Senior Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Itoya Topdrawer Corporation

Location: Brookline, MA, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI

Date Posted: 2026-05-07T21:15:00

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end product design process from initial concept through to final execution, ensuring alignment with both business objectives and user needs.

• Develop user-centric interfaces and comprehensive user experiences for both web and mobile applications, focusing on intuitive navigation and engagement.

• Conduct rigorous user research and usability testing, coupled with data analysis, to inform and validate design decisions, promoting an iterative design approach.

• Create detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows utilizing industry-standard UX/UI design tools to effectively communicate design intent.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including engineering and marketing, to translate business goals into innovative and seamless user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Product Designer," the responsibilities blend UX/UI design with aspects of product management and e-commerce operations, particularly concerning website management, vendor relationships, and proprietary brand category development. This suggests a role that requires a strong understanding of the full product lifecycle and e-commerce business drivers, not just pure design.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end design process for new product features and enhancements, from ideation to implementation, ensuring user needs and business goals are met.

• Design intuitive and engaging user-centric interfaces and experiences for web and mobile applications, focusing on usability and accessibility.

• Conduct comprehensive user research, usability testing, and data analysis to gather actionable insights and validate design decisions for product improvements.

• Develop detailed wireframes, interactive prototypes, and user flows using UX/UI design tools such as Figma, Keynote, and Adobe XD to communicate design concepts.

• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams (product management, engineering, marketing) to define product direction, translate business requirements into innovative design solutions, and ensure a seamless user experience.

• Manage the website's content, design, and technical aspects, ensuring a cohesive and effective online presence.

• Apply a data-driven methodology to continuously optimize user interaction and engagement metrics on the website and applications.

• Lead the product development efforts for main proprietary brand categories, driving innovation and market relevance.

• Establish and maintain a robust design system to ensure visual and functional consistency across all product touchpoints and platforms.

• Mentor and guide junior designers, providing constructive feedback and fostering their professional growth within the design team.

• Apply user research methodology and usability testing to automate workflows and research processes, and build/establish vendor relationships worldwide.

• Ensure website accessibility and ADA compliance, adhering to inclusivity standards.

• Work closely with developers, demonstrating working knowledge of programming languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to facilitate effective collaboration.

• Travel approximately 10% of the time, both domestically and internationally, to meet with vendors and gather market insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities list is extensive, indicating a highly integrated role. The mention of "managing the website's content, design and technical aspects" and "establish and maintain a design system" points to a need for operational understanding beyond pure design. The requirement to "build and establish vendor relationships" and "lead the product development of main proprietary brand categories" further broadens the scope into product management and supply chain interaction, which are crucial for e-commerce operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in the job offered, or as a Category Manager, or a similar product designer position.

• Must have 2 years of experience working with NetSuite.

• Must have 1 year of experience working with Shopify and managing websites.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in end-to-end design process leadership, from concept to execution.

• Expertise in designing user-centric interfaces and experiences for web and mobile applications.

• Strong capabilities in conducting user research and usability testing, leveraging data analysis for design validation.

• Advanced proficiency with UX/UI design tools, including Figma, Keynote, and Adobe XD.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve product and business objectives.

• Experience in website content, design, and technical aspect management.

• Proven ability to apply data-driven methodologies to optimize user interaction.

• Experience in leading product development for main proprietary brand categories.

• Skill in establishing and maintaining design systems for product consistency.

• Experience in mentoring and guiding junior designers.

• Proficiency in user research methodology and usability testing for workflow automation.

• Knowledge of building and establishing vendor relationships worldwide.

• Understanding of accessibility standards and ADA compliance for web platforms.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with agile team environments and methodologies.

• Strong understanding of e-commerce platforms and their operational requirements.

• Skill in inventory management and supply chain processes.

• Experience with quantitative and qualitative data application in UX Design.

• Proven track record of developing innovative design solutions that have been successfully shipped to end-users.

• Experience in driving improved user engagement and retention for at least one year.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 2 years of NetSuite experience and 1 year of Shopify/website management experience, alongside inventory management, e-commerce, supply chain, and sourcing, strongly indicates this role has significant operational components. Candidates should highlight experience in these areas, as they are critical for success in this hybrid design/operations role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating the full product design lifecycle from problem identification to final implementation and impact.

• Feature projects that highlight user research, wireframing, prototyping, and UI design, with clear explanations of the design process and rationale.

• Include examples of projects where data-driven insights (quantitative and qualitative) were used to inform design decisions and improve user engagement or business outcomes.

• Demonstrate experience with e-commerce platforms and website management, potentially including projects related to Shopify or similar systems.

Process Documentation:

• For each case study, clearly outline the problem statement, user needs, design challenges, and proposed solutions.

• Detail the methodologies used, including user research techniques, usability testing approaches, and iteration cycles.

• Quantify the impact of design decisions with relevant metrics (e.g., conversion rate improvements, engagement increases, task completion rates, reduction in support tickets).

• Explain how design decisions align with business goals and contribute to revenue generation or operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the explicit requirements for NetSuite, Shopify, inventory management, and e-commerce experience, a candidate's portfolio should ideally include projects that touch upon these operational aspects. Demonstrating how design decisions influenced or integrated with these systems (e.g., optimizing an e-commerce checkout flow, designing an intuitive inventory management interface within NetSuite) would be highly advantageous.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Generous Employee Discount on company products.

• Vacation and Sick Leave to support work-life balance.

• Paid Holidays for national observances.

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance plans.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for Health and Dependent Care expenses.

• Company-Paid Short-Term Disability (STD), Long-Term Disability (LTD), and Life Insurance coverage.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Matching contributions.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time position, typically 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $90,000-$94,578 for a Senior Product Designer in Brookline, MA, is competitive, aligning with mid-to-senior level roles in a major metropolitan area. The benefits package is robust, covering essential health, retirement, and lifestyle needs, which are standard for full-time positions in the US retail and tech sectors.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (specifically stationery, gifts, and lifestyle products through their Topdrawer brand) and E-commerce.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify the exact company size (e.g., employee count), but it is implied to be substantial enough to warrant a dedicated HR department and a structured benefits package. "Itoya Topdrawer Corporation" suggests a formal corporate structure.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but "Itoya" has a long history (established in 1917 in Japan with a US presence), suggesting a company with established roots and experience in its market.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Product Designer will likely be part of a broader Product or Design team, potentially within a larger Marketing or E-commerce division.

• Collaboration is expected with cross-functional teams including product management, engineering, marketing, and potentially supply chain/operations, given the role's scope.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is a key aspect, with emphasis on user research, usability testing, and quantitative/qualitative data analysis to inform design.

• An iterative design process is expected, allowing for continuous improvement based on feedback and performance metrics.

• Agile methodologies are implied through the mention of "working in an agile team environment," suggesting adaptability and rapid development cycles.

Company Website: https://www.itoya.com/ (This is for the parent company, Itoya. The Topdrawer brand operates under it, likely with a distinct e-commerce presence: www.topdrawershop.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: Itoya's long history suggests a company that values tradition and quality, while the "Topdrawer" brand and e-commerce focus indicate a forward-looking approach to retail and customer engagement. The blend of physical retail (Topdrawer shops) and online presence means the Senior Product Designer will be instrumental in creating a unified brand experience.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as "Senior," indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond entry-level or mid-level positions. It requires leadership in design execution, mentorship, and strategic input into product direction. For a designer, this level often implies ownership of significant product areas and the ability to influence product strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will likely report to a Design Manager, Head of Product, or a Director of E-commerce/Marketing. They will also be responsible for guiding junior designers, suggesting a direct or indirect leadership capacity within the team.

Operations Impact: The role has a significant potential impact on revenue and business decisions. By leading the design of key product features, proprietary brand categories, and managing the website experience, the Senior Product Designer directly influences customer acquisition, conversion rates, user retention, and overall brand perception. The emphasis on e-commerce operations, inventory management, and vendor relationships further integrates design with the core business functions.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to move into a Design Lead or Managerial role, overseeing larger design initiatives and teams.

• Product Strategy: Develop deeper expertise in product strategy and e-commerce operations, potentially transitioning into a Product Manager or E-commerce Strategist role.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, user research, or accessibility, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Development: Gain experience in supply chain, vendor management, and international business through required travel and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The blend of design and operational requirements (NetSuite, Shopify, inventory) presents a unique growth path. A Senior Product Designer excelling here could become invaluable to companies seeking individuals who bridge the gap between user experience and business operations, potentially leading to roles focused on GTM strategy, product operations, or even broader e-commerce management.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site" and located in Brookline, MA. This suggests a traditional office environment, likely within the Itoya Topdrawer corporate headquarters or a dedicated design studio.

Office Location(s): Corporate Headquarters, Brookline, MA, 02446. This location is within the greater Boston area, offering access to a vibrant tech and design community.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, requiring close interaction with cross-functional teams, including product managers, engineers, and marketers.

• Access to industry-standard design tools (Figma, Adobe XD, Keynote) and potentially project management software will be available.

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time position, typically involving a 40-hour work week.

• While the core hours are standard, the nature of design work may sometimes require flexibility, though no specific remote or hybrid flexibility is mentioned.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Brookline emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for this role. Candidates should be prepared for a dynamic office environment where direct communication and teamwork are key to success, especially when integrating design with operational teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly the blend of design and operational experience.

• Design Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: You will likely be asked to present your portfolio, walking through case studies that demonstrate your design process, problem-solving skills, and impact. A specific design challenge related to e-commerce or product features may also be given.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with members of various teams (e.g., product management, engineering, marketing) to assess collaboration skills and understanding of business objectives.

• Behavioral and Situational Questions: Questions designed to gauge your experience in mentorship, data-driven design, agile environments, and handling complex projects.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight Hybrid Skills: Showcase projects that demonstrate not only strong UX/UI design but also an understanding of e-commerce operations, website management, and potentially how design impacts sales or inventory.

• Quantify Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, and the measurable business or user outcomes achieved. Use metrics related to conversion, engagement, efficiency, or cost savings where possible.

• Showcase Tool Proficiency: Include examples that clearly utilize Figma, Adobe XD, and other relevant design tools. Mention your experience with NetSuite and Shopify if you have relevant design-related projects or understand how design integrates with these systems.

• Design System Examples: If you have experience building or contributing to design systems, dedicate a section to this, explaining its benefits and how it ensures consistency.

• Storytelling: Frame your case studies as compelling narratives, explaining the "why" behind your design decisions and the challenges you overcame.

Challenge Preparation:

• E-commerce Focus: Be prepared for challenges related to optimizing an e-commerce website, improving a checkout flow, designing for a specific product category, or enhancing user engagement on a retail platform.

• Data Interpretation: Practice interpreting user data and translating it into actionable design recommendations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Think about how you would communicate design concepts and trade-offs to non-design stakeholders, particularly those focused on operational efficiency and business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should proactively highlight any experience that bridges design with NetSuite, Shopify, or general e-commerce operations within their portfolio and during interviews. This unique combination of requirements suggests the company is looking for a designer who can contribute directly to the operational success of their online business.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• UX/UI Design Software: Figma, Adobe XD, Keynote (explicitly mentioned). Candidates should be proficient in at least Figma and Adobe XD.

• Prototyping Tools: Likely integrated within Figma/Adobe XD, or separate tools may be used.

• Wireframing Tools: Integrated within UX/UI software.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics: Google Analytics or similar (implied for website management).

• User Research Tools: Tools for conducting usability testing and gathering qualitative feedback (specifics not mentioned, but candidates may have experience with UserTesting.com, Hotjar, etc.).

• Data Analysis: Proficiency in interpreting quantitative and qualitative data is required.

CRM & Automation:

• E-commerce Platforms: Shopify (explicitly mentioned, required 1 year experience).

• ERP/Inventory Management: NetSuite (explicitly mentioned, required 2 years experience). This is a key operational tool.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Implied for website management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of NetSuite and Shopify as required experience for a Designer role is highly unusual and significant. Candidates must be prepared to discuss how their design skills intersect with these operational systems, perhaps in terms of designing interfaces for them, understanding their constraints, or optimizing user flows within them.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A fundamental value, ensuring all design decisions prioritize the user experience and satisfaction.

• Data-Driven Approach: Decisions are grounded in research, testing, and analytics, emphasizing measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.

• Collaboration: Strong emphasis on working effectively with cross-functional teams to achieve shared goals and drive innovation.

• Efficiency & Optimization: A drive to streamline processes, improve workflows, and enhance the overall operational effectiveness of products and platforms.

• Quality & Consistency: Commitment to high standards in design execution and maintaining a cohesive brand experience through design systems.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expected to work closely with product managers, engineers, marketers, and potentially operations/supply chain teams to ensure design solutions are technically feasible, strategically aligned, and operationally sound.

• Open Communication: Encourages direct and transparent communication to facilitate problem-solving and idea sharing.

• Feedback Exchange: A culture that values constructive feedback, both given and received, to foster growth and improve design quality.

• Agile Mindset: Adaptable and responsive to changing project requirements and market feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on both design excellence and operational tools like NetSuite and Shopify suggests a culture that values practical, results-oriented design. Candidates should demonstrate an understanding that design is not an isolated function but is deeply integrated with business operations and revenue generation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Bridging Design and Operations: The primary challenge will be effectively integrating user-centered design principles with the operational requirements of systems like NetSuite and Shopify, and understanding supply chain/inventory management.

• Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Managing expectations and requirements from diverse stakeholders (design, product, engineering, marketing, operations, vendors).

• Mentoring Junior Designers: Providing effective guidance and feedback to junior team members while managing personal design responsibilities.

• Global Vendor Relationships: Navigating cultural and logistical complexities when working with international vendors.

• Ensuring ADA Compliance: Continuously updating designs to meet evolving accessibility standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• E-commerce Operations Expertise: Deepen understanding of e-commerce platforms, inventory management, and supply chain through practical application and collaboration.

• Design System Leadership: Opportunity to significantly shape and lead the development of a comprehensive design system.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Gain exposure to product management, marketing strategy, and international business through project involvement and travel.

• Mentorship and Leadership Training: Develop leadership skills by mentoring junior designers.

• Industry Conferences: Potential to attend design, UX, or e-commerce industry events to stay current with trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to develop a specialized skill set that combines UX/UI design with critical e-commerce operational tools. Success here could lead to highly sought-after roles in product operations, GTM strategy, or specialized e-commerce design leadership.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance user needs with strict technical or operational constraints. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your experience with NetSuite/Shopify constraints if applicable).

• "How would you approach designing a new feature for an e-commerce platform to increase conversion rates, considering inventory availability and supply chain logistics?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the business impact and operational awareness).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Itoya and the Topdrawer brand? How do you see your design role contributing to our overall business objectives?" (Research their history, products, and online presence).

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your approach to providing feedback and fostering growth?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Impact: For each case study, clearly articulate the business problem, your role, your process, the solution, and most importantly, the quantifiable results (e.g., increased sales, improved conversion, reduced errors, better engagement).

• Highlight Operational Integration: If possible, showcase projects where your design work interacted with or improved processes related to e-commerce, inventory, or website management. Explicitly mention your experience with NetSuite and Shopify if you have relevant design examples.

• Demonstrate Design System Skills: Dedicate a portion of your presentation to showcasing your ability to create and manage design systems.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation as a narrative, guiding the interviewers through your thought process and decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: Emphasize your ability to connect design outcomes to tangible business results and operational efficiency. Given the specific requirements for NetSuite and Shopify, be prepared to discuss how you've applied design thinking within or in relation to these platforms, even if it was from a user perspective rather than direct system configuration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided ADP link or directly via email to careers@topdrawershop.com, referencing Job ID: 201194 in the subject line.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest case studies that best showcase your end-to-end design process, user research skills, UI design capabilities, and, crucially, any experience demonstrating an understanding of e-commerce operations, website management, and ideally, interaction with systems like NetSuite or Shopify. Quantify the impact of your work.

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your Bachelor's degree, years of experience, proficiency in required UX/UI tools (Figma, Adobe XD), and explicitly states your experience with NetSuite (2 years) and Shopify (1 year), along with inventory management, e-commerce, supply chain, and sourcing.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on clear storytelling, highlighting your problem-solving approach, design rationale, and measurable outcomes. Be ready to discuss your experience mentoring junior designers and your approach to working in agile, cross-functional environments.

• Research the Company: Thoroughly investigate Itoya and the Topdrawer brand, understanding their product offerings, target audience, and online presence. Prepare to articulate how your design philosophy and skills align with their brand values and business objectives.

⚠️ 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.

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