At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design of innovative digital products and experiences for top global brands.
- Company: Join AKQA, a creative powerhouse shaping the future of digital design.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on creativity and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of AI-powered design, making a real impact on user experiences.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in product design, strong leadership, and mastery of design tools.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Product Design Director
At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to design a better future.
Our Product Design Directors craft the interfaces, systems, and experiences that define how brands behave in the modern world, across mobile, spatial, voice, wearables, and AI-powered environments.
As a Product Design Director, you'll lead the design of products and brand experiences for some of the world's most influential organisations, from luxury ecosystems and cultural platforms to next-generation mobility and wellness systems.
You'll guide multi-disciplinary teams to create elegant, human-centred design solutions that are as intelligent as they are inspiring.
You'll define design direction across a portfolio of complex, high-impact digital products, establishing benchmarks in accessibility, interaction, and multi-modal experience.
You'll champion the new frontier of brand user interfaces: adaptive design languages that translate brand identity into behaviour, sound, motion, and intelligence.
AKQA Product Design Directors operate at the intersection of brand, craft, and computation, working side-by-side with strategy, data, and engineering teams to shape products that learn, evolve, and earn love over time.
This is a leadership role within AKQA's London studio, part of a globally connected studio network shaping the future of digital experiences for brands including Nike, Rolls-Royce, Samsung, Airbnb, and Google.
You'll be at the forefront of AI-powered product design, helping redefine how creativity, intelligence, and empathy coexist in every interaction.
- ROLE REQUIREMENTS
- Lead concept, design, and delivery of world-class digital products and connected experiences that define new standards for creativity and usability.
- Partner with UX, Creative Technology, and AI Engineering teams to shape AI-native interfaces, generative UI systems, and adaptive design components.
- Establish and evolve brand-led design systems that perform across screen, voice, gesture, and spatial interfaces.
- Embed accessibility and inclusivity from first principles, ensuring WCAG compliance and usability for all audiences.
- Drive experimentation across new modalities: voice and audio UX, wearable ecosystems, computer vision, and mixed reality.
- Mentor, grow, and inspire a diverse team of product designers, cultivating craftsmanship, critical thinking, and innovation.
- Collaborate closely with strategists and client partners to translate brand purpose into tangible, useful digital products.
- Represent AKQA in new business opportunities, articulating the value of design in solving complex business and human challenges.
- Contribute to AKQA's global culture of learning, sharing insights on design ethics, AI co-creation, and emerging interaction paradigms.
- QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
- 10+ years experience (as a guide, not a restriction) in product design or interaction design at leading studios or in-house teams.
- Proven leadership in delivering large-scale, multi-platform digital products from concept to launch.
- Mastery of Figma and contemporary design-system workflows (tokens, auto-layout, component libraries), along with complementary tools such as code-based interaction design software and no-code web/app solutions.
- Strong understanding of human-centred design, accessibility, motion, and micro-interaction principles.
- Familiarity with AI design tools, prototyping in Framer, Principle, Proto Pie, or After Effects, and collaboration with machine-learning or data-science teams.
- Demonstrable success in uniting brand and product through interface design, e. g. motion language, sound design, or spatial storytelling.
- Experience mentoring mid- and senior-level designers; a track record of growing creative excellence and cultural impact.
- Comfortable presenting to senior clients and executives, and confident operating within fast-paced, high-stakes environments.
- Systems thinker with a deep sensitivity to brand and narrative.
- Calm, credible communicator who brings clarity and optimism to complex challenges.
- Obsessed with emerging technologies and their human potential.
- Advocate for inclusive design and accessible innovation.
- Balances bold vision with precision in craft.
We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection.
That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days.
If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.
AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics.
We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world's leading brands.
We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company - powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.
For more information, visit WPP. com.
Product Design Director in London employer: Fromfolio
McLaren Automotive is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and innovative work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. As a leader in the automotive industry, employees benefit from unparalleled growth opportunities, mentorship from top designers, and the chance to work on cutting-edge projects in a fast-paced environment. Located in a premium setting, McLaren provides a unique platform for those passionate about design and engineering to make a significant impact on the future of automotive excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Design Director in London
✨Join Product Management Meetups
Get involved in local product management meetups or workshops. These events are perfect for meeting industry folks, sharing ideas, and staying updated on trends. Plus, you never know who might be hiring—it's a fantastic way to make connections that could lead to a job at places like Fromfolio!
✨Show Off Your Product Sense
Create case studies or mini-projects showcasing your product management skills, and share them on platforms like Medium or LinkedIn. This not only puts your skills on display but also boosts your visibility in the product community. Imagine how impressed the hiring team at Fromfolio would be by your initiative!
✨Utilise Online Communities
Dive into online product management communities like Product Coalition or Mind the Product. Engage in discussions, ask questions, and share your insights. These platforms are goldmines for networking and finding hidden job opportunities—many companies often scout talent from within these circles.
✨Leverage Your University Network
If you’ve recently graduated or are still in uni, tap into your alumni network for connections in product management. Many universities have their own job boards and affinity resources to help graduates land roles. Don't forget to keep an eye out for job openings at Fromfolio through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Design Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Design Director, let your passion for developing products shine through in your cover letter. Share specific examples of products you've managed, how you solved user needs, and any successful outcomes you've achieved. This is your chance to showcase your understanding of the product lifecycle!
Highlight Your Cross-Functional Skills:Product management isn't just about understanding the product; it’s about collaborating with different teams! Make sure to emphasise your experience working with developers, designers, and marketers. Use your CV to showcase your ability to bridge gaps between these areas, and include relevant experiences that demonstrate your communication and leadership skills!
Include Your Metrics and Achievements:In a full-time product management application, data speaks volumes! Quantify your achievements wherever possible. Did you increase user retention by a certain percentage? Launch a product ahead of schedule? Include these metrics in your CV to paint a picture of your impact and effectiveness in previous roles.
Tailor Your CV to the Role:Make sure your CV is tailored for the Product Design Director position at Fromfolio. Use keywords from the job description and ensure your relevant experiences are front and centre. Highlight any certifications or relevant training you’ve completed that will make you stand out as a strong candidate for the role. And remember, we’re excited to see your application on our website!
How to prepare for a job interview at Fromfolio
✨Understand the Product Life Cycle
As a product management candidate, we need to get our head around the complete product life cycle. Be prepared to discuss real-world examples of how you’ve managed product development from ideation to launch. Bring specific insights on tools like JIRA or Trello that can help streamline these processes.
✨Showcase Your Cross-Functional Skills
Product management is all about collaboration. We should be ready to highlight how we’ve worked across teams—think marketing, engineering, and design. Prepare to discuss scenarios where you had to mediate differing opinions and how you got everyone on board with a shared vision.
✨Prepare for Case Studies
In a full-time role, we can expect to encounter case study questions during our interviews. Practise solving hypothetical product problems on the spot, such as prioritising features for a new app or improving user engagement metrics. This will show our analytical thinking and decision-making skills.
✨Know Your Metrics
Let’s face it, numbers are our best friends in product management. We should prepare to discuss key performance indicators (KPIs) and how we've used analytics to inform product decisions. Dive into examples where data has driven our strategy for improvements or justified product changes.
