Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Fanatics

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time

Category: Product Design / User Experience

Date Posted: 2026-01-23T14:11:53

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: On-site (with potential for hybrid flexibility, not explicitly defined as fully remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design of user-facing experiences across the Fanatics ecosystem, with a strong emphasis on platform and SDK-powered solutions.

• Develop and champion scalable, reusable UX patterns and components that ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple products and brands within the Fanatics ONE ecosystem.

• Drive the design of core ecosystem functionalities such as identity, authentication, loyalty programs, and FanCash engagement, ensuring a seamless and fan-first user journey.

• Collaborate closely with Product Management and Engineering to define SDK APIs, influence platform functionality, and maintain high standards for user experience, accessibility, and craft excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly focused on "platform and SDK-powered design," indicating a need for designers who think in terms of systems, reusable components, and scalable solutions rather than isolated features. This is a crucial differentiator for candidates applying. The "on-site" designation with a specific New York address suggests a primary office-based role, though the company's general remote policies might allow for hybrid arrangements not detailed here.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design cross-tenant, user-facing experiences for the Fanatics ONE SDK, encompassing identity, authentication, loyalty, FanCash earning/redemption, and ecosystem navigation.

• Translate complex platform and product requirements into intuitive, scalable interaction models applicable across diverse products and contexts within the Fanatics ecosystem.

• Define and standardize how core ecosystem experiences are presented consistently while allowing for appropriate brand expression at the tenant level.

• Create modular, reusable UX patterns and components to minimize duplicate design and engineering efforts, thereby increasing development velocity.

• Holistically consider states, edge cases, unhappy paths, and extensibility from the initial design phase to ensure robust and comprehensive solutions.

• Partner closely with Product and Engineering teams to shape SDK component APIs and define the optimal placement of functionality from an experience perspective.

• Advocate for cohesive, accessible, and predictable user experiences as fans navigate across various Fanatics products and platforms.

• Reinforce the value propositions of the Fanatics ONE platform through repeatable patterns, clear messaging, and intuitive user flows.

• Contribute to the establishment and maintenance of experience standards, accessibility compliance, and UX best practices across the entire Fanatics platform.

• Develop high-fidelity prototypes in Figma to validate design concepts across multiple tenant contexts and user scenarios.

• Collaborate with UX Research to evaluate usability, comprehension, and cross-tenant effectiveness using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods.

• Iterate on designs based on data-driven insights, user research findings, and feedback from product and engineering partners to continuously improve user experience.

• Work cross-functionally with designers, product managers, and engineers across various Fanatics operating companies (op-cos) to ensure alignment and cohesive strategy.

• Facilitate design reviews, working sessions, and workshops to align diverse teams around shared design patterns, principles, and strategic objectives.

• Create and maintain comprehensive documentation, guidelines, and best practices to support teams in adopting and implementing SDK-powered experiences effectively.

• Mentor junior designers, fostering a culture of strong systems thinking, craft excellence, and collaborative problem-solving within the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on "systems design" and "platform thinking," requiring a candidate who can design for scale and reusability. The role is less about individual feature design and more about creating the foundational elements that other teams will build upon, directly impacting user growth and engagement metrics like FanCash and membership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Interaction Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Graphic Design, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 6+ years of professional experience in digital product design, with a significant focus on web and mobile applications.

Required Skills:

• Systems Design & Platform Thinking: Proven ability to design complex systems, understanding how individual components interact and contribute to a larger whole.

• Design Systems Expertise: Experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems, including modular UI patterns, components, and style guides.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Deep understanding of UX principles, user-centered design methodologies, and the ability to translate user needs into effective digital solutions.

• Prototyping Proficiency: High proficiency in Figma for creating detailed, interactive prototypes to validate design concepts and user flows.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively with product managers, engineers, researchers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Accessibility & Inclusive Design: Strong understanding of WCAG guidelines and a commitment to designing inclusive experiences for all users.

• Interaction Models: Ability to define clear, consistent, and scalable interaction models for complex digital products and platforms.

• Agile Mindset: Comfort and proficiency in operating within fast-paced, evolving environments, adapting to changing priorities and requirements.

• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication abilities, with the capacity to articulate design rationale and influence diverse audiences effectively.

• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on delivering impactful and efficient design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing identity, authentication, loyalty programs, payments, or rewards experiences.

• Familiarity with SDK design principles and constraints.

• Experience with qualitative and quantitative user research methodologies.

• Understanding of frontend development constraints and platform capabilities.

• Experience mentoring other designers.

• A team-first mentality with a bias toward clarity, impact, and shared success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems design, platform design, or design systems" is a critical qualifier. Candidates should be prepared to showcase examples in their portfolio that demonstrate their ability to create scalable, reusable design solutions rather than just individual feature designs. Experience with identity, authentication, and loyalty programs is highly valued due to the core nature of these features in the Fanatics ONE ecosystem.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Systems & Platform Design Case Studies: Showcase at least one detailed case study demonstrating experience in designing scalable systems, platform components, or design systems. Highlight the process from problem definition to scalable solution.

• Reusability & Scalability Examples: Provide specific examples of reusable UX patterns, components, or design system elements you have created, detailing their impact and adoption across multiple products or teams.

• Cross-Tenant Experience Design: Include a project that illustrates your approach to designing consistent experiences across different product contexts or "tenants" within a larger ecosystem.

• Impact-Oriented Presentation: Clearly articulate the business impact and user benefits of your designs, using metrics where possible (e.g., adoption rates, engagement improvements, efficiency gains).

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Transparency: Clearly outline your design process for key projects, emphasizing how you move from research and ideation to detailed design and iteration.

• Collaboration Workflow: Demonstrate how you collaborate with product managers and engineers, showing examples of shared documentation, review processes, and feedback loops.

• Systematic Approach to Problem-Solving: Illustrate how you break down complex problems into manageable parts, applying systematic thinking to design solutions.

• Methodology for Consistency: Explain your methods for ensuring design consistency and quality across a complex product ecosystem, particularly when working with SDKs or shared components.

📝 Enhancement Note: A portfolio is essential for this role. Candidates must demonstrate not just visual design skills but a strategic understanding of systems design, reusability, and scalability. Case studies should explicitly address how their designs facilitated consistency and efficiency across multiple products or teams.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $147,250 - $193,750 USD per year (Base Pay)

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) with company match.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Potential for short-term and long-term incentive compensation (bonuses, stock options), not included in base pay.

• Employee discounts on Fanatics merchandise.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. Expected flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaborate across time zones if needed, though the primary focus is on the New York office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is competitive for a Senior Product Designer role in a high-cost-of-living area like New York City. The "base pay only" clarification indicates that total compensation could be significantly higher with bonuses and incentives, which is typical for senior-level positions.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports, Entertainment, E-commerce, Technology, Loyalty Programs, Gaming. Fanatics operates across a broad spectrum of consumer-facing industries.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (likely 1,000+ employees, given it's Fanatics).

Founded: 1995. Fanatics has evolved from an e-commerce retailer to a comprehensive sports commerce and technology platform.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will be part of the Product Design team, likely within a broader Product or Technology organization.

• This role is focused on the "Fanatics ONE ecosystem," suggesting close collaboration with teams dedicated to platform strategy, SDK development, and cross-product initiatives.

• Expect to work with Product Managers, Engineers (frontend, backend, platform), UX Researchers, and potentially other specialized designers (e.g., visual designers, content strategists).

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by user research (qualitative and quantitative) and product analytics to drive user adoption, engagement, and business outcomes.

• Systems Thinking: Emphasis on designing scalable, reusable components and patterns that form a cohesive ecosystem.

• Agile Development: Operating within iterative development cycles, requiring flexibility and rapid prototyping.

• Fan-First Approach: Prioritizing the fan experience in all design decisions, aiming for intuitive, accessible, and engaging interactions.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Strong emphasis on collaboration and communication to ensure alignment across diverse teams and products.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Fanatics is a rapidly growing and evolving company, integrating various aspects of the sports fan experience. The "Fanatics ONE" ecosystem is central to their strategy of creating a connected platform. Understanding this strategic imperative is key for candidates.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Senior Individual Contributor. This role is for experienced designers who can operate autonomously, lead design initiatives, and mentor others, without direct management responsibilities.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports to a Design Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Product Design, with dotted-line reporting or strong collaboration with Product Management leads for the Fanatics ONE ecosystem.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is significant, directly influencing user growth, engagement metrics (FanCash, loyalty), cross-product adoption, and the overall coherence and scalability of the Fanatics digital ecosystem. Success is measured by adoption of SDK-designed components, improved user experience consistency, and increased membership/login adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Technical Specialization: Deepen expertise in platform design, SDK design, and complex systems architecture.

• Lead Design Initiatives: Take ownership of major platform features and design system advancements.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Guide and mentor junior designers, contributing to team skill development and knowledge sharing.

• Strategic Influence: Contribute to product strategy and roadmap discussions, influencing the direction of the Fanatics ONE ecosystem.

• Cross-Op-Co Exposure: Gain experience working across diverse product lines within the Fanatics portfolio.

• Potential Transition: Opportunity to move into Principal Designer, Staff Designer, or potentially management roles with demonstrated leadership and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a strategic senior role with clear pathways for growth within a large, dynamic organization. The emphasis on systems and platform design positions the individual to become a key contributor to Fanatics' long-term digital strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Modern office space located in New York City, designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Office Location(s): 95 Morton St, New York, NY 10014. This is a prime Manhattan location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office likely includes meeting rooms, open collaboration areas, and potentially dedicated design studios to facilitate teamwork and brainstorming sessions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma), collaboration tools, and potentially internal design system libraries and documentation platforms.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for in-person interaction with design, product, and engineering teams, fostering a cohesive and efficient working environment.

• Dynamic Atmosphere: As a large, fast-paced company, the environment is expected to be energetic and driven by continuous product development and innovation.

Work Schedule: While the expectation is for full-time, on-site work, the company culture may offer some flexibility with hybrid arrangements. However, the primary designation is "On-site," suggesting a strong preference for in-office presence, especially for collaborative activities and team integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The New York City location implies a vibrant, fast-paced work environment. The "On-site" designation suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often beneficial for complex systems design work requiring frequent communication.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: A designer or hiring manager will review your portfolio and conduct an interview focusing on your systems design approach, past projects, and collaboration skills.

• Design Challenge / Take-Home Exercise: A practical exercise to assess your problem-solving abilities, design thinking, and execution skills, likely focusing on a systems design problem relevant to the Fanatics ecosystem.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers and Engineers to evaluate your ability to collaborate, communicate technical constraints, and align on product strategy.

• Final Interview: Meeting with a senior leader (e.g., Head of Design, VP of Product) to discuss strategic thinking, leadership potential, and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Systems Design: Prioritize case studies that demonstrate your expertise in designing scalable systems, platforms, and reusable components. Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Showcase Impact: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible. Use metrics related to user adoption, engagement, efficiency, or consistency improvements.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you've worked with engineering and product teams. Show wireframes, process flows, and communication artifacts that illustrate your collaborative approach.

• Focus on Scalability: Explain how your designs are built to scale across multiple products and contexts. Discuss the modularity and extensibility of your solutions.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Showcase your understanding of accessibility standards and how you integrate inclusive design practices into your work.

• Figma Expertise: Ensure your prototypes are well-crafted and clearly demonstrate user flows and interaction patterns.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Ecosystem: Research Fanatics, the Fanatics ONE app, and their various product offerings (gaming, commerce, collectibles, loyalty).

• Systems Thinking Practice: Practice breaking down complex problems into smaller, manageable parts and designing solutions with scalability and reusability in mind.

• Platform Design Scenarios: Prepare for scenarios involving designing for a platform or SDK, considering how to maintain consistency while allowing for customization.

• Communication Clarity: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and trade-offs clearly and concisely. Be ready to explain your decisions to both designers and non-designers.

• User-Centricity: Always ground your solutions in user needs and business objectives, demonstrating a balanced approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only design craft but also strategic thinking, systems design capabilities, and cross-functional collaboration skills. A strong portfolio showcasing impactful, scalable design solutions is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and component creation. High proficiency is required.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma is primary, but familiarity with other rapid prototyping tools may be beneficial.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools used for managing and documenting design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, internal platforms).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or similar for understanding user behavior and measuring design impact.

• Data Visualization: Ability to interpret data and potentially create basic visualizations to support design decisions and present findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM/Automation role, understanding how design impacts these areas (e.g., user onboarding, loyalty program engagement) is beneficial.

• Familiarity with how design components integrate into broader marketing automation or CRM workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement. Experience with design system tools and an understanding of how design integrates with analytics platforms are also highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Fan-First: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of sports fans in all interactions and product designs.

• Innovation: A drive to explore new technologies and approaches to enhance the fan experience and expand the ecosystem.

• Collaboration: A belief in the power of teamwork and cross-functional partnerships to achieve ambitious goals.

• Impact: A focus on delivering measurable results that contribute to business growth and user satisfaction.

• Excellence: A dedication to high-quality craft, attention to detail, and continuous improvement in design and product development.

• Agility: Adaptability and responsiveness to market changes and evolving user expectations.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Design is deeply integrated with Product Management and Engineering, with a shared responsibility for product success.

• Open Communication: Encouragement of candid feedback, constructive critique, and transparent dialogue across teams.

• Shared Ownership: A culture where teams collectively own the success of the Fanatics ONE ecosystem.

• Process-Oriented: Emphasis on clear processes for design reviews, feedback loops, and decision-making to ensure efficiency and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a strong focus on the fan, driven by innovation and collaboration. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to work effectively within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and a commitment to delivering impactful, fan-centric designs.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Scale: Creating consistent, high-quality experiences across a diverse and rapidly expanding ecosystem with numerous products and brands.

• Balancing Consistency and Customization: Defining core platform patterns that are universally applicable while allowing sufficient flexibility for individual brand expression.

• Cross-Op-Co Alignment: Navigating the complexities of working with multiple operating companies, each potentially having its own priorities and design nuances.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Keeping pace with new technologies and user expectations within the sports, gaming, and e-commerce sectors.

• Defining Platform Standards: Establishing and evangelizing robust design standards and practices for the Fanatics ONE SDK and ecosystem.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Systems Design: Deepen expertise in complex system architecture and platform-level design strategies.

• Industry Trends: Stay at the forefront of design trends in e-commerce, loyalty, gaming, and sports technology.

• Leadership Skills: Develop mentorship capabilities and influence strategic design direction.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gain insights into engineering, product management, and business strategy within a large enterprise.

• Professional Development: Access to training, conferences, and workshops focused on design, technology, and leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around managing complexity, scale, and consistency within a large, dynamic ecosystem. Growth opportunities lie in deepening expertise in platform design, leadership, and strategic influence.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex system you've designed. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure scalability and consistency?" (Focus on your process, trade-offs, and impact.)

• "How do you approach designing reusable components for a platform or SDK? What factors do you consider?" (Highlight your understanding of modularity, extensibility, and developer experience.)

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance brand-specific needs with overarching ecosystem consistency. What was your strategy?" (Emphasize your ability to manage competing requirements.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Fanatics and the Fanatics ONE ecosystem specifically?" (Research their mission, recent news, and product offerings.)

• "How do you stay updated on trends in sports tech, e-commerce, and loyalty programs?" (Show genuine interest and continuous learning.)

• "Describe a time you had to influence stakeholders with different priorities. How did you gain alignment?" (Demonstrate your collaboration and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem, the user needs, and the business objectives for each case study.

• Prioritize Systems Design: Dedicate significant time to showcasing projects that highlight your systems thinking, design systems, and platform design experience.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final UIs) effectively. Walk through user flows and interaction patterns.

• Explain Your Process: Detail your research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration steps. Be transparent about challenges and how you overcame them.

• Quantify Impact: Present metrics that demonstrate the success and ROI of your designs.

• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize aspects of your work that align with the requirements of this Senior Product Designer role at Fanatics, especially regarding scalability, consistency, and cross-tenant design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail, focusing on your systems design approach, collaboration with engineering, and ability to create scalable, reusable solutions. Practice articulating your design rationale and impact clearly.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the official Fanatics careers portal via the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your experience in systems design, platform design, and creating scalable, reusable components. Prioritize case studies that demonstrate impact and cross-functional collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of relevant experience, emphasizing keywords such as "systems design," "platform design," "design systems," "Figma," and "cross-functional collaboration."

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly research Fanatics and the Fanatics ONE ecosystem. Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and problem-solving approach, with a strong focus on systems thinking and user impact. Prepare to present your portfolio with an emphasis on scalable design solutions.

• Company Research: Understand Fanatics' business model, its various operating companies, and its strategic vision for the Fanatics ONE platform. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.