Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: AKQA

Location: Gothenburg, Sweden / Stockholm, Sweden

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / Digital Product Design

Date Posted: September 16, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design for influential global brands, from concept through to delivery, ensuring the highest standards of craft and product judgment.

• Drive innovation by leveraging modern, AI-augmented workflows to accelerate product development and enhance design quality.

• Own the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, encompassing interaction design, usability, and accessibility, with a keen eye for typography, layout, motion, and micro-interactions.

• Collaborate closely with engineering teams to build, evolve, and maintain scalable design systems, including tokens, components, and semantic structures for effective design-to-code translation.

• Translate user research, behavioral data, and market insights into confident product strategies and defensible design rationales.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a leading innovation and design company, AKQA, suggesting a focus on cutting-edge design practices and client-facing solutions for major global brands. The emphasis on AI-augmented workflows and modern tooling indicates a forward-thinking approach to product development within the design discipline.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the entire product design lifecycle, from ideation and concept development to detailed UI design, interaction design, and final delivery, for a portfolio of high-profile clients.

• Define and uphold a rigorous quality bar for all design outputs, including typography, layout, motion graphics, micro-interactions, and overall visual systems.

• Strategically align design decisions with product strategy and business objectives, ensuring that the focus is not only on aesthetics and functionality but also on building impactful and valuable products.

• Utilize prototyping as a core method for ideation, validation, and delivery, rapidly moving from concept to functional, high-fidelity prototypes using tools like Figma, Code Connect, and AI-assisted development workflows.

• Develop and maintain scalable design systems, creating robust tokens, components, and semantic structures that ensure seamless collaboration between design and engineering teams.

• Design for diverse interaction paradigms, demonstrating proficiency in crafting both classic, polished user interfaces and adaptive, generative, or AI-powered experiences.

• Synthesize insights from user research, behavioral data, and competitive analysis to inform product direction and provide well-reasoned justifications for design choices.

• Facilitate workshops and co-creation sessions with clients, effectively framing complex challenges and fostering confidence in innovative solutions.

• Mentor and guide junior designers, actively contributing to the team's collective growth in craft, product judgment, and proficiency with modern design and AI tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a senior-level individual who not only executes design but also strategizes, leads client engagements, and mentors others. The emphasis on AI-augmented workflows and modern tooling suggests a requirement for continuous learning and adaptation in design practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong academic background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Computer Science, or a related field is often preferred for senior roles in design. Candidates are expected to demonstrate equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 5+ years of dedicated experience in designing impactful digital products, from initial strategy through to successful delivery, is required. A proven track record of delivering real-world impact and measurable commercial results is essential.

Required Skills:

• World-class craft in User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) design.

• Mastery of Figma for design, prototyping, and system development.

• Expertise in building and managing comprehensive Design Systems, including component thinking and semantic structures.

• Proficiency in creating high-fidelity prototypes to validate concepts and demonstrate functionality.

• Strong understanding of Interaction Design principles and best practices.

• Experience with AI-augmented design and development workflows (e.g., Cursor, Claude, or similar tools) to enhance speed and depth.

• Skill in designing for modern interaction paradigms, including generative and AI-powered experiences.

• Proven ability to translate user research, behavioral data, and market insights into actionable product design strategies.

• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, capable of presenting complex ideas clearly and persuasively to senior clients and cross-functional teams.

• Technical literacy to effectively collaborate with engineering teams in agile environments.

• Experience in mentoring and guiding other designers. Preferred Skills:

• Deep understanding of typography, layout, motion design, and micro-interactions.

• Experience with Code Connect for design-to-code workflows.

• Strong product and commercial acumen, understanding user value and business objectives.

• Strategic systems thinking and the ability to unite rigorous execution with aesthetic taste.

• Experience in facilitating client workshops and co-creation sessions.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards and best practices in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is presented as a guideline, emphasizing practical impact and results over a strict tenure. The blend of "world-class craft" with "pragmatic tool fluency" and "AI-augmented workflows" indicates a need for both deep design expertise and forward-looking technical adaptability.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio link is mandatory for all applications; without it, applications will not be considered.

• Showcase end-to-end product design projects that demonstrate your ability to translate strategy into impactful digital products.

• Clearly articulate your role and contribution within each project, highlighting your process from concept through to delivery.

• Present tangible evidence of real-world impact and commercial results achieved through your design work.

• Demonstrate mastery of core design tools, particularly Figma, and your approach to building and utilizing design systems. Process Documentation:

• Detail your process for user research, including methodologies for gathering insights and translating them into design decisions.

• Illustrate your approach to prototyping, showcasing how you use it for validation, iteration, and communication of design concepts.

• Document your experience with building and scaling design systems, explaining how you manage tokens, components, and semantic structures.

• Provide examples of how you have integrated AI-augmented workflows into your design process to enhance efficiency and quality.

• Showcase your ability to collaborate with engineering teams, including how you hand off designs and ensure consistent implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for a portfolio and the emphasis on "real-world impact and commercial results" suggest that candidates must present case studies that quantify their contributions and demonstrate a business-oriented approach to design. The inclusion of AI-augmented workflows in the portfolio expectations is a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer role in Gothenburg or Stockholm, Sweden, with 5-10 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is approximately 600,000 SEK to 900,000 SEK (Swedish Krona). This range can vary based on the specific candidate's qualifications, experience level, and the exact scope of responsibilities within AKQA.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package aligned with industry standards for senior design roles in Sweden.

• Opportunities to work with world-renowned brands such as Volvo Cars, Polestar, H&M, Netflix, Nike, and Minecraft.

• Professional development and continuous learning opportunities, including exposure to AI-augmented workflows and cutting-edge design technologies.

• Hybrid work model fostering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

• Contribution to a dynamic and innovative work environment within a leading global design and innovation company.

• Potential for career advancement and mentorship within AKQA's extensive network.

Working Hours: The role typically involves a standard full-time work schedule, estimated at 40 hours per week. While a hybrid model is in place, specific in-office days are required, suggesting a structured yet flexible approach to work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on typical market rates for senior-level design professionals in major Swedish cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, considering the industry (digital design, innovation) and the reputable employer (AKQA). Benefits are inferred from the company's description and typical offerings for such roles in a competitive market.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Product Design, Innovation, Advertising & Marketing Services (as part of WPP). AKQA operates at the intersection of technology, creativity, and strategy, focusing on crafting beautiful, useful, and meaningful products and services for clients.

Company Size: AKQA is a significant global company, part of WPP, which is one of the world's largest advertising and marketing services groups. This indicates a large, well-resourced organization with a global presence and diverse talent pool.

Founded: AKQA was founded in 2001. Its history is rooted in creating innovative digital experiences and products, consistently pushing boundaries in design and technology.

Team Structure:

• The Product Design team at AKQA is likely composed of specialists in UI, UX, interaction design, and visual design, with a growing emphasis on AI-augmented workflows.

• Designers typically report into Design Leads or Creative Directors, with opportunities to collaborate closely with strategists, researchers, technologists, and project managers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is fundamental, with designers working alongside client teams and internal multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated solutions. Methodology:

• AKQA emphasizes a blend of artistry and craftsmanship with strategic insight, focusing on creating "beautiful ideas, products and services that move the world."

• Design processes often involve rapid prototyping, iterative development, and a strong focus on user-centered design principles, enhanced by modern tooling and AI.

• The company champions a culture of continuous learning and experimentation, encouraging designers to explore new technologies and methodologies to elevate their craft and client outcomes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: AKQA's positioning as a "design and innovation company" implies a culture that values creativity, strategic thinking, and technical excellence. Being part of WPP provides access to a vast network of resources and expertise, while AKQA itself focuses on high-impact client work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a position of significant responsibility and influence within the design function. It requires not only advanced design skills but also leadership qualities, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior team members. The scope extends from concept to delivery, with client interaction and strategic input.

Reporting Structure: Senior Product Designers typically report to a Design Director, Creative Director, or Head of Product Design. They will also work closely with project managers, strategists, and client stakeholders, and are expected to mentor and guide other designers within their project teams.

Operations Impact: The impact of a Senior Product Designer at AKQA is substantial. They are instrumental in shaping the user experience and visual identity of products for some of the world's most influential brands. Their work directly influences user engagement, brand perception, and ultimately, the commercial success of the products they design. The emphasis on "product judgement" and "what is worth building" highlights their strategic contribution beyond mere execution.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like AI-driven design, generative design, advanced interaction design, or leading design systems.

• Leadership: Progress into roles such as Lead Product Designer, Design Director, or Head of Design, managing teams and larger client portfolios.

• Strategic Influence: Transition into product strategy roles, leveraging design expertise to shape product roadmaps and business direction.

• Cross-disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to other areas within AKQA and WPP, such as strategy, technology, or client management, to broaden skill sets.

• Mentorship: Develop leadership skills by actively mentoring junior designers and shaping the craft and tool fluency of the wider team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth paths emphasize both deepening design expertise and moving into broader leadership and strategic roles, reflecting AKQA's commitment to nurturing talent within its innovation-focused environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: AKQA operates a hybrid work model, requiring specific in-office days at its Gothenburg or Stockholm studios. This approach is designed to foster creativity, collaboration, and connection among team members.

Office Location(s): The role is available in AKQA's studios located in Gothenburg and Stockholm, Sweden. These locations serve as hubs for client engagement, team collaboration, and creative ideation.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to be collaborative, encouraging interaction and knowledge sharing among multidisciplinary teams.

• Access to modern design tools, prototyping software, and AI-augmented workflows is integral to the daily work environment.

• The studio environment supports a culture of craft, where attention to detail in typography, layout, and motion is valued.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with senior clients and stakeholders are common, providing exposure to high-level strategic discussions.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule of approximately 40 hours per week is expected. The hybrid model implies a structured week with designated days for in-office work to facilitate team collaboration and creative synergy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with mandatory in-office days underscores AKQA's belief in the value of in-person collaboration for design and innovation, while still offering flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application, including mandatory portfolio link, to assess foundational skills, experience, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where candidates present their portfolio, detailing their process, impact, and strategic thinking behind key projects. This is a critical stage to evaluate craft, product judgment, and communication skills.

• Design Challenge/Case Study: Candidates may be asked to complete a design challenge or work through a case study, either pre-interview or during a live session, to assess problem-solving abilities, strategic approach, and application of design principles.

• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential colleagues, design leads, and possibly client representatives to evaluate collaboration style, cultural fit, and ability to manage stakeholder relationships.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and long-term potential within AKQA.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end product design capabilities, focusing on those with significant commercial impact and real-world results.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the process you followed (including research, ideation, prototyping, and iteration), the solutions you devised, and the measurable outcomes achieved.

• Highlight AI Integration: If applicable, showcase how you leveraged AI-augmented workflows, tools like Cursor or Claude, to enhance your design process, efficiency, or the final product's quality.

• Demonstrate Craft: Ensure your presentation clearly illustrates your mastery of UI/UX, typography, layout, motion, and interaction design. Showcase your ability to build and utilize design systems effectively.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs. Focus on business objectives and user value.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully analyze any design challenge prompt, identifying key constraints, objectives, and target users.

• Rapid Ideation: Practice quick brainstorming and sketching techniques to generate multiple solutions.

• Focus on Process: Be prepared to explain your thought process, decision-making rationale, and how you would validate your proposed solution.

• Consider AI: Think about how AI tools could potentially be applied to solve the challenge, even if not explicitly required.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your approach concisely and persuasively, anticipating questions about strategy, execution, and potential impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a strong portfolio and the ability to articulate design strategy and impact, particularly in the context of modern, AI-augmented workflows. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate both creative craft and commercial acumen.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design system development. Mastery is expected.

• Prototyping Tools: Beyond Figma, proficiency with tools for creating high-fidelity, functional prototypes.

• AI-Augmented Design Tools: Experience with modern AI tools like Cursor (for AI-assisted coding/design), Claude (for AI assistance in various tasks), or similar platforms that accelerate design and development workflows.

• Code Connect: For bridging design and engineering workflows, enabling seamless handoffs and implementation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not primary design tools, an understanding of how to interpret user research data, behavioral analytics (e.g., from tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude), and A/B testing results is crucial for informing design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly part of the design tool stack, but an awareness of how design impacts CRM systems and marketing automation processes can be beneficial for understanding broader business contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, AI-augmented workflows (Cursor, Claude), and Code Connect highlights AKQA's commitment to modern, efficient design practices that integrate closely with development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A deep commitment to high standards in design execution, attention to detail, and delivering exceptional quality in every project.

• Innovation & Curiosity: A drive to explore new technologies, methodologies, and creative approaches, particularly in the realm of AI and generative design, to push boundaries.

• Collaboration & Partnership: A belief in working closely with clients and multidisciplinary teams, fostering open communication and co-creation to achieve shared goals.

• Strategic Impact: A focus on designing products that not only look good but also deliver tangible business value and meaningful user experiences.

• Integrity & Respect: Upholding ethical design practices, ensuring accessibility, and fostering an inclusive environment where all team members feel valued and respected.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with strategists, researchers, technologists, engineers, and client teams is a cornerstone of AKQA's approach.

• Workshop Facilitation: Actively leading and participating in workshops to drive ideation, problem-solving, and consensus-building.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve design quality and team dynamics.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings, especially regarding new tools and techniques like AI-augmented workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of creative excellence, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit, with a clear emphasis on modern innovation and client partnership.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Innovation with Client Needs: Successfully integrating cutting-edge AI-augmented workflows and generative design techniques while meeting the specific strategic and commercial objectives of diverse clients.

• Maintaining High Craft Standards with Speed: Accelerating design cycles using AI tools without compromising on the meticulous craft and aesthetic quality AKQA is known for.

• Navigating Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of rapid advancements in AI and machine learning and determining their practical, ethical, and effective application in product design.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively communicating complex design decisions and AI-driven concepts to stakeholders with varying technical backgrounds.

• Mentoring Diverse Skill Sets: Guiding and developing a team with potentially varied levels of experience and familiarity with modern and AI-driven design tools.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI & Generative Design Expertise: Opportunities to become a leader in applying AI tools (Cursor, Claude, etc.) and generative design principles to create novel user experiences.

• Design System Leadership: Taking ownership of and evolving complex, scalable design systems for global brands.

• Client Strategy Engagement: Developing deeper involvement in client strategy, shaping product roadmaps, and influencing business direction through design expertise.

• Advanced Prototyping & Interaction: Exploring and implementing sophisticated prototyping techniques and novel interaction paradigms.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Participation in leading design and technology events to stay at the forefront of industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are directly tied to the role's emphasis on AI and modern workflows, offering significant opportunities for growth and specialization in emerging design fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led a product design project from concept to delivery for a major brand. What was your process, and what was the measurable impact?" (Focus on end-to-end ownership, strategic alignment, and results.)

• "How do you approach setting and holding a high standard of craft across typography, layout, and motion in your designs?" (Prepare examples of your attention to detail and quality control.)

• "Discuss your experience with AI-augmented workflows. How have you used tools like Cursor or Claude to accelerate design or enhance outcomes? What are the ethical considerations?" (Be ready to showcase practical application and thoughtful consideration of AI's role.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to AKQA and our work with clients like Volvo Cars or Nike?" (Research AKQA's portfolio and recent projects; connect your interests to their work.)

• "How do you approach collaborating with engineering teams to ensure seamless design-to-code implementation and maintain design systems?" (Highlight your technical literacy and partnership approach.)

• "What are your thoughts on the future of product design with the rise of AI and generative experiences?" (Demonstrate your forward-thinking perspective and curiosity.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction (problem/goal), Your Role, Process (research, ideation, design, prototyping, iteration), Solution (showcase UI/UX), Impact (metrics, outcomes), and Key Learnings.

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly point out where and how AI tools enhanced your process or the final outcome. Use visuals to show the 'before' and 'after' or the specific AI-assisted steps.

• Quantify Everything: Use data points to back up your claims of impact. If exact numbers aren't available, discuss the types of metrics that would demonstrate success and why they are relevant.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity mockups, interactive prototypes, and short video clips to bring your designs to life.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, trade-offs made, and your rationale behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, practical application of modern tools (especially AI), and a strong understanding of AKQA's client-centric, innovation-driven culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on AKQA's careers page.

• Curate a compelling portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful digital product design projects, ensuring they clearly demonstrate end-to-end ownership, real-world commercial results, and your mastery of Figma and design systems.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience, specific achievements in UI/UX design, any experience with AI-augmented workflows, and your ability to mentor. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your key projects, emphasizing your process, strategic thinking, the impact of your work, and your proficiency with modern design and AI tools. Be ready to discuss your role and contributions in detail.

• Research AKQA and its clients: Understand their design philosophy, recent work, and the industries their key clients operate in. Prepare to articulate why you are a good fit for their innovative culture.

⚠️ 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.