Hiring product design consultants can often feel like going on a blind date, where you have to rely on someone else to know exactly what you need in a partner. At Bitovi, we take the guesswork out of the equation by matching product designers with projects based on their experience, skills, and the specific needs of your project. A well-rounded product design team should have individuals who are experienced in both B2C and B2B platforms, capable of designing for mobile, native apps, and desktop experiences, proficient with common design tools, and skilled problem solvers. However, great product designers possess more than just technical skills and a strong resume. The best design teams are diverse, with individuals from different backgrounds who care about different things and approach challenges in unique ways. While all members of a great team are experts in the design field, each person brings their own flavor, methods, and mindset to create something magical. So, what should you look for in product designers and how do you build a strong design team? In this blog post, we will introduce you to some designer personas that we believe every great product design team should strive to have. It is important to note that design teams should never be homogeneous. It is crucial to ensure diversity in terms of race, gender, geographical location, and culture. However, beyond that, there are many personal qualities that make designers valuable assets to your technology and product team. Let’s dive in!
Product Design Categories for Hiring
First, let’s explore some high-level categories we consider when hiring product designers:
1. Curiosity & Empathy: Excellent product designers possess curiosity and empathy. They ask questions and empathize with their end users. Without curiosity, solutions will fall short, and without empathy, solutions will not meet human needs. We will introduce you to the curious and empathetic “types.”
2. Craft & Clarity: Design is an art, and even when it’s not visual, crafting clarity is crucial. Human-friendly designs require clarity and understanding. This category includes thoughtful designers who excel in their craft and bring clarity to the surface.
3. Technology & Expertise: Product designers should be experts in their field and well-versed in the necessary technologies. However, it’s not just about technical skills; it’s also about mindset and continuous exploration of new technologies.
4. Leadership & Longevity: A strong product design team needs a leader who can engage other leaders, clients, and communities, inspiring the teams they oversee. Longevity is also important, as consistent leadership is essential for delivering impactful and sustainable design solutions.
Now that you know the categories, let’s meet the squad. It’s important to note that these personas are not meant to put people into boxes, and many great designers fit into multiple categories. Use these ideas as a guide when hiring and explore categories that align with your team and product goals.
Curiosity and Empathy in Product Designers
1. The Curious, People-Lover: These product designers are highly concerned with knowing as much as possible about the people they design for. They advocate for research and are always eager to meet with users.
2. The Diplomatic Ideas Tester: These designers socialize and test ideas internally. They are engaged with the people using their designs and are diplomatic in collaborating with various teams and users.
3. The Challenger / Advocate: These designers fearlessly challenge the team and ensure the voices of the people they design for are heard and represented. They value equity and inclusion and strive to make an impact in the world.
Craft and Clarity in Product Designers
1. The Pixel-Perfect Artist: These designers are visual artists who excel in their craft. They pay attention to foundational elements like color, type, spacing, and layout, and turn wireframes into polished mockups.
2. The Prototypin’ Dev Wannabe: These designers are highly technical and love to prototype like developers. They often have a development background and are proficient in design and development tools.
3. The Word-Lovin’ Content Strategist: These designers have the ability to write and combine words with visuals. They excel in designing web content, including icons and illustrations, and have a knack for knowing what users want to hear.
Building a strong design team involves finding individuals who possess these qualities and fit well within your team and product goals. By considering curiosity, empathy, craft, clarity, technology, expertise, leadership, and longevity, you can create a diverse and talented design team that will deliver impactful and sustainable design solutions.
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