Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Co–Star

Location: Hybrid: New York, NY / San Francisco, CA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / GTM Operations

Date Posted: 2026-07-24

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive product development from initial concept through to successful launch, integrating user needs with business objectives.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering, marketing, and design, to ensure seamless product execution and cohesive brand representation.

• Focus on crafting exceptional user experiences by meticulously refining interface details such as typography, layout, motion, and responsiveness.

• Contribute to marketing efforts by creating compelling visual assets that align with Co–Star's brand identity and outreach strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Product Designer, the emphasis on "systems and materials," "product architecture," and "workflow design" strongly suggests a need for operations-minded thinking. The candidate will need to understand how different components (astrology, data, user needs) come together to form a functional and engaging product, mirroring the process optimization and system integration found in GTM Operations. The role also requires understanding how to translate complex systems (like astrology) into accessible user interfaces, a key skill in GTM operations for simplifying complex sales processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for new features and product enhancements, from ideation and wireframing to high-fidelity prototyping and final visual design.

• Develop and maintain a deep understanding of Co–Star's user base, leveraging user research, data analysis, and feedback to inform design decisions and identify opportunities for improvement.

• Translate complex astrological concepts and user needs into intuitive and engaging product experiences, ensuring accessibility and ease of use.

• Create detailed design specifications, prototypes, and visual assets to effectively communicate design intent to engineering and marketing teams.

• Champion user-centered design principles and best practices throughout the organization, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

• Proactively identify and address potential usability issues, performance bottlenecks, and areas for optimization within the product.

• Collaborate with engineering to ensure the technical feasibility and high-quality implementation of designs, providing support throughout the development lifecycle.

• Contribute to the development of marketing materials by designing visual assets such as social media graphics, ad creatives, and website elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to design "products from concept through launch" and to "work closely with design and engineering" highlights a need for strong project management and cross-functional collaboration skills, which are core to GTM operations. The mention of "typography, layout, motion, responsiveness, loading states, and performance" indicates a need for detailed process execution and attention to operational efficiency in the design delivery.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of design principles and practices is essential. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in product design, with a proven track record of designing and building for the web. Experience moving fluidly across the full design process, from early concept through final production, is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Full-Cycle Product Design: Ability to manage the entire design lifecycle, from user research and ideation to prototyping, visual design, and handoff to engineering.

• Interaction Design: Proficiency in crafting intuitive user flows, wireframes, and interactive prototypes to solve complex user problems.

• Visual Design: Strong aesthetic sensibility with expertise in typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy to create polished and engaging interfaces.

• Prototyping: Skill in rapidly creating functional prototypes using tools like Figma to test concepts and gather feedback.

• User Interface (UI) & User Experience (UX) Principles: Deep understanding of UX best practices, usability heuristics, and user-centered design methodologies.

• Web Technologies: Foundational knowledge of HTML and CSS to effectively collaborate with engineers and understand technical constraints.

• Agile Collaboration: Experience working effectively within agile development teams, contributing to sprint planning and execution.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design: Experience incorporating subtle animations and transitions to enhance user experience and product delight.

• Data Visualization: Ability to translate complex data (e.g., astrological data, user analytics) into clear and insightful visualizations.

• Cross-functional Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.

• Familiarity with Astrological Systems: An interest in or foundational understanding of astrology can be advantageous for grasping the core product domain.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "enough HTML and CSS to work effectively with engineers—or to build parts of the experience yourself" suggests a need for hands-on technical capability that aligns with operations roles that often bridge design and development. The emphasis on "prototyping rather than making a presentation" points to a preference for iterative, action-oriented work, a hallmark of efficient operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 robust case studies detailing your design process for web-based products. Each case study should clearly outline the problem, your approach, the tools used, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Process Documentation: Demonstrate your ability to articulate your design methodology, including user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing phases.

• System Integration: Highlight projects where you designed for complex systems, illustrating how you made intricate information or functionalities accessible and user-friendly.

• Visual Design Excellence: Include a strong representation of your visual design skills, showcasing clean layouts, effective typography, and polished user interfaces.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Provide examples of how you mapped out user flows and system interactions to ensure a seamless and logical user journey.

• Iterative Development: Showcase instances where you iterated on designs based on feedback, testing, and evolving requirements, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

• Cross-functional Handoff: Illustrate your process for preparing and delivering design assets and specifications to engineering teams, ensuring clarity and minimizing ambiguity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "systems and materials," "product architecture," and "workflow design" directly aligns with the need for a strong portfolio in operations roles. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they analyze, design, and optimize complex processes and systems, and how they translate these into tangible product features.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,500 – $185,000 per year. This range is competitive for a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in major tech hubs like New York and San Francisco, reflecting the cost of living and demand for skilled design professionals.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off and holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development and continued learning.

• Hybrid work model offering flexibility.

• Potential for stock options or equity (if applicable, often standard in tech startups).

• Access to modern design tools and collaborative platforms.

Working Hours: Full-time position, typically requiring around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model allows for flexibility in structuring the work week, with an expectation of consistent availability for team collaboration during core business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is based on the explicit information in the job description. For a role in San Francisco or New York, this range is appropriate for a mid-level Product Designer. Benefits are standard for tech companies of this size and stage, focusing on employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on digital astrology and personal development, leveraging a unique blend of ancient systems and modern technology.

Company Size: Co–Star is a growing tech company, likely falling into the 'startup' to 'small-to-medium-sized business' category. This size often means a dynamic, fast-paced environment with opportunities for significant impact.

Founded: Co–Star was founded with a mission to make astrology accessible and relevant to a modern audience. This innovative spirit likely permeates the company culture, encouraging experimentation and new approaches.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates collaboratively, working closely with product management, engineering, and potentially marketing.

• Reporting structures are typically lean in growing tech companies, allowing for direct access to leadership and rapid decision-making.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, with designers expected to work hand-in-hand with engineers and product managers to bring ideas to life. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by user data, analytics, and A/B testing results, mirroring operations' reliance on metrics.

• Iterative Development: A focus on rapid prototyping, user feedback, and continuous improvement of the product, akin to agile operations processes.

• Systems Thinking: An emphasis on understanding and designing for complex, interconnected systems (astrology, user behavior, platform architecture), a core GTM operations competency.

Company Website: costarastrology.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on translating a complex, ancient system (astrology) into an accessible digital product suggests a culture that values creativity, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to simplify complexity. This is highly relevant to operations roles that bridge technical capabilities with business needs.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer (2-5 years of experience). It requires independent contribution and the ability to manage significant design projects from inception to completion, with a strong emphasis on execution and detail.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Design Lead, Head of Product, or potentially a CTO, depending on the company's organizational structure. The hybrid model suggests a need for self-direction and effective communication within a distributed team.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct impact on user acquisition, engagement, and retention by shaping the core user experience of Co–Star. Their work will influence how users interact with astrological data, connect with friends, and perceive the brand, directly contributing to business growth and customer satisfaction.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like interaction design, visual design, motion graphics, or even user research methodologies.

• Product Leadership: Potential to take on more ownership of product areas, lead design initiatives, and mentor junior designers as the team grows.

• Cross-functional Expertise: Gaining deeper insights into engineering, product management, and marketing workflows, enhancing overall GTM strategy understanding.

• Industry Influence: Contributing to a unique product in the digital wellness and astrology space, potentially shaping industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a Product Designer in a growing tech company often involves increasing ownership, leadership, and specialization. For someone interested in GTM operations, this role offers a chance to understand product development from the ground up, which is invaluable for later operational strategy.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with employees splitting time between remote work and in-office collaboration in San Francisco or New York. This model aims to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person teamwork.

Office Location(s): Co–Star maintains offices in San Francisco, CA, and New York, NY, providing hubs for employees who prefer to work from a physical location or for scheduled team meetings and collaboration sessions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are likely designed to foster collaboration, with meeting rooms, breakout areas, and open-plan spaces that encourage spontaneous interaction.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design software (Figma, etc.), collaborative platforms (Slack, etc.), and potentially in-house tools like Claude and Cursor for workflow enhancement.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular in-person interaction with design, engineering, and product teams during designated office days, facilitating quicker feedback loops and stronger team cohesion.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with flexibility in daily hours but requiring availability for core team meetings and collaborative sessions, particularly during hybrid work days. The focus is on output and impact rather than strict time-tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role suggests an environment that values autonomy and results. For operations professionals, this type of environment often translates to a culture that supports flexible process implementation and outcome-based performance measurement.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation/Design Challenge: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio and discuss your design process, or complete a design challenge that simulates real-world problem-solving for Co–Star's product.

• Team Interviews: Meetings with design, engineering, and product team members to evaluate technical skills, collaboration style, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A conversation with a hiring manager or senior leader to discuss role expectations, career growth, and finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Clearly articulate your problem-solving approach, your decision-making rationale, and how you navigated challenges. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices.

• Highlight Systemic Design: Since Co–Star deals with complex systems, emphasize projects where you successfully translated intricate information or functionalities into user-friendly experiences.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: If possible, include examples of how you worked with engineers, product managers, or other stakeholders, and the positive outcomes of that collaboration.

• Tailor to Co–Star: Research Co–Star's product and brand. If you can, include a project or a concept that touches upon similar themes of accessibility, user engagement, or translating complex information.

• Be Ready to Discuss Tools: Be prepared to talk about your experience with Figma, Claude, Cursor, and any other tools mentioned, explaining how they aided your workflow.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Core Problem: If given a design challenge, ensure you fully grasp the user problem and business goals. Ask clarifying questions.

• Think Through Constraints: Consider the technical limitations (HTML/CSS knowledge) and the unique domain (astrology) as you brainstorm solutions.

• Prioritize and Justify: Be ready to explain your design choices and how they address the problem effectively, prioritizing solutions based on impact and feasibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "prototyping rather than making a presentation" and the need to "design and build products from concept through launch" suggests that the interview process will be hands-on and focused on practical application. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their ability to execute and iterate.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Proficiency is essential.

• Claude (Code Assistant): Used for assisting with coding tasks, likely in conjunction with HTML/CSS development or for faster prototyping.

• Cursor: A modern code editor that integrates AI features, suggesting a workflow where design and development are closely intertwined.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed, expect to work with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Proficiency in interpreting data to drive design improvements is highly valued. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how user data flows from product usage into CRM systems for marketing and sales could be beneficial for cross-functional awareness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Claude and Cursor indicates Co–Star's embrace of AI-assisted tools to enhance productivity and streamline workflows, a trend increasingly seen in operations roles as well for automation and efficiency gains.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity & Exploration: A drive to explore new ideas and materials (like Bruno Munari's approach), applying this to design and product development.

• Craftsmanship & Detail: A deep appreciation for the nuances of design—typography, layout, motion—that elevate the user experience from functional to delightful.

• Pragmatism & Execution: A focus on getting things done, "Work > ego," and a preference for prototyping and building over extensive theoretical presentations.

• Accessibility & Inclusivity: Making complex systems understandable and usable for a broad audience, ensuring the product is welcoming to all.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Partnership: Close integration with engineering and product teams, fostering a shared sense of ownership and problem-solving.

• Iterative Feedback: An open culture of giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously refine designs and product direction.

• Experimentation: Encouragement to try new approaches and tools, learning from both successes and failures in the pursuit of innovative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Work > ego" ethos is a strong indicator of a results-oriented and collaborative culture, which is also highly valued in operations teams where collective success is paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Abstract Concepts: Effectively designing interfaces that represent complex and abstract systems like astrology in an intuitive and engaging manner.

• Balancing User Needs with System Complexity: Ensuring the product is accessible to a broad audience while remaining true to the depth and nuance of astrological principles.

• Rapid Iteration in a Dynamic Environment: Keeping pace with a fast-moving product roadmap and evolving user expectations in a growing tech company.

• Hybrid Collaboration: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication across distributed team members in a hybrid work model.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Product Domain: Gaining expertise in astrology and its application in a digital product context.

• Mastering AI-Assisted Design Tools: Becoming proficient in leveraging tools like Claude and Cursor to accelerate design and development workflows.

• Contribution to Core Product: Playing a significant role in shaping the user experience of a popular and unique application, with potential for significant impact.

• Exposure to GTM Strategy: Understanding how design decisions directly influence user acquisition, engagement, and revenue, providing valuable GTM perspective.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenge of translating abstract concepts into tangible user experiences is a core competency in GTM operations, where complex sales processes or data insights need to be simplified for various stakeholders.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a complex system or abstract concept. How did you approach making it accessible to users?" (Focus on your process, research, and problem-solving methodology.)

• "Walk us through a product you designed from concept to launch. What were the biggest challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight your end-to-end capabilities and resilience.)

• "How do you balance user needs with technical constraints and business goals in your design process?" (Showcase your understanding of trade-offs and collaborative problem-solving.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Co–Star and our approach to astrology?" (Demonstrate genuine interest in the product and its mission.)

• "How do you contribute to a 'Work > ego' culture?" (Provide examples of your collaborative spirit and focus on team success.)

• "What are your thoughts on using AI tools like Claude and Cursor in a design workflow?" (Show your adaptability and forward-thinking approach to technology.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each case study, frame it as a narrative: the problem, your journey, the solution, and the impact.

• Focus on Your Role: Clearly articulate "I did X," "My contribution was Y," and "The outcome was Z."

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (wireframes, prototypes, final designs) to illustrate your points effectively.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, the tools you used, and how you collaborated with others.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice should emphasize demonstrating a systematic approach to problem-solving, a collaborative mindset, and an ability to translate complex ideas into actionable designs, all of which are crucial for success in operations roles.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the greenhouse.io portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies that demonstrate your ability to design for complex systems, your full-cycle design process (concept to launch), and your attention to detail in UI/UX. Highlight any projects involving data translation or making abstract concepts accessible.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience with Figma, HTML/CSS, prototyping, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Improved user engagement by X%").

• Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio projects, focusing on your problem-solving approach, collaboration methods, and understanding of user-centered design. Be ready to articulate your interest in Co–Star's unique product.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Co–Star's app, its mission, and its target audience. Understand how design contributes to its user engagement and growth strategies.

⚠️ 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.