At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative product design for top global brands and create human-centred experiences.
- Company: Join AKQA, a leader in digital experiences, working with brands like Nike and Google.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment focused on creativity, innovation, and inclusivity.
- Why this job: Shape the future of AI-powered design and make a real impact on user experiences.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in product design, strong leadership, and mastery of design tools.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
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.
AKQA’s London studio, part of a globally connected studio network, is 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.
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.
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Product Design Director employer: Wpp Group
At AKQA, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and innovation in our London studio. As a Product Design Director, you'll have the opportunity to lead diverse teams in shaping cutting-edge digital experiences for renowned brands, while benefiting from a commitment to employee growth through mentorship and collaboration. Our inclusive environment encourages experimentation and embraces emerging technologies, making it a truly rewarding place to advance your career in product design.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Product Design Director
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
In the world of UX/UI design, your portfolio speaks volumes! Make sure it's packed with your best work and showcases your process, not just the final product. We want to see how you tackle design challenges, so consider adding case studies that reflect your thought process and user-centric approach.
✨Get Involved in Design Communities
Jump into local or online design meetups and workshops! Places like UXPA or local design events can be goldmines for networking and learning. Plus, mingling with fellow designers can introduce you to potential job openings that might not be listed elsewhere.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you find a role that excites you, like the one at Wpp Group for a Product Design Director, make your application count! Highlight specific projects and skills that directly relate to the job description. Hiring managers are looking for candidates who fit into their specific team, so show them you’re the one!
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in finding a UX/UI design job! Follow design leaders on platforms like Twitter or Instagram, share your work, and engage in conversations. It’s a great way to get noticed by recruiters and even catch wind of openings at companies like Wpp Group before they go live!
We think you need these skills to ace Product Design Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Design Process:When you're applying for a UX/UI Design role like Product Design Director at Wpp Group, make sure to include examples that clearly highlight your design process. We want to see not just the final product but also the journey that led you there—wireframes, user personas, and iterations demonstrate your thought process and user-centric approach!
Tailor Your Portfolio:A tailor-made portfolio is crucial for a full-time design role! Curate your best projects that align with the kind of work Wpp Group does. We suggest including 3-5 case studies that showcase a variety of skills such as wireframing, prototyping, and user testing to really make your application pop.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should not just be a summary of your CV. Use it to express why you’re excited about UX/UI Design and what draws you specifically to Wpp Group. Mention any relevant experience, tools you’re proficient in (like Sketch or Figma), and how you can contribute to their projects.
Highlight Collaboration Skills:In the world of UX/UI Design, teamwork is crucial. Make sure to highlight any past experiences where you worked in cross-functional teams. Illustrate how you communicated design decisions and listened to feedback, as this will resonate well with the culture at Wpp Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Wpp Group
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
When you're gunning for a full-time UX/UI design role, your portfolio is your best friend! Make sure you've got a solid selection of your work, showcasing not just the final designs, but the process behind them—think wireframes, user flows, and any user research you've conducted. During the interview with Wpp Group, be prepared to discuss your design decisions and how they solve specific user problems.
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Expect to face some practical design tasks during your interview. Wpp Group might ask you to tackle a quick design challenge or critique an existing interface. Brush up on your problem-solving skills and try to articulate your thought process as you work through these scenarios. Showing how you approach a design problem is just as important as the final output!
✨Know the Tools of the Trade
Familiarise yourself with the tools commonly used in the industry—figma, Adobe XD, or Sketch should be second nature to you. Be ready to discuss your preferred tools during the interview and how they've shaped your design process at previous positions. This knowledge could give you an edge at Wpp Group!
✨Show Passion for User Experience
In a full-time UX/UI design role, having a genuine passion for improving user interactions can set you apart. Be prepared to share instances when you went above and beyond to ensure a great user experience in your previous projects. This will demonstrate that you’re not just a designer, but a user advocate, which is exactly what Wpp Group is looking for.
