Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Focused

Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / UX Design / AI Design

Date Posted: 2026-06-11

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (Up to 4 days per week in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead end-to-end product design processes for client engagements, from initial discovery and user research through to implementation and iteration, with a strong emphasis on AI-driven product development.

• Strategically integrate AI capabilities into user experiences, focusing on transparency, trust, and genuine user value, rather than novelty.

• Drive client engagements by facilitating workshops, conducting user research, and guiding stakeholders through complex design decisions.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers, developers, and clients, to define product roadmaps and deliver high-quality software solutions.

• Contribute to the evolution of the company's design practices, particularly in the burgeoning field of AI-native product design and agentic workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly hybrid, requiring up to four days per week in the office, which is a critical factor for candidates considering this position. The salary range provided is for London, UK; a Chicago-based salary would need separate research.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the entire design lifecycle for client projects, encompassing user research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and post-launch iterations.

• Evaluate and integrate AI functionalities into product designs, ensuring they address user needs and business objectives while maintaining usability and trust.

• Develop comprehensive design deliverables, including sketches, workflow diagrams, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs.

• Design and conceptualize AI-powered experiences, such as conversational interfaces, agentic workflows, and AI-assisted features, with a keen focus on ethical considerations and user control.

• Plan and execute user research initiatives, including usability testing and contextual inquiry, to gather insights and inform design decisions.

• Effectively communicate design rationale and process to clients, building trust and influencing product strategy.

• Lead and facilitate client workshops, discovery sessions, and project kick-off meetings to align stakeholders and define project scope.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with developers, product managers, and clients to prioritize efforts and deliver value in line with client visions.

• Actively research and share advancements in AI design, contributing to the company's internal knowledge base and evolving best practices for AI-native product development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI design, including conversational interfaces and agentic workflows, is a significant differentiator for this role, requiring specialized knowledge beyond traditional UX design. The expectation to design AI-native products and contribute to an internal AI design playbook suggests a proactive and innovative approach is valued.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating design expertise and problem-solving skills is essential. A background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), Computer Science, or a related field is advantageous.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, UX design, or a related field, with a proven track record of leading design initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Ability to lead the full product design process from discovery to delivery.

• AI Interaction Design: Experience designing AI-powered features, conversational interfaces, and agentic workflows.

• User Research Expertise: Proficiency in various qualitative and quantitative research methodologies (usability testing, contextual inquiry, user interviews).

• Wireframing & Prototyping: Skill in creating detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity mockups using industry-standard tools.

• Workshop Facilitation: Proven ability to plan and lead client workshops, discovery sessions, and project kick-offs.

• Client Communication & Influence: Strong skills in guiding clients through design processes, articulating rationale, and building trust.

• Agile Development Understanding: Familiarity with agile methodologies and how design integrates into fast-paced development cycles.

• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking: Ability to dissect complex problems, assess situations, and drive strategic, outcome-oriented solutions.

• Adaptability & Ambiguity Tolerance: Thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments and is comfortable navigating uncertainty.

Preferred Skills:

• Technical AI Familiarity: Understanding of agentic systems like LangChain, LangGraph, or similar frameworks.

• Portfolio Demonstration: A portfolio showcasing both traditional product design craft and innovative AI interaction patterns.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with product managers and developers in a consultative capacity.

• Visual Design Acumen: Strong aesthetic sensibility and ability to create visually compelling interfaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "What sets exceptional candidates apart" section directly informs the preferred skills, highlighting experience with AI-enabled products and familiarity with technical AI frameworks as key differentiators. The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating both craft and AI interaction patterns is also a critical requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase end-to-end product design projects, detailing the problem, your process, design decisions, and quantifiable outcomes.

• AI Design Examples: Include specific examples of AI-powered features or interfaces you've designed, highlighting your approach to user trust, transparency, and usability.

• Client Engagement Examples: Demonstrate your ability to guide clients through discovery, design, and implementation, including workshop facilitation and stakeholder management.

• Process Iteration: Illustrate how you've iterated on designs based on user feedback, technical constraints, and business objectives.

• Visual & Interactive Deliverables: Present a range of deliverables, from sketches and wireframes to interactive prototypes and high-fidelity visuals.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Evidence of mapping and improving existing workflows, identifying opportunities for AI integration or efficiency gains.

• User-Centered Design Process: Documentation of how you integrate user research and testing throughout the design lifecycle.

• AI Design Playbook Contribution: (If applicable) Examples or descriptions of contributions to internal design standards or best practices, particularly for AI.

• Agile Integration: Show how your design process aligns with and supports agile development sprints and methodologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio that demonstrates "thoughtful approaches to novel AI interaction patterns" and "classic product design craft" is paramount. Candidates should curate their portfolios to explicitly highlight these dual strengths, with specific case studies detailing their experience in designing AI-enabled products and agentic workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided salary range is for London, UK: £72,000 - £97,000 per year. A salary range for Chicago, Illinois, would need to be established based on local market data for a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in a hybrid role, likely within the range of $120,000 - $160,000 USD annually, dependent on specific experience and negotiation.

Benefits: While specific benefits are not detailed, typical offerings for a role of this nature at a consulting firm often include:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

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

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

• Professional development budget for conferences, training, and certifications.

• Opportunities for continuous learning and skill development in emerging technologies like AI.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit sharing.

• Life and disability insurance.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, requiring up to 4 days per week in the office or at client sites, allowing for some flexibility in work location for the remaining day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary information provided is explicitly for London. It's crucial to note this discrepancy and advise candidates applying from Chicago to research local market rates. The benefits listed are educated assumptions based on industry standards for similar roles and companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting / Software Development / Product Design Services. Focused partners with clients across various industries to leverage expertise in design and software development, helping them bring new products to market, modernize systems, or upskill their teams.

Company Size: The job posting does not specify company size, but the nature of client engagements and the need for a Senior Product Designer suggest a growing firm that handles diverse projects. The mention of an internal AI design playbook implies a commitment to innovation and knowledge sharing, indicative of a forward-thinking culture.

Founded: Not specified in the listing, but the emphasis on modern practices like AI design and agile development suggests a company built on contemporary principles.

Team Structure:

• Design Expertise: Designers at Focused are practitioners and experts, shaping product and UX approaches across client engagements.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Designers work closely with product managers, developers, and clients, forming integrated project teams.

• Consultative Approach: Designers are expected to build trust with clients, understand their domains, and influence product strategy.

• Learning-Oriented: The culture values listening, learning, and a "love your craft" mentality, fostering continuous improvement.

Methodology:

• Human-Centered Design: A core approach balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives.

• Agile Development Integration: Design processes are integrated within agile software development cycles.

• AI-Native Design: A growing focus on designing AI-powered experiences and agentic workflows.

• Client Partnership: Emphasis on collaborative relationships with clients to understand their domain expertise and achieve outcomes.

Company Website: https://www.focused.engineering/ (Inferred from context, actual URL may vary)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values ("Listen first," "Learn why," "Love your craft") are central to its culture and should guide how candidates present themselves. The blend of client-facing consulting with internal innovation (like the AI playbook) indicates a dynamic and intellectually stimulating environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Senior Product Designer" role, indicating a mid-to-senior level position. It requires demonstrated leadership in the design process, client interaction, and a proactive approach to problem-solving and innovation, particularly in AI. The role is not just about execution but also about strategic influence and mentorship.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, Senior Designers typically report to a Design Lead, Director of Design, or Head of Product. They are expected to mentor more junior designers and collaborate closely with Product Managers and Engineering leads on project teams.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on client outcomes by shaping the user experience and functionality of products. Successful design directly contributes to client satisfaction, product adoption, and the achievement of business objectives. By focusing on AI, this role also positions the company and its clients at the forefront of technological innovation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to advance to Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Director roles, managing teams and strategic design initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI design, conversational interfaces, or specific industry domains through client work and internal initiatives.

• Consulting Acumen: Develop advanced client management, workshop facilitation, and strategic advisory skills.

• Internal Contribution: Opportunity to contribute significantly to company-wide design standards, playbooks, and best practices, particularly in the AI space.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to their professional development within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies a level of autonomy and expectation for strategic contribution beyond task execution. Growth paths likely involve increasing client impact, team leadership, and specialization in cutting-edge areas like AI design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid model requiring up to 4 days per week in-office (either at the Chicago office or client sites). This suggests a blend of dedicated company workspace and client-facing environments.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, United States. The mention of "client sites" indicates that travel to client locations may be necessary as part of the role, in addition to working from the company's Chicago office.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration among design, product, and engineering teams, supporting shared work sessions and brainstorming.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, collaboration platforms, and potentially AI development tools or environments.

• Client Interaction: Opportunities to engage directly with clients in their environments, understanding their unique contexts and challenges.

• Dynamic Pace: The work environment is characterized by a fast pace and adaptability, reflecting the consulting nature of the business.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement. While the core structure is office-based for most of the week, there's an expectation of flexibility to meet client needs and project deadlines. This might involve occasional work outside standard hours depending on project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid requirement is significant. Candidates must be comfortable working from a company office and potentially client locations for a substantial portion of the week. This differs from fully remote roles and requires an understanding of on-site collaboration dynamics.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The process is expected to be multi-stage, typical for senior roles in design consulting:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

• Portfolio Review & Design Challenge: A more in-depth session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing specific case studies, design decisions, and their approach to AI and client collaboration. This may include a take-home design exercise or a live design problem-solving session.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with potential peers (other designers, PMs, engineers) to evaluate collaboration style, technical understanding, and problem-solving skills.

• Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to assess strategic thinking, leadership potential, and alignment with company values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end design process, client collaboration, and, critically, your experience with AI-powered product design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the user needs, business objectives, the constraints you faced, your design process and rationale, and the impact of your solution. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight AI Expertise: Explicitly call out projects involving AI, explaining your approach to designing for AI, addressing trust, transparency, and unique interaction patterns (e.g., conversational UIs, agentic workflows).

• Demonstrate Client Acumen: Show examples of how you've guided clients, facilitated workshops, and translated client needs into effective design solutions.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback demonstrating the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Context: Be prepared for design challenges that might involve evaluating an existing AI product, conceptualizing a new AI feature, or mapping a complex workflow.

• Focus on Process: Even if a time-limited challenge, emphasize your thought process, how you'd approach research, ideation, and iteration, rather than just a final polished output.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss design trade-offs, especially concerning AI implementation (e.g., user control vs. automation, transparency vs. simplicity).

• AI & Ethics: Consider common AI design challenges, ethical implications, and how to build user trust in AI systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI in the job description means candidates must be prepared to discuss their AI design experience in detail. The portfolio review and any design challenges will likely probe this specific area significantly.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Axure RP. Proficiency in at least one major design and prototyping tool is essential.

• User Research: Tools for conducting usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Maze), survey platforms (e.g., SurveyMonkey, Typeform), and potentially qualitative data analysis tools.

• Collaboration: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Jira, Confluence, Google Workspace.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web/Product Analytics: Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude. Understanding how to interpret data to inform design decisions is key.

• Data Visualization: Familiarity with tools like Tableau or Looker Studio could be beneficial for understanding user behavior patterns.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design impacts user journeys within CRMs (like Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous.

• AI Frameworks (Preferred): Familiarity with LangChain, LangGraph, or similar frameworks for agentic systems would be a strong plus, indicating a deeper understanding of AI implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of LangChain and LangGraph as preferred skills indicates a need for designers who understand the technical underpinnings of modern AI systems, not just the user-facing elements. This suggests a more technically-minded design team.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Listen First: Demonstrating active listening skills with clients and colleagues, seeking to understand before proposing solutions. This translates to thorough discovery phases and responsive feedback incorporation.

• Learn Why: Proactively asking questions to deeply understand client business objectives, user motivations, and problem spaces. This drives insightful design solutions.

• Love Your Craft: Showing passion for design excellence, continuous learning, and delivering high-quality, impactful work. This means taking pride in detailed design execution and staying current with trends.

• Bias Toward Action: A proactive and results-oriented approach, moving quickly to assess situations and drive towards productive outcomes.

• Empathy, Humility, Learning Mindset: Approaching challenges with an understanding of user needs, a willingness to learn from others, and an openness to new ideas.

Collaboration Style:

• Client-Centric Partnership: Building strong, trusting relationships with clients, guiding them through the design process and co-creating solutions.

• Cross-Functional Teamwork: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers and Developers, ensuring design vision is technically feasible and aligned with product strategy.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively contributing to internal knowledge bases, playbooks, and team discussions, particularly around AI design patterns and best practices.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to giving and receiving constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply integrated into their client interactions and internal operations. Candidates should be prepared to speak about how they embody these values in their daily work, especially "Listen First" and "Learn Why" in client discovery, and "Love Your Craft" in their design execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working with diverse clients and new product ideas often involves significant ambiguity. Candidates must be comfortable defining problems and driving clarity.

• AI Integration Complexity: Balancing the potential of AI with user needs, technical constraints, and ethical considerations requires careful design and a deep understanding of AI capabilities and limitations.

• Client Education & Alignment: Guiding clients who may have limited understanding of AI or design processes requires strong communication, patience, and strategic influence.

• Fast-Paced Consulting Environment: Managing multiple projects and client demands simultaneously while maintaining high-quality output is a constant challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in designing for AI, including LLMs, agentic workflows, and conversational UIs, through hands-on projects and potentially specialized training.

• Consulting Skills Enhancement: Develop advanced client management, workshop facilitation, and strategic advisory skills.

• Industry Exposure: Work with a variety of clients and industries, broadening your understanding of different business domains and user needs.

• Internal Playbook Development: Contribute to and influence the company's internal design methodologies, especially in the rapidly evolving AI space.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to learn from and be mentored by experienced design leaders, as well as mentor more junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The rapid evolution of AI presents both a challenge and a significant growth opportunity. Candidates who are proactive in learning about AI advancements and applying them thoughtfully to design problems will find significant development potential.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for significant ambiguity. How did you approach defining the problem and driving towards a solution?" (Focus on process, research, and how you brought clarity).

• "How do you approach balancing user needs, technical constraints, and business objectives, especially when AI is involved?" (Highlight your framework for trade-offs and user-centricity).

• "Tell me about a complex AI product or feature you've designed. What were the key challenges, and how did you ensure user trust and transparency?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio).

• "How do you guide a client who is resistant to your design recommendations or has a fixed idea of what they want?" (Focus on communication, empathy, and data-driven persuasion). Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you embody our values of 'Listen First,' 'Learn Why,' and 'Love Your Craft' in your daily work?" (Prepare specific examples for each value).

• "How do you see AI transforming product design, and what excites you most about designing AI-native products?" (Show your passion and forward-thinking perspective).

• "Describe your ideal collaboration with product managers and developers. How do you ensure a smooth handoff and ongoing partnership?" (Emphasize communication and shared ownership). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, covering problem, solution, your role, process, and outcomes for each project.

• Focus on "Why": For every design decision, explain the rationale behind it. Why this approach? Why this UI pattern? Why this AI integration?

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use visuals (sketches, wireframes, prototypes, final UIs) to illustrate your points. For AI projects, clearly demonstrate the interaction model.

• Highlight AI Expertise: Dedicate time to showcase your AI design projects, detailing your unique contributions and learnings in this specialized area.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, decision-making, and how you handle challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to discuss their experience with AI design in depth, using specific examples from their portfolio. The company's values should be woven into responses about collaboration and problem-solving.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate a Portfolio: Carefully select and polish 3-5 of your strongest projects, ensuring they showcase your end-to-end design process, client interaction skills, and, critically, your experience with AI-powered product design.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight relevant experience, keywords (e.g., Product Design, UX Design, AI Design, User Research, Workshop Facilitation), and quantifiable achievements that align with the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice articulating your portfolio case studies, focusing on the "why" behind your design decisions and clearly demonstrating your approach to AI integration and client collaboration.

• Research Focused: Understand the company's values, methodology, and client-focused approach. Prepare to discuss how your skills and experience align with their mission and 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.