Lead Product Designer, Sportsbook
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Lead Product Designer, Sportsbook
Company: Magic Eden
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Product Design / UX/UI
Date Posted: 2026-04-16
Experience Level: 7+ Years Senior Level Experience
🚀 Role Summary
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Lead the product design strategy and vision for a new, innovative sports betting platform, leveraging crypto-native principles.
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Drive hands-on design execution, translating complex protocol work and novel concepts into intuitive and engaging user experiences.
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Mentor and elevate a team of talented designers, fostering a culture of design excellence and best practices.
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Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering leadership to align roadmaps and ensure a high-quality, cohesive user experience.
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Contribute to the rapid growth of a crypto unicorn by shaping a critical new product vertical within the iGaming and sports betting markets.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid hands-on and leadership position, requiring a senior practitioner who can both design and mentor. The focus on a "new sports betting platform" indicates a significant opportunity to build from the ground up, leveraging crypto-native functionalities.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
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Act as the primary hands-on designer for the new sports betting platform, translating unique protocol work and novel concepts into intuitive and engaging user experiences.
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Define and drive the overall product design vision and strategy for the sports suite, ensuring alignment with business objectives and user needs.
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Lead the design of major features, contributing directly with hands-on work including user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity prototypes.
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Collaborate closely with Product and Engineering leadership to align on roadmaps, prioritize efforts, and ensure a high-quality, cohesive user experience across the platform.
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Elevate the design team through mentorship, fostering a culture of excellence through direct feedback, design critiques, and sharing best practices in craft.
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Establish and refine design processes (e.g., design reviews, user research methodologies) that fit a fast-paced, crypto-native environment and empower the team to do their best work.
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Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights and validate design decisions, ensuring user-centricity in all product development.
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Champion a "builder" mindset, operating with autonomy and thriving in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment to drive innovation.
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Simplify highly complex concepts into delightfully simple and intuitive user experiences, particularly for the sports betting domain.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a dual role: leading the design vision and strategy while also being deeply involved in the execution of design for the core sports betting product. This requires a candidate comfortable with both strategic thinking and detailed design craft.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational foundation in Design, HCI, or a related field, coupled with demonstrable experience, is expected.
Experience:
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7+ years of experience in product design, with a proven track record of operating at a senior level (e.g., Senior, Lead, or Principal).
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Significant experience in mentoring and guiding other designers, fostering professional growth within a team.
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Proven ability to lead complex design projects from conception through to execution and launch.
Required Skills:
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Product Design: Deep expertise in the end-to-end product design process, from user research and ideation to final visual design and prototyping.
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Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design.
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Prototyping & Wireframing: Proficient in creating interactive prototypes and detailed wireframes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.
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User Flows & Information Architecture: Ability to map out complex user journeys and design logical information architectures for intuitive navigation.
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Design Strategy: Proven ability to define and execute a comprehensive design strategy that aligns with business goals and user needs.
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Mentorship & Leadership: Demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring, and providing constructive feedback to design teams.
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Stakeholder Management: Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with and influence Product, Engineering, and executive stakeholders.
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Crypto Fundamentals: Basic understanding of crypto concepts (e.g., wallets, transactions, decentralized platforms) and a strong curiosity to learn and design for Web3 environments.
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Sports Enthusiast: Deep enthusiasm for sports, with a passion for sports betting or the mechanics of sports markets being a significant advantage.
Preferred Skills:
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User Research: Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research to inform design decisions.
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Design Systems: Familiarity with creating or working within established design systems to ensure consistency and scalability.
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Visual Craft: A high degree of skill in visual design, demonstrating aesthetic sensibility and attention to detail.
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Product Strategy: Experience contributing to product strategy and roadmap development.
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Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing.
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iGaming/Sports Betting Domain Experience: Prior experience designing for the iGaming or sports betting industry.
📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "7+ years" and "senior level" indicates this is a leadership role with significant expectations for autonomy and impact. The "basic understanding of crypto" requirement suggests a need for foundational knowledge rather than deep blockchain development expertise, but a strong willingness to learn is crucial.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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Showcase exceptional, recent, and hands-on design work that demonstrates a high degree of visual craft and strategic thinking.
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Include detailed case studies of complex projects, highlighting your process from problem definition to solution.
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Demonstrate your ability to lead projects, including how you approached challenges, collaborated with teams, and drove outcomes.
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Present a clear understanding of user-centered design principles and how they were applied to solve user problems.
Process Documentation:
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Your portfolio should implicitly or explicitly demonstrate your ability to establish and refine design processes, such as design critiques, user research methodologies, and collaboration workflows within a fast-paced environment.
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Examples of how you've simplified complex concepts into intuitive user experiences should be clearly articulated within case studies.
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Evidence of collaboration with Product and Engineering teams to align on roadmaps and ensure cohesive user experience is highly valued.
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that showcases both "exceptional, recent hands-on design work" and "ability to lead complex projects" is critical. Candidates should prepare case studies that clearly articulate their design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of their work, especially in simplifying complex concepts.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Given the Lead Product Designer role, 7+ years of experience, and the highly competitive nature of the crypto/iGaming industry, a competitive salary range is expected. For a Lead Product Designer in Melbourne, Australia, with this level of experience and responsibility, a typical range could be AUD $150,000 - $220,000 per annum. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in Australia, considering the specialized nature of crypto and sports betting product development, and the company's unicorn status.
Benefits:
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Competitive salary and potential for equity/token options, reflecting Magic Eden's growth trajectory.
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Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs.
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Generous paid time off and flexible working arrangements.
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Opportunities for professional development, including conferences, training, and certifications.
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Remote work flexibility, allowing for a strong work-life balance.
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Exposure to cutting-edge technology in the rapidly evolving crypto and iGaming space.
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The chance to be part of a fast-growing, innovative company with a strong cultural foundation.
Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected, with flexibility offered to accommodate remote work and diverse time zones within Australia. The fast-paced nature of the company may require occasional extended hours during critical project phases.
📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on market data for similar roles in Melbourne, Australia, factoring in the seniority, specialized industry (crypto/iGaming), and the company's status as a unicorn. Benefits are inferred based on standard practices for tech companies of this caliber, especially those operating in the remote-first or hybrid model.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Magic Eden operates at the intersection of blockchain technology, NFTs, and decentralized applications, with a recent expansion into iGaming and sports betting via its Dicey platform. This positions them within the rapidly evolving Web3 and digital asset space, as well as the established iGaming market.
Company Size: Magic Eden achieved unicorn status rapidly, indicating a significant and growing employee base, likely in the hundreds. This size suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment with established processes but still retaining startup agility.
Founded: Magic Eden was founded in 2022, making it a relatively young company that has experienced phenomenal growth. This rapid ascent suggests a culture of innovation, speed, and adaptability.
Team Structure:
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The design team, while not explicitly detailed in size, will likely be structured to support various product verticals. As a Lead, you would oversee a subset of designers focused on the sports betting platform.
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This role involves close collaboration with Product Management and Engineering leadership, indicating a cross-functional team structure where design is integrated early in the product development lifecycle.
Methodology:
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Given the crypto-native foundation and rapid growth, expect a highly agile and iterative development methodology.
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Data-driven decision-making will be crucial, leveraging analytics to inform product design and optimize user experiences.
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A strong emphasis on user feedback and rapid prototyping will be central to validating new concepts and features, especially for novel crypto-based products.
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The company's expansion into sports betting suggests a need to balance innovative crypto-native approaches with established user expectations in the iGaming industry.
Company Website: https://magiceden.io/
📝 Enhancement Note: The company's rapid growth and entry into a new market (iGaming) suggest a culture that values speed, innovation, and a willingness to adapt. The blend of crypto and traditional iGaming expertise is a key differentiator.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level Lead Product Designer role. It signifies a move beyond individual contribution to include team leadership, strategic input, and direct mentorship. The "Lead" title implies significant responsibility for the success of the design function within a specific product area.
Reporting Structure: The Lead Product Designer will likely report to a Director or VP of Product/Design. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads for the sports betting platform, forming a core leadership triad for that vertical. Direct reports will be other Product Designers.
Operations Impact: The design of the sports betting platform will have a direct and substantial impact on user acquisition, engagement, retention, and ultimately, revenue for Magic Eden's Dicey venture. A well-designed, intuitive, and compelling user experience is critical for success in the competitive iGaming market.
Growth Opportunities:
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Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a Head of Design role or lead larger design teams as the company expands its product offerings.
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Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the broader design philosophy and strategy across Magic Eden's product ecosystem.
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Industry Specialization: Deepen expertise in the intersection of crypto, Web3, and iGaming, becoming a recognized leader in this niche.
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Skill Development: Continuous learning in areas such as decentralized product design, advanced UX research methodologies, and team management.
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Product Innovation: A chance to be at the forefront of building entirely new consumer experiences and product categories.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity for career advancement, moving beyond individual design contributions to strategic leadership and team management within a high-growth, innovative company. The niche of crypto-iGaming presents unique growth potential.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: This is a remote-friendly role, allowing for flexibility. While the company has a presence in Melbourne, the "TELECOMMUTE" designation suggests that working from home is the primary arrangement.
Office Location(s): The primary location specified is Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. However, the "remote_derived": true and "location_requirements_raw": ["Australia"] implies that while the role is based in Australia, there might be flexibility for individuals already in other regions within Australia or potentially globally, though local regulations and time zone alignment would be key.
Workspace Context:
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Remote Collaboration: Expect a highly collaborative remote environment, relying heavily on digital tools for communication, design, and project management.
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Agile Environment: The workspace will be dynamic and fast-paced, typical of a rapidly growing tech company, especially in the crypto space.
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Tooling: Access to industry-standard design and collaboration tools, with Figma being a primary requirement. Expect other tools for project management, communication (Slack, etc.), and potentially specialized crypto/blockchain development tools.
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Cross-functional Interaction: Frequent interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and other stakeholders will be a defining aspect of the daily work environment.
Work Schedule: While a standard 40-hour work week is the baseline, the dynamic nature of the crypto industry and the launch of a new platform may necessitate flexibility. The remote nature allows for some autonomy in structuring the workday, but strong communication and availability during core business hours (Australian time) will be essential.
📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first nature of this role requires strong self-discipline and communication skills. While based in Melbourne, the flexibility might extend to other Australian locations.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.
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Portfolio Presentation & Design Challenge: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through key case studies and demonstrating your design process and problem-solving abilities. A design challenge or exercise, potentially involving a hypothetical scenario related to the sports betting platform, may be part of this stage.
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Team & Leadership Interviews: Interviews with Product and Engineering leadership to assess your strategic thinking, collaboration skills, and ability to mentor a team. This stage will also evaluate your understanding of crypto and passion for sports.
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Executive/Final Interview: A final conversation, possibly with a senior executive, to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and cultural alignment.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant case studies. Prioritize recent work that showcases hands-on design skills and leadership.
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Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed, the challenges you overcame, your design decisions, and the measurable outcomes.
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Highlight Leadership: Explicitly detail your mentorship experiences, how you've elevated teams, and your contributions to design processes.
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Showcase Craft: Ensure your visual design is polished and your prototypes are interactive and well-executed.
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Address Crypto & Sports: Be prepared to discuss your understanding of crypto and your passion for sports, linking it to your design approach for the betting platform.
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Figma Mastery: Be ready to discuss your Figma workflow and any advanced techniques you employ.
Challenge Preparation:
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Understand the Domain: Research current sports betting platforms, their UX/UI, and common user pain points. Consider how crypto principles could enhance these experiences.
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Focus on Simplicity: Practice simplifying complex concepts, as this is a key requirement for the role.
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Think Strategically: Be prepared to discuss your design strategy, how you would approach user research for this specific product, and how you'd align with business goals.
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Articulate Trade-offs: Demonstrate your ability to make informed decisions by discussing potential trade-offs in design choices.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize both the candidate's design craft and their leadership/mentorship capabilities. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these qualifications, so preparation is key.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Figma: Expert proficiency is a mandatory requirement for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design. This will be the central tool for design creation and collaboration.
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Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's capabilities, familiarity with other prototyping tools for advanced interactions or specific use cases might be beneficial.
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User Research Tools: Experience with tools for conducting user interviews, surveys, and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback, Maze).
Analytics & Reporting:
- While not explicitly stated as a design tool, understanding how to leverage analytics platforms (e.g., Mixpanel, Amplitude, Google Analytics) to inform design decisions and measure impact is crucial.
CRM & Automation:
- This role is focused on product design, so direct CRM or automation tool management is less likely to be a primary responsibility. However, understanding how design integrates with CRM data or automated workflows can be advantageous.
📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is identified as a critical tool. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced proficiency. An understanding of how design impacts user behavior tracked by analytics tools is highly desirable.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
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Innovation & Speed: Reflecting the company's rapid growth and crypto-native roots, expect a culture that values quick iteration, experimentation, and delivering new solutions rapidly.
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User-Centricity: Despite the speed, a core value will be designing for the user, ensuring intuitive and engaging experiences, especially for novel crypto products.
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Collaboration: A strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, breaking down silos between design, product, and engineering.
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Data-Driven Decisions: Utilizing data and user insights to validate design choices and optimize product performance.
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Ownership & Autonomy: Empowering individuals to take ownership of their work and operate with a high degree of independence.
Collaboration Style:
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Cross-functional Integration: Design is expected to be deeply integrated with Product and Engineering from the outset of feature development.
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Open Feedback Culture: Regular design critiques and feedback sessions will be common to ensure high-quality output and continuous improvement.
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Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and design trends within the team and across departments.
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Agile & Iterative: Collaboration will be structured around agile sprints and iterative development cycles, requiring adaptability and clear communication.
📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely to be fast-paced, innovative, and collaborative, typical of successful tech startups, particularly in the dynamic crypto space. The emphasis on mentorship suggests a supportive team environment.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
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Designing for Novelty: Creating intuitive user experiences for a sports betting platform built on crypto principles, which may involve completely new paradigms for users.
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Balancing Innovation with Familiarity: Integrating crypto-native features while ensuring the platform remains accessible and familiar to users accustomed to traditional iGaming experiences.
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Rapidly Evolving Landscape: Staying abreast of both the fast-paced developments in the crypto/Web3 space and the competitive iGaming market.
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Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment across design, product, and engineering in a remote, fast-paced setting.
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Mentorship at Scale: Effectively mentoring a growing design team while contributing hands-on to critical projects.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
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Specialized Domain Expertise: Gaining deep knowledge in the niche intersection of crypto, Web3, and iGaming.
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Advanced Design Leadership: Developing skills in strategic design leadership, team building, and process optimization.
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Emerging Technologies: Exposure to and hands-on experience with cutting-edge technologies in decentralized applications and blockchain.
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Industry Conferences & Certifications: Opportunities to attend relevant industry events and pursue certifications in design or related fields.
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Mentorship Programs: Potential for mentorship from senior leaders within Magic Eden and opportunities to mentor junior team members.
📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in navigating the novelty of crypto-based iGaming products and translating complex technology into user-friendly experiences. This challenge also presents a significant growth opportunity for specialized expertise.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
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How would you approach designing a seamless onboarding experience for new users unfamiliar with crypto on a sports betting platform?
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Describe your process for translating complex protocol functionalities into simple, intuitive user flows and interfaces for sports betting.
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How would you balance the need for rapid iteration and delivery with maintaining high design quality and user experience standards in a fast-paced crypto environment?
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Outline your strategy for conducting user research on a new product in a nascent market like crypto-iGaming.
Company & Culture Questions:
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Why are you interested in Magic Eden and specifically in designing for our sports betting platform?
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What excites you about the intersection of crypto and iGaming?
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How do you see your design philosophy aligning with Magic Eden's culture of innovation and speed?
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Describe a time you had to work with ambiguity and limited information to drive a design forward.
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
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Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, the design process undertaken, key challenges, your design decisions (and the rationale behind them), and the impact/outcomes.
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Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction, reduced error rates).
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Showcase Leadership: Explicitly discuss your mentorship experiences, how you’ve guided teams, and your contributions to improving design processes.
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Highlight Craft: Ensure your visual presentation is clean, professional, and effectively showcases the fidelity and polish of your work.
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Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, trade-offs you made, and how you would approach specific challenges for the sports betting platform.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both strong design craft and effective leadership/mentorship. Candidates should be ready to articulate their thought process, decision-making rationale, and how they handle complex, ambiguous problems, especially within the context of crypto and sports betting.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Lead Product Designer position:
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Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.
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Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your most relevant hands-on design work, leadership experience, and any work related to complex consumer products or innovative technology. Emphasize case studies that showcase your ability to simplify complex concepts and drive user engagement.
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Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 7+ years of experience, senior-level contributions, mentorship achievements, and proficiency with Figma. Use keywords such as "Product Design," "Figma," "Design Strategy," "Mentorship," "Crypto," and "Sports Betting."
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Prepare Your Narrative: Practice walking through your strongest portfolio case studies, focusing on your problem-solving process, design decisions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your understanding of crypto and your passion for sports.
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Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Magic Eden's mission, its success in the NFT space, and the strategic importance of its new Dicey sports betting platform. Understand their commitment to innovation and their fast-paced culture.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates must have 7+ years of product design experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating leadership and hands-on craft. A foundational understanding of crypto and a passion for sports or sports betting are required.