Senior Product Designer at Red Badger

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer

Company: Red Badger

Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-04

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

This role focuses on delivering end-to-end product value, from ideation through to implementation, leveraging a strong understanding of branding, Lean design practices, and UX principles.
The Senior Product Designer will act as a trusted consultant, building rapport with clients and guiding them through the product development lifecycle within cross-functional teams.
Key responsibilities include evangelizing Human-Centred Design, Design Thinking, Lean, and Agile methodologies to produce innovative digital solutions that meet client goals.
The position involves mentoring junior designers and contributing to the growth of Red Badger's design expertise and principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specified as "Senior Product Designer," and based on the detailed responsibilities and required experience, it implies a significant level of autonomy, strategic input, and leadership within client engagements and internal design practice development. The on-site requirement in Cape Town suggests a collaborative and in-person work environment crucial for client consulting and team synergy.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Lead product discovery and design strategy sessions, engaging directly with clients and end-users to define project scope and user needs.
Create and execute comprehensive design strategies, spanning from initial discovery phases through to final product delivery, ensuring alignment with business objectives.
Champion and evangelize Human-Centred Design, Design Thinking, Lean, and Agile methodologies to foster a culture of quality and innovation within client-facing teams.
Develop compelling prototypes and high-fidelity designs to test with end-users, incorporating feedback to iterate and refine product concepts throughout the lifecycle.
Collaborate closely with engineers, data insights specialists, and user researchers in cross-functional teams to translate product ideas into tangible digital solutions, leveraging design systems and style guides.
Design and facilitate workshops and design sprints to drive ideation, problem-solving, and stakeholder alignment.
Utilize Agile/Lean methodologies for data-driven decision-making, continuously experimenting and iterating on designs to optimize outcomes.
Drive continuous improvement and uphold design quality by championing established design principles and demonstrating their value to clients and teams.
Engage with clients and internal teams to ensure proposed designs effectively balance business goals, technical constraints, and user needs.
Influence product roadmap activities and backlog prioritization to ensure the delivery of high-value outcomes that align with strategic objectives.
Communicate design concepts, decisions, and rationale effectively to a broad range of client stakeholders, securing buy-in for design strategies and desired outcomes.
Advocate for and introduce user-centered processes to clients' digital product development lifecycles.
Contribute to the advancement of the product design discipline within Red Badger, supporting the development of the company's design approach and strategy.
Foster a culture of valuable design critique and knowledge sharing within the Product team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic client consulting, and internal practice development. The emphasis on "leading," "influencing," and "evangelizing" indicates a senior-level expectation for proactive contribution and thought leadership.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and proven experience in product design, UX, and UI are paramount. Candidates with formal education in Design, HCI, or related fields may have an advantage.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a significant portion focused on leading design initiatives in client-facing environments. Experience in Lean/Agile methodologies is essential.

Required Skills:

Proven experience in leading product discovery and design sessions with clients and users.
Expertise in creating and implementing design strategies from discovery through delivery.
Deep understanding and practical application of Human-Centred Design, Design Thinking, User Experience (UX) Design, and Visual Design principles.
Proficiency in industry-standard design tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma.
Experience in designing mobile-first, responsive, and mobile-native digital products.
In-depth knowledge of Brand Application, UI Design, and Design Systems (e.g., Atomic Design).
Experience in User Research and User Testing, including stimulus preparation and moderation.
Ability to design and facilitate workshops and design sprints effectively.
Experience working with Agile/Lean methodologies (Scrum, Kanban).
Demonstrated ability to create compelling prototypes for user testing and stakeholder communication.
Skill in collaborating closely with engineers, data insights, and user researchers within cross-functional teams.
Strong stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and gain buy-in.
Experience in mentoring more junior product designers. Preferred Skills:
Ability to leverage understanding of front-end development to inform design decisions.
Experience applying Product Management principles to digital product development.
Proficiency in Service Design methodologies to surface insights and inform product development.
Experience influencing Product Strategy to develop and test new business opportunities.
Familiarity with leveraging emerging technologies to enhance user experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "It'd be great if you have" section directly translates to required skills, while "It'd be amazing if you can also" informs the preferred skills. The experience level of 5-10 years is inferred from the "Senior" title and the depth of responsibilities, particularly around leadership, strategy, and mentoring.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a range of digital product design projects, demonstrating expertise in UX, UI, and visual design.
Case studies that detail the problem, your design process, the solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or outcomes achieved.
Examples of mobile-first and responsive design implementations, clearly illustrating the design approach for different screen sizes and devices.
Prototypes created for user testing and stakeholder presentations, highlighting iterative design processes and user feedback integration.
Demonstrations of experience with design systems, including examples of how they were created, implemented, and maintained.
Evidence of workshop facilitation and design sprint outcomes, showing how collaborative sessions contributed to product direction. Process Documentation:
Showcase examples of how you have documented design strategies, user flows, and interaction designs to ensure clarity and alignment within cross-functional teams.
Provide evidence of how you have used user research and testing findings to inform and iterate on design processes and product features.
Illustrate your approach to Agile/Lean methodologies, demonstrating how design activities were integrated into development sprints and cycles.
Include examples of how you have contributed to the development or refinement of design processes and best practices within a team or organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given this is a senior design role with a strong emphasis on client consulting and process evangelism, a robust portfolio is critical. It needs to go beyond just visual output to demonstrate strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to drive outcomes through design methodologies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Senior Product Designer with 5-10 years of experience in Cape Town, South Africa, the estimated annual salary range is R 600,000 - R 950,000 ZAR. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in major South African tech hubs, considering the cost of living and typical compensation structures for consulting firms.

Benefits:

Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs.
Opportunities for professional development, training, and conference attendance.
Contribution to pension or provident funds.
Paid time off, including annual leave and public holidays.
Potential for performance-based bonuses or profit-sharing.
Opportunities to work on diverse and challenging client projects.
Supportive and collaborative work environment with a focus on design excellence.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However, flexibility may be expected to accommodate client needs and project deadlines, particularly in a consulting environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary range is an estimation based on general market data for senior design roles in Cape Town. Specific benefits are typical for professional services firms in the tech industry and would need to be confirmed with Red Badger. The 40-hour work week is a standard assumption; consulting roles often require flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology Consulting, Digital Product Development. Red Badger operates within the tech consulting space, specializing in building digital products for clients. This means exposure to various industries and business challenges.

Company Size: Red Badger is a medium-sized company, likely employing between 50-250 employees. This size typically allows for a strong sense of community and direct impact, while still offering structured processes and opportunities for growth.

Founded: Red Badger was founded in 2011. This history suggests a mature company with established methodologies, a solid client base, and a proven track record in the digital product development landscape.

Team Structure:

The Product Design team (or "guild") at Red Badger is likely composed of designers with varied specializations (UX, UI, Visual, Service Design) and experience levels, from junior to senior.
Senior Product Designers will likely report to a Head of Design, Design Lead, or a similar senior leadership role within the design discipline.
Close collaboration is expected with Product Managers, Engineers, Data Analysts, and User Researchers within client-facing, cross-functional teams. Methodology:
Red Badger champions Human-Centred Design, Design Thinking, Lean, and Agile methodologies. Their approach is outcome-focused, emphasizing collaboration, rapid iteration, and data-driven decision-making.
They focus on delivering tangible client outcomes through well-defined processes for discovery, design, and implementation.

Company Website: https://www.red-badger.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on company founding date and industry, Red Badger likely has a mature and well-defined approach to product development. The emphasis on "guilds" suggests a strong internal community of practice for designers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Product Designer role, indicating a level of expertise and responsibility beyond mid-level positions. It requires the ability to lead projects, mentor others, and influence client strategy. This level often serves as a stepping stone to Principal Designer, Lead Designer, or Design Manager roles.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Product Designer will report to a design leadership figure (e.g., Head of Design, Design Director) within Red Badger and will work within client project teams, reporting functionally to project leads or product owners on client engagements.

Operations Impact: Senior Product Designers at Red Badger have a significant impact by directly influencing client product strategy, user experience, and ultimately, the business outcomes achieved through digital products. Their work bridges user needs with business goals, driving innovation and market success.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like Service Design, UX Research, or Design Systems.
Leadership: Progress to roles like Lead Designer, Principal Designer, or Head of Design, taking on more strategic and team management responsibilities.
Client Strategy: Influence larger product portfolios and strategic client relationships.
Mentorship: Develop strong coaching and mentoring skills by guiding junior designers and contributing to the design guild's knowledge base.
Industry Exposure: Gain broad experience across various client industries and business challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title coupled with responsibilities like mentoring and client influence clearly defines the career trajectory and impact of this role within Red Badger's structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Red Badger likely operates from a modern, collaborative office space designed to foster teamwork and client engagement. Given the on-site requirement, expect a professional office setting.

Office Location(s): The primary location specified is Cape Town, South Africa. This suggests a physical office presence in or around the city, offering accessibility for local employees.

Workspace Context:

The workspace is designed for collaboration, with areas for team meetings, workshops, and focused individual work.
Access to up-to-date design tools and technology, including high-performance workstations and relevant software licenses (e.g., Figma).
Opportunities for regular interaction with design peers, product managers, and engineers, promoting a dynamic and integrated working environment.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with standard business hours (approximately 40 hours per week). While flexibility may be required for client projects, Red Badger likely promotes a healthy work-life balance, with emphasis on efficient work practices rather than excessive hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Cape Town implies a collaborative office culture where in-person interaction is valued for client consulting and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability for the Senior Product Designer role.
Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, discussing key projects, your design process, and the impact of your work. Expect questions on your approach to user-centered design, Lean/Agile, and stakeholder management.
Skills & Experience Interview: Deeper dive into your experience with specific methodologies, tools (like Figma), and your ability to lead and mentor. This may include hypothetical scenarios or problem-solving exercises.
Cultural Fit & Team Interview: An opportunity to meet with potential team members and understand Red Badger's culture. Questions will likely focus on your collaboration style, how you handle feedback, and your contribution to a team environment.
Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership, focusing on strategic thinking, client consulting capabilities, and alignment with Red Badger's vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your senior-level experience, showcasing a breadth of skills (discovery, UX, UI, prototyping, design systems) and impact.
Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's challenge, your role, the design process you followed (emphasizing Lean/Agile and Human-Centered Design), the decisions you made and why, and the measurable outcomes or learnings.
Demonstrate Process: Go beyond final visuals; show wireframes, user flows, research insights, iterations, and prototypes. Explain how you used feedback to refine your designs.
Highlight Leadership: Include examples of where you led design initiatives, mentored junior designers, or influenced stakeholders.
Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved conversion rates, user satisfaction scores, task completion times).
Tailor to Red Badger: Research Red Badger's work and clients. If possible, highlight projects that align with their focus areas or demonstrate transferable skills.

Challenge Preparation:

Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential take-home design challenge or an in-person design exercise. Focus on understanding the brief, defining the problem, outlining your approach, and delivering a well-reasoned solution within the given constraints.
Workshop Facilitation: Practice articulating how you would run a discovery or design thinking workshop, including objectives, activities, and expected outcomes.
Stakeholder Communication: Prepare to explain complex design decisions clearly and concisely to non-design audiences, demonstrating how your work aligns with business goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: A senior role at a consulting firm like Red Badger will place a high premium on the candidate's ability to articulate their process, demonstrate impact, and engage effectively with clients and internal teams. The portfolio is the primary tool for this.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Figma: Essential for UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is expected, along with an aptitude to learn and introduce new tools.
Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools beyond Figma for creating interactive prototypes (e.g., InVision, ProtoPie).
Design Systems Tools: Familiarity with creating, managing, and implementing design systems (e.g., Zeroheight, Storybook integration concepts).

Analytics & Reporting:

While not a primary design tool, understanding how to interpret user analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Amplitude, Mixpanel) to inform design decisions is beneficial.
Experience with A/B testing platforms to validate design hypotheses. CRM & Automation:
Less directly relevant for a Product Designer, but an understanding of how user journeys integrate with CRM systems or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous. Other Relevant Tools:
User Research Platforms: Tools for conducting remote user interviews and usability testing (e.g., UserTesting.com, Lookback).
Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence for agile project management and documentation.
Whiteboarding Tools: Miro, Mural for remote workshop facilitation and brainstorming.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned. The emphasis on "aptitude to learn and introduce new tools" suggests openness to evolving technology. Understanding how design integrates with analytics and product management tools is a plus for senior roles.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Client Focus: A strong dedication to understanding and delivering value for clients, acting as a trusted advisor.
Excellence: A commitment to high-quality design and innovative solutions, pushing creative boundaries.
Collaboration: A belief in the power of cross-functional teamwork, open communication, and shared problem-solving.
Continuous Learning: An ethos of ongoing professional development, staying abreast of design trends, and sharing knowledge.
Pragmatism: Balancing design idealism with business realities and technical feasibility to achieve tangible outcomes.
User Advocacy: Placing the end-user at the heart of all design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

Cross-functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and Data Analysts, fostering a unified team approach.
Open Feedback: A culture that encourages constructive critique and open dialogue to elevate design quality and team performance.
Knowledge Sharing: Active participation in design guild meetings, workshops, and internal presentations to share insights, best practices, and learnings.
Agile & Iterative: Embracing a fast-paced, iterative approach where collaboration is key to rapid prototyping and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Red Badger's values likely mirror those of successful digital consultancies: client-centricity, quality, teamwork, and continuous improvement, all underpinned by a user-first mentality.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Balancing Stakeholder Needs: Effectively navigating competing demands from various client stakeholders while championing user needs and design best practices.
Rapid Iteration & Delivery: Working within fast-paced Agile environments to deliver high-quality designs under tight deadlines.
Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Bridging communication gaps between design, development, and business teams to ensure a shared understanding of product vision and requirements.
Driving Adoption of Best Practices: Introducing and embedding Human-Centred Design and Lean principles within client organizations that may have different existing processes.
Staying Current: Keeping pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of design tools, methodologies, and emerging technologies.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Formal Training: Access to Red Badger's internal training programs, workshops, and potentially external courses or certifications.
Mentorship: Opportunities to be mentored by senior design leaders and to mentor junior designers, enhancing leadership and coaching skills.
Industry Exposure: Working with a diverse range of clients and industries provides broad learning experiences and exposure to different business challenges.
Design Guilds: Active participation in design guilds allows for continuous learning from peers, sharing of best practices, and collective problem-solving.
Conferences & Events: Potential support for attending industry conferences and events to stay updated on the latest trends and network with professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to senior consulting roles, focusing on complexity, stakeholder management, and continuous adaptation. The growth opportunities are tied to Red Badger's commitment to professional development and its consulting model.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you had to balance conflicting requirements from different client stakeholders. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on negotiation, prioritization, and user advocacy).
"Walk us through your process for a complex product discovery phase. What activities do you prioritize, and how do you ensure buy-in?" (Highlight your structured approach, research methods, and workshop facilitation skills).
"How do you ensure your designs are not only user-centric but also meet business objectives and technical constraints?" (Emphasize your holistic thinking and collaborative approach).
"Tell us about a project where you significantly influenced product strategy or roadmap. What was your approach?" (Showcase your strategic thinking and ability to drive impact beyond just design execution). Company & Culture Questions:
"What interests you about Red Badger and our approach to product development?" (Research their website, case studies, and values).
"How do you contribute to a collaborative team environment, especially when working with non-designers?" (Provide examples of your communication and teamwork skills).
"Describe your experience mentoring junior designers. What is your philosophy on mentorship?" (Demonstrate your leadership potential and commitment to team growth).
"How do you handle constructive criticism on your designs?" (Showcase your openness to feedback and iterative mindset). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Structure is Key: Begin with an overview of Red Badger's work and how your skills align. Then, present 1-2 in-depth case studies.
Narrative Flow: For each case study, tell a compelling story: the problem, your role, the journey (discovery, ideation, design, testing), challenges encountered, decisions made, and the impact/learnings.
Visual Aids: Use clear, concise slides. Show high-fidelity mockups, prototypes, user flows, and research insights. Avoid overwhelming slides with text.
Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process, the methodologies you used (Lean, Agile, Design Thinking), and how you iterated based on feedback.
Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics and data to support the success of your designs.
Engage the Audience: Be prepared to answer questions throughout your presentation and facilitate a discussion. Practice your timing.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a senior role at a consultancy, interview questions will assess not just design craft but also strategic thinking, client management, and the ability to influence outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position:

Submit your application through the provided link on the Red Badger careers page.
Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and highlights projects demonstrating your expertise in end-to-end product design, client consulting, and leadership. Tailor your selection to showcase experience relevant to Red Badger's client work and methodologies.
Resume Optimization: Craft a resume that clearly articulates your 5-10 years of experience, emphasizing achievements in UX/UI design, Lean/Agile methodologies, stakeholder management, and mentorship. Use keywords from the job description.
Interview Preparation: Thoroughly prepare for portfolio presentations and behavioral interviews by revisiting your key projects and thinking about how you've applied design thinking, human-centered design, and agile principles. Practice articulating your process and impact.
Company Research: Deeply research Red Badger, their client portfolio, their design approach, and their company culture. Understand their values and how your contributions would align with their mission to build impactful digital products.

⚠️ 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.

Senior Product Designer