Winter Co-op 2027 - Product Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Designer (Winter Co-op 2027)

Company: Manulife

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada / Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-time Co-op / Internship

Category: Product Design / UX/UI Design

Date Posted: October 04, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-Level (Co-op/Internship)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This co-op position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the Global Design System team, focusing on enhancing Manulife's digital experiences.

• You will gain hands-on experience in product design, visual design, and the development of enterprise-scale design systems.

• The role involves collaborating with senior designers, product teams, and developers to create scalable, accessible, and user-centered design system components and patterns.

• Responsibilities include creating wireframes, mockups, prototypes, and visual designs for web and mobile platforms, ensuring consistency and usability across digital products.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Product Designer," the description clearly places this role within a "Global Design System team." This indicates a focus on component design, pattern creation, and maintaining design consistency across multiple products, rather than end-to-end product feature design. Candidates should highlight their experience with design systems and reusable UI elements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Support the creation, refinement, and ongoing maintenance of reusable design system components, patterns, and guidelines.

• Develop wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and high-fidelity visual designs for web and mobile digital experiences.

• Collaborate effectively with product designers, developers, user researchers, and business stakeholders to identify and solve user and business challenges through design solutions.

• Contribute to the strategic enhancement of the design system, focusing on improving component flexibility, consistency, usability, and accessibility.

• Maintain and update comprehensive design documentation, including component specifications, naming conventions, and best practices for design system utilization.

• Ensure all designs adhere to established accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG, AODA) and promote inclusive user experiences for all users.

• Actively participate in design critiques, collaborative workshops, and cross-functional team discussions to foster a culture of design excellence.

• Assist with user research initiatives, journey mapping, and other user-centered design activities as needed to inform design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a strong focus on the maintenance and evolution of a design system, rather than the initial creation of entirely new products. This means candidates should showcase experience with component libraries, pattern libraries, and ensuring consistency across a large digital ecosystem.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in Product Design, UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Digital Media, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, Global Business & Digital Arts, Systems Design, or a closely related discipline.

Experience: Demonstrated experience through academic projects, personal projects, or previous internships in digital product design, UX/UI design, or visual design.

Required Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Proven experience using Figma for creating digital experiences, complex prototypes, and design assets.

• Visual Design Acumen: Strong visual design skills with a keen attention to detail in typography, layout, color theory, and iconography.

• User-Centered Design Principles: Solid understanding of user-centered design (UCD) principles and design thinking methodologies to inform design decisions.

• Communication Skills: Ability to articulate and present design concepts, rationale, and solutions clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Excellent collaboration and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team environment.

• Adaptability & Prioritization: Capacity to manage multiple priorities and tasks effectively in a fast-paced, evolving work environment.

• Portfolio: A strong portfolio showcasing relevant design projects, digital products, visual design work, or UX/UI case studies that demonstrate design process and outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Experience: Prior experience working with or contributing to established design systems or component libraries.

• Accessibility Knowledge: Familiarity with accessibility standards, such as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).

• User Research & Testing: Experience with user research methodologies, usability testing, or customer journey mapping to gather insights and validate designs.

• Service Design & Strategy: Exposure to service design methodologies and an understanding of design strategy principles.

• Agile/Scrum Familiarity: Exposure to Agile or Scrum product development environments and workflows.

• Web/Mobile Development Understanding: General understanding of digital product development processes and modern web/mobile experience principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio is paramount. Candidates should ensure their portfolios clearly highlight their design process, problem-solving skills, and the outcomes of their projects, with a specific emphasis on any work related to design systems, component libraries, or consistent UI patterns.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 2-3 significant design projects that demonstrate your design process from problem identification to solution.

• Include case studies that detail user research, ideation, wireframing, prototyping, visual design, and testing phases.

• Highlight specific contributions to design systems, component libraries, or efforts to ensure UI consistency if applicable.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma, including complex prototypes, component creation, and style guide application.

• Clearly articulate the user and business impact of your design solutions, using quantifiable metrics where possible. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document your design process, including user flows, wireframes, and design specifications.

• If you have experience with design system documentation, include examples of component guidelines, usage instructions, or pattern libraries.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to iterating on designs based on feedback and user testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on design systems, candidates should prioritize projects in their portfolio that demonstrate an understanding of scalability, reusability, and consistency. Even if they haven't worked on a formal design system before, projects involving style guides, component libraries, or consistent UI patterns will be highly relevant.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $40,950.00 CAD - $56,550.00 CAD annually (pro-rated for work term length).

Benefits:

• Mentorship: Access to guidance from experienced designers and professionals within Manulife.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning and skill enhancement relevant to product design and design systems.

• Flexible Environment: Work within a hybrid model that balances in-office collaboration with remote flexibility.

• Inclusive Work Environment: Be part of a company culture that values diversity, inclusion, and employee well-being.

• Early Talent Program Access: Gain early access to Manulife John Hancock's premier early talent program, GRO, tailored for graduating students.

Working Hours: This is a full-time co-op position, with a standard work week expected to be approximately 40 hours. The hybrid arrangement allows for flexibility in scheduling in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for co-op positions in the Canadian financial services sector, especially in major hubs like Toronto. The pro-rated aspect means the actual payment will be based on the duration of the co-op term. The benefits highlight a strong focus on learning and development, crucial for co-op students.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Financial Services (Insurance, Investments, Banking). Manulife is a leading international financial services provider, operating globally and helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. This industry context means a strong emphasis on security, compliance, and user trust.

Company Size: Manulife is a large, established multinational corporation with thousands of employees worldwide. This scale implies a robust organizational structure, established processes, and opportunities for exposure to enterprise-level projects and systems.

Founded: Manulife was founded in 1887. This long history suggests a stable and experienced organization with a deep understanding of its markets and a commitment to long-term growth and client relationships.

Team Structure:

• The Product Designer will join the Global Design System team, which is likely composed of specialized designers focused on UI components, patterns, accessibility, and design operations.

• This team collaborates closely with various product teams, UX researchers, UX writers, and front-end developers across different business units.

• The reporting structure will likely involve a Design Lead or Manager overseeing the design system's strategic direction and execution. Methodology:

• Emphasis on user-centered design principles and data-driven decision-making.

• Collaboration within Agile/Scrum frameworks for product development, requiring adaptability and iterative design approaches.

• A strong focus on building and maintaining a scalable, consistent, and accessible enterprise design system.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large financial institution like Manulife means an emphasis on rigorous design standards, adherence to compliance regulations, and a focus on building trust through intuitive and secure digital experiences. The design system plays a critical role in achieving this across a broad portfolio of products.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level co-op/internship role designed for students pursuing design-related degrees. It provides foundational experience in product design and design systems within a large corporate environment.

Reporting Structure: The co-op student will report to a senior designer or design lead within the Global Design System team. They will work collaboratively with other designers, product managers, and engineers.

Operations Impact: While a co-op role, the impact is significant in contributing to the foundational elements of Manulife's digital presence. By improving the design system, the student indirectly impacts the user experience, development efficiency, and brand consistency across numerous customer-facing applications.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in design systems, component libraries, UI pattern development, and accessibility standards.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain insights into how design systems integrate with product development, engineering, and business strategy within a financial services context.

• Networking: Build professional connections with experienced designers, product managers, and engineers through collaborative projects and the GRO early talent program.

• Future Opportunities: Successful co-op students may be considered for future internships or full-time roles upon graduation, particularly within Manulife's design or product teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a co-op role, "growth" is primarily about skill acquisition and exposure. The primary growth path here is understanding how design systems function at scale and contributing to their tangible improvement, which is a valuable specialization within the broader UX/UI field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work arrangement. This means a combination of working remotely and from Manulife's office locations.

Office Location(s): The role is available in Toronto (200 Bloor Street East) and Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. These are major business hubs with modern office facilities.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices will likely feature collaborative work areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated design studios or spaces for team brainstorming.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard office technology, high-speed internet, and the necessary software (e.g., Figma, collaboration tools) for both remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for in-person collaboration with team members, mentors, and stakeholders during office days, fostering a strong team dynamic and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with flexibility afforded by the hybrid model. This allows for focused work, whether remote or in the office, while accommodating personal needs and team collaboration schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is common for large corporations and offers a balance. Candidates should be prepared to work from the office on designated days, likely for collaborative sessions, team meetings, and mentorship opportunities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume, cover letter, academic transcript, and work term evaluation (if applicable) as a single PDF. Clearly state preferred role(s) and rank them.

• Initial Screening: Review of submitted documents, with a strong emphasis on the portfolio's relevance to product design and design systems.

• Technical Interview/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio to the hiring team, discussing their process, design decisions, and contributions. Expect questions about Figma usage, design principles, and problem-solving approaches.

• Team/Behavioral Interview: Assessment of collaboration skills, communication, adaptability, and cultural fit within the design team and Manulife's values.

• Final Interview (Potentially): May involve a discussion with a senior leader or hiring manager.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Choose projects that best showcase your skills relevant to design systems (e.g., component design, pattern consistency, UI kits).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your role, your process, the solutions, and the impact. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be prepared to walk through your Figma files, demonstrating your understanding of components, variants, auto layout, and prototyping.

• Address Accessibility: If your projects touched on accessibility, be ready to discuss your approach and understanding of standards.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user satisfaction, increased efficiency).

Challenge Preparation:

• While not explicitly stated, be prepared for potential design challenges, either as a take-home exercise or a live session, focusing on UI design, component creation, or problem-solving within a design system context.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, especially when discussing trade-offs or complex design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application requires a single PDF, so organization and clarity are key. For the portfolio, focus on demonstrating process and problem-solving, not just the final visual output. Be ready to discuss why you made certain design choices.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: This is the core design tool required. Proficiency in its advanced features like components, variants, auto layout, styles, and prototyping is essential.

• Design System Software: While Figma is the primary tool, understanding how design systems are managed and integrated within it is key.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, understanding how designs are tracked and measured using tools like Google Analytics or Adobe Analytics can be beneficial.

• Familiarity with data visualization tools for understanding user behavior and design impact is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this design role, but awareness of how design impacts user journeys within CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) or marketing automation platforms can provide broader context.

• Understanding of Jira or similar project management tools for collaboration with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned and is critical. Candidates should emphasize their deep understanding of Figma's capabilities, particularly its features for creating and managing design systems.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and addressing user needs through thoughtful design solutions.

• Collaboration: Valuing teamwork, open communication, and cross-functional partnerships to achieve collective goals.

• Inclusivity & Accessibility: Dedicated to creating digital experiences that are usable and accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Driving innovation through reusable components and patterns that improve design and development efficiency across the organization.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning, feedback, and iterative refinement to enhance both designs and processes.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively working with product managers, developers, researchers, and other designers to ensure cohesive product development.

• Feedback Culture: Engaging in constructive design critiques and actively seeking/providing feedback to elevate design quality.

• Knowledge Sharing: Open to sharing insights, best practices, and learnings within the design team and broader product development groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company values of "well-being and inclusion" and the emphasis on a "flexible environment" suggest a supportive and progressive workplace culture. Candidates should align their responses and portfolio examples with these values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Design System Complexity: Navigating and contributing to a large-scale, established enterprise design system with diverse product needs.

• Balancing Needs: Accommodating the unique requirements of various product teams while maintaining system consistency and scalability.

• Technical Constraints: Understanding and working within the technical limitations and possibilities of front-end development.

• Accessibility Implementation: Ensuring that complex components and patterns meet stringent accessibility standards consistently.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Design System Mastery: Gaining in-depth knowledge of design system architecture, component libraries, and governance.

• Industry Best Practices: Learning from experienced professionals about cutting-edge design trends, tools, and methodologies.

• Financial Services Context: Understanding the unique design challenges and user expectations within the financial services industry.

• Professional Networking: Building a valuable network through the co-op program and direct team interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be adapting to the scale and complexity of an enterprise design system. Candidates should highlight their ability to learn quickly and adapt to new processes and standards.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing a new UI component for a design system. What factors would you consider?" (Focus on reusability, accessibility, flexibility, documentation).

• "How do you ensure consistency in design across multiple digital products or platforms?" (Discuss design systems, style guides, component libraries, collaboration).

• "Walk us through a project from your portfolio where you collaborated with developers or other stakeholders. What were the challenges and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight communication, problem-solving, teamwork).

• "How do you approach ensuring your designs are accessible?" (Discuss WCAG, AODA, testing methods, inclusive design principles). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Manulife and this specific co-op opportunity?" (Research Manulife's mission, values, and recent digital initiatives).

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Emphasize openness to feedback and iterative improvement).

• "Describe a time you had to manage multiple design tasks or projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize?" (Focus on organizational skills and time management). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Begin with an overview of your portfolio, then dive into 1-2 key projects that best represent your skills for this role.

• Figma Demo: Be ready to share your screen and walk through a relevant Figma file, explaining your component structure, prototyping techniques, and design decisions.

• Problem/Solution: Clearly articulate the user problem or business need, your design process, and how your solution addressed it.

• Impact: Quantify the results of your work if possible, or discuss the intended impact.

• Q&A: Prepare for in-depth questions about your design choices, process, and technical understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, demonstrating a solid understanding of design systems and Figma is as important as showcasing general UI/UX skills. Be prepared to discuss the "why" behind your design decisions, especially concerning component architecture and scalability.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your complete application package (resume, cover letter, academic transcript, work term evaluation if applicable) as a single PDF file.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link provided in resume/cover letter or within the PDF) and highlights projects demonstrating design system contributions, Figma proficiency, and a strong design process.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant coursework, design skills (especially Figma), and any experience with UI components, patterns, or accessibility. Use keywords from the job description.

• Cover Letter Focus: Clearly state your interest in Manulife, the specific co-op role, and rank your preferred locations (Toronto/Waterloo). Briefly explain why you are a strong candidate for a design system role.

• Company Research: Understand Manulife's business, its digital presence, and its commitment to design and innovation. Prepare to discuss how your skills align with their mission.

⚠️ 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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