Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: David Kennedy Recruitment

Location: Europe (Remote)

Job Type: FULL_TIME (B2B / Contractor initially, potential transition to Full-time)

Category: Product Design / AI Technology

Date Posted: 2026-09-15

Experience Level: Senior (5+ years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive end-to-end product design for a fast-growing international AI company, focusing on chat experiences, character creation, monetization, and growth flows.

• Design innovative and emerging product surfaces, including live interactive features and AI-powered video experiences.

• Collaborate closely with the Design Lead, Product Managers, and founders to translate strategic product thinking into high-quality visual and interaction designs.

• Take high ownership and operate autonomously across various product surfaces, ensuring a mobile-first approach for a large-scale consumer product.

• Utilize and integrate AI tools daily within the design and prototyping process, demonstrating a strong understanding of their application.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a senior-level Product Designer with a strong emphasis on end-to-end ownership and autonomous work within a fast-paced, innovative AI environment. The initial B2B/Contractor status suggests a need for immediate impact and flexibility, with the potential for a permanent transition based on performance and company growth. The mention of "adult-content product experiences" indicates a specific niche that candidates should be comfortable with.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle for key features, including chat interfaces, character customization tools, and monetization strategies.

• Conceptualize and design user experiences for novel AI-driven interactive surfaces and real-time video functionalities.

• Partner with cross-functional teams (Design Lead, Product Management, Engineering) to define product vision and execute design solutions.

• Independently manage design responsibilities for assigned product areas, ensuring alignment with overall product strategy and user needs.

• Develop intuitive and engaging user interfaces, interactions, and prototypes that support a mobile-first design philosophy for a high-volume consumer product.

• Craft polished visual designs, seamless interactions, and interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design intent and user flows.

• Contribute to the continuous evolution of interaction models and product features in a dynamic, agile development setting.

• Ensure high standards of visual craft, modern aesthetics, and overall design quality are consistently met across all shipped products.

• Actively leverage and integrate AI design tools to enhance efficiency, creativity, and the overall design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach with significant ownership. Candidates are expected to not only design but also to drive the design process from concept to execution, with a strong focus on mobile-first and AI integration.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Design (e.g., Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI) or a related field, coupled with demonstrable professional experience, is expected.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of comprehensive, end-to-end consumer product design experience is required.

• Proven track record of designing and successfully shipping mobile-first products that have scaled to a large user base.

• Demonstrated ability to merge strategic product thinking with exceptional visual execution and user experience design. Required Skills:

• End-to-End Product Design: Proven ability to manage the entire design process from ideation to final implementation.

• Mobile-First Design: Expertise in creating user-centric designs optimized for mobile devices.

• UI/UX Design: Strong skills in user interface and user experience design principles, with a focus on intuitive and engaging interfaces.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills and daily use of Figma for design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Prototyping: High-level proficiency in creating interactive prototypes using design tools (e.g., Figma) or code-based approaches.

• AI Tool Integration: Demonstrated daily use of AI tools for design, prototyping, or content generation, with the ability to articulate specific tools and workflows.

• Visual Craft & Execution: Strong portfolio showcasing polished, modern, and high-quality UI design across real consumer products.

• Async Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, adapted for effective asynchronous collaboration in a remote setting.

Preferred Skills:

• NSFW/Adult Content Design: Experience designing for adult-content product experiences, dating platforms, AI companionship, or social platforms.

• Motion Design: Experience with creating dynamic and engaging motion graphics.

• 3D Design: Familiarity or experience with 3D design principles and applications.

• Illustration: Skill in creating custom illustrations for product interfaces.

• Subscription/Monetization Products: Experience designing for products with subscription models or complex monetization strategies.

• Gamification: Understanding and application of gamification techniques to enhance user engagement.

• Front-end Fluency: Basic to advanced knowledge of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript for better collaboration with developers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools and specific niche experience (NSFW, dating, AI companionship) suggests the company operates in a specialized, potentially controversial, but high-growth sector. Candidates with experience in these areas will have a significant advantage. The preference for front-end fluency indicates a desire for designers who can bridge the gap between design and development effectively.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end product design ownership for consumer-facing products. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, challenges encountered, and measurable outcomes.

• Mobile-First Focus: Highlight projects specifically designed with a mobile-first approach, illustrating how you adapted designs for various screen sizes and user contexts.

• UI/UX Excellence: Present visually polished and modern UI designs, emphasizing interaction design, user flows, and the overall user experience quality.

• AI Tool Integration Evidence: Include examples or descriptions of how AI tools were integrated into your design workflow, such as for ideation, content generation, or prototyping, and explain the benefits achieved.

• Shipped Products: Prioritize work on products that have been successfully launched and scaled, with evidence of user impact or business metrics where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Problem Definition & Research: Clearly outline the initial problem or user need and the research methodologies employed to understand it.

• Ideation & Concept Development: Detail the brainstorming and conceptualization phases, including wireframing, user journey mapping, and early-stage prototyping.

• Design Iteration & Prototyping: Showcase the iterative design process, including user testing, feedback incorporation, and the evolution of prototypes using tools like Figma.

• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management: Describe how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders throughout the design process.

• Launch & Post-Launch Analysis: If applicable, include information on the design's performance post-launch, including any metrics or user feedback gathered.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, especially demonstrating the ability to apply AI tools and design for mobile-first, large-scale consumer products. The emphasis on "real consumer products" and "shipped products" means conceptual projects alone will not suffice.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the senior experience level (5+ years), B2B/Contractor initial status, and the competitive package mentioned, a typical range for a senior Product Designer in Europe, especially for remote roles with high autonomy, could be estimated between €70,000 - €110,000 annually. This is a gross figure and may vary significantly based on the specific country of engagement, contractor rates, and the company's budget.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary Package: Aligned with senior Product Designer roles, reflecting expertise and impact.

• Fully Remote Working Model: Freedom to work from any location.

• Work from Anywhere: Flexibility to choose your work environment.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): 4 weeks of paid vacation annually.

• Health Allowance: A budget or reimbursement for health-related expenses.

• Learning Budget: Financial support for professional development, courses, and conferences.

• Premium AI Tooling: Access to advanced AI tools to enhance design capabilities.

• High-Autonomy Environment: Significant independence in managing work and decision-making.

• Direct Collaboration: Opportunity to work closely with senior leadership, including the Design Lead, Product Managers, and founders.

• Career Progression: Clear pathways for growth within a major international technology company.

• Impactful Projects: Work on high-impact data platforms and AI solutions.

• Mentorship & Development: Guidance and tools to support career growth and potential realization.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, typically around 40 hours per week. Given the remote and B2B/Contractor nature, there might be flexibility in scheduling, but consistent availability for asynchronous communication and scheduled meetings is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation is described as a "competitive package" and "aligned to senior Product Designer." The initial B2B/Contractor status means the "salary" will likely be a day rate or project fee, which should be negotiated based on market rates for similar senior remote contractor roles in Europe. The benefits listed are substantial and indicate a company that invests in its remote workforce. The salary estimate is based on general market data for senior remote product designers in major European tech hubs, acknowledging that contractor rates can differ from full-time employment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: International AI Company, likely operating within the technology sector with a focus on consumer-facing AI applications, potentially including areas like AI companionship, entertainment, or advanced interactive services. The mention of "adult-content product experiences" suggests a niche within this broad industry.

Company Size: Described as "fast-growing," implying a dynamic startup or scale-up environment. This typically means a lean team structure, rapid iteration cycles, and significant opportunities for individual impact. The "fully remote R&D team" suggests a distributed workforce.

Founded: While the founding date isn't specified, the "fast-growing" nature and the involvement of "founders" in direct collaboration indicate a relatively young company with ambitious growth plans. This environment often fosters innovation and a strong sense of mission.

Team Structure:

• Operations Team: The core team will likely consist of Product Designers, Product Managers, Engineers, and Founders. The Design Lead will be a key figure for the Product Designer.

• Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to the Design Lead or potentially directly to a founder, given the company's size and the role's high autonomy.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Strong collaboration is expected between Product Design, Product Management, and Engineering to ensure seamless product development from concept to launch. Collaboration with founders will be crucial for strategic alignment.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Given the "fast-moving product environment" and "frequently developed new interaction models," an agile or lean development methodology is highly probable.

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the mention of "high-impact data platforms powering analytics and AI solutions" suggests that data will play a significant role in informing design decisions.

• Remote-First Collaboration: Processes will be optimized for asynchronous communication and effective remote teamwork.

Company Website: https://davidkennedyrecruitment.teamtailor.com (This is the recruitment agency's site; the actual company website is not provided but is likely an AI-focused tech company).

📝 Enhancement Note: The company operates in the cutting-edge AI space, likely with a consumer focus and a unique niche (adult content). The culture will be fast-paced, autonomous, and remote-first, requiring individuals who are self-starters and thrive in dynamic environments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role. It signifies a level of expertise where individuals are expected to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (if the team grows), and make significant contributions to product strategy. The "end-to-end" responsibility indicates a designer who can own features and drive them from conception to launch with minimal oversight.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to the Design Lead or a senior product role. Direct interaction with founders is also a key aspect, offering exposure to high-level strategic discussions.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is central to the company's success. By creating engaging, intuitive, and effective user experiences for AI-powered products, they will directly influence user adoption, retention, monetization, and overall product growth. Their work on chat, character creation, and monetization flows will be critical for revenue generation and user engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Design Lead role as the company scales, managing a team and shaping the design vision.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI-driven design, interactive experiences, or monetization strategies.

• Strategic Influence: Gain experience contributing to the strategic direction of a fast-growing AI company.

• Skill Expansion: Develop skills in areas like motion design, 3D, or advanced prototyping through provided learning budgets and project work.

• Transition to Full-time: Opportunity for a stable, full-time role with expanded benefits and responsibilities after the initial contract period.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential, not just in design skills but also in strategic influence and leadership, especially within a rapidly expanding AI company. The autonomy and direct access to founders are key differentiators for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning there is no central office. The work environment is distributed, with team members working from their chosen locations across Europe.

Office Location(s): The job posting lists multiple cities across Europe (Paris, London, Lisbon, Milan, Rome, Berlin, Athens, Barcelona, Bari, Split) as potential bases for remote workers, indicating the company's broad operational reach within the continent. However, the role itself is fully remote, meaning physical presence in any of these cities is not required.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Setup: Team members are responsible for setting up their own productive home office environments.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital tools for communication, project management, and design collaboration (e.g., Slack, Figma, video conferencing).

• Autonomous Work: A high degree of independence in managing daily tasks and workflow.

• Flexible Schedule (within reason): While core hours for meetings might exist, the remote nature generally allows for some flexibility in daily scheduling, provided asynchronous communication and deliverables are met.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) are expected. The remote nature may offer flexibility in start and end times, but consistent availability for team synchronization and critical meetings is a must.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "work from anywhere" benefit and the broad list of European cities suggest a company that is truly embracing a distributed workforce model. Candidates should be comfortable with self-management and digital collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience alignment.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, highlighting relevant case studies, your design process, and your experience with AI tools and mobile-first design. Be prepared to discuss specific design decisions and their impact.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a design challenge (e.g., a small design task, a critique of an existing interface, or a problem-solving exercise) to evaluate your practical skills in Figma, prototyping, and strategic thinking.

• Behavioral & Cultural Fit Interview: Discussions to assess your autonomy, collaboration style, communication skills (especially async), and comfort with the company's niche.

• Founder/Lead Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to gauge strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-4 of your strongest case studies that best represent your end-to-end product design capabilities, mobile-first experience, and any AI tool usage.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your unique role and contributions, the design process (research, ideation, iteration, prototyping), challenges, and quantifiable outcomes.

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly detail how you used AI tools in your workflow and the benefits they brought. Be ready to discuss specific tools and techniques.

• Showcase Visual Craft: Ensure your portfolio is visually polished, modern, and easy to navigate. High-quality mockups and interactive prototypes are essential.

• Explain Mobile-First Rationale: Clearly articulate your design decisions through the lens of a mobile-first strategy.

• Be Prepared for Niche Questions: If you have experience with NSFW, dating, or AI companionship platforms, highlight it. If not, be prepared to discuss your understanding and approach to designing for such sensitive content.

Challenge Preparation:

• Figma Mastery: Be proficient in Figma's core features, including auto layout, components, variants, and prototyping.

• Problem-Solving: Practice breaking down design problems, identifying user needs, and proposing creative solutions.

• AI Tool Familiarity: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI design tools and their potential applications.

• Communication: Practice articulating your thought process clearly and concisely, both verbally and visually.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both your technical design skills and your ability to thrive in a remote, autonomous, and AI-focused environment. The portfolio presentation is a critical step, so invest time in preparing it effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the mandatory core design tool for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Advanced skills are required.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma's built-in capabilities, familiarity with other advanced prototyping methods (e.g., code-based prototypes, specialized tools) may be advantageous.

• AI Design Tools: Daily use is expected. Examples could include AI-powered image generators (Midjourney, DALL-E), AI writing assistants for copy (Jasper, Copy.ai), AI for user research analysis, or AI-assisted design platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary requirement for the designer, understanding how to interpret user data and analytics from tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or internal dashboards will be crucial for informing design decisions and measuring impact. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer's core responsibilities, but awareness of how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) might influence user segmentation or product marketing could be beneficial. Other Potential Tools:

• Project Management: Tools like Jira, Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing tasks and project workflows.

• Communication: Slack for real-time messaging, Zoom/Google Meet for video conferencing.

• Version Control (for code-based prototypes): Git, GitHub.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is non-negotiable. The explicit requirement for daily use of AI tools means candidates should be prepared to discuss specific AI applications they've integrated into their workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Experimentation: A culture that encourages exploring new interaction models and leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies.

• Autonomy & Ownership: High value placed on individuals taking initiative, managing their work independently, and owning their product areas.

• Collaboration & Communication: Strong emphasis on effective remote communication, particularly asynchronous methods, and cross-functional teamwork.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Decisions are informed by user data, analytics, and performance metrics to drive product improvements.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and meeting user needs through intuitive and engaging design.

• Adaptability: Willingness to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment where product features and interaction models change frequently.

Collaboration Style:

• Remote-First: All collaboration happens digitally, requiring clear, concise communication and proactive engagement.

• Asynchronous Focus: Processes are designed to minimize the need for real-time meetings, allowing for flexibility across time zones.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers work closely with Product Managers and Engineers, fostering a collaborative approach to problem-solving and product development.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is geared towards self-motivated individuals who excel in remote, autonomous environments and are eager to innovate within the AI space. Strong communication and collaboration skills, especially in an asynchronous context, are paramount.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Niche Content: Comfort and ability to design effectively for "adult-content product experiences" which may present unique ethical and design considerations.

• Rapid Iteration: Keeping pace with a fast-moving product environment where new features and interaction models are frequently developed requires agility.

• Remote Collaboration: Mastering asynchronous communication and maintaining strong team cohesion in a fully remote setting can be challenging.

• AI Tool Integration: Staying current with and effectively integrating rapidly evolving AI design tools into a robust workflow.

• Balancing Autonomy and Alignment: Maintaining independent design direction while ensuring alignment with the founders' vision and strategic goals.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Become an expert in leveraging AI for product design, a highly in-demand skill.

• Advanced Prototyping: Develop skills in code-based prototyping or other advanced techniques.

• Strategic Design Leadership: Gain experience contributing to product strategy and potentially leading design initiatives as the company grows.

• Industry Conferences & Certifications: Utilize the learning budget to attend relevant design or AI conferences and pursue certifications.

• Mentorship: Benefit from direct guidance from senior design and product leaders, as well as founders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but also present substantial growth opportunities, particularly in the specialized field of AI-driven product design and the nuances of designing for specific content niches.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a new chat experience for an AI companion, considering potential user privacy concerns and emotional engagement?" (Focus on user-centered approach, ethical considerations, and iterative design)

• "Describe a time you had to work autonomously on a critical product feature. What was your process, and how did you ensure alignment with stakeholders?" (Highlight ownership, communication, and problem-solving)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a monetization flow for a consumer product. What metrics would you track, and how would you optimize it?" (Demonstrate understanding of business goals, user psychology, and data-driven optimization) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working with AI technologies, particularly in the context of consumer-facing applications?" (Show genuine curiosity and understanding of the AI landscape)

• "How do you approach working in a fully remote, asynchronous environment? What strategies do you use to stay connected and productive?" (Emphasize communication skills, self-discipline, and proactive engagement)

• "Given our focus on potentially sensitive content, how do you approach designing for user safety and ethical considerations?" (Address comfort with the niche and demonstrate responsible design practices) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Begin with an overview of your career and design philosophy, then dive into 2-3 key case studies. For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, your solutions, and the outcomes.

• Highlight AI Integration: Dedicate specific slides or talking points to how you've used AI tools, demonstrating their practical application and impact on your work.

• Showcase Visuals & Prototypes: Use high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes to bring your designs to life. Explain the rationale behind your visual and interaction design choices.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or data that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, user satisfaction).

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design decisions, challenges, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools in detail and articulate your comfort level and design approach for the company's specific niche. Your portfolio presentation is your primary opportunity to showcase your skills and strategic thinking.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

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

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of end-to-end consumer product design experience, mobile-first product shipping, and any experience with AI tools, NSFW/dating platforms, or monetization strategies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date, showcases strong visual craft, includes detailed case studies of shipped consumer products, and explicitly demonstrates your use of AI tools and mobile-first design principles.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, clarity of process, and the impact of your designs. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI tools and the company's niche.

• Research the Company: Understand the company's mission and the AI landscape it operates within. Prepare thoughtful questions about the product, team, and culture.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.