Product Designer (12-month FTC)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (12-month FTC)

Company: Depop

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full Time, Temporary

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-21

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Design end-to-end user experiences for the new seller journey, focusing on onboarding, activation, and fostering long-term seller success.

• Translate user research, data insights, and business goals into compelling and intuitive product designs across iOS, Web, and Android platforms.

• Apply principles of motivational and behavioral design to create engaging experiences that drive user habit formation and achievement of key milestones, such as the first sale.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Data Science, to define and execute the design strategy for the New Seller Experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a 12-month fixed-term contract, specifically covering maternity leave. The focus on "New Seller Experience" and "Supply pillar" indicates a strategic initiative to optimize the initial stages of a seller's lifecycle on the Depop platform, directly impacting user acquisition and retention. The emphasis on motivational design and simplifying complex actions suggests a need for a designer skilled in behavioral economics and user psychology applied to product.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on user flows for seller onboarding, new lister experience, seller milestones, and trust signals to increase conversion rates and retention.

• Partner with Product Managers, UX Researchers, and Data Analysts to gather and interpret user needs, market trends, and performance metrics, informing design decisions.

• Champion a user-centric approach by simplifying complex selling processes into step-by-step, manageable interactions, introducing advanced features contextually.

• Leverage motivational design techniques, such as targets, progress indicators, streaks, and milestones, to encourage new sellers and drive their first sale.

• Continuously refine and improve existing new seller experience designs through A/B testing, user feedback loops, and performance data analysis.

• Ensure high standards of design craft, maintaining UI consistency across Depop's platforms and contributing to system thinking for scalability.

• Contribute to the strategic direction and roadmap of the New Seller Experience team, aligning design initiatives with Depop's broader Supply pillar objectives.

• Facilitate and lead cross-functional design thinking workshops to foster collaboration and generate innovative solutions for seller challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong focus on quantifiable outcomes, specifically around seller activation and retention. The need to "translate user research, user testing and data insight into design directives" and "apply motivational and behavioural design" points to a role requiring data-informed design and an understanding of psychological triggers in user behavior.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio demonstrating relevant experience is paramount. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology, or a related field would be beneficial.

Experience: Proven experience in end-to-end product design, encompassing both UX (User Experience) and UI (User Interface) design for digital products.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated experience designing user experiences for iOS, Web, and Android platforms.

• Strong understanding of mobile and desktop UX/UI patterns and best practices.

• Proficiency in industry-standard UX/UI design and prototyping tools, specifically Figma.

• Experience with AI tools such as Claude and Cursor for design assistance and workflow enhancement.

• Effective prototyping skills using tools like Figma, Figma Make, Claude, and Cursor.

• A robust portfolio showcasing high-quality, thoughtful UX and UI work, with a focus on user-centered design solutions.

• Ability to translate user research, user testing, and data insights into actionable design directives.

• Strong storytelling and argumentation skills to present and defend design proposals effectively to stakeholders.

• Experience facilitating and leading cross-functional workshops to drive design strategy and problem-solving.

• Proven ability to work on design and product strategy, contributing to team and product direction.

• Capacity to onboard quickly and deliver tangible impact within a fixed-term engagement.

• Proficiency in utilizing AI tools within the design workflow. Preferred Skills:

• Specific experience designing onboarding, activation, or first-time user experiences.

• A solid grasp of motivational design principles and gamification patterns (e.g., milestones, streaks, progress tracking, rewards).

• Ability to design flows and experiences that simplify and distill complex actions into intuitive and usable interfaces.

• Understanding of e-commerce and/or marketplace dynamics, including platform-to-user, user-to-user, and user-to-platform interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Claude" and "Cursor" alongside "Figma" indicates Depop's integration of AI-powered design tools into their workflow. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience or willingness to learn and leverage these AI tools in their design process. The emphasis on "delivering impact within a fixed-term engagement" suggests a need for a candidate who is proactive and can quickly adapt to the team's pace and priorities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase end-to-end product design case studies, detailing the problem, your process, design decisions, and measurable outcomes.

• Include examples of UX/UI design for mobile (iOS/Android) and web platforms, demonstrating versatility.

• Present work that highlights your ability to translate user research, data insights, and business requirements into effective design solutions.

• Demonstrate proficiency with design and prototyping tools, particularly Figma, and ideally showcase experience with AI-assisted design tools.

• Include projects that illustrate your understanding of user onboarding, activation flows, or motivational/gamified experiences. Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your design process, from user research and ideation through to prototyping, user testing, and final implementation.

• For each case study, detail how you analyzed user data and performance metrics to inform design iterations and improvements.

• Provide examples of how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (Product, Engineering, Data) throughout the design lifecycle.

• Showcase your ability to create compelling narratives around your design choices and their impact on user behavior and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on the "New Seller Experience," portfolios should ideally feature case studies demonstrating success in improving user activation, onboarding completion rates, or driving initial user engagement and conversion. Highlighting the use of data and A/B testing in design iteration will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a 12-month fixed-term contract for a Product Designer role in London, a competitive salary is expected. Based on industry benchmarks for mid-level Product Designers in London with 2-5 years of experience, the estimated salary range would be between £50,000 - £70,000 per annum. This estimate considers the fixed-term nature of the contract and the specific responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Health & Mental Wellbeing:

  • Private Medical Insurance (PMI) and cash plan healthcare access with Bupa.
  • Subsidised counselling and coaching with Self Space.
  • Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) offering 24/7 confidential support.
  • Access to Mental Health First Aiders.

• Work/Life Balance:

  • 25 days annual leave per year, with the option to carry over up to 5 days.
  • One company-wide day off per quarter.
  • Flexible Working: Hybrid working model (MyMode) with Flex, Office Based, and Remote options (role dependent).
  • Dog-friendly offices.
  • Opportunity to work abroad for up to 4 weeks per year in UK tax treaty countries.

• Family Life:

  • 18 weeks of paid parental leave for full-time regular employees.
  • Additional provisions for IVF leave, shared parental leave, and paid emergency parent/carer leave.

• Learn & Grow:

  • Dedicated development discussions for continuous learning and professional growth.
  • Access to company-wide training workshops, materials, and resources for upskilling.

• Your Future:

  • Life Insurance providing financial compensation of 3x salary.

  • Pension matching up to 6% of full base salary with Aviva. Working Hours: The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week. The role offers flexible working arrangements within a hybrid model, allowing for a balance between office-based collaboration and remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical mid-level Product Designer compensation in London. The FTC nature might influence the final offer, potentially including a pro-rata bonus or higher base to compensate for the limited contract duration. The benefits package is comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on employee wellbeing and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Fashion Marketplace / Circular Economy. Depop operates within the rapidly growing secondhand fashion market, leveraging technology to facilitate peer-to-peer transactions. This industry context implies a fast-paced, digitally native environment focused on user engagement, community, and sustainability.

Company Size: Over 500 employees. This indicates a mid-sized company that is past its startup phase but likely retains a dynamic and agile culture. As a subsidiary of Etsy, it benefits from established corporate structures while operating as a standalone entity.

Founded: 2011. Depop has a decade of experience in the market, evolving from its origins to become a significant player in the circular fashion space. Its acquisition by Etsy in 2021 signifies a period of growth and integration.

Team Structure:

• The New Seller Experience team is part of Depop's "Supply pillar," indicating a focus on the seller side of the marketplace.

• This team is cross-functional, comprising Product Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, Data Scientists, and UX Researchers.

• The Product Designer will report into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, working closely with a Product Manager for the New Seller Experience. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core methodology, with emphasis on user research, A/B testing, and performance analytics to guide product development.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for rapid iteration and development cycles.

• A strong focus on user-centric design, simplifying complex processes, and applying behavioral psychology to enhance user engagement and retention.

Company Website: www.depop.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Depop's mission to make fashion circular is a key cultural driver. The company emphasizes inclusivity, diversity, and the power of different perspectives. The integration of AI tools in recruitment and operations suggests a forward-thinking approach to technology adoption.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a mid-level Product Designer capacity, focusing on a specific, critical area of the user journey – new seller activation. It requires end-to-end design ownership and strategic input within its domain.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design and work in close collaboration with a Product Manager responsible for the New Seller Experience. This structure facilitates direct impact on product strategy and execution.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work will directly influence key business metrics such as seller acquisition rates, the speed of a seller's first sale, long-term seller retention, and overall platform growth. By optimizing the new seller journey, the role contributes significantly to Depop's supply side and its mission of making fashion circular.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in motivational design, behavioral economics, and onboarding optimization within a high-growth e-commerce marketplace.

• Cross-functional Leadership: Gain experience leading design initiatives within a cross-functional team, influencing product strategy and roadmap.

• Impactful Projects: Contribute to a critical area of Depop's business that has a direct and measurable impact on user success and company growth.

• Potential for Extension/Permanent Role: While a 12-month FTC, successful performance and business needs could lead to an extension or a permanent position within Depop or Etsy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fixed-term nature of this role means growth is primarily focused on skill development and project impact rather than a linear career progression within the 12-month period. However, the experience gained in a high-impact area like seller activation is highly valuable for future career opportunities in product design, especially within e-commerce or marketplace environments.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Depop operates a hybrid working model. The London office serves as a central hub for collaboration, team meetings, and in-person working sessions. The "MyMode" model offers flexibility, allowing employees to choose between office-based, hybrid, or remote arrangements, depending on the role's requirements.

Office Location(s): The primary office location mentioned is London, UK. This office is described as dog-friendly, contributing to a more relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a blend of focused individual work and collaborative team engagement.

• The office environment is designed to support cross-functional interaction, team workshops, and spontaneous brainstorming sessions.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Figma and AI-assisted tools, is expected to be readily available.

• The emphasis on flexibility allows individuals to tailor their work environment to their specific needs and the demands of their tasks.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working model. This allows for a balance between structured work time and personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "MyMode" hybrid model suggests a structured approach to flexible working, likely involving designated office days for collaboration and team cohesion, balanced with remote days for focused work. The dog-friendly office adds a unique cultural element to the workspace.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit CV and portfolio through the Workday portal.

• Initial Screening: Recruiters will review applications, potentially using AI tools to identify strong matches for core requirements.

• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager and potentially other team members to assess design skills, experience, and cultural fit. This stage will likely involve a review of your portfolio.

• Design Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a design challenge or present a case study from their portfolio in detail, focusing on their process, rationale, and impact.

• Cross-functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key collaborators (e.g., Product Manager, Engineering Lead) to evaluate collaboration style and strategic thinking.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 2-3 strong, relevant case studies that demonstrate your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, particularly those related to onboarding, activation, or motivational design.

• Tell a Story: Clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the process you followed, your design decisions (and the rationale behind them), and the measurable outcomes achieved. Quantify results wherever possible.

• Highlight AI Tool Usage: If you have experience with AI design tools (like Claude, Cursor), showcase how you leveraged them to enhance your workflow or outcomes.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Include examples of how you worked with cross-functional teams, incorporating their feedback and contributing to shared goals.

• Showcase Simplicity: Given the role's focus, highlight projects where you successfully simplified complex user journeys or features.

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to present your portfolio live, explaining your process and design choices confidently and concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Problem: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully grasp the user problem and business objectives before diving into solutions.

• Focus on Process: Demonstrate your thinking process, not just the final UI. Outline your approach to research, ideation, and iteration.

• Consider Constraints: Be mindful of platform constraints (iOS, Web, Android) and potential technical limitations.

• Think Motivationally: Frame your solutions around how they will motivate new sellers and guide them towards success.

• Practice Articulation: Rehearse explaining your design decisions clearly and persuasively, as if presenting to stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mention of AI tools in recruitment and design suggests that candidates who can articulate their understanding and use of AI in their design process will be at an advantage. The fixed-term nature implies a need for candidates who can demonstrate quick impact and a clear understanding of Depop's business objectives from the outset.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (essential), Figma Make, Claude, Cursor.

• Collaboration: Tools for team communication and project management (e.g., Slack, Jira, Confluence – likely used but not explicitly mentioned).

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis: Candidates will need to interpret data from tools like Amplitude, Google Analytics, or internal dashboards to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Experimentation Platforms: Experience with A/B testing tools (e.g., Optimizely, VWO) is highly beneficial for iterating on new seller experiences.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, understanding how user data flows from onboarding through to ongoing seller engagement is crucial. Familiarity with e-commerce platforms and their underlying data structures is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Claude, and Cursor highlights Depop's commitment to leveraging modern design and AI-assisted tools. Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable, and familiarity or eagerness to learn AI design tools like Claude and Cursor will be a significant plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of Depop's diverse global community, both buyers and sellers.

• Simplicity & Clarity: A drive to distill complex processes into intuitive and easy-to-use experiences, especially for new users.

• Data-Driven Innovation: Utilizing data and insights to inform design decisions, measure impact, and drive continuous improvement.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teamwork is essential for success.

• Passion for Circularity: A shared enthusiasm for sustainability and making secondhand fashion accessible and exciting.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: The team operates with close collaboration between Design, Product, Engineering, and Data. Open communication and shared ownership are key.

• Iterative Feedback: A culture of providing and receiving constructive feedback is encouraged to refine designs and improve user experiences.

• Agile & Responsive: The team likely works in agile sprints, requiring flexibility and the ability to adapt to evolving priorities and insights.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, learnings, and insights across the team and broader organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Depop's emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability is likely to permeate the team's culture. The "New Seller Experience" team will specifically embody the value of simplifying complex processes to empower new users, aligning with the company's mission.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Simplicity and Functionality: Designing an onboarding experience that is simple enough for first-time users while still introducing the necessary features and information for success.

• Motivating Diverse Users: Creating motivational elements that resonate with a wide range of new sellers with different motivations and backgrounds.

• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Delivering high-quality design solutions quickly to meet business objectives within a fixed-term contract.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring all stakeholders are aligned on design strategy and execution, especially when dealing with complex user journeys.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized UX Skills: Deepen expertise in user onboarding, activation strategies, and motivational design within a leading e-commerce platform.

• E-commerce Marketplace Dynamics: Gain in-depth knowledge of the unique challenges and opportunities in the circular fashion marketplace.

• AI Tool Integration: Develop practical skills in leveraging AI tools (Claude, Cursor) to enhance the design process.

• Cross-functional Project Leadership: Experience leading design efforts within a product team, influencing strategy and roadmap.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be to make a significant impact and deliver tangible improvements to the new seller experience within the 12-month timeframe, demonstrating quick learning and execution capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing an onboarding flow that guides a brand new seller on Depop to make their first sale within their first week?"

• "Describe a time you used motivational design or gamification principles to improve user engagement or drive specific behaviors. What were the results?"

• "Depop's mission is to make fashion circular. How can product design contribute to this mission, particularly for new sellers?"

• "Imagine a new seller is struggling with photography for their listings. How would you design an experience to help them overcome this challenge?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Depop's mission and our position in the circular fashion market?"

• "How do you approach working within a hybrid or flexible work environment?"

• "Describe your experience using AI tools in your design process. What are your thoughts on their role in design?"

• "How do you ensure inclusivity and accessibility in your design solutions?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with the most relevant case study (ideally onboarding/activation). Clearly state the problem, your role, the key constraints, and your proposed solution.

• Process Emphasis: Walk through your design process step-by-step, explaining your research methods, decision-making rationale, and how you iterated based on feedback or data.

• Impact & Metrics: Quantify the impact of your designs. If direct results aren't available, discuss expected outcomes and how you would measure them.

• Tool Proficiency: Briefly mention the tools used, highlighting your proficiency in Figma and any experience with AI design tools.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time; present your key points effectively and be prepared for deeper dives into specific areas.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their understanding of Depop's specific user base and marketplace dynamics. Highlighting experience with AI tools, even if limited, and demonstrating a proactive learning mindset will be beneficial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link, ensuring your CV and portfolio are uploaded.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight 2-3 case studies that best demonstrate your experience in user onboarding, activation, motivational design, and end-to-end product design for mobile and web platforms.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience with UX/UI design, proficiency in Figma and AI design tools, and any quantifiable achievements in improving user engagement or conversion rates.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and impact using specific examples from your portfolio. Prepare to discuss your understanding of Depop's business and mission.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Depop's platform, its mission, target audience, and the competitive landscape of the circular fashion market. Understand the company's values and approach to hybrid work and inclusivity.

⚠️ 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.