Product Designer 2

ACKO
Full-timeBengaluru, India

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer 2

Company: ACKO

Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-01

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (4-6 years specific product design ownership)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • This role focuses on end-to-end product design ownership within core ACKO product areas (Auto, Health, Life, or Growth), emphasizing strategic problem-solving and driving business metrics.

  • Candidates will collaborate closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and Design Leadership, actively participating in decision-making processes beyond just visual design.

  • The position requires a strong aptitude for tackling complex, contextual UX challenges, including information architecture, personalization, segmentation, onboarding, and retention mechanics.

  • A key aspect of the role involves contributing to and evolving the ACKO design system, ensuring consistency and shared patterns across all product surfaces.

  • Success in this role is measured by the ability to ship impactful work, influence product strategy, and demonstrate a deep understanding of user needs within the Indian market, particularly in trust-sensitive domains like insurance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title "Product Designer 2" and the description emphasizing "end-to-end design for one of our core product areas" and "sustained ownership of a product area (not just feature-level work across many projects)" strongly suggest a mid-level to senior individual contributor role. The explicit mention of moving "business metrics" and having "opinions about scope, priorities, and trade-offs" indicates a strategic, impactful position rather than a purely execution-focused one. The AI-derived experience level of "5-10" years is a reasonable interpretation of the "4-6 years of product design experience, with at least 2 years of sustained ownership" requirement, suggesting the company is looking for candidates with substantial, focused experience.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Take full ownership of the design lifecycle for a designated product area, from initial problem definition and user research synthesis through to interaction design, visual design, and post-launch iterations.

  • Engage in deep collaboration with Product Management and Engineering teams, contributing to strategic discussions on scope, priorities, and technical trade-offs that impact user experience and business outcomes.

  • Address and solve complex structural UX problems, including information architecture design, personalization logic implementation, segmentation-driven interface development, optimization of onboarding funnels, and design of effective retention mechanics.

  • Contribute actively to the ACKO design system, developing and refining shared patterns and components to ensure design consistency and efficiency across various product areas.

  • Participate in regular design critiques, providing constructive feedback, openly sharing design rationale, and actively working to elevate the overall quality and craft of the design team.

  • Clearly articulate and communicate design rationale and decisions to cross-functional stakeholders, framing discussions as collaborative problem-solving exercises rather than mere presentations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been detailed to reflect the "end-to-end design" ownership and "structural UX problems" mentioned in the job description. Emphasis is placed on strategic collaboration with Product and Engineering, reflecting the statement "You’ll be in the room when decisions are made, not downstream of them." The inclusion of "contribute to the ACKO design system" and "engage in regular design critiques" are direct extractions and expansions from the source text.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrated experience in product design are paramount. A background in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Design, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for understanding user-centered design principles.

Experience: 4-6 years of dedicated product design experience, with a minimum of 2 years demonstrating sustained ownership and end-to-end responsibility for a specific product area is required. Experience should highlight the ability to drive significant business metrics through design decisions.

Required Skills:

  • Systems Thinking: Ability to conceptualize and design complex systems, understanding how different user segments interact with various product surfaces and how elements connect.

  • Product Design Expertise: Proven experience in owning the complete design process from problem framing to shipped product, including research, flows, interaction design, and visual design.

  • Contextual Judgment: Ability to apply design principles judiciously based on specific user contexts and market realities (e.g., Indian insurance buyers) rather than blindly adopting generic frameworks.

  • Comfort with Ambiguity: Capacity to navigate unclear briefs and technical constraints, finding practical solutions that uphold user value.

  • Interaction & Visual Design Fluency: Strong skills in creating considered and well-crafted user interfaces.

  • Clear Communication: Excellent ability to articulate design decisions, rationale, and trade-offs to diverse stakeholders.

  • Figma Proficiency: Demonstrated expertise in using Figma as the primary design and prototyping tool.

  • AI Tool Integration: Active and consistent use of AI tools across the design workflow, including research synthesis, ideation, copywriting, and prototyping.

Preferred Skills:

  • Insurance/Fintech/Trust-Sensitive Domain Experience: Prior experience in industries with high trust requirements and regulatory oversight.

  • Growth Design Exposure: Familiarity with designing for user acquisition, activation, retention, and conversion optimization.

  • Data Collaboration: Experience working alongside data analysts to define and validate design hypotheses.

  • Prototyping & Light Coding: Comfort with advanced prototyping tools or basic front-end coding for rapid idea testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills are directly extracted and elaborated from the "What We're Looking For" section. Emphasis has been placed on "systems thinking," "contextual judgment," "comfort with ambiguity," and "AI tool integration" as these are explicitly highlighted as critical requirements by ACKO. Preferred skills are also directly mapped from the "Bonus, Not Required" section. The experience requirement is clarified to reflect the distinction between feature-level work and sustained product area ownership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Depth over Breadth: The portfolio should showcase 1-2 projects in detail, demonstrating a deep dive into the design process, decision-making, and trade-offs.

  • Problem Framing & Solutioning: Clearly articulate the problem space, the user needs identified, and the strategic design solutions developed.

  • Process Documentation: Illustrate the end-to-end design process, including research synthesis, user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and visual design execution.

  • Impact & Iteration: Showcase the impact of the design work on business metrics and demonstrate post-launch iterations based on data and user feedback.

  • Contextual Relevance: Highlight how design decisions were informed by the specific context of the Indian market and the complexities of the insurance domain.

Process Documentation:

  • User Research Synthesis: Evidence of how qualitative and quantitative research was translated into actionable design insights.

  • Information Architecture & User Flows: Detailed examples of how complex information was organized and how users navigate through the product.

  • Interaction Design Rationale: Explanation of key interaction patterns and their purpose in enhancing user experience.

  • Visual Design Execution: Showcase of refined visual designs that align with brand guidelines and enhance usability.

  • Collaboration Artifacts: Examples of how design work was shared and iterated upon with Product and Engineering teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to the specific evaluation criteria mentioned by ACKO: "A portfolio walkthrough focused on depth, not breadth. We’ll want to understand your process on one or two projects: the decisions you made, the trade-offs you navigated, and what you’d do differently." This emphasizes the need for detailed case studies rather than a broad collection of work. The "Process Documentation" section expands on the types of artifacts and evidence expected to demonstrate a comprehensive design methodology.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Product Designer 2 role with 4-6 years of focused experience in Bengaluru, India, the estimated annual salary range is ₹15,00,000 to ₹25,00,000. This range accounts for the specified experience level, the strategic nature of the role, and the cost of living and market rates in Bengaluru, a major tech hub.

Benefits:

  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and possibly dependents, reflecting ACKO's core business.

  • Stock Options/ESOPs: Potential for equity in a growing tech company, aligning employee success with company growth.

  • Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, conferences, and access to learning resources to enhance design skills and industry knowledge.

  • Flexible Work Environment: While on-site, ACKO emphasizes a vibrant and inclusive culture that values employee well-being and growth.

  • Performance Bonuses: Potential for bonuses tied to individual and company performance, recognizing contributions to business metrics.

  • Wellness Programs: Initiatives focused on employee mental and physical well-being.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are typically 40 hours per week, aligning with a full-time employment type. However, ACKO's culture suggests a focus on impact and ownership rather than strict adherence to hours, allowing for flexibility where needed to achieve project goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is estimated based on industry benchmarks for mid-to-senior Product Designers in Bengaluru, India, considering the company's tech-focused nature and the described responsibilities. This estimate uses publicly available salary data for similar roles and experience levels in the region. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for tech companies of ACKO's size and industry, with a specific nod to their insurance focus. Working hours are standard for full-time roles but are framed with ACKO's emphasis on impact.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Insurance Technology (Insurtech), Product-Tech, Financial Services. ACKO operates at the intersection of technology and insurance, aiming to disrupt traditional models with a digital-first, customer-centric approach. This industry context implies a focus on trust, security, regulatory compliance, and leveraging technology for efficiency and customer experience.

Company Size: ACKO is a well-established startup that has grown significantly since its founding in 2016. With a substantial employee base, it operates with the agility of a startup while possessing the resources and structure of a larger organization. This size allows for significant individual impact and ownership within specialized teams.

Founded: 2016. ACKO was founded with the mission to reimagine insurance, making it simple, hassle-free, and customer-first through technology. This founding principle drives its innovative, digital-first approach and its commitment to creating a "Welcome Change" in the industry.

Team Structure:

  • Cross-Functional Pods: ACKO likely organizes its product teams into cross-functional pods or squads, comprising Product Managers, Designers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and potentially others, working collaboratively on specific product areas.

  • Design Leadership: A dedicated Design Leadership team oversees design strategy, craft, and the design system, providing guidance and mentorship to individual designers.

  • Reporting: Product Designers typically report into Design Leadership, while collaborating closely with Product Managers and Engineering Leads within their assigned product area.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: ACKO heavily emphasizes data analysis to understand user behavior, validate hypotheses, and measure the impact of design and product changes.

  • Customer-Centricity: All product development is rooted in solving real-world problems for customers, prioritizing simplicity and ease of use.

  • Agile Development: An agile methodology is likely employed, facilitating rapid iteration, continuous feedback, and quick shipping cycles.

  • Experimental Approach: The company encourages bold ideas and innovation, fostering an environment where experimentation is key to finding optimal solutions.

Company Website: https://www.acko.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Information about ACKO's industry, founding, and mission is derived from the provided "About Us" section. The company size is inferred from its description as a significant player founded in 2016 with a mission to protect millions. Team structure and methodology are standard for modern product-tech companies and are consistent with ACKO's described approach to innovation and customer focus.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Product Designer 2, indicating an individual contributor role with significant autonomy and ownership. It signifies a transition from individual feature work to owning larger product areas and contributing to strategic product direction. This level requires strong problem-solving skills, systems thinking, and the ability to influence product outcomes.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to Design Leadership and work in close collaboration with Product Managers and Engineers within their assigned product pod. This structure fosters direct communication and shared accountability.

Operations Impact: Product Designers at ACKO have a direct and measurable impact on critical business metrics such as customer acquisition, conversion rates, user engagement, retention, and overall customer satisfaction. By designing intuitive and effective user experiences for insurance products, they contribute significantly to ACKO's mission of providing simple, hassle-free protection.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership in Design: Potential to grow into a Senior Product Designer role, taking on more complex product areas, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to design strategy and system evolution.

  • Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like Growth Design, personalization, or complex insurance domains.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop strong collaborative leadership skills by influencing product roadmaps and working closely with Product and Engineering.

  • Impactful Projects: Work on high-visibility projects that directly affect millions of users and shape the future of insurtech in India.

📝 Enhancement Note: The analysis of career level, reporting structure, and impact is based on the "Product Designer 2" title and the description of responsibilities. Growth opportunities are inferred from typical career progression paths for product designers in successful tech companies, emphasizing leadership, specialization, and increased scope of influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: ACKO likely offers a modern, collaborative office environment designed to foster innovation and teamwork. This would typically include open workspaces, meeting rooms equipped for brainstorming and presentations, and potentially areas for focused work.

Office Location(s): The role is based in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. Bengaluru is a major technology and innovation hub in India, offering a vibrant ecosystem for tech professionals.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Spaces: The office is expected to have ample spaces for cross-functional team collaboration, design critiques, and stakeholder meetings, facilitating seamless communication with Product, Engineering, and Data teams.

  • Technology & Tools: Access to high-performance workstations, reliable internet, and the necessary software licenses (e.g., Figma) to support design workflows.

  • Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with colleagues across different departments, promoting a shared understanding of product goals and challenges.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is primarily on-site in Bengaluru, with a standard 40-hour work week. While structured, ACKO's culture values impact and ownership, suggesting a degree of flexibility to ensure project success and employee well-being, allowing designers to manage their time effectively to meet project deadlines and collaborate across time zones if necessary for specific tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment is based on common practices for tech companies in major hubs like Bengaluru and ACKO's emphasis on collaboration and innovation. The on-site requirement is noted, with context provided about the Bengaluru tech scene.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Portfolio Walkthrough: This is a crucial first step. Be prepared to present 1-2 detailed case studies. Focus on your specific role, the problem, your process (research, ideation, iteration), the decisions made, the trade-offs considered, and the impact achieved. Be ready to discuss what you would do differently.

  • Live Whiteboarding Session: Expect a practical, real-time problem-solving exercise. The focus will be on your thinking process, how you approach ambiguity, break down problems, and communicate your ideas, rather than polished output.

  • Collaborator Conversations: Interviews with potential teammates in Product and Engineering to assess cultural fit, communication style, and your ability to collaborate effectively.

  • Design System & AI Tool Discussion: Be ready to discuss your experience with design systems and how you integrate AI tools into your workflow.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your end-to-end ownership, systems thinking, and ability to drive business metrics. Prioritize depth over breadth.

  • Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the challenges encountered, the decisions made (and why), and the outcomes. Quantify impact wherever possible.

  • Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your contributions, especially in team projects, and explain your decision-making process.

  • Showcase Process: Include artifacts like user flows, wireframes, research insights, and prototypes to illustrate your methodology.

  • Demonstrate Contextual Judgment: Explain how your design choices were tailored to the specific user and market context, especially if you have experience in insurance or similar domains.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand ACKO's Context: Research ACKO's products, target audience, and its "Welcome Change" philosophy. Think about the unique challenges of designing for insurance in India.

  • Practice Problem Decomposition: Prepare to break down complex, ambiguous problems into smaller, manageable parts.

  • Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss the compromises you might make between ideal user experience, business goals, and technical constraints.

  • Communicate Clearly: Practice explaining your thought process concisely and effectively, both verbally and visually (e.g., on a whiteboard).

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process and portfolio review tips are directly derived from the "How We Evaluate" section of the job description. Specific advice is provided on how to prepare for each stage, emphasizing the unique aspects ACKO is looking for, such as depth in portfolio, contextual judgment, and collaborative problem-solving.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: This is explicitly stated as the primary design tool. Proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and collaboration is essential.

  • Design System Tools: Familiarity with contributing to and utilizing design systems is required. This may involve understanding component libraries, style guides, and design tokens within Figma or similar platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Data Analysis Tools: While not explicitly stated as a direct requirement for the designer, comfort working with data analysts and understanding insights from tools like SQL, Amplitude, Mixpanel, or internal BI dashboards would be highly beneficial for data-informed design.

  • A/B Testing Platforms: Experience or understanding of how A/B testing is used to validate design hypotheses and measure impact.

CRM & Automation:

  • Not Directly Applicable: CRM and automation tools are typically used by sales, marketing, or operations teams. While designers may interact with CRM data or understand user journeys that integrate with these systems, direct proficiency is not expected.

AI & Prototyping Tools:

  • AI Design Tools: Active use of AI tools for research synthesis, ideation, copywriting, prototyping, and other aspects of the design workflow is a stated requirement. This could include AI assistants for content generation, AI-powered research analysis tools, or AI features within design software.

  • Prototyping Tools: Proficiency in Figma's prototyping capabilities is a must. Experience with other prototyping tools (e.g., ProtoPie, Adobe XD) could be a bonus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools section is primarily based on the explicit mention of Figma and AI tools. Other tools are inferred based on the context of a product-tech company focused on data and user experience, highlighting the importance of analytics and the collaborative use of data.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Customer-First: A core value driving all product decisions, focusing on making insurance simple, hassle-free, and beneficial for the customer.

  • Innovation & Boldness: Encouragement of new ideas and a willingness to challenge traditional approaches, exemplified by the "Welcome Change" philosophy.

  • Ownership & Impact: Employees are expected to take ownership of their work and drive meaningful impact, with a focus on shipping work that moves business metrics.

  • Collaboration & Inclusivity: A vibrant, inclusive team environment where every voice matters, and ideas are valued.

  • Data-Driven: Decisions are informed by data analysis and continuous experimentation.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work seamlessly with Product Managers and Engineers, being integral to decision-making processes from the outset.

  • Open Communication: A culture that values directness, open feedback, and transparent communication, particularly in design critiques and stakeholder discussions.

  • Shared Problem-Solving: Design challenges are approached as collective efforts, with designers facilitating discussions and bringing stakeholders along in the problem-solving journey.

  • Craftsmanship & Rigor: A strong emphasis on the quality of design work and a commitment to continuous improvement in design craft.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values and collaboration style are synthesized from ACKO's "About Us" and "Why ACKO" sections, focusing on keywords like "customer-first," "innovative," "bold," "impact," "ownership," and "inclusive." These are translated into specific cultural and collaborative expectations for team members.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for Trust: Creating user experiences for insurance, a product often perceived negatively and requiring high trust, presents a unique design challenge.

  • Contextual Nuances: Adapting global design patterns to the specific cultural, economic, and regulatory context of India requires deep understanding and careful consideration.

  • Balancing Innovation with Regulation: Innovating in a regulated industry like insurance requires navigating compliance requirements while still delivering user-friendly experiences.

  • Driving Business Metrics: Directly linking design efforts to tangible business outcomes (e.g., conversion, retention) requires a strong analytical mindset and strategic approach.

  • Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively incorporating AI tools into the design workflow without compromising the human-centered aspect of design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Deep Domain Expertise: Opportunity to become an expert in the insurtech space and understand the intricacies of insurance products for the Indian market.

  • Strategic Influence: Develop skills in influencing product strategy and roadmap decisions through strong design rationale and impact demonstration.

  • Advanced Design Methodologies: Exposure to cutting-edge design practices, including advanced AI integration and complex system design.

  • Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from design leadership and growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding company.

  • Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhance collaboration and communication skills by working closely with diverse teams like Product, Engineering, and Data.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges are identified based on the nature of ACKO's business (insurance, India market, tech-driven) and the role's requirements (ambiguity, impact). Growth opportunities are framed around developing expertise, strategic influence, and advanced skills relevant to the role and company context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • Product Strategy & Design: "Describe a time you owned the end-to-end design for a product area. What was the problem, how did you frame it, what were the key decisions you made, and what was the impact on business metrics?"

  • Collaboration & Trade-offs: "How do you handle disagreements with Product Managers or Engineers regarding scope, priorities, or design trade-offs? Provide an example of a difficult trade-off you had to make and how you navigated it."

  • Problem-Solving & Ambiguity: "Imagine you're tasked with designing an engagement loop for first-time insurance buyers. How would you approach this problem, considering potential ambiguities and constraints?"

  • Contextual Judgment: "Why might a design pattern that works for a global fintech company not be suitable for an Indian insurance buyer? Walk us through your reasoning."

Company & Culture Questions:

  • ACKO's Mission: "What excites you about ACKO's mission to provide a 'Welcome Change' in insurance, and how does your design philosophy align with this?"

  • Design Impact: "How do you measure the success of your design work, and what metrics are most important to you in a role like this?"

  • Team Dynamics: "Describe your ideal collaboration style with Product and Engineering. How do you ensure your voice is heard and valued in cross-functional teams?"

  • AI Integration: "How are you currently using AI tools in your design process, and what are your thoughts on their future impact on product design?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Select Strong Case Studies: Choose 1-2 projects that best showcase end-to-end ownership, systems thinking, and measurable impact.

  • Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process, key decisions, trade-offs, and outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

  • Focus on "Why": Be prepared to deeply explain the rationale behind your design choices. Why this solution? Why these trade-offs?

  • Demonstrate Impact: Quantify results wherever possible. If direct metrics aren't available, discuss anticipated impact and how you would measure it post-launch.

  • Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decisions, and how you would handle hypothetical scenarios.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation guidance is structured around the types of questions ACKO is likely to ask, based on their emphasis on strategic thinking, contextual judgment, collaboration, and the use of AI. Specific examples of questions are provided for each category. Portfolio presentation strategy reinforces the advice given in the Portfolio section.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on ACKO's careers page.

  • Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience in end-to-end product design, systems thinking, working with cross-functional teams, and any experience in insurance, fintech, or regulated industries. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 1-2 detailed case studies that best demonstrate your process, decision-making, and impact. Ensure it aligns with the emphasis on depth, contextual judgment, and ownership.

  • Prepare for the Walkthrough: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for your chosen portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss trade-offs and what you'd do differently.

  • Research ACKO: Understand their "Welcome Change" philosophy, their product offerings, and their customer-centric approach to insurance. Be ready to discuss how your skills and values align with the company's mission.

⚠️ 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

Requires 4-6 years of product design experience with a strong emphasis on systems thinking and ownership of product areas. Proficiency in Figma and the active use of AI tools in the design workflow are essential.