Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer

Company: Rakuten Viber

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX / UI

Date Posted: 2025-11-26

Experience Level: 5-10 years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on end-to-end product design, from initial concept and user research through to final prototyping and testing, for a globally recognized super-app.

• Responsibilities include leveraging AI tools to enhance the design process, from ideation to execution, and contributing to the development of AI-driven product features.

• The Product Designer will collaborate extensively with cross-functional teams including Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, Content Designers, and fellow Designers.

• A key aspect of the role is to drive user experiences that are not only functional but also delightful and emotionally resonant, directly impacting hundreds of millions of users.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on AI tools, super-app development, and direct user impact for a B2C mobile product suggests a high degree of strategic influence and a need for designers who can balance innovation with user-centricity and business objectives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, encompassing discovery, user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, usability testing, and final design delivery.

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

• Utilize data and analytics to inform design choices, measure the effectiveness of implemented features, and identify areas for optimization.

• Collaborate closely with Product Managers to define product strategy and ensure design alignment with Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

• Partner with Engineering teams to ensure seamless implementation of designs, maintaining high standards of craft and user experience.

• Work with UX Researchers and Content Designers to ensure a cohesive and effective user journey across all touchpoints.

• Drive the creation of intuitive, delightful, and emotionally resonant user experiences for a B2C mobile application.

• Contribute to the conceptualization and design of innovative AI-driven product features, exploring new interaction paradigms.

• Maintain a strong connection to the overall product strategy, understanding how design initiatives contribute to broader business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "leading the full design process" and "driving toward user experiences" indicates a senior or lead-level expectation for this Product Designer role, requiring strong ownership and strategic thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication, Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field.

Experience: 5+ years of professional product design experience, with a strong preference for experience in fast-paced environments and B2C mobile product development.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in the end-to-end product design process, from concept to delivery.

• Strong User Experience (UX) foundation with meticulous attention to detail and a high standard of craft.

• Proven experience designing for B2C mobile applications, understanding the nuances of mobile user interfaces and interactions.

• Proficiency in conducting user research, including user interviews and usability testing.

• Ability to interpret and leverage data and analytics to guide design decisions and measure impact.

• Experience with AI tools (e.g., LLMs, AI-powered design plugins, generative design tools) to enhance workflow efficiency and ideation.

• Excellent collaboration skills, with a track record of working effectively with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers, Researchers).

• Strong communication skills, capable of articulating design rationale and vision clearly to diverse stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for "super-app" ecosystems or complex, multi-functional mobile applications.

• Familiarity with design systems and their implementation for scalable product development.

• A portfolio showcasing a range of B2C mobile product design projects with quantifiable results.

• Experience in contributing to or shaping AI-driven product features.

• A deep understanding of emotional design principles and their application in creating resonant user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a degree is listed, the emphasis on 5+ years of experience and a strong portfolio suggests that practical experience and demonstrable skills will be highly valued, potentially outweighing formal educational requirements for experienced candidates. The requirement for comfort in conducting own research, even with a researcher present, highlights a need for proactive and self-sufficient designers.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a strong range of B2C mobile product design projects that demonstrate expertise across the full design lifecycle.

• Include case studies detailing your process: problem definition, user research, ideation, design iterations, testing, and final solution.

• Highlight your ability to leverage data and analytics to inform design decisions and measure the success of your solutions.

• Demonstrate experience with AI tools and how they were integrated into your design workflow to achieve specific outcomes.

Process Documentation:

• Clearly articulate your approach to user research, including methodologies used and key insights gained.

• Detail your prototyping and user testing processes, including tools and techniques employed.

• Provide examples of how you collaborated with cross-functional teams (PMs, Engineers) throughout the design process.

• Illustrate your understanding of how design connects to product strategy and KPIs, showing how your work contributed to business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on end-to-end design and AI tools, the portfolio should actively showcase projects where the candidate took significant ownership, demonstrated innovative problem-solving, and clearly articulated the impact of their design decisions with measurable results.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Product Designers with 5-10 years of experience in Singapore, a competitive annual salary is estimated to be between SGD 80,000 - SGD 120,000. This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, skills, and the final negotiation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (medical, dental, vision).

• Generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, public holidays).

• Opportunities for professional development, including training, conferences, and workshops.

• Access to Rakuten Group benefits and perks.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and stock options.

• A collaborative and innovative work environment with a global reach.

• Support for remote work arrangements, offering flexibility.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While core hours may exist for team collaboration, there is likely flexibility to accommodate remote work and different working styles, typical for tech companies with global teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on an analysis of similar Product Designer roles in Singapore, considering the specified experience level (5-10 years) and the tech industry context of Rakuten Viber. Benefits are extrapolated from typical offerings for major tech companies with a global presence.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Software, Telecommunications, Social Media. Rakuten Viber operates within the competitive messaging and communication app market, striving to be a "super-app" by integrating a wide array of services beyond basic communication.

Company Size: Rakuten Viber is part of the larger Rakuten Group, a global conglomerate. While specific team sizes for product design may vary, the overall organization is large, indicating a robust structure and resources.

Founded: Rakuten Viber was founded in 2010. Its journey to becoming a super-app signifies continuous evolution and adaptation to user needs and market trends.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely comprises experienced designers, UX researchers, and content designers working collaboratively.

• Designers typically report to a Design Lead or Head of Design, who in turn may report to a Director of Product or VP of Engineering.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a core methodology, using analytics to understand user behavior and validate design improvements.

• Design Thinking principles are applied throughout the product development process, emphasizing user empathy, ideation, prototyping, and testing.

• Agile methodologies are likely employed for iterative development, allowing for quick adaptation and continuous improvement of features.

• A focus on leveraging AI tools suggests an embrace of emerging technologies to enhance efficiency and explore new product capabilities.

Company Website: https://www.viber.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Viber's positioning as a "super-app" implies a culture that values innovation, rapid iteration, and a broad scope of product development, requiring designers to be adaptable and strategic.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an experienced Product Designer, likely mid-to-senior level, given the 5+ years of experience requirement and the expectation to lead the full design process. It requires a designer who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: The Product Designer will likely report to a Design Lead or Manager within the Product organization. They will work closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on specific product initiatives.

Operations Impact: The Product Designer's work will have a direct and significant impact on the user experience of hundreds of millions of global users, influencing engagement, retention, and the adoption of new features, including AI-driven functionalities. Their contributions are critical to Viber's success as a super-app and its ability to achieve its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven design, advanced user research methodologies, or specific product domains within the super-app ecosystem.

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into Senior Product Designer, Lead Product Designer, or Design Manager roles, taking on more strategic responsibilities and mentoring junior designers.

• Cross-functional Mobility: Possibility to transition into adjacent roles such as Product Management or UX Research, leveraging a deep understanding of user needs and product development.

• Industry Exposure: Continuous learning through exposure to cutting-edge AI technologies and best practices in a global, fast-paced tech environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a large organization, with opportunities for both specialized expertise development and leadership progression, particularly in the emerging field of AI-integrated product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is listed as "Remote OK," indicating flexibility, Rakuten Viber likely maintains modern office spaces in its key locations, including Singapore. These offices would typically foster a collaborative and innovative atmosphere.

Office Location(s): Primary known location is Singapore. Rakuten Viber has a global presence with offices in various countries.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace designed to encourage interaction between designers, PMs, and engineers, whether in person or through digital collaboration tools.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design and research tools, alongside company-specific platforms and potentially AI-powered internal tools to support the design workflow.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and knowledge-sharing events to foster a strong design community within the company.

Work Schedule: The role supports remote work, suggesting a culture that values flexibility and output over strict adherence to office hours. While core collaboration times will exist, a degree of autonomy in managing one's schedule is anticipated to facilitate work-life balance and accommodate different time zones if working with globally distributed teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status suggests a hybrid or fully remote option, which is a significant factor for work-life balance. Candidates should clarify expectations regarding any potential need for in-office collaboration or specific working hours.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A presentation of your portfolio showcasing relevant B2C mobile design projects. This may be followed by a take-home design challenge or an in-person/virtual whiteboard design exercise focused on a specific product problem.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with Product Managers, Engineers, and fellow Designers to evaluate collaboration skills, technical understanding, and design thinking process.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into experience, strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with team goals.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with senior leadership or a panel interview to assess overall fit and impact.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose 3-4 strong projects that best represent your skills in B2C mobile product design, AI tool integration, and end-to-end process ownership.

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, testing), the challenges you faced, the solutions you designed, and the quantifiable impact of your work.

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly showcase how you used AI tools in your workflow, the benefits achieved (e.g., speed, novel ideas, enhanced iteration), and any insights gained.

• Demonstrate Data-Driven Design: Show how you used data and analytics to inform your decisions and measure success.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Research Viber's current product offerings, user base, and strategic goals, especially concerning AI integration and their "super-app" vision.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to articulate your thought process for problem-solving, user research approach, ideation techniques, and validation methods.

• Prepare for AI-Specific Scenarios: Think about how you would approach designing features that leverage AI, considering user trust, explainability, and ethical implications.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be prepared to discuss design decisions, trade-offs, and how you would balance user needs with business requirements and technical constraints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools and a "super-app" context means interviewers will likely probe candidates on their ability to innovate within these specific domains and articulate the strategic value of design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma (highly probable, industry standard), Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop).

• Collaboration: Slack, Jira, Confluence, Miro (for whiteboarding and ideation).

• AI Tools: Familiarity with Generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, DALL-E for ideation), LLMs for content generation or analysis, and potentially AI-powered Figma plugins or proprietary AI tools developed by Rakuten.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics: Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar platforms for understanding user behavior and feature adoption.

• Data Visualization: Tableau, Power BI, or internal dashboarding tools for presenting insights.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a designer's primary tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms integrate with product features can be beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Figma is almost a given for modern Product Designers. The explicit mention of AI tools suggests that candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience and willingness to experiment with these technologies within the design workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving user needs, ensuring that all design decisions prioritize the user experience.

• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new technologies, methodologies, and creative solutions, particularly in the realm of AI and evolving communication platforms.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and a willingness to work closely with cross-functional teams, sharing insights and feedback constructively.

• Data-Driven Excellence: Utilizing data and analytics to inform design choices, measure impact, and continuously improve product offerings.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A dedication to producing high-quality, polished, and delightful user experiences that reflect positively on the brand.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Designers are likely embedded within product teams, working daily with PMs and engineers to iterate on features.

• Feedback Loop: A culture that encourages constructive feedback during design reviews, critiques, and team discussions to refine designs collectively.

• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to share best practices, learnings from research, and insights from AI tool experimentation through internal presentations or documentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools and being a "super-app" suggests a culture that values agility, continuous learning, and the ability to adapt to rapidly evolving technological landscapes.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Scale: Creating intuitive and effective user experiences for a massive, diverse global user base with varying technical literacy and cultural backgrounds.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Designing AI-powered features that are genuinely helpful, trustworthy, and easy for users to understand and interact with, avoiding the perception of AI as a gimmick.

• Balancing Complexity: Managing the inherent complexity of a "super-app" where numerous features and services must coexist harmoniously without overwhelming the user.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Keeping pace with rapid advancements in AI, mobile technology, and user expectations in a competitive market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Opportunities to become a go-to expert in designing AI-integrated products, a highly sought-after skill.

• Global Product Exposure: Working on a product used by hundreds of millions worldwide provides unparalleled experience in understanding diverse user needs and market dynamics.

• Cross-Functional Skill Building: Deepening understanding of product management, engineering constraints, and data analysis through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior designers or design leaders within Rakuten, and to mentor junior designers as the team grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the unique nature of Viber's product (super-app, AI integration) and its massive user base, offering significant learning curves and opportunities for professional growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the design process for a complex B2C mobile feature from concept to launch. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, research, iteration, and impact.)

• "How would you approach designing an AI-powered feature for Viber, for example, to enhance user communication or discovery? What are the key considerations?" (Assess understanding of AI design principles, user trust, and value proposition.)

• "Walk us through a project where you used data and analytics to significantly influence your design decisions. What was the data, and what changes did you make?" (Highlight data-driven approach and quantifiable results.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Rakuten Viber and our mission to be a super-app?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with Product Managers and Engineers? Can you give an example of a successful collaboration?" (Assess teamwork and communication skills.)

• "How do you incorporate user feedback and research findings into your design process?" (Demonstrate user-centricity.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: For each case study, follow a clear narrative: Problem -> Your Role -> Process (Research, Ideation, Design, Testing) -> Solution -> Impact (Quantifiable results, user feedback).

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups, prototypes, and clear diagrams. Annotate key design decisions and user flows.

• Highlight AI: Explicitly call out where and how you used AI tools, the benefits, and any learnings.

• Data Storytelling: Present data points not just as numbers, but as insights that drove specific design actions and led to measurable improvements.

• Conciseness: Be mindful of time. Practice presenting your key projects within the allotted timeframe, focusing on the most impactful aspects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who can demonstrate not only strong design skills but also strategic thinking, adaptability to new technologies like AI, and a proven ability to deliver impactful user experiences at scale.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer position:

• Navigate to the application link provided and submit your resume and portfolio.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features B2C mobile design projects. Specifically highlight any case studies that involve the use of AI tools in the design process or demonstrate experience with complex, multi-functional applications. Quantify the impact of your designs with data wherever possible.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to include keywords from the job description, such as "Product Design," "UX Design," "B2C Mobile Products," "AI Tools," "User Research," and "Prototyping." Clearly list your years of experience and specific achievements.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to user research and data analysis, and how you’ve used AI tools. Prepare compelling stories for your portfolio presentation, focusing on problem-solving, collaboration, and measurable outcomes.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Rakuten Viber's current app features, user base, and their strategic direction, particularly regarding AI integration and their "super-app" ambitions. Understand their brand and user engagement strategies.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description has been created using AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions for a Product Designer role at a company like Rakuten Viber. All details, especially regarding salary, benefits, and specific interview processes, should be verified directly with the hiring organization.