Product Designer - UI/UX (App & Innovation) (all genders)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer - UI/UX (App & Innovation)

Company: Journi GmbH

Location: Vienna, Austria

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UI/UX

Date Posted: 2026-03-30

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on designing and validating novel product concepts within an innovation team, operating in a 'zero-to-one' environment to discover and accelerate product-market fit.

• The Product Designer will be instrumental in translating early-stage ideas into testable prototypes, employing lean research methodologies to validate assumptions and inform product direction.

• A key aspect of the role involves close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering to frame problems effectively, ensuring a balance between user needs, business opportunities, and technical feasibility.

• The position requires a strong emphasis on user-centered design principles, advocating for customer problem-solving throughout the product development lifecycle.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "App & Innovation" designation suggests a focus on both refining existing mobile application experiences and exploring entirely new product avenues, demanding adaptability and a strategic approach to design challenges. The 'zero-to-one' environment indicates a high tolerance for ambiguity and a requirement for designers who can operate autonomously and drive discovery.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on early-stage product concepts, transforming abstract ideas into tangible, testable prototypes that reduce risk and increase confidence in product viability.

• Develop distinct visual identities for new concepts, ensuring they align with the Journi brand while exploring novel aesthetic directions.

• Partner with Product Management and Engineering teams to define problems, gather requirements, and explore potential solutions that address user needs and business objectives.

• Conduct lean user research and validation experiments, leveraging qualitative and quantitative data to inform design decisions and pivot strategies as needed.

• Champion user-centric thinking across the innovation squad and broader Experience Design team, ensuring customer problems remain at the forefront of development efforts.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Experience Design team's practices, sharing insights and collaborating on design methodologies.

• Facilitate workshops and design sprints to foster cross-functional alignment and drive product innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a dual focus: tactical design execution for early-stage concepts and strategic contribution to problem framing and user advocacy. The "zero-to-one" aspect implies a need for proactive exploration and hypothesis-driven design, rather than solely executing defined requirements.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for this level of role.

Experience: A minimum of 2 years of professional experience designing mobile applications is required, with a strong preference for candidates with 3-5 years of relevant experience.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in mobile application design, with a portfolio demonstrating strong craft, user experience, and tangible impact.

• Solid foundation in UX fundamentals, including interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• Proficiency in conducting user research using lightweight, agile methodologies with minimal supervision.

• Demonstrated ability to validate early-stage concepts through experimentation and research.

• Excellent English communication and presentation skills, suitable for articulating design decisions and facilitating workshops.

Preferred Skills:

• Foundational understanding of information architecture and service design principles.

• Experience working in 'zero-to-one' or discovery-focused product development environments.

• Familiarity with design systems and their application in creating consistent user experiences.

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to inform design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "mobile-focused portfolio with strong craft, cross-functional collaboration, and tangible impact" suggests that case studies demonstrating problem-solving, process, and measurable outcomes will be highly valued over purely aesthetic work. The requirement for 'lean research' indicates a need for efficiency and resourcefulness in user validation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2 years of mobile app design experience.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, and the tangible impact of your solutions.

• Evidence of strong craft in interaction design, visual design, and prototyping.

• Examples of cross-functional collaboration and how you partnered with PM and Engineering.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to document and communicate design processes, from initial problem framing to prototype validation.

• Examples of how you've used user research and lean methodologies to inform design decisions.

• Showcase how you've transitioned concepts from rough ideas to testable prototypes.

• Demonstrate how you balance user needs, business opportunities, and technical constraints in your design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on innovation and 'zero-to-one' product development, a portfolio that highlights exploration, hypothesis testing, and the ability to navigate ambiguity will be paramount. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for discovering product-market fit and the methodologies they employ to validate new ideas.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The gross annual salary starts at €54,000. The final offer will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Generous vacation policy: 25 days per year, increasing by 1 day for each year of service, up to a maximum of 30 days.

• Flexible hybrid work model: 40% home office days and flexible working hours, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm (Mon-Thu) and 10 am to 2 pm (Fri).

• Daily catered meals: Breakfast, Italian-style coffee, tea, and fresh daily lunches are provided in the in-house eatery, catering to various dietary preferences.

• Commuting assistance: Reimbursement for public transport passes in Vienna.

• Team building: Annual team-building trips to exciting destinations.

• Technology: A company MacBook provided, which can also be used for personal purposes.

• Language learning: Weekly in-house German lessons in small groups.

• Product perks: Premium membership access to all Journi products.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, with a hybrid model allowing for 40% home office and flexible scheduling around core hours (10 am - 4 pm Mon-Thu, 10 am - 2 pm Fri).

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated starting salary of €54,000 for a mid-level Product Designer in Vienna is competitive, aligning with industry benchmarks. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the daily meals, flexible work arrangements, and professional development opportunities like German lessons, significantly enhances the overall employee value proposition.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mobile Applications, Photography, Printing Services, AI Technology. Journi operates in the consumer tech space, leveraging AI to simplify creative processes for users.

Company Size: 100+ employees. This indicates a growing company with established processes but still offers opportunities for individual impact and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Not explicitly stated, but the company has achieved over 10 million users, suggesting a mature product and significant market presence.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will be part of two teams: the "Innovation squad" and the "Experience Design team."

• The Innovation squad operates in a 'zero-to-one' environment, partnering closely with Product Management (PM) and Engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Innovation: The role emphasizes validating concepts through lean research and experimentation, indicating a data-informed approach to product development.

• User-Centric Design: A core principle is to "Encourage user-centered thinking" and focus on solving customer problems.

• Agile & Iterative: The 'zero-to-one' environment and emphasis on thriving in ambiguity suggest an agile and iterative development process.

Company Website: Journiapp.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Journi's mission to "build the world's most-downloaded printing app" and their focus on making memory-keeping "fast, simple, and joyful" highlights a user-centric and growth-oriented culture. The company's emphasis on inclusivity ("Everyone is welcome at Journi") suggests a commitment to diversity and a welcoming environment for all backgrounds.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It offers a blend of individual contribution and early-stage product exploration, making it suitable for designers looking to deepen their expertise in innovation and product discovery.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report into the Experience Design team structure, while also being embedded within the Innovation squad. This dual reporting/collaboration model allows for both specialized design practice development and focused project work.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct impact on identifying and shaping new product opportunities that could significantly drive user acquisition and engagement for Journi. Success in this role contributes directly to the company's mission of expanding its user base and market dominance in the printing app sector.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization in Innovation: Deepen expertise in 'zero-to-one' product development, concept validation, and bringing new ideas to market.

• Design Practice Advancement: Contribute to and learn from the established Experience Design team, potentially mentoring junior designers or leading specific design initiatives.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Develop skills in problem framing and influencing product strategy through effective collaboration with PM and Engineering.

• Career Progression: Potential pathways could lead to Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or specialized roles within product strategy or research.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to gain experience in a high-impact, discovery-focused environment, which is valuable for designers seeking to move beyond execution and into strategic product development. The hybrid model and focus on learning (e.g., German lessons) also support a balanced and continuous growth trajectory.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid working model, indicating a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. The presence of an "in-house eatery" suggests a well-equipped and potentially vibrant office space designed to foster community and productivity.

Office Location(s): Vienna, Austria. The office serves as the primary hub for collaborative work and team interactions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on team-building suggest opportunities for both focused individual work and active team collaboration.

• Technology & Tools: Employees are provided with a company MacBook, indicating access to modern design and development tools.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with Product Management, Engineering, fellow designers, researchers, and analysts is expected.

Work Schedule: Flexible hours are offered, with core working hours between 10 am and 4 pm (Mon-Thu) and 10 am to 2 pm (Fri), allowing for a good work-life balance and flexibility in managing design sprints and research activities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model, combined with the benefits of daily meals and a comfortable office environment in Vienna, aims to create a productive and engaging workspace that supports both individual focus and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Intro Call (30 min): Initial screening with the People & Culture Team to assess cultural fit, motivation, and basic qualifications.

• Time-boxed Challenge (4-5h): An asynchronous design challenge requiring candidates to demonstrate their design thinking, problem-solving, and execution skills. An optional follow-up call (25 min) may be included.

• Cross-functional Interview (1h): Interview with members of the Innovation Squad (likely PM, Engineering, and other designers) to assess collaboration, design approach, and problem-solving capabilities within a team context.

• Final Interview (1h): Meeting with the Senior Leadership Team to evaluate strategic thinking, overall fit, and potential impact on the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight 'Zero-to-One' Experience: Showcase projects where you've contributed to discovering or validating new product ideas, demonstrating your ability to navigate ambiguity and drive innovation.

• Emphasize Process & Impact: Clearly articulate your design process, the methodologies used (especially for validation and research), and the measurable outcomes or learnings from your work.

• Showcase Mobile Craft: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your expertise in mobile UI/UX design, interaction patterns, and visual aesthetics.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives that highlight your problem-solving skills, your role in the project, and the impact you achieved.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Expect interviewers to ask detailed questions about your design decisions, the trade-offs you made, and how you incorporated user feedback.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Goal: The challenge is likely designed to assess your ability to approach an open-ended problem, conduct rapid validation, and present a cohesive design solution.

• Focus on Process: While the final design is important, demonstrating a clear and logical design process is crucial.

• Time Management: Practice working within time constraints, prioritizing tasks, and delivering a polished output.

• Presentation Readiness: Prepare to present your challenge solution clearly and concisely, explaining your rationale and answering questions effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The multi-stage interview process, including a significant design challenge, indicates a thorough evaluation of both design skills and problem-solving capabilities. The emphasis on 'zero-to-one' and validation suggests interviewers will probe deeply into how candidates approach uncharted territory.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: While not explicitly stated, expect proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for UI design and interactive prototyping.

• User Research: Tools for conducting surveys, interviews, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze, SurveyMonkey) are likely utilized.

• Collaboration: Tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Jira, Asana, Confluence) are standard.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within a CRM context or how automated features are designed is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, the role demands proficiency in contemporary design and prototyping software. Experience with tools that facilitate rapid iteration, user testing, and cross-functional collaboration will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A core value is to focus on solving customer problems and creating joyful experiences.

• Innovation & Discovery: The company fosters an environment where exploring new ideas and operating in 'zero-to-one' spaces is encouraged.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Journi emphasizes a "global team with heart" and a commitment to inclusivity, where "Everyone is welcome."

• Efficiency & Agility: The need to validate concepts and thrive in ambiguity points to a culture that values iterative progress and adaptability.

• Passion for Memory Keeping: A shared enthusiasm for the company's mission of helping users preserve cherished memories.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration is expected between Design, Product Management, and Engineering, particularly within the Innovation squad.

• Open Communication: The informal and friendly atmosphere suggests an environment where ideas can be shared openly, and feedback is actively exchanged.

• Shared Learning: The presence of an Experience Design team implies a culture of continuous learning and mutual support among designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Journi appears to cultivate a culture that balances ambitious goals with a supportive and inclusive team environment. The emphasis on both user value and innovation suggests that designers who are passionate about their craft and enjoy collaborative problem-solving will thrive.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Operating in a 'zero-to-one' environment requires comfort with uncertainty and the ability to define direction from sparse information.

• Concept Validation Speed: Rapidly validating new product ideas with limited resources and time will be a constant challenge.

• Balancing Innovation with Core Product: Ensuring that innovation efforts align with and do not detract from the core user experience of the existing app.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Effectively communicating and aligning diverse perspectives from PM, Engineering, and Leadership on novel concepts.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Innovation Methodologies: Gain hands-on experience with 'zero-to-one' product development, lean startup principles, and rapid prototyping.

• User Research Mastery: Hone skills in conducting lean and effective user research to validate assumptions quickly.

• Strategic Product Influence: Develop the ability to shape product strategy from the earliest stages of ideation.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers, PMs, and leadership within a growing tech company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this role are directly tied to its growth potential. By successfully navigating ambiguity and driving innovation, a designer can build a highly valuable skillset in product discovery and strategic design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you worked on a product or feature with a high degree of ambiguity. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process for discovery, validation, and decision-making.)

• "How do you balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints when designing a new concept?" (Prepare examples demonstrating trade-offs and collaborative problem-solving.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Journi's mission to help people preserve memories?" (Show genuine interest in the company's purpose.)

• "How do you approach fostering user-centered thinking within a team?" (Discuss your methods for advocating for the user and influencing others.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process undertaken, the key decisions made, and the resulting impact or learnings.

• Focus on Validation: For innovation projects, emphasize how you tested hypotheses, gathered user feedback, and iterated based on learnings.

• Highlight Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you worked with PMs and Engineers, the challenges encountered, and how you resolved them.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. If metrics are unavailable, focus on qualitative insights and learnings.

• Be Ready for Design Challenges: Expect to discuss your approach to the provided design challenge in detail, explaining your thought process and rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process, particularly the cross-functional and senior leadership interviews, will likely assess strategic thinking and the ability to communicate complex ideas clearly. Your portfolio presentation should be a narrative that showcases your problem-solving journey and your impact on product outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on careers.kula.ai.

• Customize Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features mobile app design projects, with a specific emphasis on any 'zero-to-one' or concept validation work. Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your process, your role, and the impact.

• Tailor Your CV: Highlight your 2+ years of mobile app design experience, your proficiency in UX fundamentals (interaction, visual, prototyping, research), and any experience with early-stage concept validation or innovation projects. Use keywords from the job description.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Briefly explain your interest in Journi's mission, your excitement for the innovation aspect of the role, and how your skills align with the requirements, particularly your ability to thrive in ambiguity and validate concepts.

• Research Journi: Familiarize yourself with Journi's app, its features, its target audience, and its mission. Understand their approach to memory keeping and printing.

⚠️ 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.