Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: illumin

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

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

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the end-to-end product design lifecycle, from initial concept through to final execution, ensuring a cohesive and impactful user experience.

• Craft intuitive and engaging user interfaces by developing wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Product Managers, Engineers, and stakeholders, to align design initiatives with strategic business objectives and user needs.

• Champion user-centric design principles and advocate for user needs throughout the product development process, ensuring accessibility and inclusivity.

• Maintain and evolve the company's design system and component libraries to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability across all product offerings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role requires a blend of strategic thinking and hands-on design execution, with a strong emphasis on user research, data-driven decision-making, and collaboration within an Agile framework. The hybrid model indicates a need for strong communication and self-management skills for remote workdays.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the product design process for new features and product enhancements, from ideation and user research to detailed design specifications.

• Develop comprehensive user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups that effectively communicate design concepts and user interactions.

• Conduct user research, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights and validate design decisions.

• Collaborate with Product Managers to define product requirements and translate them into intuitive and user-friendly design solutions.

• Partner with Engineers to ensure accurate implementation of designs, providing clear specifications and design assets, and iterating based on technical constraints or feedback.

• Maintain and contribute to the evolution of the design system, component libraries, and style guides to ensure brand consistency and design efficiency.

• Advocate for UX best practices, accessibility standards (WCAG), and inclusive design principles across all product touchpoints.

• Stay abreast of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitor products to inform design strategy and identify opportunities for innovation.

• Present design concepts and rationale clearly and persuasively to cross-functional teams and stakeholders, incorporating feedback effectively.

• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement by sharing knowledge, participating in design critiques, and experimenting with new tools and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a proactive and ownership-driven approach to product design, requiring the candidate to not only execute designs but also to influence product strategy and champion user needs within a product-led organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, Computer Science, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience, is generally preferred for this level of role.

Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of professional experience in Product Design, UX Design, or UI Design, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered digital products. Experience in fast-paced industries such as AdTech, FinTech, SaaS, or related technology sectors is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A strong, well-curated portfolio showcasing end-to-end product design experience, including case studies demonstrating design thinking, interaction design, visual design, and problem-solving capabilities.

• Design Tools Proficiency: Expertise in industry-standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma, Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• User Research & Testing: Proficient in conducting user research methodologies (e.g., interviews, surveys) and usability testing to inform design decisions and gather actionable insights.

• Interaction & Visual Design: Strong skills in wireframing, prototyping, interaction design, and creating visually appealing, user-friendly interfaces.

• Design Systems & Component Libraries: Experience in creating, maintaining, and utilizing design systems and component libraries for consistent and scalable product design.

• Agile Methodology: Familiarity and experience working within Agile development environments, including cross-functional collaboration in sprints and planning.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present concepts effectively, and engage with stakeholders.

• Problem-Solving: A strong analytical and problem-solving mindset, capable of breaking down complex challenges and developing effective design solutions.

Preferred Skills:

• Front-End Technologies: Basic understanding or experience with front-end development concepts (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineering teams.

• Accessibility Standards: In-depth knowledge of accessibility guidelines (e.g., WCAG) and experience implementing inclusive design practices.

• Data-Driven Design: Experience with leveraging analytics and user data to inform design iterations and optimizations.

• Responsive & Adaptive Design: Proficiency in designing for various screen sizes and devices.

• Experience in AdTech/SaaS: Specific domain experience within the advertising technology or Software-as-a-Service industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "70% of what we are looking for" clause suggests a flexible approach to qualifications, emphasizing core design skills and a growth mindset over rigid adherence to every single requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Case Study Depth: Showcase 2-3 comprehensive case studies detailing your design process from problem identification through to solution implementation and impact.

• Problem/Solution Framing: Clearly articulate the user problem or business challenge addressed in each case study and how your design solution effectively solved it.

• Process Visualization: Illustrate your design process with artifacts such as user personas, journey maps, wireframes, user flows, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups.

• User-Centricity: Demonstrate a strong focus on user needs, supported by evidence from user research, usability testing, and data analysis.

• Impact Measurement: Quantify the impact of your designs where possible, using metrics related to user engagement, conversion rates, task completion, or business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Design Thinking Methodology: Highlight your structured approach to design, including research, ideation, prototyping, testing, and iteration phases.

• Collaboration Evidence: Show examples of how you collaborated with product managers, engineers, and other stakeholders, including communication methods and feedback integration.

• Design System Contribution: If applicable, demonstrate experience with or understanding of design systems, component libraries, and their importance in maintaining design consistency and efficiency.

• Iterative Refinement: Provide examples of how you iterated on designs based on feedback, testing results, or evolving requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, serving as the primary evidence of design capability. Candidates should select projects that best demonstrate their ability to handle the full product design lifecycle, especially within a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $105,000 CAD per year.

Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive coverage including Life Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance, Long-term Disability Insurance, prescription drug coverage, dental care, vision care, mental health support, and professional health services.

• Financial Support: A $300 annual healthcare spending account for additional health-related expenses.

• Work-Life Balance: Access to a workplace advisor, the Vitality Wellness app, and a flexible work environment.

• In-Office Perks: A meal credit for days worked in the office and an in-house Registered Massage Therapist (RMT) massage every eight weeks.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with a hybrid arrangement requiring 3 days in the Toronto office. The company culture emphasizes a bias for speed and delivery, suggesting a dynamic work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level Product Designer in Toronto. The benefits package is robust, with a particular emphasis on wellness and work-life balance, including unique perks like in-house massages. The hybrid requirement of 3 days in-office is clearly defined.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, specifically focused on advertising technology (AdTech) and marketing platforms. illumin is transforming the advertising landscape with an integrated platform for journey planning, execution, and reporting.

Company Size: Over 100 skilled professionals, positioning it as a growing mid-sized company undergoing a significant transformation with new leadership.

Founded: The company's founding date is not explicitly stated but is presented as being in a "pivotal moment" of evolution.

Team Structure:

• Product Pods: The Product Designer will be part of a dedicated "product pod," indicating a cross-functional, agile team structure comprising Product Managers, Engineers, and Designers.

• Reporting: Reports to the Director of Product, suggesting a clear reporting line within the product organization.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: High emphasis on collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, and various stakeholders across the organization.

Methodology:

• Product-Led Growth: Transitioning into a product-led company, meaning the product itself is a primary driver of customer acquisition, growth, and expansion.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Heavy reliance on real-time data, AI capabilities, and user insights to inform product development and business strategy.

• Agile Development: Operations within an Agile framework, necessitating iterative development, flexibility, and continuous feedback loops.

• User-Centric Design: A strong commitment to upfront investment in discovery, customer testing, and prototyping to ensure features meet genuine user needs.

Company Website: https://illumin.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company is in a significant growth and transformation phase, making it an exciting time to join for individuals who thrive in evolving environments and want to influence product direction. The product-led approach and focus on data/AI are key differentiators.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Mid-Level Product Designer role, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It involves end-to-end design ownership and significant cross-functional collaboration, acting as a key contributor within a product pod.

Reporting Structure: The role reports directly to the Director of Product. This provides a clear path for mentorship and feedback from senior leadership within the product and design functions.

Operations Impact: As a Product Designer in a product-led company, the impact is direct and significant. The role influences user experience, product adoption, customer satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's market position and revenue growth through effective and engaging product design. The focus on data-driven decisions and AI further amplifies the potential impact of well-executed designs.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX/UI design, interaction design, user research, and design systems through hands-on project work and potential external training (e.g., Meta Lab).

• Product Strategy Influence: As part of a product pod and reporting to the Director of Product, there's potential to influence product roadmap decisions and contribute to strategic product planning.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and growth, opportunities may arise to take on more complex projects, mentor junior designers, or move into senior or lead design roles.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining experience in the dynamic AdTech/SaaS sector and contributing to a company undergoing a major transformation offers valuable career capital.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company emphasizes professional development and growth, suggesting that ambitious designers can find opportunities to expand their skill sets and career trajectory within illumin, especially given its current stage of transformation.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model with a requirement to be in the downtown Toronto office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This setup balances remote flexibility with in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The office is located in downtown Toronto, described as being within minutes of St. Andrew and Union subway stations, indicating excellent accessibility via public transit.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: In-office days are designed for collaboration, team meetings, and in-person brainstorming sessions, fostering a sense of team cohesion and facilitating cross-functional work.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially other collaboration and project management software integral to an Agile and product-led environment.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with Product Managers, Engineers, and other "illumineers" during in-office days, promoting knowledge sharing and a strong team culture.

Work Schedule: While not explicitly detailed beyond the hybrid requirement, standard full-time working hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are implied. The culture emphasizes speed and delivery, suggesting a dynamic and potentially fast-paced work environment, balanced by the company's commitment to work-life balance and employee well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a key feature, designed to capture the benefits of both remote work (flexibility) and in-office presence (collaboration and culture building). The office location is prime for commuting within Toronto.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Stage 1: Virtual Interview with Talent Advisor: Initial screening to discuss your interest, background, career aspirations, and alignment with the role. This interview will be recorded using AI-powered BrightHire.

• Stage 2: Virtual Interview with Director of Product: A deeper dive into your product design experience, design process, problem-solving skills, and alignment with the company's product vision. This stage is also an opportunity for you to learn more about the team and culture.

• Stage 3: Take-Home Design Exercise: A practical assignment to assess your design thinking, problem-solving approach, communication skills, and ability to balance user needs with business objectives in a simulated scenario.

• Stage 4: In-Person Collaboration Session: A final session at the Toronto office involving the Director of Product, a Product Manager, and an Engineer. You will present and discuss your design exercise, engage in collaborative problem-solving, and assess cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 2-3 projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and impact, aligning with the company's focus on product-led growth and data-driven design.

• Tell a Story: Structure each case study as a narrative: the problem, your approach (research, ideation, design), the solution, and the outcomes/impact. Use visuals effectively to support your story.

• Highlight Process: Clearly demonstrate your design thinking, research methodologies, iterative process, and how you incorporated user feedback and data.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics to show the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, increased engagement). If exact metrics aren't available, discuss the intended impact and how success would be measured.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to articulate your design decisions, trade-offs made, and the rationale behind them, especially during the in-person collaboration session.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research illumin's product, target audience, and industry (AdTech/SaaS) to inform your approach to the design exercise.

• Focus on Process: While the final design is important, emphasize your thought process, how you approached the problem, and the rationale behind your decisions.

• Showcase Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you would collaborate with product managers and engineers on the exercise, demonstrating your cross-functional skills.

• Time Management: Practice time management for the take-home exercise to ensure you can deliver a complete and well-reasoned submission within the given timeframe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is multi-stage and includes a practical design exercise and an in-person collaboration session, indicating a thorough evaluation of both technical skills and cultural fit. The emphasis on AI recording for the initial call is a modern hiring practice.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Expected to be the primary tool for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity UI design, given its industry prevalence and illumin's likely modern tech stack.

• Sketch: A strong possibility as an alternative or complementary tool for UI design.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in tools like Photoshop and Illustrator for asset creation, image editing, and potentially more advanced visual design tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While specific tools aren't listed, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) is beneficial for understanding user behavior and informing data-driven design decisions.

• Experience with dashboarding tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) could be advantageous for interpreting performance data. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the Product Designer role but understanding the broader MarTech/AdTech ecosystem, including CRM and automation platforms, can provide valuable context for designing integrated user experiences. Design Systems & Collaboration:

• Design System Tools: Experience with or ability to contribute to and maintain design systems and component libraries.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency with tools like Slack, Jira, Confluence, and project management software for cross-functional communication and workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirements focus on industry-standard design tools. Experience with analytics platforms and an understanding of the broader AdTech/SaaS ecosystem would be a significant plus, demonstrating a holistic approach to product design.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bias for Speed & Delivery: A culture that values quick execution and getting things done, balanced with thoughtful product development.

• Delivery Over Perfection: An emphasis on iterative progress and launching features that meet core needs, rather than striving for absolute perfection initially.

• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Encouraging team members to take initiative, innovate, and contribute ideas that drive the company forward.

• People-Centric: A belief that the quality of people is paramount to success, fostering an environment of support, growth, and respect.

• Data-Driven & AI-Powered: Utilizing data and artificial intelligence to inform decisions, optimize processes, and enhance product capabilities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Strong emphasis on seamless collaboration within "product pods" and across departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Sales) to ensure alignment and shared goals.

• Feedback Exchange: An environment where feedback is actively sought, given, and incorporated, particularly in design critiques and sprint reviews.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, learnings, and best practices, especially through design critiques and team discussions.

• User-Centric Advocacy: Designers are expected to be strong advocates for the user, translating user needs and insights into actionable design improvements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is characterized by a dynamic, forward-thinking approach with a strong emphasis on execution, innovation, and people development. Designers are expected to be proactive collaborators and user advocates within this framework.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Transformation: Adapting to and contributing to a company undergoing a significant transformation requires flexibility and an ability to embrace change.

• Balancing Speed & Quality: Effectively balancing the company's "bias for speed" with the need for thoughtful, user-centered design and high-quality execution.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent communication and alignment on design vision and execution across diverse teams (Product, Engineering, Marketing) with potentially different priorities.

• Evolving Design System: Contributing to and maintaining a design system in a rapidly evolving product environment can be challenging but also rewarding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of UX/UI, such as advanced interaction design, user research methodologies, or design systems architecture.

• Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth knowledge of the AdTech and SaaS industries, understanding the unique challenges and opportunities within this space.

• Leadership Development: Opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead design initiatives, or take on more strategic product responsibilities as the company grows.

• Continuous Learning: Access to external training, industry conferences, and resources to stay current with design trends, tools, and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to a growing, transforming company. The growth opportunities are tied to the company's ambition and the individual designer's drive for continuous improvement and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a feature from initial concept to a fully designed and tested solution." (Focus on your design thinking, research, iteration, and collaboration steps.)

• "How do you prioritize conflicting feedback from stakeholders and users?" (Demonstrate your ability to balance user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.)

• "Walk us through a challenging design problem you solved. What was the problem, what was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Use a portfolio case study, emphasizing your problem-solving methodology and impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about illumin's product and our transformation?" (Research the company's platform, target market, and recent strategic shifts.)

• "How do you contribute to a fast-paced, product-led environment?" (Highlight your bias for action, iterative approach, and entrepreneurial spirit.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are inclusive and accessible?" (Discuss your understanding of accessibility standards and practical application.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected case study, clearly outline the problem, your role, the process undertaken (research, ideation, design, testing), the solution, and the measurable impact or learnings.

• Visual Storytelling: Use compelling visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your design process and final solutions. Ensure they are high-quality and easy to understand.

• Articulate Rationale: Be prepared to explain why you made specific design decisions, referencing user research, data, or design principles. Discuss trade-offs made and how you arrived at them.

• Engage in Collaboration: During the in-person session, treat it as a collaborative working session. Be open to discussion, constructive feedback, and demonstrate how you can work effectively with product managers and engineers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on showcasing a robust, user-centered design process, strong collaboration skills, and an understanding of illumin's business context and culture. The take-home exercise and final collaboration session are key opportunities to demonstrate practical application.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your experience in Product Design, UX/UI, and relevant tools (Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite). Quantify your achievements with metrics where possible, focusing on impact and collaboration.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 strong case studies that best represent your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to deliver user-centered solutions. Ensure it's easily accessible and well-organized.

• Prepare for Interviews: Research illumin's product and company values. Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and how you handle feedback and collaboration. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail.

• Understand the Hybrid Model: Be prepared to discuss your experience or comfort level with hybrid work arrangements and your ability to contribute effectively both remotely and in the office.

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

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