At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a design team to create innovative products.
- Company: A beloved London brand known for its unique, characterful designs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, great benefits, and a fantastic office environment.
- Other info: Hybrid working model with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design with a global audience and a creative culture.
- Qualifications: Degree in product design and experience leading a design team.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.
Leading the innovation side of a much-loved brand.
Salary: £55,000-£60,000 (dependent on experience)
Location: West London
Working pattern: Hybrid, 3 days in the office
Software: Adobe Creative Suite
Sector: Product design, consumer goods
About the Brand
This is a London brand that makes characterful, collectable things, the sort of products people of all ages fall for. The work is original, instantly recognisable in feel, and made with an unusual amount of care. It is a design-led house with a genuine point of view. Ideas matter, craft matters, and personality is the whole point. The team is small enough to feel close, with a roster of talented freelance designers orbiting a tight core, and the output reaches a devoted audience well beyond these shores. It is also, by all accounts, a nice place to be. Joy is taken seriously here, which is rarer than it sounds, and the people who do well are the ones who care about the detail as much as the bigger picture.
About the Role
The Product Design Manager leads the innovation branch of the design team. That means setting strategy and visual direction, driving new ideas, and shaping what eventually gets made. You will brief and inspire a core group of freelance designers, then go out and find the next ones, sourcing and onboarding fresh talent as the team grows. Reporting to the Head of Design, with two direct reports of your own, this is a proper leadership role with real autonomy. You will own the critical path, build the briefing and approval processes that keep everything moving, and handle the unglamorous but vital business of budgets, contracts, and rates. You will also keep the creative engine running: research, trends, inspiration, and the steady supply of new direction.
Your days will look something like this...
- Lead, inspire, and develop the existing design team
- Set the strategy and visual direction that shapes new ideas and ranges
- Brief and guide a team of core freelance designers, keeping everyone pointed in the same direction
- Own the critical path so every collection lands on time, from first direction to final sign off
- Oversee artwork development, making sure each design meets the studio's standards
- Source, onboard, and grow a roster of freelance design talent
- Build briefing, onboarding, and approval processes that genuinely work
- Manage freelance budgets, contracts, rates, and invoicing without losing the plot
You might be our perfect match if...
- You have a degree in product design, illustration, or a related creative field (essential)
- You have led or supervised a design team before, and people liked working for you
- You bring around five years of design experience across a mix of product projects
- You can take a loose idea and turn it into a finished product, on time and on brief
- You lead in an empowering, collaborative way rather than a top-down one
- You communicate and present clearly, and with a bit of warmth
- You keep a close eye on emerging design trends because you actually care about them
- Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite is a welcome bonus, not a dealbreaker
Why this one...
- You get a real seat at the table, shaping what gets made rather than just keeping the trains running
- Two direct reports and a roster of talented freelancers to lead, mentor, and grow
- A design culture that takes joy seriously and makes things people genuinely treasure
- The chance to build processes from the ground up, and the trust to do it your way
- A London brand with a global audience and a quietly devoted following
- Competitive salary and great benefits package
- Fantastic office environment
- Hybrid working, three days in the office / two days from home
Product Design Manager in Slough employer: TwentyOne Twelve
This London-based brand is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture where creativity and joy are at the forefront. With a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package, employees enjoy a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance while being part of a close-knit team dedicated to crafting unique, characterful products. The opportunity for professional growth is significant, as the Product Design Manager will lead and inspire a talented group of designers, shaping the future of innovative product design in a supportive environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Design Manager in Slough
✨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 TwentyOne Twelve!
✨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 TwentyOne Twelve 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 TwentyOne Twelve through your school's career services!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Design Manager in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Design Manager, 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 Manager position at TwentyOne Twelve. 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 TwentyOne Twelve
✨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.
