distributed teams and different time zones.

• Rapid Iteration in a Startup: Adapting designs quickly to feedback and evolving product requirements in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Onboarding to a New Domain: For candidates new to the football tech space, quickly gaining domain expertise will be a key initial challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Domain Expertise: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the amateur football landscape, its players, fans, and ecosystem.

• Product Strategy Influence: Opportunity to significantly influence the product direction and user experience of a growing platform.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Exposure to brand partnerships and other GTM initiatives can broaden business acumen.

• Remote Work Best Practices: Honing skills in virtual collaboration, asynchronous communication, and self-management.

• Career Advancement: Potential to grow into senior design roles, lead design initiatives, or specialize in areas like mobile UX, research, or motion design as the company scales.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are common in startup environments and roles that require deep user understanding. The growth opportunities highlight the potential for significant career development and impact within Prematch.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a new feature for a mobile application, from ideation to launch. How would you ensure it resonates with amateur football players?" (Focus on user research, iterative design, and domain understanding)

• "Walk me through a mobile design project from your portfolio that you're most proud of. What was the problem, your solution, and the impact?" (Be ready to discuss your process, challenges, and outcomes, highlighting mobile UX/UI and user-centricity)

• "How do you approach user research and usability testing? What methods would you use to gather feedback from amateur footballers?" (Emphasize practical application of research techniques)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Prematch and the amateur football space?" (Show genuine enthusiasm and understanding of the company's mission)

• "How do you typically collaborate with product managers and developers in a remote or hybrid environment?" (Highlight communication skills and cross-functional teamwork)

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements or user needs in a design project." (Demonstrate problem-solving and negotiation skills)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling stories with clear problem statements, your unique contributions, and measurable results.

• Process Visualization: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, user flows, prototypes) to illustrate each stage of your design process.

• Impact Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs whenever possible (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased engagement, reduced task completion time).

• Conciseness: Be prepared to present your key projects within a given timeframe, focusing on the most relevant aspects for this role.

• Interactive Elements: If possible, have interactive prototypes ready to demonstrate user flows and interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who not only possesses strong technical skills but also understands and is passionate about the target audience and the company's mission. Demonstrating this connection will be key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your current CV and any additional requested information through the provided application link on join.com.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest mobile design projects that best showcase your UX/UI expertise, user research capabilities, and problem-solving approach. Tailor your case studies to highlight how you've designed for user engagement and addressed specific user needs.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 2+ years of relevant experience, key skills (Product Design, User Research, Mobile UX/UI), and achievements using operations-relevant keywords where applicable (e.g., user engagement, customer satisfaction, product adoption).

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your passion for football (or how you'd quickly gain domain knowledge), and your collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and answer strategy-based interview questions.

• Research Prematch: Familiarize yourself with Prematch's mission, current product (if accessible), and the amateur football landscape. Understand their GTM focus on community and engagement.

⚠️ 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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