Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Kmart Group

Location: Chadstone, VIC, Australia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: September 15, 2026

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Shape impactful digital products and customer experiences for millions of users across Kmart and Target brands.

• Drive product strategy through a deep understanding of customer needs, business objectives, and data-driven insights.

• Own the design process within assigned product areas, from discovery and concept development through to delivery, measurement, and continuous improvement.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with Product, Engineering, Analytics, Marketing, and other key stakeholders to achieve impactful customer and business outcomes.

• Champion user-centered design principles, accessibility, and inclusive design practices to create intuitive and scalable digital solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level Product Designer, indicated by the 2-5 years of experience and the expectation to "take ownership of design within your product area." The emphasis on shaping digital products for millions of customers and collaborating across multiple departments suggests a significant impact within a large retail organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate customer needs, business objectives, and data-driven insights into thoughtful and effective design solutions that support product strategy.

• Manage the end-to-end design lifecycle for assigned product areas, encompassing discovery, concept development, detailed UX/UI design, delivery, and iteration.

• Partner closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Analytics, Trade, Marketing, SEO, and other cross-functional teams to identify opportunities and deliver exceptional customer and business outcomes.

• Balance customer needs, business goals, and technical feasibility to create practical, scalable, and user-friendly design solutions.

• Leverage customer research, behavioral data, market insights, and experimentation to inform design decisions, evaluate performance, and drive continuous improvement.

• Plan and conduct customer research and usability testing, translating findings into actionable product decisions and design enhancements.

• Apply strong UX, UI, and interaction design principles, utilizing user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes to explore, communicate, and validate design concepts.

• Contribute to and leverage the Kmart Group design system to ensure consistency, accessibility, and scalability across digital experiences.

• Integrate accessibility and inclusive design principles to create experiences that cater to a diverse customer base.

• Stay abreast of industry best practices, emerging design trends, and new methodologies, actively bringing relevant ideas and learnings into the team.

• Participate actively in design critiques and peer reviews, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of design work.

• Share insights, learnings, and knowledge with the broader design team and stakeholders, contributing to the continuous improvement of Kmart Group’s product design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a comprehensive product design role that spans the entire product development lifecycle. The emphasis on data utilization, experimentation, and collaboration with diverse stakeholders (Analytics, Trade, Marketing, SEO) suggests a highly integrated and analytical approach to design within Kmart Group.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating practical application of design principles is paramount. Backgrounds in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Digital Design, Graphic Design, Psychology, or related fields are often beneficial.

Experience: Demonstrated experience designing and shipping digital products and experiences that effectively solve real customer problems is required. A minimum of 2-5 years of professional product design experience is implied by the "mid-level" designation and the scope of responsibilities.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in designing and shipping digital products and user experiences that address genuine customer needs.

• A compelling portfolio showcasing a robust design process, strategic problem-solving capabilities, and tangible contributions to shipped product outcomes.

• A clear understanding of the end-to-end product development lifecycle, from initial discovery and problem framing through to detailed UX, UI, and interaction design.

• Strong product thinking skills, with the ability to effectively balance customer needs, business objectives, and technical constraints.

• Proficiency in creating user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes using modern design tools, with a specific emphasis on Figma.

• Understanding of component-based design systems and their role in enabling consistent, scalable digital experiences.

• Solid grasp of user-centered design principles and practical experience conducting or applying customer research.

• Excellent communication skills, capable of clearly articulating design rationale and making complex design problems accessible to diverse audiences across different disciplines and organizational levels.

• A collaborative approach, with a proven ability to build strong working relationships with Product, Engineering, and other business stakeholders.

• A proactive and problem-solving mindset, demonstrating the confidence to identify opportunities, ask critical questions, and take initiative to drive work forward.

• Adaptability and comfort with ambiguity, with the ability to adjust design approaches as priorities, customer needs, and business challenges evolve in a fast-paced environment.

• Curiosity and a growth mindset, with a genuine eagerness to learn, seek feedback, develop design craft, and continuously improve.

• Ability to work independently within an area of responsibility while recognizing when to seek guidance, collaborate, and involve others.

• Willingness to actively contribute to the broader design team and share knowledge and expertise with colleagues. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with accessibility standards (WCAG) and inclusive design practices.

• Familiarity with Agile development methodologies.

• Experience working within a large retail organization or e-commerce environment.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to better understand technical feasibility.

• Experience with A/B testing and data analysis to inform design iterations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of technical design skills, strategic thinking, and strong interpersonal abilities. The explicit mention of Figma and design systems points to specific tool and methodology expectations. The "2-5 years" experience level is inferred from the balanced responsibilities and the need for both independent work and collaboration.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio that clearly demonstrates your end-to-end design process, from problem definition and research to ideation, iteration, and final execution.

• Case studies should highlight specific customer problems and business objectives, outlining the design challenges and your strategic approach to solving them.

• Showcase tangible contributions to shipped product outcomes, including metrics or evidence of impact where possible.

• Clearly articulate your role and responsibilities within each project presented.

• Visual examples should include user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity mockups, and interactive prototypes. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of utilizing design thinking methodologies to frame and solve complex problems.

• Examples of how customer research and usability testing insights were translated into actionable design decisions and product improvements.

• Demonstrations of working with or contributing to design systems, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

• Examples of balancing customer needs, business goals, and technical constraints in design solutions.

• Showcasing an understanding of accessibility and inclusive design principles in practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, decision-making rationale, and the impact of their work. Specific emphasis is placed on demonstrating problem-solving, user research application, and collaboration within a product development context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Product Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Melbourne, Australia, a competitive salary range can be estimated between AUD $90,000 - $130,000 per annum. This estimate considers the cost of living in Melbourne, the company's size and industry standing, and the typical compensation for specialized design roles.

Benefits:

• Flexible hybrid working options through the "Flex Where, Flex When, Flex Well" policy, promoting work-life balance.

• A team member discount card offering savings at Kmart, Target, Officeworks, and Bunnings.

• Access to the "Brighter Benefits" program, providing exclusive discounts and benefits across entertainment, travel, lifestyle, and health from over 60 suppliers.

• Eligibility for a bonus program, rewarding commitment and hard work.

• Inclusive parental leave and ongoing support through a partnership with Circle In, catering to diverse family circumstances.

• A dynamic learning and support program designed for professional development.

• Opportunities for career advancement through the Mentor Program, as either a Mentee or Mentor.

• A "Kudos" recognition program where peers can nominate colleagues for prizes.

• Potential for career growth across the broader Wesfarmers Group.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 38-40 hours per week. The hybrid work policy suggests flexibility in how and where these hours are completed, with potential for remote work days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on general market data for similar roles in the specified location and experience level. Actual compensation will be determined by Kmart Group based on the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and internal compensation structures. The benefits package is extensive and highlights Kmart Group's commitment to employee well-being and professional growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail. Kmart Group operates two of Australia's most iconic retail brands, Kmart and Target, serving millions of customers weekly. This context means the Product Designer will be working on digital experiences that directly impact a vast consumer base and contribute to significant revenue streams within a highly competitive market. The pace is fast, and innovation is key to maintaining market leadership.

Company Size: Kmart Group is part of the Wesfarmers Group, a large conglomerate. Kmart itself employs tens of thousands of individuals across stores, distribution centers, and offices globally. This scale implies a structured environment with established processes, but also opportunities for significant impact due to the sheer volume of users and transactions.

Founded: While the exact founding date of the specific Kmart Group digital division isn't provided, Kmart Australia was founded in 1969. This long history suggests a stable company with evolving digital capabilities, likely undergoing significant digital transformation.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team is part of a larger digital product organization within Kmart Group. It likely comprises multiple Product Designers, UX Researchers, UI Designers, and potentially Design Leads or Managers.

• The reporting structure would typically see Product Designers reporting to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, who in turn reports into a broader Product or Digital leadership team.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone of this role, with designers working closely with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, Marketing, Trade, and SEO specialists. This indicates a highly integrated, agile product development environment. Methodology:

• Data Analysis and Insights Methods: The role emphasizes using customer research, behavioral data, market insights, and experimentation to inform design. This suggests a data-driven approach, likely involving analytics platforms, A/B testing tools, and UX research methodologies.

• Workflow Planning and Optimization Strategies: Designers are expected to manage their product area from discovery through delivery and iteration, implying a structured workflow and a focus on optimizing user journeys and business processes.

• Automation and Efficiency Practices: While not explicitly stated as a primary focus for the designer, the drive for efficient and scalable experiences suggests an appreciation for how design can enable automation and streamline user interactions.

Company Website: https://www.kmart.com.au/

📝 Enhancement Note: Kmart Group's position as a major retailer means the Product Designer will operate within a large, established organization undergoing digital evolution. The emphasis on data, collaboration, and impact for millions of customers is central to understanding the role's context and expectations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as a mid-level Product Designer, typically requiring 2-5 years of hands-on experience. It signifies a transition from junior roles where guidance is more frequent, to a position where more autonomy is expected. The designer is responsible for owning specific product areas, driving design strategy within those areas, and collaborating independently with cross-functional teams. This level demands a solid foundation in design principles, proficiency with design tools, and the ability to translate complex problems into elegant solutions.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Head of Product Design. They will work within product squads or pods, collaborating closely with a Product Manager and a team of Engineers. This structure fosters agile development and ensures design is integrated throughout the product lifecycle.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's impact is directly tied to enhancing the digital customer experience for millions of Kmart and Target customers. By creating intuitive, useful, and impactful digital products, they contribute directly to customer satisfaction, engagement, conversion rates, and ultimately, revenue for the business. Their work influences how customers interact with the brands online, driving both immediate sales and long-term brand loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities exist to deepen expertise in specific areas such as UX research, interaction design, UI design, design systems, or accessibility. The role encourages continuous learning through exposure to diverse product challenges and industry best practices.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and initiative, growth into senior designer roles, design lead positions, or even management tracks within the Product Design team or broader digital organization is possible. Mentorship opportunities (as a mentee or mentor) further support leadership development.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working across various departments (Product, Engineering, Marketing, Trade, SEO) provides broad exposure to different business functions, which can open doors to roles in product management, UX strategy, or other areas within the Wesfarmers Group.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth from a mid-level contributor to a more senior or specialized position. The emphasis on data-driven design, collaboration, and impact within a large retail context provides a strong foundation for career progression in the digital product space.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," indicating a mix of remote and in-office work. The specific office location is Chadstone, VIC, Australia. This suggests a modern office environment designed to support collaborative work, with dedicated spaces for design activities, team meetings, and focused work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is Chadstone, Victoria, Australia. This is a well-known commercial hub, likely offering good accessibility via public transport and proximity to amenities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on cross-functional collaboration suggest an office space designed to facilitate teamwork, brainstorming sessions, and design critiques. Expect meeting rooms equipped for presentations and collaborative software tools.

• Operations Tools & Technology: The role explicitly mentions Figma as a primary design tool. The office environment would likely provide access to high-performance computers, large monitors, and potentially specialized hardware for prototyping or user testing. Access to company networks and collaboration platforms is standard.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid nature means opportunities for in-person interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineers will be scheduled, likely around key project milestones or designated team days. Remote collaboration tools will be essential for day-to-day communication.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is expected, with flexibility offered through the hybrid working policy. This means employees can choose to work from home or the office on designated days, allowing for better management of personal needs alongside work responsibilities. The focus is on outcomes and effective collaboration, rather than strict adherence to a 9-to-5 in-office schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key feature, offering flexibility. Candidates should be prepared for a collaborative office environment in Chadstone, VIC, while also leveraging remote work capabilities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and design experience.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where you'll present your portfolio, walking through 1-3 case studies. Expect to discuss your design process, problem-solving approach, collaboration style, and the impact of your work. This often involves a discussion with a hiring manager or senior designer.

• Design Challenge/Exercise: You may be asked to complete a take-home design challenge or participate in an in-person/virtual design exercise. This could involve critiquing an existing experience, proposing solutions for a given problem, or sketching out ideas. The focus will be on your thought process, problem-solving skills, and how you apply design principles.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineers, or other stakeholders to assess your collaboration skills, communication clarity, and ability to integrate design within a broader product development team.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader (e.g., Head of Product Design, Head of Digital) to discuss strategic alignment, cultural fit, and long-term career aspirations.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 2-3 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills and the breadth of your experience relevant to this role.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the outcomes (quantified if possible).

• Highlight Your Process: Showcase your thinking – how you approach problems, conduct research, iterate on designs, and collaborate with others.

• Demonstrate Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics, user feedback, or business results that illustrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to answer detailed questions about your design decisions, trade-offs, and learnings.

• Tailor to Kmart: If possible, subtly tailor your presentation to reflect an understanding of Kmart's brand and customer base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and understand the requirements of any design challenge. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Focus on Process: Even if time is limited, demonstrate your design thinking process. Show how you'd approach the problem, even if you can't complete every step.

• Communicate Clearly: Whether written or verbal, articulate your assumptions, rationale, and proposed solutions clearly and concisely.

• Consider Constraints: Think about feasibility, technical limitations, and business goals as you develop your solutions.

• Practice Presentation: If presenting your challenge solution, practice your delivery to ensure you can communicate effectively within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess both design craft and collaborative capabilities. A strong portfolio, clear communication of process, and demonstrated problem-solving skills are paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Explicitly mentioned as the primary tool for creating user flows, wireframes, high-fidelity designs, and interactive prototypes. Proficiency in Figma is essential.

• Design System Tools: Experience with tools that support design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeplin, or Figma's own component features) is expected, given the mention of contributing to and applying the Kmart Group design system.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma offers prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other dedicated prototyping tools (e.g., InVision, Adobe XD) may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Analytics Platforms: Experience with web and mobile analytics tools such as Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior, track conversions, and measure the impact of design changes.

• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools that present data clearly, such as Tableau, Power BI, or even advanced features within analytics platforms, to inform design decisions and present findings.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's tool, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms influence customer journeys and data collection can provide valuable context for designing integrated experiences.

• Collaboration & Project Management: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Asana, or Trello for managing design tasks, tracking progress, and collaborating with engineering and product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the cornerstone of the design tool stack. Proficiency here is non-negotiable. Experience with analytics and collaboration tools is also highly relevant for a data-driven and cross-functional role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving customer needs, translating them into intuitive and valuable digital experiences. This is reflected in the emphasis on user research and designing for customer outcomes.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: A culture that values evidence-based design, leveraging data, insights, and experimentation to inform choices and measure success.

• Collaboration and Teamwork: A belief in the power of working together across disciplines to achieve shared goals. This involves open communication, mutual respect, and a willingness to support colleagues.

• Continuous Improvement & Learning: An environment that encourages curiosity, embraces feedback, and promotes ongoing development of skills and methodologies. This includes staying updated with industry trends and sharing knowledge.

• Impact and Ownership: A focus on delivering tangible results and taking responsibility for one's work, driving initiatives forward and contributing to the company's success.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Product Teams: Designers are embedded within product teams, working daily with Product Managers and Engineers in an agile, iterative fashion.

• Open Feedback Culture: Encouragement of design critique and peer review fosters a supportive environment where constructive feedback is regularly exchanged to elevate design quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: A commitment to sharing insights, learnings, and best practices across the design team and with other departments to foster collective growth and maintain a high standard of design excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture emphasizes collaboration, data, and a customer-first approach, all within a dynamic retail environment. Designers are expected to be proactive, open to feedback, and focused on delivering measurable impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity and Change: The fast-paced retail environment and ongoing digital transformation mean priorities can shift, and challenges may evolve. Adapting design approaches and maintaining focus will be key.

• Balancing Competing Needs: Effectively balancing diverse stakeholder requirements (customers, business, engineering, marketing) to create solutions that are both desirable and feasible.

• Driving Adoption of Design Best Practices: Ensuring consistent application of design systems, accessibility standards, and user-centered methodologies across a large organization.

• Measuring Design Impact: Clearly demonstrating the value and ROI of design initiatives through data and user insights in a complex retail landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in areas like UX research methodologies, advanced interaction design, accessibility compliance, or contributing to advanced design system components.

• Industry Exposure: Opportunities to attend relevant design conferences, workshops, or pursue certifications in UX/UI design, product strategy, or related fields.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Participate in formal mentorship programs, either as a mentee to learn from experienced leaders or as a mentor to guide junior designers, fostering leadership skills.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gaining insights into different business functions (e.g., merchandising, marketing, analytics) through close collaboration, broadening understanding of the retail ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a designer in a large, evolving retail organization. The growth opportunities highlight a structured approach to professional development, encouraging both skill enhancement and leadership potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder requirements (e.g., customer needs vs. business constraints) in a design project. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Preparation: Focus on your problem-solving framework, negotiation skills, and ability to find mutually beneficial solutions.)

• "Walk us through a complex product problem you solved. What was your design process from discovery to delivery, and what was the impact of your solution?" (Preparation: Select a strong portfolio case study and be ready to detail every step, including research, ideation, iteration, and metrics.)

• "How do you approach incorporating user feedback and data into your design iterations? Can you provide an example?" (Preparation: Emphasize your data-driven approach, specific tools or methods used for feedback collection and analysis, and how it led to tangible design improvements.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Kmart Group and this specific Product Designer role?" (Preparation: Research Kmart's mission, recent digital initiatives, and connect your skills and aspirations to the company's goals and the role's responsibilities.)

• "How do you contribute to a collaborative design environment? Describe your experience giving and receiving constructive feedback." (Preparation: Highlight your teamwork skills, empathy, and openness to critique. Use examples of how you've positively influenced team dynamics.)

• "How do you ensure your designs are accessible and inclusive? What is your experience with accessibility standards?" (Preparation: Showcase your understanding of WCAG guidelines and demonstrate how you've applied inclusive design principles in past projects.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role, your process, key decisions, challenges, solutions, and outcomes. Use a consistent structure for each.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points. Ensure they are clean, well-annotated, and easy to understand.

• Focus on "Why": For every design decision, be prepared to explain the "why" behind it, linking it back to user needs, business goals, or data insights.

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

• Engage Your Audience: Make it a conversation. Pause for questions, invite feedback, and show enthusiasm for your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong design process, collaborative spirit, and a data-informed approach, tailored to Kmart Group's retail context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit your application: Utilize the provided link on the Kmart Careers website to submit your resume and any required application details.

• Curate your portfolio: Select 2-3 of your most relevant and impactful projects. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and contributions to shipped product outcomes.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight keywords and experiences from the job description, such as Figma proficiency, UX/UI design, user research, design systems, and cross-functional collaboration. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare for the interview: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your design rationale, process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to collaboration, problem-solving, and data-driven design.

• Research Kmart Group: Familiarize yourself with Kmart's brand, its digital presence, customer base, and recent initiatives. Understand their values and how your design philosophy aligns with the company's mission.

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