Staff Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Staff Product Designer Company: Sotheby's Location: New York, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Product Design / UX/UI Date Posted: 2025-08-27T16:16:05 Experience Level: 5-10 Years Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is pivotal in shaping the digital client experience across Sotheby's platforms, encompassing website and mobile applications.
• The Staff Product Designer will be responsible for defining and executing design strategy, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality user interface and user experience (UI/UX).
• A key focus will be on user-centered design processes, from initial research and hypothesis generation to iterative prototyping and user testing.
• The position demands a strong understanding of interaction design (IxD) and information architecture (IA) to create intuitive and engaging digital products for a discerning global clientele.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the input data suggests a "Staff Product Designer" title, the responsibilities and required experience align with a senior or lead product design role often found in larger organizations. The focus on defining strategy and managing across priorities indicates a leadership component within the design function. The inclusion of "Client Experience group" suggests a broad scope beyond just a single product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and drive the design strategy and overarching goals for the Client Experience group, covering website, mobile applications, and other internal digital products.
• Lead the entire UX/UI design lifecycle for product initiatives, from initial research, concept development, and persona creation to wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final delivery.
• Conduct thorough user research, develop hypotheses, and iterate on designs based on feedback and data analysis to optimize user journeys and identify gaps in the current experience.
• Map complex user journeys to uncover pain points and areas for improvement, ensuring a seamless and premium experience for Sotheby's clients.
• Develop and implement proprietary design systems specifically tailored to support digital auction and sales platforms, ensuring consistency, scalability, and maintainability.
• Manage design timelines effectively, gather crucial feedback from stakeholders, and iterate on designs to meet project objectives and delivery schedules.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to other design team members across multiple, concurrent priorities, fostering a collaborative and high-performing design environment.
• Collaborate closely with Product Managers and Developers to ensure design integrity is maintained throughout the development process and that products are delivered on time.
• Create detailed design deliverables, including user personas, detailed user journeys, and comprehensive interaction scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed highlight a strategic and leadership-oriented product design role. The emphasis on "proprietary design systems," "digital auction and sales platforms," and "client experience" indicates a specialized domain within luxury goods and auctions, requiring a deep understanding of user needs in this context. "Lead product teams" and "provide guidance" suggest a senior-level individual contributor with mentorship responsibilities.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s degree in Design Studies, Industrial Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), or a closely related design or technical field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of hands-on experience in user-centered design processes and methodologies, with a proven track record of delivering successful digital products.
• Extensive experience in creating comprehensive user flows, detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and insightful journey maps.
• Strong expertise in Interaction Design (IxD) principles and practices to craft engaging and intuitive user experiences.
• Solid understanding of Information Architecture (IA), component-based design, and adherence to accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG).
• Proven experience designing mobile-native applications for both iOS and Android platforms, with a focus on optimizing for performance, accessibility, and device-specific user experiences.
• Demonstrated ability in developing graphical concepts and future vision prototypes to communicate design direction and innovation.
• Substantial experience in creating and rigorously testing design prototypes, utilizing both low-fidelity (e.g., sketches, wireframes) and high-fidelity (e.g., interactive mockups) approaches.

Required Skills:

• User Research & Strategy: Ability to conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability testing; translate research findings into actionable design strategies.
• UX/UI Design Tools: Proficiency in industry-standard design and prototyping software, including Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Sketch, and Axure.
• Information Architecture (IA): Expertise in structuring content and navigation for complex digital products.
• Interaction Design (IxD): Skill in defining user interactions, animations, and microinteractions to enhance usability and engagement.
• Mobile Design Expertise: Deep understanding of mobile-first design principles, platform conventions (iOS/Android), and responsive design techniques.
• Design Systems: Experience in contributing to or developing design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and pattern libraries.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale to cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Problem-Solving: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to address design challenges and user pain points effectively.

Preferred Skills:

• Agile/Scrum Methodologies: Familiarity with Agile development frameworks, particularly SAFe (Scaled Agile Framework), and experience working within an Agile team.
• Prototyping Tools: Experience with advanced prototyping tools or animation software like Lottie.
• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with digital whiteboarding and collaboration tools such as Mural or Miro.
• NN/g Certification: Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) certification in UX or related fields, demonstrating a commitment to UX best practices.
• Luxury Goods/Art Market: Understanding of the luxury market, art industry, or auction house operations, and the specific needs of high-net-worth clients.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for NN/g and SAFe certifications, alongside extensive experience with a broad suite of design tools, indicates a highly seasoned professional. The preference for luxury market understanding is critical given Sotheby's brand and clientele. The "5-10 Years" experience level derived from the input data aligns with the responsibilities of defining strategy and providing guidance.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of UX/UI design projects, demonstrating a strong command of user-centered design principles and methodologies.
• Projects should highlight the entire design process, including problem definition, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and final UI design.
• Include case studies that clearly articulate the design challenge, your role and contributions, the design solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.
• Demonstrate proficiency in creating and utilizing design systems, showcasing examples of component libraries, style guides, and pattern applications.
• Showcase expertise in mobile application design, with specific examples of iOS and Android interfaces, paying attention to platform-specific patterns and best practices.
• Projects should evidence a strong understanding of interaction design, information architecture, and accessibility standards.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating and managing detailed user flows, user journeys, and interaction scenarios to document complex user experiences.
• Examples of iterative design processes, illustrating how feedback and user testing results were incorporated to refine designs and improve outcomes.
• Documentation of design system development, including component specifications, usage guidelines, and version control.
• Work samples that demonstrate experience in translating business requirements and user needs into effective digital product solutions.
• Case studies that emphasize data-driven design decisions, showcasing how metrics and analytics were used to inform design iterations and measure success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Staff Product Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just visual mockups to showcase strategic thinking, process rigor, and measurable impact. Highlighting experience with design systems and mobile-specific UX, especially in a luxury context, will be crucial. Demonstrating an understanding of the full product development lifecycle, from research to delivery, is expected.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The provided salary range for this position is $170,000.00 - $195,000.00 per year. This range is indicative of a senior-level design role in a high-cost-of-living area like New York City, reflecting the experience, expertise, and responsibilities outlined for this Staff Product Designer position.

Benefits:

• Sotheby's offers a competitive benefits package that typically includes:
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement savings plan (e.g., 401k) with potential company match.
• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and holidays.
• Potential for employee discounts on Sotheby's products and services.
• Opportunities for professional development, training, and attendance at industry conferences.
• Commuter benefits and potential for flexible spending accounts.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.

Working Hours:

• The role is generally expected to align with standard full-time working hours, typically around 40 hours per week.
• Given the "Remote OK" status and the nature of product design, there may be flexibility in daily scheduling, but adherence to project deadlines and team collaboration needs is essential.
• The role may require occasional evening or weekend work to meet critical project milestones or during high-activity periods like major auctions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and aligns with senior-level product design roles in major metropolitan areas. The benefits are typical for a large, established organization like Sotheby's. The "Remote OK" status suggests a hybrid or fully remote arrangement, but standard working hours are usually expected, with flexibility defined by team needs and project demands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Sotheby's operates within the global art and luxury goods market, a high-end sector characterized by exclusivity, prestige, and a discerning clientele. The company's long history (established in 1744) signifies a blend of tradition and innovation, with a current focus on leveraging technology to enhance the client experience and access to art and luxury. Company Size:
• While specific employee numbers aren't provided in the input, Sotheby's is a globally recognized brand with a significant international presence. This suggests a large organization with established processes and departments, offering opportunities for diverse career paths and cross-functional collaboration. Founded:
• Established in 1744, Sotheby's has a rich heritage that underpins its brand identity. This long history implies a stable, reputable organization with a deep understanding of its market and a commitment to long-term growth and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• The Staff Product Designer will likely be part of a broader Client Experience group, which could include other designers, product managers, researchers, and potentially specialists in digital marketing or client services.
• Within this group, the designer may report to a Head of Product Design, a Director of Product, or a VP of Client Experience, depending on the organizational structure.
• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with engineering teams, marketing, sales specialists, and business stakeholders across various departments (e.g., Contemporary Art, Jewelry, Wine).

Methodology:

• Sotheby's is actively investing in its digital platforms, indicating a move towards more data-driven decision-making and agile product development methodologies.
• The emphasis on user research, hypothesis testing, and iterative design suggests a commitment to a modern, user-centric approach to product development.
• Expect a blend of established best practices and a willingness to innovate, particularly in adapting proprietary systems for digital auction and sales environments.

Company Website:

• https://www.sothebys.com/en/about/careers

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding Sotheby's as a luxury brand is crucial. Design decisions must align with the company's prestige and the expectations of its high-net-worth clientele. The integration of technology into this traditional market is a key theme, making this role impactful in bridging heritage with digital innovation. The mention of "proprietary design systems" suggests a focus on custom solutions rather than relying solely on off-the-shelf design elements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This Staff Product Designer role represents a senior or lead individual contributor position within the product design function. It requires a high degree of autonomy, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence design direction across multiple product areas. The title "Staff" often signifies a level of expertise that allows for mentorship and technical leadership within a team. Reporting Structure:
• The designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Director of Product, or a similar senior leadership role within the Client Experience or Product organization. They will work collaboratively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads, providing design leadership and expertise. Operations Impact:
• The work of this designer will directly impact Sotheby's ability to attract, engage, and retain clients, ultimately influencing revenue generation through digital channels. By optimizing the user experience across the website and mobile applications, they will contribute to increased conversion rates, customer satisfaction, and brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into a Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Head of Product Design role as the company continues to expand its digital capabilities.
• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific product areas within the luxury goods and art market, or to become a specialist in design systems or user research methodologies.
• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain valuable experience working with diverse teams across the global Sotheby's organization, from art specialists to marketing and technology departments.
• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through industry certifications (NN/g), exposure to new design tools and technologies, and participation in industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Staff" title implies significant influence and potential for leadership. Growth opportunities are likely tied to the company's ongoing digital transformation and the individual's ability to drive impactful design solutions in a unique market. The role is positioned to be a key contributor to the company's strategic digital initiatives.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

• Sotheby's is a global enterprise with a significant physical presence, including iconic auction houses. However, this role is designated as "Remote OK," suggesting that the core team may operate in a hybrid or fully remote model, or that the company is open to remote employees for this specific position. Office Location(s):
• The primary job location is listed as New York, NY. Sotheby's has a major presence in New York City, likely offering a modern and professional office environment for those who choose to work from the office, or a hub for team meetings and collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is expected to be professional and collaborative, fostering innovation and high-quality output.
• Designers will likely have access to modern digital tools and platforms necessary for their work.
• Opportunities for interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineering teams will be facilitated through virtual collaboration tools and, potentially, in-person meetings or offsites.
• The culture likely values craftsmanship, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of the client's needs, reflecting the Sotheby's brand.

Work Schedule:

• While standard full-time hours are typical (around 40 hours/week), the "Remote OK" status may offer some flexibility in daily scheduling.
• Adherence to deadlines and active participation in team meetings and critical project phases are expected, regardless of location.
• The nature of digital product development often involves agile sprints, which may require focused periods of work and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status is a key differentiator for this role, offering flexibility. However, given the company's established physical presence and the collaborative nature of design, understanding the team's preferred working arrangements (hybrid vs. fully remote) and the potential for occasional travel (up to 10% domestic) is important.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and fit.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion focused on your experience, design philosophy, approach to problem-solving, and understanding of user-centered design principles.
• Design Challenge/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a take-home design exercise or present a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on your process, rationale, and impact. This is a critical step to evaluate your skills in action.
• Team/Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and potentially other designers to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and cultural fit within the team and broader organization.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader (e.g., VP of Product/Design) to confirm overall fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Select Projects: Choose 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate the skills and experience required for this role, focusing on strategy, process, and impact.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process you followed, your rationale for key decisions, and the measurable outcomes or learnings.
• Showcase Process: Include artifacts like user flows, wireframes, prototypes, research findings, and design iterations to illustrate your thought process and problem-solving approach.
• Highlight Impact: Quantify the results of your design work whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion times).
• Address Luxury Context: If possible, include projects that demonstrate an understanding of premium user experiences or luxury brand aesthetics.
• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you handle feedback and constructive criticism.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If a design challenge is provided, thoroughly read and understand the problem statement, target audience, and constraints.
• Define Your Approach: Outline your strategy for tackling the challenge, including research methods, ideation techniques, and prototyping tools you would use.
• Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process and methodology, rather than just the final visual output. Explain why you made certain design decisions.
• Time Management: Allocate your time effectively, ensuring you can deliver a well-reasoned and presented solution within the given timeframe.
• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions from the interview panel.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely to be rigorous, with a strong emphasis on portfolio presentation and a practical design challenge. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and mastery of the UX/UI design lifecycle, particularly within a luxury context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping Software:
  • Figma: Essential for collaborative design, wireframing, prototyping, and handoff.
  • Sketch: A widely used vector design tool for UI design.
  • Axure RP: For creating complex, interactive prototypes and managing intricate user flows.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency with tools like Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation and manipulation.
• Prototyping/Animation:
  • Lottie: For integrating animations into digital products seamlessly.
• Collaboration & Whiteboarding:
  • Mural / Miro: For brainstorming, user journey mapping, wireframing sessions, and cross-functional collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as primary design tools, a strong Product Designer should be comfortable interpreting data from analytics platforms to inform design decisions. This may include tools for:
  • Web Analytics (e.g., Google Analytics)
  • Product Analytics (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel)
  • A/B Testing Platforms (e.g., Optimizely, VWO)
• Dashboarding: Familiarity with data visualization tools used for reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) related to user engagement and product performance.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly used for design, understanding how design integrates with CRM systems (like Salesforce, though not specified here) and marketing automation platforms is beneficial for context in client experience design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of required design tools (Figma, Sketch, Axure, Adobe Creative Suite, Lottie, Mural, Miro) signifies the need for a highly skilled and versatile designer. Familiarity with analytics and A/B testing platforms is also crucial for data-informed design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Client-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Sotheby's discerning clientele, ensuring every digital interaction reflects the brand's premium positioning.
• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished work with meticulous attention to detail, mirroring the quality of the art and luxury items Sotheby's offers.
• Innovation: An openness to exploring new technologies and design approaches to enhance the digital experience and adapt to evolving market trends.
• Collaboration: A spirit of teamwork and open communication, working effectively with diverse teams across product, engineering, marketing, and art specialists.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing user research, analytics, and testing to inform design strategies and validate solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with Product Managers to define product strategy and roadmaps, and with Engineers to ensure efficient and accurate implementation of designs.
• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that encourages constructive feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users, using it as a catalyst for continuous improvement and design refinement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design patterns, and learnings across the design team and broader organization to foster collective growth and maintain design consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Sotheby's, particularly within client-facing digital teams, is likely to emphasize premium quality, meticulous execution, and a deep understanding of the luxury consumer. Collaboration across traditional art/luxury expertise and technology functions will be key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Tradition and Innovation: Integrating cutting-edge digital experiences with the established prestige and heritage of the Sotheby's brand.
• Complex User Needs: Designing for a sophisticated and diverse global clientele with high expectations for service and experience.
• System Integration: Ensuring seamless user experiences across multiple digital touchpoints and potentially integrating with legacy systems.
• Pace of Change: Adapting design strategies and outputs to the fast-evolving digital landscape and the specific demands of the art and luxury market.
• Cross-Departmental Alignment: Navigating and aligning design initiatives with various departments that may have different priorities and levels of digital maturity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Certifications: Pursuing advanced certifications from organizations like Nielsen Norman Group (NN/g) to deepen UX expertise.
• Design System Mastery: Becoming an expert in building and maintaining robust design systems that scale across a global organization.
• Product Strategy Involvement: Contributing to the strategic direction of digital products, gaining exposure to business objectives and market analysis.
• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.
• Industry Exposure: Attending relevant design conferences and events to stay abreast of the latest trends and best practices in UX/UI design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are centered around bridging the gap between a historic luxury brand and modern digital expectations. Growth opportunities are significant for designers who can influence strategy and contribute to the company's digital evolution.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for defining design strategy for a new digital product or feature. How do you ensure it aligns with broader business goals and user needs?"
• "How do you approach managing multiple design projects with competing priorities? Walk us through your prioritization framework."
• "Tell us about a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was met with resistance. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?"
• "How do you incorporate user research and data analytics into your design process to drive decision-making and measure success?"
• "What is your philosophy on building and maintaining design systems? What are the key components and benefits?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working for Sotheby's and our specific market?"
• "How do you ensure your designs reflect the premium and luxurious nature of the Sotheby's brand?"
• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you work with Product Managers and Engineers?"
• "How do you stay updated on the latest design trends and technologies, and how do you apply them?"
• "What are your thoughts on accessibility in design, especially for a global audience?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (problem, your role), Research & Discovery, Ideation & Design Process, Solutions & Prototypes, Testing & Iteration, Outcomes & Learnings.
• Narrative: Frame each project as a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end. Highlight the challenges, your critical thinking, and the impact of your work.
• Visuals: Use high-quality visuals of your work, including wireframes, user flows, prototypes, and final UI mockups. Keep slides clean and uncluttered.
• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice your presentation to ensure it fits within the allotted slot, allowing time for Q&A.
• Engagement: Be enthusiastic, confident, and ready to answer questions about your design choices, your process, and the results achieved. Be prepared to discuss trade-offs you made.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their strategic thinking, process, and ability to deliver measurable results. Demonstrating an understanding of the luxury market and Sotheby's brand is crucial. The portfolio presentation is a key opportunity to showcase these aspects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Staff Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Sotheby's careers page or via the email address specified in the job description.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate your end-to-end UX/UI design process, from research to delivery, with a focus on strategic thinking and measurable impact. Tailor your project selection to highlight relevant experience with web and mobile applications, and ideally, luxury goods or complex digital platforms.
• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your experience with user-centered design methodologies, interaction design, information architecture, and proficiency in the required design tools (Figma, Sketch, Axure, etc.). Quantify your achievements and responsibilities using action verbs and relevant metrics.
• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review your portfolio and prepare to present 1-2 key case studies in detail, focusing on your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and the outcomes achieved. Practice answering common UX interview questions related to strategy, collaboration, and process.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sotheby's brand, its digital presence, and its position in the art and luxury market. Understand the company's commitment to client experience and innovation.

⚠️ 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.