Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: David Kennedy Recruitment (on behalf of an international AI company)

Location: Remote (Europe-based candidates preferred)

Job Type: Full-Time (initially B2B/Contractor with potential for Full-time transition)

Category: Product Design / User Experience (UX) / User Interface (UI)

Date Posted: September 15, 2026

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design initiatives for a rapidly growing international AI company, focusing on consumer-facing features.

• Specialize in designing intuitive chat experiences, engaging character creation flows, and effective monetization strategies within a mobile-first environment.

• Collaborate closely with Design Leads, Product Managers, and Founders to translate complex product vision into tangible, high-quality user interfaces and interactions.

• Leverage advanced AI tools and methodologies within the design process, demonstrating proficiency and strategic application of these technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within a dynamic, fast-paced AI startup environment. The emphasis on "end-to-end product design" implies significant autonomy and ownership from concept to execution, requiring a candidate who can operate independently and contribute strategically. The mention of "adult-content product experiences" and related advantages (NSFW, dating, AI companionship) suggests a specific niche within the consumer tech space that candidates should be comfortable with.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the design process for core product features, including chat interfaces, character customization tools, and monetization/growth funnels, ensuring a cohesive and engaging user journey.

• Conceptualize and design innovative user experiences for emerging product surfaces, such as live interactive features and AI-powered video interactions, pushing the boundaries of current interaction models.

• Develop detailed wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs that clearly articulate product functionality and user engagement strategies.

• Translate complex product requirements and strategic business objectives into elegant, user-centered design solutions, with a strong emphasis on mobile-first principles for a large-scale consumer product.

• Conduct user research, usability testing, and data analysis to inform design decisions, iterate on product features, and optimize user satisfaction and conversion rates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who is not only skilled in visual and interaction design but also possesses strong strategic product thinking. The expectation to "operate autonomously across product surfaces" and "take high ownership" indicates a senior-level role where initiative and self-direction are paramount. The mention of "new interaction models are frequently developed" suggests an experimental and forward-thinking design culture.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for senior design roles. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: Minimum of 5 years of comprehensive end-to-end consumer product design experience, with a proven track record of shipping successful mobile-first products at scale.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in end-to-end consumer product design, covering ideation, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and user testing.

• Proven experience designing and launching mobile-first products that have achieved significant user adoption and engagement.

• Exceptional strategic product thinking capabilities, enabling the translation of business goals into effective design strategies.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for complex UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Strong visual design skills with a keen eye for modern aesthetics, usability, and brand consistency.

• Proficiency in using AI tools for design, prototyping, or content generation, with the ability to articulate specific tool usage and workflows.

• Robust prototyping skills, utilizing design tools or code-based approaches to effectively communicate interaction design.

• Ability to work autonomously, take ownership of product areas, and manage multiple design projects simultaneously.

• Excellent asynchronous communication skills, essential for a remote, globally distributed team. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for NSFW, dating, AI companionship, or social platform applications.

• Proficiency or familiarity with motion design, 3D design, or illustration techniques.

• Experience with subscription models, monetization strategies, or e-commerce product design.

• Knowledge of gamification principles and their application in product design.

• Front-end development fluency (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams and understand implementation constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "elite visual execution" and the requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "polished, modern and high-quality UI across real consumer products" underscores the critical importance of a strong visual portfolio. The specific mention of AI tools and the need to explain their use suggests this is a key differentiator for candidates.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design case studies for real consumer products, demonstrating a clear impact and measurable results.

• Examples of mobile-first product designs that highlight intuitive user interfaces, engaging interactions, and successful user flows.

• Demonstrations of strategic product thinking, illustrating how design decisions contributed to business objectives like user growth, engagement, or monetization.

• Clear articulation of the design process, including problem definition, user research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration, with a focus on how AI tools were integrated. Process Documentation:

• Detailed case studies that walk through the entire design lifecycle, from initial concept and user research to final execution and post-launch analysis.

• Explanations of how design challenges were overcome, including specific problem-solving methodologies and iterative improvements made based on user feedback or data.

• Demonstrations of proficiency in collaboration with cross-functional teams (Product Management, Engineering), highlighting communication strategies and joint problem-solving approaches.

• Evidence of working within or establishing design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability across product features.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It must not only exhibit high-quality visual and interaction design but also clearly convey the candidate's strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and experience with the full product design lifecycle, particularly in a consumer-facing, mobile-first context. Explicitly showing the application of AI tools in the design process is a key expectation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the "Competitive package" and "senior Product Designer" alignment, for a fully remote role based in Europe, a salary range of €70,000 - €100,000+ annually is a reasonable estimate, depending on the specific country of residence (for tax purposes) and the candidate's precise experience and demonstrated impact.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package commensurate with a senior Product Designer role.

• Fully remote working model, offering flexibility and work-life balance.

• "Work from anywhere" policy within Europe, providing geographical freedom.

• 4 weeks of Paid Time Off (PTO) per year.

• Health allowance to support well-being.

• Learning budget for professional development, training, and skill enhancement.

• Access to premium AI tooling, enabling cutting-edge design workflows.

• A high-autonomy working environment, fostering independence and ownership.

• Direct collaboration opportunities with senior design, product, and founding teams.

• Clear career progression pathways within a major international technology company.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the remote, international nature of the team. Emphasis on asynchronous communication and efficient work practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior product designers in major European tech hubs and the provided benefits, which are indicative of a well-compensated senior role. The "B2B / Contractor initially" aspect may influence the exact payment structure and benefits eligibility during the initial phase.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector, specifically focusing on consumer-facing AI applications, potentially including areas like AI companionship, interactive entertainment, or advanced communication platforms. This industry is characterized by rapid innovation, a strong emphasis on data, and a need for user-centric design to drive adoption.

Company Size: Described as a "fast-growing international AI company" with a "fully remote R&D team." This suggests a dynamic, lean startup environment that is scaling rapidly. For operations professionals, this means opportunities for broad impact and the chance to shape processes as the company grows.

Founded: While the founding date is not specified, the "fast-growing" nature implies it is likely a relatively young company, possibly a few years old, that has achieved significant traction and is in a growth phase.

Team Structure:

• The R&D team is fully remote and international, implying a diverse team with varied backgrounds and perspectives.

• The Product Designer will work closely with a Design Lead, Product Managers, and Founders, indicating a flat or semi-flat hierarchy where direct access to decision-makers is possible.

• Collaboration is expected to be highly cross-functional, involving close partnerships with product and engineering teams to bring designs to life. Methodology:

• The company is likely driven by data and user feedback to inform product development and design iterations.

• A strong emphasis on innovation and experimentation, particularly with AI and new interaction models, is expected.

• Agile or lean methodologies are probable, allowing for rapid iteration and adaptation in a fast-moving market.

Company Website: While not directly provided, the hiring organization is David Kennedy Recruitment (davidkennedyrecruitment.com). The client company's website would typically be shared during the interview process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely to be entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and innovation-driven, with a strong focus on leveraging AI. The remote nature necessitates excellent asynchronous communication and self-management skills. The potential for working with "adult-content product experiences" means a culture that is open and pragmatic about diverse user interests.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior Product Designer level, implying significant autonomy, responsibility for key product areas, and the expectation to mentor or guide more junior designers if applicable. It is a hands-on role focused on direct contribution rather than pure management.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a Design Lead and work closely with Product Managers and Founders. This structure offers direct exposure to leadership and strategic decision-making.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer will have a direct and substantial impact on the user experience, engagement, and monetization of the company's AI products. Their work will be critical to the success and growth of the company's consumer offerings.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in AI-driven design, interactive experiences, or specific product verticals (e.g., monetization, social platforms).

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Designer role, manage design projects, or mentor junior team members as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Direct contribution to product strategy and roadmap discussions, offering a chance to shape the future direction of the company's offerings.

• Industry Exposure: Working at the forefront of AI product development provides valuable experience in a rapidly evolving and high-demand field.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a Senior Product Designer in a fast-growing startup often involves increasing scope of responsibility, greater strategic influence, and potential leadership opportunities. The company's emphasis on AI and emerging technologies suggests continuous learning and adaptation will be key to career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning there is no central office. The "work from anywhere" policy within Europe allows significant flexibility.

Office Location(s): Not applicable, as the role is fully remote. The company is international with a team distributed across Europe.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment is entirely digital, relying on collaboration tools and remote communication platforms.

• Candidates will need a reliable internet connection and a dedicated workspace conducive to focused design work.

• The team fosters asynchronous communication, encouraging deep work sessions without constant interruptions, but also requiring proactive engagement when necessary.

• Access to premium AI tooling and design software will be provided, supporting efficient and advanced design workflows.

Work Schedule: While approximately 40 hours per week is standard, the remote and international nature allows for a degree of flexibility. Core working hours may be established to facilitate synchronous collaboration with specific team members or time zones, but overall autonomy is high.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role requires strong self-discipline, time management, and proactive communication. The "work from anywhere" policy is a significant perk, but candidates should be aware of potential time zone differences when collaborating with colleagues.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, focusing on experience with consumer products, mobile-first design, and AI tool usage.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present 1-3 key case studies from your portfolio, discussing your strategic thinking, design process, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Be prepared to elaborate on your use of AI tools.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a design exercise or challenge to evaluate your problem-solving skills, visual execution, and approach to specific design problems relevant to the company's products.

• Team/Founder Interviews: Meetings with the Design Lead, Product Managers, and potentially the Founders to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Offer: Based on the cumulative assessment of your skills, experience, portfolio, and fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose case studies that best represent your end-to-end design capabilities, strategic thinking, and experience with mobile-first, consumer-facing products. Include projects where you utilized AI tools.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, the rationale behind your decisions, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly detail how you used AI tools in your design process, the benefits they provided, and any unique workflows you developed.

• Showcase Visual Craft: Ensure your UI designs are polished, modern, and demonstrate a high level of visual quality. Include interactive prototypes where possible.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, your collaboration style, and your experience with specific technologies or product types.

Challenge Preparation:

• If a design challenge is given, focus on understanding the core problem and user needs.

• Prioritize clear communication of your thought process and design rationale, even if you cannot fully complete the challenge within the allotted time.

• Demonstrate your ability to adapt and iterate based on potential feedback.

• If the challenge involves AI elements, leverage your knowledge and experience with AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is heavily weighted towards portfolio review and demonstration of practical design skills, particularly in the context of AI and consumer products. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their strategic thinking and problem-solving approach in detail.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. Advanced skills are required.

• AI Design Tools: Candidates must be proficient and able to articulate their use of various AI tools for design, prototyping, or content generation. Specific tools will vary but may include AI-powered assistants, image generators, or UX research tools.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, experience with dedicated prototyping tools or code-based prototyping (e.g., Framer, Principle, or custom code) is advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics platforms (e.g., Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics) to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

• Ability to interpret data and translate insights into actionable design improvements. CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how product design impacts user journeys within a broader customer lifecycle managed by CRM systems is beneficial.

• Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Jira, Asana, Trello) for workflow management and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for AI tool proficiency is a key differentiator. Candidates should be ready to discuss their personal toolkit and how they integrate these tools into their daily workflow to enhance productivity and creativity.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & AI-Forward: A strong commitment to leveraging cutting-edge AI technology to create novel user experiences and drive product differentiation.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding user needs and creating intuitive, engaging, and valuable product experiences.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take initiative, drive projects, and own their areas of responsibility.

• Collaboration & Async Communication: Fostering a supportive remote environment where clear, effective communication, particularly asynchronously, is paramount.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design choices and measure the impact of product initiatives.

• Adaptability & Speed: Thriving in a fast-paced environment where agility and quick iteration are essential for success.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with a strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork between design, product, and engineering.

• Proactive and transparent communication is key, especially in a remote setting, to ensure alignment and efficient progress.

• A culture of constructive feedback and continuous improvement, where designers are encouraged to share insights and learn from each other.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely to be dynamic and forward-thinking, embracing new technologies and a remote-first approach. Candidates who are self-starters, excellent communicators, and comfortable working with innovative technologies (like AI) will thrive. The mention of potentially sensitive content areas suggests a pragmatic and open-minded culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Keeping pace with the swift advancements in AI technology and integrating new capabilities into product design effectively.

• Designing for Novel Interactions: Creating intuitive user experiences for emerging AI-powered features and interaction models that may not have established patterns.

• Balancing Innovation with Scalability: Ensuring that cutting-edge designs are also scalable, maintainable, and performant for a large user base.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Navigating the complexities of effective communication and collaboration within a globally distributed, asynchronous team.

• Content Sensitivity: Designing responsibly and ethically within product areas that may involve adult content or sensitive user interactions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Deep dive into the application of AI in UX/UI design, exploring generative AI, predictive analytics, and AI-driven personalization.

• Emerging Technologies: Gaining hands-on experience with the latest AI technologies and their integration into consumer products.

• Product Strategy Involvement: Opportunities to contribute to product roadmap discussions and influence the strategic direction of the company's AI offerings.

• Advanced Tooling: Mastering premium AI tools and other advanced design technologies provided by the company.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced founders and senior team members, gaining insights into startup growth and product development at scale.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional growth by immersing the designer in a cutting-edge AI product environment. The challenges are inherent to working in a rapidly developing field and a startup setting, presenting excellent learning curves for ambitious professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you drove an end-to-end product design process for a consumer product. What were the key stages, your specific contributions, and the outcomes?" (Focus on demonstrating ownership, strategic thinking, and measurable impact.)

• "How have you leveraged AI tools in your design workflow? Provide a specific example of how AI enhanced your process or the final product." (Be ready to detail specific tools and workflows.)

• "Walk us through a challenging design problem you encountered on a mobile-first product. How did you approach it, what were your design decisions, and what was the result?" (Highlight problem-solving skills and user-centricity.)

• "How do you approach designing for monetization or growth flows? What are the key considerations for balancing user experience with business objectives?" (Show strategic understanding of revenue drivers.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about working with AI products, and specifically our company's focus?" (Research the company's specific AI applications.)

• "How do you adapt your design process to a fully remote, asynchronous work environment?" (Emphasize communication strategies and self-management.)

• "Describe your experience working with sensitive or adult-oriented content. What are your considerations when designing for such products?" (Be prepared for a pragmatic and professional response.)

• "How do you collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers to ensure successful product launches?" (Highlight your cross-functional collaboration skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with a high-level overview of the company and product, then dive into your specific case study. Clearly outline the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions, prototypes/visuals, and results.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify your achievements whenever possible (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user satisfaction scores, reduced task completion times).

• Showcase AI Integration: Dedicate a section or explicitly integrate throughout your case study how AI tools were used and the value they brought.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Tell a compelling story that highlights your strategic thinking, design expertise, and problem-solving abilities.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs, and how you would approach future challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just design skills but also strategic thinking, adaptability, and a strong understanding of AI's role in modern product development. The portfolio is the primary tool for this demonstration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the David Kennedy Recruitment platform.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight your experience in end-to-end consumer product design, mobile-first applications, and proficiency with AI tools. Select case studies that best showcase your strategic thinking and visual execution.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your 5+ years of experience, emphasizing achievements and responsibilities relevant to this role. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on storytelling, articulating your design process, and detailing your use of AI tools. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research the client company's AI products and market positioning. Understand their potential focus areas (e.g., AI companionship, interactive entertainment) to better align your responses and show genuine interest.

⚠️ 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.