Product Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer II

Company: KOHLS

Location: Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: April 28, 2026

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive business growth and enhance customer experience through user-centric product design solutions from concept to implementation.

• Lead balanced teams in Design Discovery and Framing, integrating user research and insights to inform product strategy.

• Develop robust visual identity systems, data visualizations, and illustrations to facilitate feedback and iteration cycles.

• Collaborate cross-functionally to ensure a cohesive design language across product ecosystems and contribute to the overall design vision.

• Apply strong visual craftsmanship and established design principles while understanding and utilizing design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role emphasizes a balanced team approach, integrating design with product management and engineering. The focus on "customer first" and "end users' needs, wants and limitations" highlights a deep commitment to user-centered design principles, common in established retail organizations seeking to optimize complex operational and customer-facing systems.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the iterative design process within balanced teams, ensuring solutions align with business goals and user needs.

• Facilitate Design Discovery and Framing by partnering with research teams to gather customer insights and drive actionable recommendations.

• Create high-fidelity design prototypes, mockups, and visual designs for testing and stakeholder feedback.

• Develop and maintain visual identity systems, data visualizations, and illustrations that enhance user understanding and product engagement.

• Champion user-centric design practices throughout the product development lifecycle, from ideation to implementation.

• Collaborate with stakeholders and cross-functional teams to ensure design consistency and alignment with overall product strategy.

• Articulate design decisions and rationale clearly, both visually and through written communication, to internal teams and leadership.

• Contribute to the development and utilization of design systems to ensure consistency and efficiency across product offerings.

• Participate in design-led workshops to foster ideation, problem-solving, and collaboration.

• Continuously learn and apply creative problem-solving techniques to address complex design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a need for a designer who can not only execute design tasks but also influence product strategy and lead design initiatives within cross-functional teams. The emphasis on "balanced teams" and "influencing product strategy" suggests a role with significant autonomy and impact on product direction, requiring strong communication and strategic thinking skills beyond pure design execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 3-6 years of professional design experience, with a proven track record of delivering user-centered design solutions.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Design Thinking methodologies and their practical application.

• Expertise in design and collaboration tools such as Figma.

• Strong experience with collaborative visualization tools like Miro.

• Demonstrated experience with user research tools, including dScout and Dovetail.

• Deep understanding and application of User-Centric Design principles.

• Exceptional visual storytelling capabilities, effectively communicating design concepts and user journeys.

• Proven ability in creating high-fidelity design prototypes and mockups.

• Solid understanding of interaction patterns and best practices for digital products.

• Proficiency in creating and utilizing design systems for consistent user experiences.

• Experience conducting and participating in design-led workshop facilitation.

• Knowledge of data visualization principles and techniques.

• Ability to influence product strategy and align design with business objectives.

• Familiarity with multiple research methods and tools, and the ability to select appropriate ones.

• Experience building products for Android, iOS, and/or web platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the retail industry, particularly in areas such as merchandising, supply chain, or logistics.

• Experience designing for complex systems or enterprise-level applications.

• Advanced skills in visual design principles and typography.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed list of required tools (Figma, Miro, dScout, Dovetail) and methodologies (Design Thinking, User-Centric Design) points to a highly collaborative and data-informed design process. The preference for retail, merchandising, or supply chain experience suggests that understanding complex operational workflows and their impact on the customer journey is highly valued for this role at Kohls.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a range of design skills, including user research, ideation, prototyping, and final visual designs.

• Demonstrate a clear understanding of the user-centered design process and how it was applied to solve specific problems.

• Include case studies that highlight your ability to influence product strategy and align design outcomes with business goals.

• Showcase examples of visual storytelling, data visualizations, and illustrations created for user feedback and iteration.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you have facilitated Design Discovery and Framing, including synthesis of customer learnings and insights.

• Document your approach to creating and utilizing design systems to maintain consistency and efficiency.

• Illustrate your experience with iterative design processes, showing how feedback and testing informed design evolution.

• Showcase your ability to translate complex business priorities and desired outcomes into design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "balanced teams" and "influencing product strategy," a strong portfolio for this role must go beyond showcasing static designs. It needs to demonstrate the candidate's ability to drive process, collaborate effectively, and articulate the strategic impact of their design decisions, particularly within complex operational contexts like retail.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions (e.g., 401k).

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• Employee discounts on Kohls merchandise and potential partner discounts.

• Opportunities for professional development, training, and continuing education.

• Life insurance and disability coverage options.

Working Hours:

• Full-time position typically requiring 40 hours per week.

• Standard business hours may apply, with flexibility possible based on project needs and team collaboration requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Product Designer II with 3-6 years of experience in the Menomonee Falls, WI area, considering the employer's industry (retail) and the role's responsibilities. Actual compensation may vary based on specific skills, experience, and negotiation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Department Stores)

Company Size: Large Enterprise (10,000+ employees)

Founded: 1962

Company Description: Kohl's is a leading omnichannel retailer committed to offering customers quality brands at a great value. Kohl's operates more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and a robust e-commerce platform. The company focuses on creating inspiring experiences that make it easy to shop via its physical stores, online, or through its mobile app.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team likely operates within a larger digital or technology division, working closely with product management, engineering, and user research.

• Designers are integrated into "balanced teams," which are typically cross-functional units comprising designers, product managers, engineers, and analysts, all focused on specific product areas or customer journeys.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on User-Centric Design and Design Thinking to ensure customer needs are at the forefront of product development.

• Iterative design and development processes, involving frequent feedback loops, prototyping, and testing.

• Data-driven decision-making, utilizing analytics and research insights to guide design choices and measure impact.

• Collaboration and transparency are key, with significant use of tools like Figma and Miro to facilitate shared understanding and co-creation.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Kohl's extensive history and omnichannel presence suggest a complex operational environment. The "balanced team" structure indicates a modern, agile approach to product development, aiming for efficiency and rapid iteration within a large corporate framework. This environment requires designers who can navigate scale while maintaining a focus on user experience and business objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer (Product Designer II)

This role represents a solid mid-career progression point for a designer. It requires independent contribution, leadership within a balanced team, and the ability to influence product strategy beyond individual design execution. The focus is on delivering customer-first solutions and contributing to the broader design vision.

Reporting Structure:

• Typically reports to a Design Manager or Director of Product Design.

Operations Impact:

• Directly impacts customer experience across Kohl's digital platforms (web, mobile app), influencing engagement, conversion, and loyalty.

• Contributes to business growth by designing solutions that optimize key performance indicators (KPIs) such as sales, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Product Designer: Advancement to a Senior Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to design system evolution and strategic planning.

• Specialization: Opportunities to specialize in specific areas such as UX Research, Interaction Design, Visual Design, or Design Systems.

• Leadership Track: Potential to move into design leadership roles (e.g., Design Lead, Design Manager) by demonstrating strong leadership, strategic thinking, and team development capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining deeper understanding of retail operations, merchandising, and supply chain through collaboration, which can open doors to roles focused on enterprise solutions or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Product Designer II" title and the emphasis on influencing product strategy suggest this is a crucial step for designers looking to move beyond task execution into strategic product development. Growth opportunities are likely tied to both design expertise and the ability to operate effectively within Kohl's complex retail ecosystem.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily an on-site role within a corporate office setting. While the job posting mentions "Remote" in the URL, the derived remote_derived field is false, indicating an on-site expectation for this specific listing, or at least a strong preference for local candidates.

Office Location(s): Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, is the primary location specified. This is a corporate headquarters location for Kohl's.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely be a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration. This includes open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated design studios.

• Access to the latest design and collaboration tools (Figma, Miro, etc.) will be standard.

• Opportunities for frequent interaction with balanced teams, allowing for real-time feedback, brainstorming, and co-creation.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time work schedule, likely Monday to Friday, with core hours to facilitate team collaboration.

• While adherence to standard hours is expected, there may be flexibility for project deadlines or critical launches, requiring dedicated effort.

📝 Enhancement Note: The discrepancy between "Remote" in the URL and remote_derived: false is noted. For this enhancement, the assumption is an on-site or hybrid-first role based in Menomonee Falls, WI, aligning with the derived location data. Candidates should verify the exact remote/hybrid policy during the application process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will likely present their portfolio to a panel of designers and potentially product managers. This session will focus on case studies, design process, problem-solving skills, and impact.

• Hiring Manager Interview: In-depth discussion with the hiring manager to explore experience, approach to design challenges, and alignment with team dynamics.

• Balanced Team Interview: Interaction with members of the balanced team (engineers, product managers, researchers) to assess collaboration style, communication, and ability to contribute within a cross-functional environment.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: A potential take-home or live design exercise to evaluate practical design skills, problem-solving ability, and application of methodologies.

• Final Interview: May involve senior leadership or key stakeholders for final evaluation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-4 strong case studies that best represent your skills and align with the responsibilities outlined (user-centricity, balanced teams, influencing strategy, complex systems).

• Tell a Story: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (research, ideation, iteration, prototyping, final design), the tools used, and the measurable impact or outcome.

• Highlight Collaboration: Emphasize how you worked within balanced teams and with stakeholders, showcasing your communication and teamwork skills.

• Demonstrate Process: Show the evolution of your designs, including early concepts, user feedback, and how you iterated. Don't just show final screens.

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

• Tailor to Kohl's: If possible, include examples relevant to retail, e-commerce, or complex systems. Show an understanding of Kohl's brand and customer base.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: If given a take-home challenge, thoroughly research Kohl's, their current digital offerings, and their target audience.

• Focus on Process: Even for a short exercise, outline your approach, assumptions, and the rationale behind your design decisions.

• Be Realistic: Acknowledge constraints and propose practical, implementable solutions.

• Present Clearly: Prepare a concise presentation that clearly communicates your thought process and design solution, just as you would for your portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed interview process and portfolio review tips are designed to help candidates prepare for a rigorous evaluation process common in large retail organizations. The emphasis on "balanced teams" and "influencing product strategy" means candidates should prepare to discuss their collaborative approach and strategic thinking, not just their design output.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core design and prototyping tool expected for UI design, wireframing, and creating high-fidelity mockups. Proficiency is essential for collaboration within balanced teams.

• Miro: A key tool for collaborative ideation, workshop facilitation, journey mapping, and visual brainstorming. Essential for cross-functional teamwork.

• dScout: A user research tool for gathering qualitative insights, potentially for remote user studies, diary studies, or in-context feedback.

• Dovetail: A user research repository and analysis tool for synthesizing findings from various research activities, informing design decisions.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with web analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to understand user behavior and measure design impact.

• Experience with A/B testing tools and methodologies to optimize designs based on performance data.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a primary design tool, understanding how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, though less directly applicable to product design) and automation platforms influence customer journeys can be beneficial.

• Knowledge of how design integrates with marketing automation or customer engagement platforms is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Miro, dScout, and Dovetail indicates a modern, collaborative, and research-intensive design environment at Kohl's. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency and discuss their experience using these specific tools effectively for design execution and user research.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-First: A core value driving all design decisions, ensuring that the end-user's needs, wants, and limitations are prioritized.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering an environment where ideas are shared openly, and teams work cohesively across functions. This is evident in the "balanced team" structure and use of tools like Miro.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing research insights, analytics, and testing to inform and validate design choices, moving beyond intuition.

• Continuous Learning & Improvement: Encouraging a growth mindset, seeking new knowledge, and embracing creativity in problem-solving to drive ongoing enhancement of products and processes.

• Accountability: Taking ownership of design problems and ensuring that solutions are not only well-designed but also achieve desired business outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Working within "balanced teams" means daily, close collaboration with product managers, engineers, and researchers, promoting shared ownership and understanding.

• Workshop Facilitation: Actively leading and participating in design-led workshops to drive ideation and alignment.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Regularly communicating design rationale and progress to stakeholders outside the immediate team to ensure cohesive design language and strategic alignment across the organization.

• Feedback Culture: Embracing constructive feedback from peers, stakeholders, and users to refine designs and improve outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "balanced teams," "customer first," and "collaboration" suggests a culture that values integrated problem-solving and user advocacy. Designers are expected to be team players who can communicate effectively and contribute strategically within a cross-functional environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Business Goals with User Needs: Navigating the inherent tension between driving business objectives (e.g., sales, efficiency) and ensuring an optimal user experience, especially within a large retail enterprise.

• Designing for Scale and Complexity: Creating user-friendly interfaces and experiences for a wide range of customers and products, potentially involving complex operational workflows (e.g., supply chain, merchandising) within Kohl's vast ecosystem.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent design vision and execution across multiple product teams and departments, requiring strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Integrating New Technologies/Features: Adapting designs to incorporate emerging technologies or new business initiatives while maintaining usability and brand consistency.

• Leveraging Data Effectively: Translating complex data and research findings into actionable design improvements and demonstrating their impact.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into Retail Operations: Gaining firsthand experience and understanding of the intricacies of retail, merchandising, supply chain, and logistics, which can lead to specialized roles.

• Advanced Design System Contributions: Opportunities to contribute to or lead the evolution of Kohl's design system, enhancing skills in design governance and scalability.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Working closely with product managers, engineers, and business analysts to broaden understanding of product strategy, technical constraints, and business drivers.

• Professional Development: Access to training, workshops, conferences, and potentially certifications to enhance design skills and stay current with industry trends.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior designers or design leaders, and potentially to mentor junior designers as experience grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the complexity of working in a large retail organization, requiring designers to be strategic, adaptable, and strong communicators. Growth opportunities are robust, offering pathways for specialization, leadership, and deep domain expertise within the retail sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you influenced product strategy with your design recommendations. How did you approach it?" - Preparation: Prepare a case study focusing on how your design insights led to a strategic shift or prioritization. Emphasize data, user research, and stakeholder communication.

• "How do you balance competing priorities between user needs and business objectives in a fast-paced environment?" - Preparation: Discuss your framework for prioritization, mediation techniques, and how you use data to justify decisions. Reference examples where you navigated such trade-offs.

• "Walk us through a complex design problem you solved. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" - Preparation: Select a detailed case study from your portfolio that showcases your end-to-end design process, problem-solving skills, and measurable impact. Be ready to discuss your rationale for every step.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Kohl's and our customer base?" - Preparation: Research Kohl's recent performance, digital strategy, target demographics, and current marketing campaigns. Understand their omnichannel approach.

• "How do you see your skills contributing to Kohl's design vision?" - Preparation: Align your strengths with the company's stated values and the role's responsibilities, particularly regarding customer experience and business growth.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (problem, your role), Process (research, ideation, iteration), Solution (key designs, rationale), and Outcome (impact, learnings).

• Focus on "Why": For each design decision, explain the reasoning behind it, linking it back to user needs, business goals, or research findings.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals effectively, but also verbally explain the context and your thought process.

• Be Concise: Respect the allotted time. Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and hits all key points without rushing.

• Engage Your Audience: Make eye contact, ask clarifying questions if needed, and be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your work.

• Highlight Collaboration: Explicitly mention how you worked with others in your case studies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparing for this interview process requires not only showcasing design skills but also demonstrating strategic thinking, collaborative capability, and a deep understanding of business objectives within a large retail context. The emphasis on balanced teams means candidates should be ready to discuss their cross-functional work extensively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the official Kohl's careers portal: https://careers.kohls.com

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight experience with user-centric design, Design Thinking, Figma, Miro, and any relevant retail/e-commerce projects. Focus on case studies demonstrating impact and collaboration.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3-6 years of professional design experience, your bachelor's degree, and proficiency in the required tools and methodologies. Quantify achievements whenever possible.

• Interview Preparation: Thoroughly review the suggested interview questions and practice presenting your portfolio. Be ready to articulate your design process, problem-solving approach, and how you contribute to team success.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Kohl's current digital presence, business strategy, and target customer to demonstrate genuine interest and alignment during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details, especially regarding remote work policy and specific compensation, should be verified directly with the hiring organization during the application process.