At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovation in physical product design, from concept to finished goods.
- Company: A beloved London brand creating characterful, collectable products.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, and a joyful design culture.
- Other info: Opportunity to build processes and mentor talented freelancers.
- Why this job: Shape tangible products that people treasure and enjoy a creative leadership role.
- Qualifications: Experience in physical product design and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 60000 £ per year.
Product Design Manager (Physical Consumer Goods)
Leading the innovation side of a much-loved brand. Real, made objects, not apps or interfaces.
- Salary: £55,000 to £60,000, dependent on experience
- Location: West London
- Working pattern: Hybrid (three days in the office)
- Software: Adobe Creative Suite
- Sector: Physical Product Design, Consumer Goods
- About the brand
Quick note before you read on, because it matters: this is physical product design.
Real, made things you can pick up, collect, and put on a shelf.
It is not UX, UI, digital, or app design, and there is no screen work here.
If designing tangible products is your world, keep reading.
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.
Nothing here is off the shelf.
It's 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, driving new ideas from first sketch through to a finished, manufactured product.
That means setting strategy and visual direction, shaping ranges, and steering designs through development, sampling, and production.
You'll 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'll 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'll also keep the creative engine running: research, trends, inspiration, and the steady supply of new direction.
It's a good moment to step in.
The processes are there to be built and improved, the team is there to be grown, and the person who takes this on gets to leave a real mark on what the brand makes next.
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 physical ranges
- Steer designs from concept through development, sampling, and production to the finished object
- 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 and product development, making sure each design meets the brand'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...
- Your background is in physical product design, industrial design, illustration, or a related field, and your portfolio is made things rather than screens (essential)
- You have a degree in product design, illustration, or a related creative field (essential)
- You've 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 physical product projects
- You can take a loose idea and turn it into a finished, manufactured product, on time and on brief
- You understand how a design moves through development, sampling, and production
- You lead in an empowering, collaborative way rather than a top-down one
- You communicate and present clearly, and with a bit of warmth
- 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
- A salary of £55,000 to £60,000, dependent on experience, in a studio that is, by all accounts, a lovely place to spend your days
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Design Manager (Physical Consumer Goods) 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 (Physical Consumer Goods) in Slough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Product Passion:When applying for a product management role like Product Design Manager (Physical Consumer Goods), 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 (Physical Consumer Goods) 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.
