Senior Product Designer, Global Exchange

OKX
Full-timeβ€’Singapore, Singapore

πŸ“ Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Product Designer, Global Exchange

Company: OKX

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Product Design / FinTech Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-11

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

πŸš€ Role Summary

  • Drive the design of intuitive and trustworthy user experiences for complex, data-intensive financial products within OKX's Global Exchange platform.

  • Collaborate closely with Product Management, Engineering, Research, and Data teams throughout the entire product development lifecycle, from initial concept to post-launch iteration.

  • Translate intricate customer needs, product strategies, business objectives, and technical constraints into coherent user journeys, detailed interactions, and high-fidelity designs.

  • Contribute to the continuous improvement of design quality, collaboration, and customer-centric decision-making across the organization, particularly within the CEX Product Design team.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The role is designated as "Senior Product Designer," implying a need for demonstrated leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to mentor junior designers. The focus on "Global Exchange" and "CEX Product Design team" indicates a high-stakes environment requiring robust understanding of financial markets and user behaviors in trading and investment. The explicit mention of prioritizing candidates with existing right to work in Singapore suggests a critical operational requirement for the hiring process.

πŸ“ˆ Primary Responsibilities

  • Design clear, intuitive, and trustworthy user experiences for complex and data-intensive digital products, particularly within the manual trading, trading strategy, social & VIP, growth, and institutional product areas.

  • Execute the end-to-end design process, encompassing problem framing, early-stage exploration, user flow mapping, information architecture definition, wireframing, prototyping, and the creation of production-ready visual designs with a high degree of interaction craft.

  • Partner effectively with Product Managers and Engineering teams to assess trade-offs, resolve ambiguity, and ensure successful implementation of design solutions from concept through delivery.

  • Leverage qualitative research, product analytics, experimentation data, and market insights to inform and validate design decisions, ensuring a data-driven approach to product development.

  • Clearly present design work, articulate the rationale behind design decisions, and actively incorporate feedback to refine and enhance user experiences and product outcomes.

  • Contribute to the development and maintenance of consistent, scalable design patterns and experiences across various platforms, global markets, and diverse product lines within OKX.

  • Actively participate in strengthening overall design quality, fostering collaborative design practices, and advocating for customer-centered decision-making across the organization.

  • At senior levels, define product and design direction for specific areas, lead ambiguous cross-functional initiatives, influence strategic decisions across multiple teams, and elevate the overall standard of design practice.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The description emphasizes a broad scope of responsibilities, from user research and ideation to detailed design and implementation support. The mention of "senior levels" suggests an expectation for strategic leadership, initiative ownership, and cross-functional influence, going beyond typical individual contributor tasks.

πŸŽ“ Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a background in Design (e.g., Interaction Design, Graphic Design, Human-Computer Interaction), Computer Science, or a related field is often beneficial for understanding technical constraints and user needs in complex digital products.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in product design, with a proven track record of delivering digital products. The assessment of experience will consider the scope, complexity, autonomy, and impact demonstrated in previous roles.

Required Skills:

  • Product Design: End-to-end design experience for digital products, from concept to launch and iteration.

  • Interaction Design: Strong ability to design complex workflows, data-dense interfaces, and intuitive user interactions.

  • Information Architecture: Skill in organizing complex information and defining navigation structures for user-friendly experiences.

  • Wireframing & Prototyping: Proficiency in creating low-fidelity wireframes and high-fidelity interactive prototypes to communicate design concepts and user flows.

  • User Flows: Ability to map out comprehensive user journeys and interaction sequences.

  • Visual Craft: A high standard of visual design execution, attention to detail, and aesthetic sensibility.

  • Product Strategy: Understanding of how design decisions align with and support broader product and business goals.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Proven experience working effectively with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and other stakeholders.

  • Problem Framing: Ability to identify, define, and frame complex user and business problems.

  • Communication: Clear and persuasive communication skills to articulate design rationale and build alignment.

  • Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and effectiveness in working with evolving priorities and incomplete information.

  • Ownership & Follow-through: Demonstrated ability to take initiative, manage details, and drive projects to completion.

  • Domain Interest: A genuine interest in learning about centralized exchange products and their users.

Preferred Skills:

  • FinTech/Crypto Domain Experience: Prior experience designing products in trading, investment, fintech, cryptocurrency, or other complex financial domains.

  • Data-Intensive Products: Experience designing for platforms with significant data visualization, analysis, or management requirements.

  • Professional Tools/High-Stakes Journeys: Experience with sophisticated tools or user journeys that carry significant user consequences.

  • Research & Analytics Integration: Experience using user research, A/B testing, product analytics, and experimentation to inform design.

  • Global Design: Experience designing for diverse international markets, cultures, languages, or regulatory environments.

  • Design Systems: Experience contributing to or actively working with a mature design system across multiple platforms.

  • Mentorship/Leadership: For senior roles, experience mentoring designers, leading cross-team initiatives, or elevating design quality beyond an immediate product area.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title strongly implies that candidates will be evaluated not just on their design execution skills, but also on their strategic thinking, product ownership, and ability to influence cross-functional teams and product direction. The portfolio requirement explicitly asks for evidence of problem framing and decision-making, not just final visual output.

πŸ“Š Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Problem Framing & Exploration: Showcase how you approach identifying and defining user problems and business opportunities, including your early-stage research and ideation processes.

  • Alternative Exploration & Decision-Making: Demonstrate how you explore multiple design solutions and the rationale behind your chosen direction, considering user needs, business goals, and technical constraints.

  • Interaction & Visual Craft: Present detailed examples of your interaction design work, information architecture, user flows, wireframes, prototypes, and final visual designs, highlighting your attention to detail and craft.

  • Outcome Measurement & Evaluation: Include examples where you have measured or evaluated the impact of your designs through user research, analytics, or A/B testing, demonstrating your understanding of design effectiveness and iteration.

  • Complexity Management: Provide examples of complex, data-dense, or high-stakes user journeys and how you successfully designed intuitive and trustworthy experiences for them.

Process Documentation:

  • End-to-End Design Process: Clearly articulate your typical design process from initial problem identification and research through to prototyping, delivery, validation, and iterative improvement.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Illustrate how you partner with Product Managers, Engineers, Researchers, and other stakeholders throughout the product development lifecycle, detailing communication and feedback loops.

  • Data-Informed Design: Provide examples of how you have incorporated user research, product analytics, and experimentation into your design decisions and iterative processes.

  • Scalability & Consistency: Showcase how your designs contribute to consistent and scalable user experiences across different platforms and product areas, potentially referencing design system contributions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The job description specifically requests a portfolio that shows "how you frame problems, explore alternatives, make decisions, craft interactions, and measure or evaluate outcomesβ€”not only final screens." This indicates a strong emphasis on process, strategic thinking, and demonstrable impact, rather than just polished visuals.

πŸ’΅ Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Product Designers in Singapore with 5-10 years of experience in FinTech/Crypto, the estimated annual salary range is SGD 100,000 - SGD 160,000. This range accounts for the complexity of the role, the company's global presence, and the specialized domain.

Benefits:

  • Competitive total compensation package: This likely includes base salary, potential bonuses, and possibly stock options or other equity.

  • Learning & Development (L&D) Programs: Opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.

  • Education Subsidy: Financial support for further education or certifications relevant to the role.

  • Team Building Programs & Company Events: Initiatives to foster camaraderie and a positive work environment.

  • Wellness & Meal Allowances: Benefits aimed at supporting employee well-being and daily needs.

  • Comprehensive Healthcare Schemes: Robust medical coverage for employees and their dependents.

  • Visa Sponsorship: While the company prioritizes candidates with existing right to work in Singapore, if sponsorship were offered for exceptional candidates, it would typically include relocation assistance and visa processing support.

Working Hours: A standard full-time work week is implied, likely around 40 hours per week. Given the global nature of the company and the fast-paced FinTech industry, flexibility may be required to accommodate cross-time zone collaboration and urgent project needs.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for a Senior Product Designer in Singapore within the FinTech sector. Actual compensation will depend on the candidate's specific experience, interview performance, and OKX's internal compensation structure. The note about prioritizing candidates with existing right to work in Singapore strongly suggests that visa sponsorship is unlikely to be a standard offering for this role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏒 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Digital Asset Exchange, Web3, and Blockchain Ecosystems sector, a rapidly evolving and high-growth industry. OKX is a major player, aiming to revolutionize financial systems with cutting-edge digital asset solutions. This industry is characterized by innovation, speed, regulatory scrutiny, and a strong emphasis on technology and user experience for complex financial transactions.

Company Size: OKX has more than 3,000 employees worldwide. This indicates a large, established organization with potentially complex internal structures, dedicated specialized teams (like Product Design, Engineering, Research), and ample resources for growth and development. For operations professionals, this size means opportunities for specialization but also the need to navigate established processes and potentially larger teams.

Founded: Founded in 2017, OKX is a relatively young company but has rapidly grown to serve over 50 million users globally. This suggests a culture that values agility, innovation, and rapid scaling, while also building robust systems and trust over time.

Team Structure: The CEX Product Design team works across several key product areas: Manual Trading, Trading Strategy, Social & VIP, Growth, and Institutional products. Designers will likely report into a Design Lead or Head of Product Design, with direct collaboration across Product Managers, Engineers, UX Researchers, Content Designers, and Data Analysts within their assigned product pods. The structure supports focused expertise within specific product domains while encouraging cross-pollination of best practices.

Methodology: OKX emphasizes an innovative approach to thinking, working, and product creation. For the design team, this translates to a methodology that likely combines:

  • Data-Driven Design: Utilizing qualitative research, product analytics, and experimentation to inform design decisions.

  • User-Centered Design: Deeply understanding customer needs, especially for complex financial products and trading journeys.

  • Agile Development: Working closely with Engineering in iterative cycles to deliver and refine products rapidly.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: A strong emphasis on partnering with various departments to ensure holistic product development.

  • Customer Experience Focus: Prioritizing interaction quality, visual craft, and overall user trust.

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

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "reshaping financial ecosystems" and "empowering individuals to explore the world of Web3" suggests a mission-driven culture. For a designer, this means understanding the broader impact and potential of their work in a transformative industry. The emphasis on diversity and inclusion is also highlighted.

πŸ“ˆ Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is classified as Senior Product Designer. This level typically signifies an individual contributor expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, tackle complex design challenges, and contribute strategically to product direction. Senior designers are often seen as subject matter experts in their domain, capable of influencing product roadmaps and mentoring junior team members. They are expected to drive initiatives, manage ambiguity, and deliver significant impact.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly detailed, a Senior Product Designer typically reports to a Design Manager or Head of Product Design. They will work closely within product teams, reporting functionally to design leadership and operationally to the product leadership of their assigned area (e.g., Manual Trading, Institutional Products). This structure allows for both specialized design guidance and deep integration with product development cycles.

Operations Impact: The design of OKX's Global Exchange platform directly impacts user acquisition, engagement, retention, and trading volume. A Senior Product Designer's work is crucial in building trust, facilitating complex financial transactions, and ensuring users can effectively navigate markets, strategies, and investment opportunities. Their contributions directly influence revenue generation through user activity and platform adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like trading strategy design, institutional client solutions, or social/community features within the crypto exchange.

  • Leadership Track: Progress to roles like Lead Product Designer, Design Manager, or Staff/Principal Designer, taking on more strategic ownership, team leadership, and cross-product area influence.

  • Skill Development: Opportunities to learn and apply advanced design methodologies, work with cutting-edge technologies in Web3 and blockchain, and gain deep domain knowledge in FinTech.

  • Cross-functional Mobility: Potential to move into related roles within Product Management, UX Research, or even broader GTM strategy roles, leveraging a strong understanding of user needs and product development.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "Senior" designation is key. Candidates should expect to be evaluated on their ability to lead, mentor, and influence, not just execute. The growth opportunities highlight a clear path for career advancement within a rapidly growing and innovative industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Singapore, Singapore, and is designated as On-site. This suggests a traditional office-based work environment, emphasizing in-person collaboration, team cohesion, and direct interaction with colleagues. OKX's global nature may mean the Singapore office serves as a significant hub.

Office Location(s): While a specific address is not provided, Singapore is a major financial and technological hub, suggesting the office is likely situated in a prime business district, offering good accessibility for employees.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The on-site requirement points to a workspace designed for frequent collaboration, team meetings, and spontaneous brainstorming sessions with Product, Engineering, and fellow designers.

  • Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to the necessary design tools, software, and hardware to perform their roles, likely including high-performance workstations and access to OKX's internal systems and data platforms.

  • Team Interaction: The office setting facilitates direct interaction with immediate design team members, cross-functional partners, and potentially leadership, fostering a strong sense of team culture and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time work schedule is expected, likely Monday to Friday. However, given the 24/7 nature of the cryptocurrency market and OKX's global operations, some flexibility may be required to accommodate urgent issues, critical project deadlines, or collaboration with teams in different time zones.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is a critical factor for candidates. It implies a preference for in-person collaboration and team dynamics, which is common in fast-paced, innovative environments like FinTech. Candidates should be prepared for a structured office environment.

πŸ“„ Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience against the role requirements.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where you will present your portfolio, walking through case studies that demonstrate your problem-solving process, design decisions, and impact. Expect in-depth questions about your approach to complex challenges, collaboration, and decision-making.

  • Design Exercise/Challenge: You may be given a design challenge or case study to complete, either as a take-home assignment or an in-session exercise, to evaluate your practical design skills, product thinking, and ability to work under constraints.

  • Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Managers, Engineering leads, and potentially other designers or stakeholders to assess your collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to integrate into the team.

  • Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, strategic alignment, and senior-level capabilities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Focus on Process, Not Just Pixels: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design decisions. Showcase your problem-framing, research, ideation, and iteration process.

  • Quantify Impact: Where possible, use data, metrics, or user feedback to demonstrate the success and impact of your design solutions.

  • Showcase Complexity: Highlight projects that involved complex data, challenging user flows, or significant technical constraints, especially those relevant to financial products.

  • Tailor to OKX: Research OKX's products and user base. Connect your portfolio examples to the types of challenges they face.

  • Tell a Story: Structure your case studies as narratives that clearly outline the problem, your approach, your role, the solution, and the outcome.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Domain: Familiarize yourself with OKX's platform, common trading concepts, and the general landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges.

  • Practice Problem-Solving: Be ready to break down ambiguous problems, identify key user needs, and propose practical design solutions.

  • Communicate Your Thinking: Clearly articulate your thought process, assumptions, and rationale throughout the challenge.

  • Consider Trade-offs: Demonstrate an understanding of business goals and technical constraints, and how they influence design decisions.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "process, not just final screens" and "measuring or evaluating outcomes" in the job description is a strong indicator that the interview and portfolio review will heavily scrutinize the candidate's strategic thinking and ability to demonstrate tangible results.

πŸ›  Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping Software: Proficiency in industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), and prototyping tools like InVision, Principle, or Axure RP. Figma is often a strong preference in collaborative environments.

  • Wireframing Tools: Tools like Balsamiq, Miro, or even basic sketching for initial concept development.

  • Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Jira, Confluence, Slack, and Microsoft Teams for project management, communication, and documentation.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar platforms to understand user behavior, track key metrics, and inform design decisions.

  • Data Visualization Tools: While not directly designing them, understanding how data is presented in dashboards (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be beneficial for designing data-dense interfaces.

CRM & Automation:

  • Not Directly Applicable: While not a core requirement for a Product Designer, understanding how CRM systems and automation tools might influence user journeys or data collection for product analytics could be a plus.

Other Relevant Technologies:

  • Web3/Blockchain Concepts: A foundational understanding of blockchain technology, cryptocurrencies, and decentralized finance (DeFi) is highly advantageous, given OKX's domain.

  • Design Systems: Experience contributing to or utilizing design systems for consistency and scalability.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: While the job description doesn't explicitly list tools, standard industry practice for Senior Product Designers in tech companies, especially those involved in complex products, would necessitate proficiency in leading design and prototyping tools, along with an understanding of analytics platforms.

πŸ‘₯ Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Innovation & Future-Shaping: A core value of OKX is to "reshape the future," implying a culture that encourages forward-thinking, experimentation, and embracing new technologies and market trends.

  • Customer-Centricity: Despite operating in a fast-paced, tech-driven industry, there's a strong emphasis on understanding and serving customer needs, particularly for complex financial products.

  • Excellence & Craftsmanship: The role requires a "high standard of visual craft and attention to detail," indicating a value placed on quality execution and delivering polished, trustworthy experiences.

  • Collaboration & Inclusion: OKX promotes diversity and inclusion, and the design team operates through close partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Research, valuing open communication and shared goals.

  • Ownership & Accountability: Employees are expected to "take ownership, follow through on details, and help teams turn ideas into shipped experiences," highlighting a culture of responsibility and accountability.

  • Continuous Learning: A genuine interest in learning about the products and customers is a requirement, underscoring a commitment to ongoing development.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Designers work intimately with Product Managers, Engineers, and Researchers, acting as integral members of product pods rather than isolated specialists.

  • Data-Informed Dialogue: Design decisions are expected to be informed by data and research, leading to collaborative discussions grounded in evidence.

  • Feedback Integration: A culture that encourages constructive feedback exchange to improve design quality and product outcomes.

  • Ambiguity Resolution: Team members are expected to collaboratively navigate ambiguity and changing priorities to drive progress.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The company values align well with the demands of a senior design role in a dynamic industry. The emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and user focus suggests a stimulating and challenging work environment for operations-minded designers.

⚑ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Designing for Complexity: Creating intuitive user experiences for highly complex, data-intensive financial trading platforms that cater to both novice and expert users.

  • Rapid Market Evolution: Keeping pace with the fast-changing cryptocurrency market, regulatory landscapes, and emerging Web3 technologies while ensuring product stability and user trust.

  • Balancing User Needs with Business Goals: Navigating the inherent tension between providing sophisticated tools for traders and ensuring the platform remains accessible, compliant, and profitable.

  • Global Scalability: Designing experiences that are effective and culturally relevant across diverse international markets with varying user behaviors and regulatory frameworks.

  • Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent vision and execution across multiple product teams and departments, especially when dealing with ambiguous requirements or competing priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • FinTech/Crypto Domain Expertise: Deepen understanding of financial markets, trading strategies, blockchain technology, and the evolving Web3 ecosystem.

  • Advanced Design Methodologies: Hone skills in areas like behavioral economics, complex system design, data visualization, and advanced prototyping.

  • Leadership and Mentorship: For senior roles, opportunities to mentor junior designers, lead strategic initiatives, and influence design direction across OKX.

  • Industry Exposure: Gain insights into the operational and strategic challenges of a leading global digital asset exchange.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the demanding yet rewarding nature of working in the FinTech/Crypto space. The growth opportunities are substantial, offering significant career development for ambitious designers.

πŸ’‘ Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a complex financial product or system you've designed. What were the key challenges, and how did you approach them?" (Focus on problem framing, user journeys, data handling, and trade-offs.)

  • "How do you balance user needs with business objectives and technical constraints when designing for a platform like OKX?" (Demonstrate product thinking and ability to navigate trade-offs.)

  • "Walk us through a time you used data or user research to significantly influence a design decision. What was the outcome?" (Highlight your data-informed approach and impact measurement.)

  • "How would you approach designing a new feature for our Manual Trading interface to improve discoverability for new users?" (Be prepared for a product-specific challenge, focusing on user segmentation and journey mapping.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What interests you about OKX and the cryptocurrency exchange industry?" (Show genuine interest and research into the company and sector.)

  • "How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative team environment, especially in a fast-paced, global setting?" (Emphasize teamwork, communication, and adaptability.)

  • "How do you stay current with design trends and emerging technologies in FinTech and Web3?" (Demonstrate a commitment to continuous learning.)

  • "What does 'customer-centricity' mean to you in the context of a digital asset exchange?" (Connect your understanding of user needs to OKX's mission.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Case Studies: For each project, clearly outline: Problem Statement, Your Role & Responsibilities, Target Users, Design Process (Research, Ideation, Wireframing, Prototyping, Testing), Key Design Decisions & Rationale, Final Solution, and Outcomes/Impact (quantified if possible).

  • Highlight Your Process: Emphasize how you arrived at the solution, not just the final visuals. Show your thinking, iterations, and problem-solving skills.

  • Be Concise and Focused: Select 3-4 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Be prepared to go deep on key aspects but also provide a high-level overview.

  • Practice Your Narrative: Rehearse your presentation to ensure a smooth flow, clear articulation, and confident delivery. Be ready to answer probing questions about your work.

  • Address Ambiguity: For projects where requirements were unclear, explain how you sought clarity and managed the ambiguity.

πŸ“ Enhancement Note: Expect interview questions to be scenario-based and focused on problem-solving, strategic thinking, and behavioral competencies relevant to a senior role in a complex, regulated industry. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to demonstrate your end-to-end design process and impact.

πŸ“Œ Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Product Designer position at OKX:

  • Submit your application through the OKX careers portal (via the provided Greenhouse link).

  • Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in product design, interaction design, FinTech/crypto domains, and cross-functional collaboration, using keywords from the job description. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-4 of your most relevant and impactful projects. Ensure each case study clearly demonstrates your problem-solving process, design decisions, and outcomes, with a particular focus on complex or data-intensive experiences.

  • Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio case studies, focusing on articulating your thought process, design rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your approach.

  • Research OKX: Thoroughly understand OKX's products, target audience, and mission. Familiarize yourself with their current platform and identify potential areas for design improvement or innovation.

⚠️ 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. OKX prioritizes applicants with a current right to work in Singapore.

Application Requirements

Requires strong product thinking, interaction design skills, and a portfolio demonstrating complex problem-solving. Experience in fintech, trading, or crypto domains is highly preferred.