Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Minute Media

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-03-10T18:37:55

Experience Level: 5+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design initiatives, translating complex business goals and user insights into intuitive and elegant UX/UI solutions.

• Drive early-stage product exploration through robust research, creative ideation, and iterative prototyping to define strong conceptual directions.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with product management, engineering, editorial, and business stakeholders to define problems, align on strategy, and deliver high-quality product experiences.

• Champion design quality, user advocacy, and contribute to the evolution of design systems and best practices within the organization.

• Leverage a genuine passion for sports and an understanding of sports culture to inform product decisions and user-centered design.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically for a Senior Product Designer with a strong emphasis on sports culture and fan perspective, which is a critical differentiator. The role demands end-to-end ownership from ideation to polished UI, and requires significant collaboration with diverse teams. The integration of AI-enhanced design workflows is a key technical requirement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the design process for complex product initiatives, from initial concept to final implementation, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.

• Conduct user research, competitive analysis, and market trend analysis to generate actionable insights that inform product strategy and design decisions.

• Develop user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs to effectively communicate product concepts and user experiences.

• Collaborate closely with product managers to define product roadmaps and feature specifications, ensuring design feasibility and user-centricity.

• Partner with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and ongoing support throughout the development lifecycle.

• Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to stakeholders at all levels, incorporating feedback and iterating on designs.

• Contribute to and maintain the company's design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency across all digital products.

• Mentor junior designers, provide constructive feedback, and foster a collaborative and innovative design environment.

• Stay abreast of the latest trends in product design, UX/UI, sports media, and AI-enhanced design tools to continuously elevate the product offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities are framed to highlight the senior-level ownership, strategic contribution, and cross-functional leadership expected. Emphasis is placed on translating abstract ideas into tangible solutions and the importance of data and user insights in the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in product design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in UX/UI design for digital products.

• Demonstrated experience in leading design for complex features or products, from conception through launch.

Required Skills:

• Expert-level UI craft and advanced UX capabilities, with a keen eye for detail, aesthetics, and usability.

• Proven ability to translate user needs, business goals, and technical constraints into elegant and effective design solutions.

• Proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools, with a specific emphasis on AI-enhanced design workflows (e.g., Cursor, Figma Make, Google AI tools, Notebook LM).

• Strong understanding of user-centered design principles and methodologies, including user research, journey mapping, wireframing, and usability testing.

• Exceptional storytelling and communication skills, capable of articulating design vision, rationale, and user impact through compelling visuals and narratives.

• Demonstrated experience in collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, including product management, engineering, and editorial.

• A genuine and proven passion for American sports, with a deep understanding of sports culture and fan motivations. This is a mandatory requirement.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience contributing to or managing design systems.

• Familiarity with agile development methodologies.

• Experience in data analysis and leveraging data to inform design decisions.

• Understanding of content management systems (CMS) or digital publishing platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "American sports fan" requirement is critical and emphasized. AI-enhanced design tool proficiency is called out as a modern necessity for this role, reflecting industry trends.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 5 years of professional product design work, with a clear focus on UX/UI solutions for digital products.

• Demonstrate end-to-end design ownership for at least 2-3 complex projects, detailing the problem, your process, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to translate abstract ideas into intuitive user experiences, from initial research and ideation to wireframes, prototypes, and polished interfaces.

• Showcase your proficiency with modern design tools and explicitly include examples of how you've leveraged AI-enhanced design workflows to accelerate ideation or execution.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies should clearly outline your design process, including research methodologies, ideation techniques, prototyping strategies, and user testing approaches.

• Demonstrate how you gather and utilize user feedback and data to iterate on designs and drive product improvements.

• Include examples of your collaboration with engineering and product teams, illustrating your ability to effectively communicate design specifications and ensure successful implementation.

• Showcase your contributions to design systems, if applicable, demonstrating an understanding of scalability, consistency, and maintainability.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to emphasize the unique aspects of this role: end-to-end ownership, AI tool usage, and the critical sports fan perspective. The focus is on demonstrating process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and workshops to enhance design skills and stay current with industry trends.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or stock options.

• Employee assistance programs and wellness initiatives.

• Access to cutting-edge design tools and technology, including AI-enhanced design platforms.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Minute Media may offer some flexibility in daily start and end times, subject to team and business needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Toronto, Canada, considering the specified experience level. Benefits are standard for senior roles in the tech/media industry, with a nod to the tools specified in the job description.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology and Digital Content, with a strong focus on Sports Media.

Company Size: Minute Media is a global company with a significant employee base, indicating a dynamic and potentially fast-paced work environment with ample opportunities for collaboration and growth. The company operates across multiple continents, suggesting a diverse and international culture.

Founded: Minute Media was founded in 2012, indicating a mature but still innovative company that has established its presence in the digital media landscape.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a larger Product or Technology department, working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, and Data Analysts.

• Designers are expected to collaborate extensively with editorial teams, content creators, and business development to ensure product strategies align with content creation and monetization goals.

Methodology:

• Minute Media emphasizes a data-driven approach to product development, using analytics and user insights to inform design decisions and measure product performance.

• The company leverages AI-driven technology, as evidenced by Magnifi, indicating an openness to innovative solutions and future-forward methodologies in content creation and distribution.

• A strong understanding of sports culture and fan engagement is woven into the company's DNA, influencing product design and content strategy.

Company Website: www.minutemedia.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context is derived from the provided description, highlighting its position in the sports tech and media industry, its global reach, and its commitment to innovation and data-driven practices.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, signifying a position of significant responsibility and influence. It requires not only expert-level design skills but also the ability to lead initiatives, mentor others, and contribute strategically to product development. This level typically involves owning complex features, driving design strategy for specific product areas, and acting as a key contributor to the overall product vision.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product Design, or a Director of Product. They will work collaboratively with Product Managers, Engineering Leads, and other cross-functional stakeholders. The role requires strong influencing skills to guide product direction and ensure design quality.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is significant, directly influencing how millions of sports fans interact with Minute Media's brands and platforms. By translating fan insights and business goals into intuitive digital experiences, the Senior Product Designer contributes to user engagement, content consumption, platform adoption, and ultimately, the company's revenue streams through advertising and subscriptions. Their work on AI-driven features can also enhance content creation efficiency and highlight unique value propositions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Track: Potential to advance into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Design role, taking on more strategic responsibilities and managing a team of designers.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas such as sports product design, AI-driven design tools, or user research methodologies.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Potential to move into Product Management or other strategic roles within the company, leveraging a deep understanding of user experience and product development.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the evolving landscape of sports media and digital content design, potentially speaking at conferences or contributing to design thought leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth opportunities are framed around typical career progression for senior designers in the tech/media industry, emphasizing leadership, specialization, and cross-functional potential.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Minute Media operates with a hybrid work model, requiring the Senior Product Designer to be on-site in their Toronto office. This suggests a collaborative environment where in-person interaction, brainstorming sessions, and team synergy are valued.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. This location offers a vibrant tech and media hub environment, with access to talent and industry events. Specific office details regarding amenities and accessibility would be available upon further inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• The on-site requirement facilitates in-person collaboration, ideation workshops, and design critiques, fostering a strong team dynamic.

• Designers will have access to industry-standard design software and hardware, including the AI-enhanced design tools mentioned in the requirements.

• Opportunities for spontaneous collaboration and knowledge sharing with peers in design, product, engineering, and editorial teams are abundant in an office setting.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While the role is primarily on-site, Minute Media likely offers some flexibility in daily working hours to accommodate individual needs and optimize productivity, provided core business and collaboration hours are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is a key detail for this role, influencing the work environment description and collaboration style.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit your resume and a link to your portfolio.

• Portfolio Review & Screening: The hiring team will review your portfolio to assess your design craft, process, and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly the sports fan perspective and AI tool usage.

• Initial Interview (Hiring Manager/Recruiter): A conversation to discuss your background, experience, motivations, and understanding of the role and company. This is also an opportunity to clarify expectations and gauge cultural fit.

• Design Challenge/Case Study Presentation: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a case study from your portfolio. This will assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, communication abilities, and how you apply your sports knowledge and AI tools.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Product, Engineering, and Editorial teams to evaluate your collaboration skills, strategic thinking, and ability to integrate diverse perspectives.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic contributions, leadership potential, and finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, complex problem-solving, UI craft, and ideally, any experience with sports, media, or AI-enhanced tools.

• Highlight the "Why": Clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your design rationale, and the user/business impact of your solutions. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Emphasize Process: Detail your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing methodologies. Show your thinking, not just the final output.

• Showcase AI Integration: Explicitly demonstrate how you've used AI tools to enhance your design workflow, speed up processes, or generate novel ideas.

• Demonstrate Sports Passion: If possible, include a project where your understanding of sports culture informed your design decisions. Be prepared to discuss your personal connection to sports.

• Storytelling: Present your work as compelling narratives that engage the reviewer and clearly communicate your value.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a design challenge, thoroughly research Minute Media, its brands (Sports Illustrated, The Players' Tribune, FanSided), and its target audience. Understand the sports landscape they operate in.

• Focus on Process: For any design exercise, prioritize demonstrating a structured and thoughtful approach over delivering a "perfect" solution.

• Leverage AI: If appropriate, consider how AI tools could assist in your problem-solving for the challenge.

• Communicate Clearly: Practice articulating your thought process, assumptions, and decisions concisely and persuasively.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on demonstrating the specific requirements of the role, such as sports knowledge and AI tool usage, within the interview and portfolio review process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary design and prototyping tool for UI, wireframing, and collaboration. Proficiency in its advanced features and potentially Figma Make for AI-assisted design.

• AI-Enhanced Design Workflows: Fluency in tools like Cursor (AI coding assistant), Google AI tools (e.g., Bard, Gemini), Notebook LM (AI-powered research assistant), and other emerging AI design assistants is explicitly required.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, familiarity with other prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe XD, InVision) may be beneficial for diverse project needs.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how user data is managed and how design impacts user journeys within a CRM or marketing automation context is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section specifically highlights the required AI-enhanced design tools and Figma, aligning with the job description's emphasis on modern workflows.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Fan-Centricity: A deep understanding and passion for sports fans, their motivations, and their digital consumption habits are paramount. This value drives product decisions and content strategy.

• Innovation & Technology: A commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology, including AI, to create new and improved digital experiences for sports enthusiasts.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnership, working closely with product, engineering, editorial, and business teams to achieve shared goals.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and user insights to inform design choices, measure success, and iterate on product improvements.

• Excellence in Craft: Maintaining a high standard of design quality, attention to detail, and user experience across all products.

Collaboration Style:

• The culture encourages open communication and constructive feedback, fostering an environment where designers can challenge assumptions and contribute to strategic discussions.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with designers actively participating in product planning, feature definition, and development sprints.

• A shared passion for sports often creates a strong bond and common ground for collaboration across different departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: Values are directly inferred from the company description and the specific requirements of the Senior Product Designer role, emphasizing sports passion and technological innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Fan Passion with Business Objectives: Effectively translating the nuanced insights of a sports fan into product features that also meet business goals and monetization strategies.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Harnessing the power of AI-enhanced design tools to genuinely improve the design process and user experience, rather than just adopting new technology for its own sake.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating the diverse needs and perspectives of product, engineering, editorial, and business teams to ensure cohesive product development.

• Rapidly Evolving Sports Media Landscape: Staying ahead of trends in sports consumption, digital content creation, and emerging technologies to ensure products remain relevant and engaging.

• Maintaining Design Quality at Scale: Ensuring high standards of UX/UI craft across a portfolio of brands and features as the company grows globally.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Tool Mastery: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge AI tools for design, potentially becoming a subject matter expert within the company.

• Sports Media Product Strategy: Gain in-depth knowledge of the business and strategic aspects of the sports media industry.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, and potentially move into management roles.

• Industry Exposure: Attend relevant industry conferences, workshops, and events related to design, technology, and sports media.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are framed around the unique aspects of the role (sports, AI) and common senior-level design challenges. Growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and career progression.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you used your understanding of a specific culture (e.g., sports fan culture) to inform a product design decision. What was the outcome?" (Preparation: Prepare a case study highlighting your sports knowledge and its impact on design).

• "How have you integrated AI-enhanced design tools into your workflow? Walk us through a project where these tools significantly improved your process or the final product." (Preparation: Be ready to demonstrate specific tools and workflows).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What are your favorite sports media platforms or apps, and why? What could they do better from a design perspective?" (Preparation: Research Minute Media's brands and competitors).

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative design culture and mentor junior team members?" (Preparation: Reflect on your experiences with teamwork and mentorship).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the solutions, and the impact.

• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, prototypes, and user flows. Ensure clarity and aesthetic appeal.

• Narrative: Tell a compelling story about each project. Explain your thought process, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, task completion times).

• AI & Sports Focus: Explicitly call out where and how you used AI tools and how your sports knowledge influenced your decisions. Be ready to discuss these aspects in detail.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions are crafted to probe the critical requirements of the role: sports passion, AI tool usage, strategic thinking, and collaboration. Preparation tips are action-oriented.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Comeet application portal, ensuring all required fields are completed accurately.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 of your most relevant projects that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, UI craft, AI tool integration, and ideally, a connection to sports or fan engagement. Clearly articulate your process and quantifiable impact.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your 5+ years of product design experience, mentions proficiency in Figma and AI-enhanced design workflows, and explicitly calls out any experience in the media, content, or sports industries.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design process, and confidently discussing how you leverage AI tools and your sports knowledge. Prepare to answer strategy and situational questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Minute Media, its brands (Sports Illustrated, The Players' Tribune, FanSided), its technology platform (STN Video, Magnifi), and its position in the sports media landscape. Understand their mission and values.

⚠️ 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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