Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer
Company: Runna
Location: London, England, United Kingdom
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / GTM Operations
Date Posted: 2025-09-24T16:04:48.888
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the design vision and execution for Runna's iOS, Android, and Apple Watch applications, directly influencing the product roadmap and user experience.
• Drive user-centric design processes, from discovery through to detailed interaction and visual design, ensuring seamless integration with engineering and product management.
• Leverage quantitative data and qualitative user feedback to inform design decisions, optimize user flows, and solve complex product challenges.
• Contribute to the development and evolution of Runna's design system, promoting consistency and efficiency across all product touchpoints.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including founders, product managers, and engineers, to deliver best-in-class user experiences for a rapidly growing global user base.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, the emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, user data utilization, and influencing product strategy aligns with key responsibilities often found in GTM Operations roles, particularly those focused on user acquisition and retention through product experience. The role requires a holistic understanding of the user journey and how design impacts business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for mobile applications (iOS, Android) and smartwatch interfaces, from conceptualization to high-fidelity prototyping and final asset delivery.
• Conduct comprehensive user research, including interviews, usability testing, and surveys, to gather actionable insights and validate design hypotheses.
• Translate complex user needs and business requirements into intuitive, accessible, and visually appealing user interfaces and interaction designs.
• Develop and maintain detailed design specifications, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using advanced design tools like Figma.
• Champion the company's design system, ensuring its consistent application across all product features and contributing to its ongoing enhancement and scalability.
• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear guidance on interactions, animations, and visual details.
• Analyze product performance data and user feedback to identify areas for improvement and iterate on existing features to enhance user satisfaction and engagement.
• Mentor and provide design guidance to other team members, fostering a culture of design excellence and continuous learning within the product team.
• Contribute to strategic product discussions, advocating for user needs and proposing innovative design solutions that align with business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on user research and data analysis, which are critical for optimizing the customer journey and informing go-to-market strategies. The mention of "influencing and coaching other designers" suggests a leadership component, typical for a Staff-level position, requiring strategic thinking beyond individual design tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected, though equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.
Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in Product Design, with a significant focus on mobile application design (iOS and Android) for consumer-facing products. Proven experience in a Staff or Lead Product Designer role is essential.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Expertise: Deep understanding of the end-to-end product design lifecycle, including user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and user testing.
• Mobile Design Specialization: Proven experience designing for native iOS and Android platforms, with a strong grasp of platform-specific design guidelines and best practices.
• User Research & Analysis: Proficiency in conducting user interviews, usability testing, and analyzing quantitative data (e.g., analytics, A/B test results) to drive design decisions.
• Prototyping & Design Tools: Advanced proficiency in Figma, including its prototyping capabilities, and familiarity with other leading design and collaboration tools.
• Interaction & Visual Design: Strong visual design skills with exceptional attention to detail, including expertise in crafting intuitive interactions, animations, and micro-interactions.
• Design Systems: Experience in developing, maintaining, and scaling design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across multiple products and platforms.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Ability to tackle complex design challenges with creative and user-centered solutions in a fast-paced, iterative environment.

Preferred Skills:

• React Native Familiarity: Understanding of React Native development, its components, and the implications for design implementation.
• Smartwatch Interface Design: Experience designing for wearable devices, specifically Apple Watch.
• Fitness/Health Industry Experience: A genuine interest or prior experience working within the fitness, running, or health tech sectors.
• Cross-functional Teamwork: Demonstrated ability to work effectively within agile development teams, collaborating closely with product managers and engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff/Lead experience" requirement, combined with the emphasis on "design generalist" and "influencing and coaching other designers," indicates a need for a candidate who can not only execute but also strategize and mentor. This suggests a role that requires a blend of deep craft and broader operational/strategic thinking within the design function.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Case Studies: A portfolio showcasing 3-5 comprehensive case studies that detail the entire design process from problem identification and user research through to solution design, iteration, and impact measurement. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process followed, key decisions, and the measurable outcomes.
• Mobile Design Focus: A significant portion of the portfolio should highlight experience with native mobile application design (iOS and Android), demonstrating an understanding of platform conventions and user behaviors.
• Interaction & Visual Craft: Visual examples of high-fidelity designs, including detailed interaction design, animations, and micro-interactions that showcase exceptional attention to detail.
• User Research & Data Integration: Evidence of how user research, usability testing, and quantitative data were used to inform design decisions and iterate on solutions.
• Design System Contribution: Examples of contributions to or creation of design systems, showing an understanding of component-based design, style guides, and pattern libraries.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Framing: Demonstrate how you define and frame design problems, including the research methodologies employed.
• Solution Development: Showcase the iterative process of developing design solutions, including wireframing, prototyping, and user feedback integration.
• Collaboration Evidence: Include examples or descriptions of how you collaborated with engineering and product teams, highlighting handoff processes and feedback loops.
• Impact & Results: Quantify the impact of your design work by presenting metrics such as user engagement increases, conversion rate improvements, task completion success rates, or user satisfaction scores.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Product Designer, the portfolio is crucial for demonstrating not only individual design skill but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and the ability to drive design impact at a higher level. The emphasis should be on how design work directly contributed to business objectives and user satisfaction, aligning with GTM goals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £95,000 - £110,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Flexible Working: Support for a hybrid work model, typically requiring 3 days per week in the Vauxhall office.
• Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days of annual holiday, plus bank holidays, with flexibility in scheduling.
• Runna Subscriptions: Complimentary Runna premium subscriptions for the employee and five friends, offering significant value and sharing opportunities.
• Strava Membership: Access to Strava's premium membership, enhancing the user's fitness tracking and community engagement.
• Headspace Membership: A subscription to Headspace for mental wellness and mindfulness support.
• Annual Wellness Fund: An annual financial allowance to be spent on fitness gear, events, and gym memberships.
• Runna Kit Voucher: An annual voucher to purchase Runna branded merchandise, renewed on work anniversaries.
• Private Health Insurance: Comprehensive private health insurance coverage through Bupa.
• Workplace Pension Scheme: A standard workplace pension scheme is provided.
• Mental Wellness Platform: Access to Modern Health, a platform offering technology-driven professional mental wellness support.
• Fertility Support: Carrot fertility support services, providing inclusive benefits for family-forming journeys.
• Strava Long-Term Incentive (Stock) Programs: Participation in Strava's stock programs, offering equity and long-term financial upside.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with the flexibility inherent in a hybrid work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The inclusion of Strava's long-term incentive (stock) programs is a significant benefit, aligning with the acquisition and offering potential for substantial financial growth. The comprehensive wellness and wellness-related benefits reflect a strong commitment to employee well-being, which is increasingly important for attracting and retaining talent in competitive tech roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Mobile Application Development (Fitness & Health Tech), now part of Strava. Runna operates in the rapidly growing digital health and fitness sector, specifically focusing on personalized training for runners. The acquisition by Strava integrates it into a larger, established player in the global sports tracking and community space, offering significant synergy and growth potential. Company Size: Runna's product design team is described as "lean" and "growing," currently comprising six individuals. This suggests a dynamic, agile environment where individual contributions have a high impact. As part of Strava, the broader organization offers the resources and stability of a larger tech company. Founded: While the founding date of Runna isn't explicitly stated, the company highlights its recent significant milestones, including a $6.5M funding round in November 2023 and being a finalist for Apple's iPhone App of the Year in 2024, culminating in its acquisition by Strava in 2025. This trajectory indicates rapid growth and a strong product-market fit.

Team Structure:

• Product Design Team: A lean team of six, offering significant ownership and leadership opportunities for designers. This structure implies close collaboration and a direct line to product decision-making.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Designers work closely with founders, engineers, and product managers, forming integrated product teams. This ensures design is a core component of product development, not an isolated function.
• Reporting Structure: The Head of Product Design, Cleber, is the primary point of contact for the role, indicating a clear reporting line within the design function.

Methodology:

• User-Centric Design: A strong emphasis on understanding and solving customer problems through direct engagement, user interviews, and usability testing.
• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing quantitative data alongside qualitative feedback to validate and refine design solutions.
• Iterative Development: Operating in a fast-paced, iterative environment where continuous improvement and adaptation are key.
• Design System Evolution: A commitment to building and maintaining a robust design system to ensure consistency and efficiency.

Company Website: https://runna.com/ (pre-acquisition) and https://www.strava.com/ (post-acquisition)

📝 Enhancement Note: The acquisition by Strava is a pivotal piece of context. It signifies a significant shift in resources, market reach, and potential career trajectory. The "lean" design team at Runna, now backed by Strava, offers the best of both worlds: the agility and ownership of a startup with the stability and scale of a market leader. This integration is a key selling point for candidates seeking impactful roles.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Staff Product Designer. This level typically signifies a senior individual contributor with deep expertise in product design, a proven track record of delivering high-impact solutions, and the ability to influence product strategy and mentor junior designers. It's a role that requires both strong craft and strategic thinking. Reporting Structure: The Staff Product Designer will report to the Head of Product Design, Cleber. This provides a clear line of management and mentorship within the design discipline. Collaboration will be extensive with founders, product managers, and engineering teams, fostering a highly integrated and cross-functional working environment. Operations Impact: The role has a direct and significant impact on Runna's core product offering, which is central to its user acquisition, retention, and overall growth strategy. By designing intuitive and engaging user experiences for the iOS, Android, and Apple Watch apps, the designer will directly influence user engagement, conversion rates, and adherence to training plans, all of which are key performance indicators for the business. The designer's work will shape how millions of runners worldwide interact with the platform.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: As a Staff Designer, there's a clear path towards potentially leading design initiatives, managing design projects, and influencing the overall product direction. With the integration into Strava, future opportunities for leadership within a larger organization may also emerge.
• Skill Specialization & Broadening: The role offers opportunities to deepen expertise in mobile design, interaction design, and design systems, while also gaining exposure to smartwatch design and potentially other platforms or technologies within the Strava ecosystem.
• Cross-functional Influence: The ability to influence product strategy and collaborate closely with engineering and product management provides opportunities to develop broader product thinking and business acumen.
• Industry Impact: Contributing to a product that helps millions of people achieve their fitness goals offers significant personal and professional satisfaction, placing the designer at the forefront of the fitness tech industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The Staff level implies a significant degree of autonomy and influence. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate leadership in design thinking, process improvement, and mentorship, even if not formally managing a team. The integration with Strava presents a unique growth opportunity, allowing for exposure to a larger scale of operations and potentially diverse product areas within the fitness tech landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Runna operates a hybrid work model, requiring employees to spend approximately 3 days per week in their Vauxhall, London office. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed to foster teamwork and in-person interaction, balanced with the flexibility of remote work. Office Location(s): The primary office location is in Vauxhall, London. This area is well-connected and offers a vibrant working environment, conducive to attracting talent. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office is likely designed to facilitate collaboration, with spaces for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and informal interactions essential for design work.
• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary design tools and technology, with an expectation of proficiency in Figma and prototyping tools. The company is open to exploring new tools, indicating a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.
• Team Interaction: The hybrid model ensures regular face-to-face interaction with the design team, product managers, and engineers, promoting strong working relationships and effective communication.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). The "flexible working" benefit suggests some degree of flexibility in daily hours, provided that core responsibilities are met and team collaboration needs are accommodated. This flexibility is beneficial for individuals managing personal commitments or optimizing their productivity around design tasks and data analysis.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 3-day office presence requirement is a key detail for candidates. It indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, which is beneficial for design-intensive roles. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they contribute effectively in both office and remote settings, and how they leverage hybrid work to maximize productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Screening Call: Initial conversation with Emily, the Talent Lead, to assess general fit and interest.
• Intro Chat: A more in-depth discussion with Cleber, Head of Product Design, to explore design philosophy and experience.
• Design Task/Case Study Presentation: Candidates will either complete a take-home design task (approx. 2 hours) or, for those with strong portfolios, present a relevant case study. This stage evaluates practical design skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Design Walkthrough & App Critique: A video call where the candidate presents their design task/case study and performs a critique of a chosen app, assessing analytical and communication skills.
• Meet the Team: Final stage involving virtual or in-person meetings with founders and other team members to gauge cultural fit and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Focus on demonstrating your thinking process, problem-solving approach, and how you iterate based on feedback and data. Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions.
• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics that demonstrate the success and impact of your design work. This could be user engagement, conversion rates, task completion times, or satisfaction scores.
• Highlight Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with engineers, product managers, and other stakeholders. Showcase your communication skills and ability to integrate feedback.
• Tailor to the Role: Emphasize projects that are most relevant to mobile design, user research, and working within a fast-paced, iterative environment. If you have experience with fitness apps or smartwatch design, make sure those are prominent.
• Storytelling: Structure your case studies as compelling narratives that guide the reviewer through your journey from problem to solution and impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Task: If a take-home task is assigned, allocate time effectively, focusing on demonstrating key skills like user understanding, problem-solving, and clear communication of your solution.
• App Critique: Select an app that allows you to showcase your analytical skills, understanding of UX principles, and ability to articulate constructive feedback. Focus on both strengths and areas for improvement, linking them back to best practices.
• Behavioral Questions: Prepare to discuss your experience with user research, data analysis, collaboration, and how you handle feedback and iteration. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The option to present a case study instead of a take-home task is a significant advantage for experienced designers. It allows them to showcase their best, most relevant work and demonstrate their strategic thinking and communication skills more effectively. Candidates should prepare a concise, impactful narrative for their chosen case study.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool for wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and design system management. Advanced proficiency is expected.
• Prototyping Tools: While Figma's prototyping is advanced, familiarity with other tools like Principle, ProtoPie, or After Effects for micro-interactions might be beneficial.
• User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting user interviews (e.g., Zoom, Google Meet) and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze).
• Collaboration Tools: Slack for communication, Jira/Confluence for project management and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Experience with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Google Analytics to understand user behavior and product usage patterns.
• Data Visualization: Familiarity with tools or methods for visualizing data to support design decisions and communicate impact.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM: While not directly a design tool, understanding how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) can inform user segmentation and personalization can be advantageous.
• Automation Tools: Awareness of how design integrates with marketing automation or product engagement tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. Beyond that, demonstrating an understanding of how to leverage analytics and user feedback tools to inform design is critical. The ability to work with tools that facilitate collaboration between design, product, and engineering teams is also highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the user, with design decisions driven by user needs and feedback.
• Craftsmanship & Attention to Detail: A dedication to high-quality design, focusing on visual polish, intuitive interactions, and seamless user experiences.
• Collaboration & Transparency: An open and communicative approach to teamwork, valuing input from all disciplines and fostering a shared understanding of product goals.
• Data-Driven Iteration: A belief in using data and user insights to continuously improve the product and design solutions.
• Ambition & Impact: A drive to build something meaningful and impactful, aiming for excellence in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers work as integral members of cross-functional product teams, collaborating closely with engineers and product managers throughout the development lifecycle.
• Open Feedback Culture: An environment where constructive feedback is welcomed and exchanged freely among team members to elevate the quality of the product.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings to foster collective growth and efficiency within the design and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture emphasizes agility, user focus, and a collaborative spirit, akin to many successful GTM operations teams that prioritize data, customer understanding, and cross-functional alignment to achieve business objectives. The "ambition" and "impact" values resonate strongly with operational roles focused on driving growth and efficiency.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Design Systems: As Runna grows and integrates with Strava, maintaining and evolving a cohesive design system across multiple platforms and potentially new features will be a key challenge.
• Balancing Innovation with Consistency: Striking a balance between introducing new, innovative features and maintaining a consistent, user-friendly experience across all touchpoints.
• Data Interpretation in Design: Effectively translating complex quantitative data into actionable design insights and advocating for data-informed design choices.
• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced nature of a rapidly growing tech company, which may involve shifting priorities and evolving team structures.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design Leadership Development: Opportunities to take on more responsibility, mentor junior designers, and influence product strategy, building towards potential design leadership roles.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining deeper insights into engineering practices (especially React Native), product management methodologies, and the broader sports tech industry through collaboration.
• Industry Exposure: Engaging with the fitness tech community, potentially attending industry events, and staying abreast of the latest design trends and technologies.
• Strategic Impact: Contributing to a product that has a direct, positive impact on millions of users' lives and health, providing significant professional fulfillment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented offer significant growth opportunities. For instance, the challenge of scaling design systems directly translates into developing expertise in design operations and system thinking, valuable skills in any operations-focused role. The rapid growth environment also provides exposure to operational scaling and process optimization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a complex design problem you solved for a mobile application. Walk us through your process, from understanding the user needs to implementing the final solution, and what the outcome was." (Focus on user research, iteration, data usage, and measurable impact.)
• Collaboration & Influence: "How do you collaborate with engineers and product managers to ensure your designs are implemented effectively? Provide an example of a time you had to influence stakeholders to adopt your design vision." (Highlight communication, negotiation, and cross-functional integration skills.)
• Design System Philosophy: "What is your approach to building and maintaining a design system? What are the key components, and how do you ensure its adoption and evolution?" (Demonstrate understanding of scalability, consistency, and design operations.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• User Empathy: "How do you stay connected to your users and ensure their needs are at the forefront of your design decisions, especially in a remote or hybrid setting?" (Prepare examples of user interviews, feedback loops, and empathy-building exercises.)
• Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive and productive design culture." (Focus on collaboration, feedback, and mentorship.)
• Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your design work beyond aesthetics? What metrics do you track, and how do you use them to drive improvements?" (Be ready to discuss KPIs, A/B testing, and data analysis related to design outcomes.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: Frame each case study as a story with a clear beginning (problem), middle (process, challenges, solutions), and end (impact, learnings).
• Visual Clarity: Use high-quality visuals (mockups, prototypes, user flows) to illustrate your process and final designs. Ensure they are easy to understand and navigate.
• Highlight Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially in team projects, and the impact you had.
• Data Integration: Show, don't just tell, how data informed your decisions. Use charts, graphs, or concise explanations of metrics.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to deliver key insights efficiently and engagingly. Be prepared for questions that dive deeper into specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for a Staff Product Designer role requires demonstrating not only design craft but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of how design contributes to business objectives. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their process, justify their decisions with data and user insights, and showcase their ability to collaborate and influence.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your mobile design expertise, user research skills, and impact. Ensure each case study clearly outlines the problem, your role, your process, and the measurable outcomes. Tailor your portfolio to highlight experience with iOS, Android, and any smartwatch design.
• Optimize Your Resume: Update your resume to clearly highlight your 5-10 years of experience, specifically mentioning your Staff/Lead Product Designer roles and achievements in mobile product design. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Product Design," "Mobile Design," "User Research," "Figma," and "Design Systems." Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible.
• Prepare Your Case Study Presentation: If you opt for the case study presentation, prepare a concise and compelling narrative. Practice presenting your chosen case study and conducting an app critique, ensuring you can articulate your thought process and design rationale clearly within the allotted time.
• Research Runna and Strava: Familiarize yourself with Runna's product, its mission, and its recent acquisition by Strava. Understand Strava's platform and how Runna fits into its broader ecosystem. This research will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your genuine interest and understanding of the company's strategic direction.

⚠️ 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.