Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: OAK'S LAB

Location: Prague, Czechia

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-22

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5 years recommended)

Remote Status: Hybrid (On-site presence in Prague required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and conceptualize innovative digital products, websites, and brands from initial discovery through to final delivery, ensuring a cohesive user experience.

• Drive critical product decisions by collaborating closely with Tech Leads and Product Managers, integrating design strategy with technical feasibility and business objectives.

• Conduct thorough user research to deeply understand target audiences, validate user personas, and inform design solutions that address real user needs.

• Establish and maintain a strong visual direction, translating it consistently across all project touchpoints to ensure brand integrity and aesthetic appeal.

• Uphold rigorous UX/UI standards, applying established design elements, patterns, and specifications to create intuitive and effective user interfaces.

• Contribute to comprehensive project documentation and manage design delivery timelines in alignment with project milestones and client expectations.

• Actively explore and integrate emerging technologies, particularly AI, into design processes and product solutions, fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is listed as "Product Designer," the responsibilities and required skills clearly indicate a strong emphasis on UI/UX design, visual design, and user research. The hybrid nature of the role, requiring presence in Prague, positions this as a key contributor within a project team rather than a fully remote, independent contractor. The emphasis on "taking full ownership of challenging design initiatives" suggests a mid-level role with significant autonomy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and iterate on digital products, websites, and branding elements across the entire product lifecycle, from initial ideation and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and interactive prototypes.

• Lead design discussions and collaborate effectively with Product Managers and Engineering Leads to translate business requirements and user needs into actionable design specifications and intuitive user flows.

• Execute comprehensive user research methodologies, including interviews, surveys, and usability testing, to gather insights, define user pain points, and validate design hypotheses.

• Develop and maintain a consistent and compelling visual design language, ensuring brand alignment and aesthetic excellence across all digital touchpoints.

• Ensure strict adherence to established UX/UI best practices, design systems, style guides, and component libraries to guarantee usability, accessibility, and consistency.

• Create and manage detailed design documentation, including user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and design specifications, to facilitate clear communication and efficient handoff to development teams.

• Actively research and experiment with cutting-edge technologies, including AI-driven design tools and emerging platforms, to enhance product functionality and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on design role with a strong focus on the end-to-end product development lifecycle. The requirement to "drive product decisions" and "collaborate closely alongside Tech Leads and Product Managers" indicates a strategic design function that influences product direction. The mention of AI technologies suggests an innovative approach to design challenges.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for roles requiring strategic design thinking and user research capabilities.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in designing digital products, with a proven track record of delivering successful user-centered solutions. The role is ideal for candidates with 3-5 years of experience, demonstrating a balance of creative execution and strategic input.

Required Skills:

• Product Design & UI/UX: Proven ability to design intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and engaging digital experiences across various platforms.

• Visual Design: A strong aesthetic sense and the ability to create compelling visual directions, ensuring brand consistency and aesthetic appeal.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level command of Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity design, including proficiency with its collaboration features.

• User Research: Experience conducting qualitative and quantitative user research, including user interviews, usability testing, and persona development.

• Communication & Presentation: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, present ideas effectively, and advocate for user needs to diverse stakeholders.

• Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Capacity to understand business objectives, analyze user data, and translate insights into effective design strategies.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively in cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative environment with product managers, engineers, and other designers.

• English Fluency: Native or near-native proficiency in English for seamless communication within an international team and client interactions.

Preferred Skills:

• Branding: Experience in developing and applying brand identity guidelines to digital products and marketing materials.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Familiarity with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and other tools in the suite for asset creation and manipulation.

• User/App Analytics Tools: Exposure to tools such as Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or similar, for measuring design performance and user behavior.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with advanced prototyping tools beyond Figma for creating complex interactions and animations.

• AI Technologies: A genuine interest or foundational knowledge in AI technologies and their application in design or product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "3+ years of experience" combined with the responsibilities of "driving product decisions" and "taking full ownership" clearly places this role in the mid-level category. The portfolio requirement is paramount, serving as a primary evaluation tool for aesthetic taste and UI/UX application.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 diverse digital product design projects.

• Emphasis on projects demonstrating a clear understanding and application of UI/UX principles, including user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and final visual designs.

• Projects should highlight your ability to solve complex design problems and articulate the strategic thinking behind your design decisions.

• Visual design quality is critical; the portfolio must demonstrate a strong eye for aesthetics, typography, color theory, and layout.

• Include case studies that detail the project's goals, your role, the design process, user research insights, challenges faced, and the impact of your design solutions. Process Documentation:

• Showcase your ability to document design processes, including user journey mapping, information architecture, and wireframing.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or managed project documentation alongside Product Managers, detailing the design deliverables and their alignment with project milestones.

• Demonstrate an understanding of design system principles and how to ensure adherence to UX/UI standards, elements, patterns, and specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is explicitly mentioned as a key requirement and should demonstrate not just aesthetic talent but also a structured design process, problem-solving capabilities, and the ability to collaborate and document effectively. The mention of "user/app analytics tools" suggests a need to demonstrate how designs impact user behavior.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a mid-level Product Designer (3-5 years experience) in Prague, Czechia, working on a contract basis for a tech company specializing in building software solutions, the estimated annual gross salary range would typically be between €35,000 - €55,000. This range can vary based on the specific project, the depth of experience, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Long-term Contract Engagement: Offers stability and the opportunity to work on multiple impactful projects.

• Mentorship & Coaching: Direct support from the Head of Design or a Senior Designer, fostering professional development.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Opportunity to work with AI technologies and innovative product development.

• Direct Impact: Chance to take ownership of challenging design initiatives and see your work directly contribute to product success.

• Dynamic Work Environment: Collaboration with experienced engineering and product teams on diverse projects for startups, scaleups, and enterprises.

• Professional Development: Encouragement to experiment, learn, and operate on the edge of technology.

Working Hours: The role is expected to adhere to standard full-time working hours, approximately 40 hours per week. Given the hybrid nature, flexibility may be offered within the framework of project deadlines and team collaboration needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: As this is a contractor role, benefits typically differ from full-time employment. The salary estimate is based on typical market rates for a mid-level Product Designer in Prague, considering the tech industry and the contract nature of the engagement. The primary "benefit" is the opportunity for growth, mentorship, and impactful work.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Partner, Software Development, IT Services, Consulting. OAK'S LAB operates at the intersection of technology and business, helping clients build and scale software solutions. This sector demands agility, innovation, and a strong focus on delivering tangible business value.

Company Size: OAK'S LAB has a team of 7 designers, contributing to a larger, empowered product team structure. The company itself, founded in 2016, has grown to build over 65 products, indicating a scale-up phase with established processes but still retaining a startup-like agility. The total number of employees is not explicitly stated but implied to be larger than just the design team, likely comprising engineers, product managers, and support staff.

Founded: 2016. This relatively recent founding date suggests a modern, forward-thinking company culture that embraces new technologies and agile methodologies.

Team Structure:

• Design Team: A dedicated team of 7 designers, suggesting a collaborative and supportive environment where knowledge sharing and mentorship are prioritized.

• Product Teams: Designers are integrated into "empowered product teams," working alongside Tech Leads and Product Managers, indicating a cross-functional, agile structure.

• Reporting: Designers will receive mentorship and coaching from the Head of Design or a Senior Designer, indicating a clear line of guidance and professional development support.

Methodology:

• Agile Product Development: Implied through collaboration with Tech Leads and Product Managers, focusing on iterative delivery and responsiveness to change.

• User-Centered Design: Central to OAK'S LAB's approach, with a strong emphasis on user research and data-driven decision-making.

• Innovation & Experimentation: Encouragement to explore new approaches, AI technologies, and operate on the "edge of technology."

• Quality Focus: Maintaining a "consistent high bar of quality" across all products and design initiatives.

Company Website: https://oakslab.com

📝 Enhancement Note: OAK'S LAB positions itself as a technology partner focused on building high-impact software solutions. The culture appears to be a blend of startup agility and professional maturity, with a strong emphasis on design excellence, continuous learning, and cross-functional collaboration. The company's success metrics ($1.7B combined client valuation, >65 products launched) highlight a results-oriented environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Product Designer. It requires 3+ years of experience and offers significant ownership and responsibility. The designer is expected to "take full ownership of challenging design initiatives" and "drive product decisions," indicating a level beyond junior roles, where individuals are primarily executing tasks.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will report to a Senior Designer or the Head of Design for mentorship and guidance. However, day-to-day collaboration will be within cross-functional product teams, working closely with Tech Leads and Product Managers.

Operations Impact: Product Designers at OAK'S LAB have a direct and tangible impact on the success of their clients' products. By conceptualizing and designing user-centric digital solutions, they influence user acquisition, engagement, retention, and ultimately, the market valuation and business outcomes of the startups, scaleups, and enterprises they serve. Their work is integral to creating market-leading products.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas such as UX research, visual design, interaction design, or branding, potentially leading to senior or lead design roles.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Direct mentorship from experienced design leaders provides a clear path for professional growth and skill development. The company's focus on "empowered product teams" suggests potential for future leadership roles within project teams.

• Technology Exploration: Exposure to AI technologies and emerging trends offers a chance to become a subject matter expert in innovative design applications.

• Portfolio Expansion: Working on diverse projects for various clients allows for continuous portfolio enrichment with high-impact case studies.

• Client-Facing Experience: Direct collaboration with clients and internal stakeholders enhances communication, negotiation, and strategic planning skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path emphasizes both deepening design expertise and developing leadership potential within OAK'S LAB's project-driven structure. The focus on mentorship and exposure to new technologies provides a strong foundation for career advancement in the product design field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as Hybrid, requiring the individual to be located in Prague. This implies a mix of remote work and on-site presence at a company office or client site in Prague. The emphasis on collaboration suggests that on-site days will be crucial for team interaction and strategic alignment.

Office Location(s): Prague, Czechia. This provides access to a vibrant tech and design community in a major European capital. Specific office details are not provided, but the hybrid requirement means candidates must be local or willing to relocate to Prague.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on working closely with Tech Leads and Product Managers foster a highly collaborative workspace, whether in-person or through digital collaboration tools.

• Access to Tools: The role requires proficiency in Figma and potentially other design and analytics tools, indicating a well-equipped digital workspace.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with a team of 7 designers, plus product managers and engineers, facilitating knowledge sharing, feedback, and joint problem-solving.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 per week) are expected. The hybrid nature may offer some flexibility in terms of remote vs. office days, but adherence to project timelines and team needs will be paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement for Prague-based candidates is a key differentiator. It suggests a company that values in-person collaboration for strategic initiatives while leveraging remote work for individual tasks.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, focusing on your resume and, most importantly, your portfolio.

• Portfolio Presentation/Discussion: A session where you'll likely walk through selected projects from your portfolio, explaining your design process, rationale, and impact. Be prepared to discuss specific case studies in detail.

• Technical/Skills Interview: This may involve design challenges, problem-solving scenarios, or discussions about your proficiency with tools like Figma and your understanding of UX/UI principles.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Conversations with other designers, Product Managers, or Tech Leads to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and alignment with OAK'S LAB's values and methodology.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership or the Head of Design to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best represent your skills and the requirements of this role (digital products, strong UI/UX, visual design).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, the design process, key decisions, challenges, and outcomes. Use visuals effectively.

• Showcase Process: Demonstrate your thinking – wireframes, user flows, research insights, iterations – not just the final polished designs.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrates the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores).

• Tailor to OAK'S LAB: Highlight projects that align with their work in B2B, startups, and innovative tech solutions. Mention your interest in AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Thinking: Be ready to approach a hypothetical design problem by outlining your research, ideation, prototyping, and testing steps.

• Figma Proficiency: Practice common Figma workflows, including component creation, auto-layout, and prototyping features.

• Communication: Prepare to articulate your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying your choices based on user needs and business goals.

• Industry Trends: Be aware of current design trends, emerging technologies (especially AI), and best practices in UX/UI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and the mention of "challenging design initiatives" indicate that candidates will be expected to demonstrate not only technical skills but also strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities. The hybrid requirement means candidates should be ready to discuss how they manage their work across different environments.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design tool. Proficiency in wireframing, prototyping, component libraries, and collaborative features is essential.

• Adobe Creative Suite: While a "nice-to-have," familiarity with Photoshop and Illustrator can be beneficial for asset creation and advanced image manipulation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User/App Analytics Tools: Exposure to tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude, or similar is preferred. This indicates a need to understand how to measure design impact and user behavior post-launch.

CRM & Automation: Not directly mentioned as primary tools for this role, but understanding how design integrates with product management and development workflows is key.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is the critical tool for this role. The preference for analytics tool exposure suggests a data-informed design approach is valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to maintaining a "consistent high bar of quality" in all design outputs.

• Innovation & Curiosity: Encouragement to "experiment, learn, operate on the edge of technology," with a specific interest in AI technologies.

• Collaboration & Empowerment: Working within "empowered product teams," emphasizing shared responsibility and cross-functional synergy.

• User-Centricity: A foundational value, driven by user research to ensure products meet genuine user needs.

• Impact & Value Creation: Focus on building "software solutions" that create "market leaders" and deliver significant client value.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are integral members of product teams, working closely with Tech Leads and Product Managers.

• Mentorship-Driven: A culture that supports growth through mentorship and coaching from senior design staff.

• Proactive & Open: Candidates are expected to have a "proactive, collaborative team spirit" and be eager to tackle challenges.

• Communication-Oriented: Strong communication skills are vital for presenting ideas, advocating for designs, and contributing to project documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture seems to foster creativity, continuous learning, and a strong sense of ownership within collaborative, results-driven teams. The emphasis on AI and innovation suggests an environment that embraces future technologies.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Client Needs with User Experience: Navigating diverse client requirements while ensuring a user-centric and high-quality design outcome.

• Rapid Iteration and Delivery: Working in a fast-paced environment to deliver designs against project milestones for multiple products.

• Integrating Emerging Technologies: Effectively incorporating new technologies like AI into design workflows and product features, which may require continuous learning and adaptation.

• Stakeholder Management: Effectively communicating design rationale and managing expectations with various stakeholders, including clients, Product Managers, and Engineers.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Emerging Tech: Direct exposure and opportunity to experiment with AI in design, positioning you at the forefront of innovation.

• Mentorship Program: Structured guidance from senior design leaders to enhance technical skills and strategic thinking.

• Diverse Project Portfolio: Working on a variety of products for different industries provides broad experience and exposure to new challenges.

• Cross-Functional Skill Development: Deepening understanding of product management and engineering processes through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, particularly in areas like AI integration and advanced stakeholder management, aligning with the company's innovative and collaborative ethos.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance competing client demands with user needs in a design project. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on negotiation, user advocacy, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you stay updated with emerging design trends and technologies, particularly AI? Can you give an example of how you've applied a new technology or trend in your work?" (Highlight your proactive learning and innovation.)

• "Walk us through your process for conducting user research for a new digital product. What methods do you prefer, and how do you translate research findings into design decisions?" (Demonstrate your research methodology and analytical skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about OAK'S LAB's approach to building software solutions and empowering product teams?" (Show you've researched their business model and culture.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to a hybrid work environment, and what are your expectations for collaboration with remote and on-site team members?" (Address the hybrid nature of the role.)

• "Describe a situation where you had to advocate for a design decision that was initially met with resistance. How did you manage the situation, and what was the result?" (Assess your communication, persuasion, and resilience.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of your role and the project's objective. Then, detail your process (research, ideation, design, testing), highlighting key decisions and challenges. Conclude with the final solution and its impact (quantified if possible).

• Focus on Rationale: For each step, explain why you made certain choices. Connect your decisions back to user needs and business goals.

• Visual Storytelling: Use clear visuals (wireframes, mockups, prototypes) to illustrate your points. Ensure your presentation is clean and professional, mirroring your design aesthetic.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design elements, user flows, or technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating a holistic design approach that blends creativity, user empathy, technical proficiency, and strategic business thinking, all within a collaborative and innovative framework.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your UI/UX skills, visual design aesthetics, user research capabilities, and experience with digital product design. Emphasize projects relevant to B2B, startups, or innovative tech.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3+ years of experience, highlighting achievements and responsibilities that align with the job description, particularly your proficiency with Figma and your experience in driving product decisions.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale for 2-3 key portfolio projects. Be ready to discuss your approach to user research, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with OAK'S LAB's projects, client portfolio, and company values. Understand their focus on B2B solutions, startups, and emerging technologies like AI.

⚠️ 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.