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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Elevate our product design to create meaningful connections through innovative user experiences.
- Company: Join Arou, a passionate team tackling loneliness with a fresh approach to friendship.
- Benefits: Equity-only role with full ownership and a voice in shaping the product.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on people's lives by designing a product that fosters genuine friendships.
- Qualifications: Experience in consumer app design, especially in social or community products.
- Other info: Work closely with founders in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while balancing other commitments.
The predicted salary is between 500 - 1500 £ per month.
Loneliness is one of the biggest modern challenges of our time. People move cities, leave university, and change jobs. Friendship becomes harder, not because people do not want connection, but because there is no simple infrastructure for it. Arou exists to change that. We are building a new way for adults to make real friends. Not followers, not matches, not surface level chats, but real friendships.
Arou places you straight into a small group chat with three people nearby who are similar in age, location, and interests. It is an instant friendship group designed to move people from zero to talking quickly. From there, we give people the tools to sustain those friendships, not just start them. Think WhatsApp meets Tinder BFF, without the swiping. Built for depth. Over the last six months, Arou has grown into a fast-moving 1500+ community and a new way for adults to make real friends. Now we’re turning that into a product.
The Role
We have early designs in place. They work, but they are basic and lack polish. We are looking for a product designer who can elevate the entire experience. Someone who understands that design builds trust. You will work directly with our Founder and Founding Engineers to:
- Refine and elevate the existing screens
- Design new flows including onboarding, matching, and retention loops
- Help define our visual identity and interaction system
- Create an experience that feels exciting, intentional, and different
Who You Are
You care deeply about craft. You think in systems, not just individual screens. You understand behaviour, social psychology, and how small design choices shape connection. You have shipped consumer apps before; social or community products are a strong plus. You move fast but do not cut corners. You use AI to accelerate thinking and production, not to replace taste. You are comfortable working closely with a founder and pushing back when something is not good enough. You want to build something that genuinely improves people’s lives.
Commitment & Equity
This is an equity-only role. Everyone on the founding team currently has full-time roles, so this is treated as a passion project - we work evenings or weekends (when we can), with weekly syncs to stay aligned and move fast. You’ll have full ownership from day one, a real voice in product and technical decisions, and the opportunity to shape something that will impact millions. You should be excited about building something of your own.
Why Join
You’ll help build a product that tackles one of the biggest modern challenges: loneliness. You’ll join our team at Day 1, right as we launch our MVP - this has the potential to change so many lives. You’ll work alongside a founding team who are building at some of the most exciting, fast-growing startups across People, Product, Engineering, and Operations. You’ll be part of a small, close-knit founding team with ambition, heart, and a bias for action.
If this sounds exciting, drop us a note at hello@arou.app or share your CV - we’ll grab a virtual coffee to chat.
Founding Product Designer - Volunteer employer: Arou
Contact Detail:
Arou Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Product Designer - Volunteer
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend events, and join online communities. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work and showcases your design process. This is your chance to shine and demonstrate how you can elevate Arou's product experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Arou, and express your interest in contributing to their mission. You never know what opportunities might arise!
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare for interviews by understanding the company’s vision and values. For Arou, it’s all about building real friendships. Show us how your design philosophy aligns with that mission, and you’ll stand out from the crowd!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Product Designer - Volunteer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for tackling loneliness shine through. We want to see that you genuinely care about building real connections and improving people's lives.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects your experience in product design, especially if you've worked on social or community products before. Highlight specific projects where you've elevated user experiences, as this is key for us.
Be Authentic: We’re looking for someone who can push back when needed, so don’t be afraid to express your thoughts and ideas in your application. Show us your unique perspective on design and how it can foster genuine friendships.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of applications and ensures you get all the latest updates about the role and our mission.
How to prepare for a job interview at Arou
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Arou's mission to combat loneliness. Familiarise yourself with their approach to building real friendships and think about how your design philosophy aligns with this goal. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role, but also passionate about the impact of the product.
✨Showcase Your Craft
Prepare a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to social or community products. Be ready to discuss your design process, the decisions you made, and how they contributed to user experience. This is your chance to demonstrate that you care deeply about craft and can elevate existing designs.
✨Be Ready to Collaborate
Since you'll be working closely with the founder and engineers, come prepared to discuss how you approach collaboration. Think of examples where you've pushed back on ideas to ensure quality. This will illustrate your ability to communicate effectively and advocate for great design while being a team player.
✨Embrace the Passion Project Mindset
Arou is treating this as a passion project, so convey your enthusiasm for building something meaningful. Share any personal experiences or motivations that drive your interest in tackling loneliness through design. This will help you connect with the team and show that you're committed to making a difference.