Head of Design / Sr. Product Designer

As the Head of Design at Capsule, you will lead all creative design initiatives, focusing primarily on product design. You’ll be responsible for producing innovative concepts, rapid prototyping, and implementing user feedback into the design process. Additionally, you'll work closely with the co-founders to provide practical solutions to design challenges while also contributing to brand marketing efforts.

To excel as a Sr. Product Designer at Capsule, candidates should have a strong background in UX and UI design, proficiency in design tools such as Figma, and experience with motion design. A keen eye for detail, a collaborative mindset, and an interest in video/animation are essential, along with a deep understanding of user-centered design principles.

The Head of Design plays a crucial role in Capsule’s product development by leading the entire design process, ensuring that our video creation tools are user-friendly, functional, and visually appealing. This leadership directly impacts customer satisfaction and retention, as the design quality will be pivotal in distinguishing our product in a competitive $50 billion market.

At Capsule, the team culture is centered around collaboration and creativity. As a Head of Design, you’ll thrive in a zero-ego environment where everyone’s ideas are valued. You’ll work alongside highly-skilled professionals who are equally motivated and passionate about building effective creative tools, making it an exciting place to foster innovation.

Joining Capsule as a Sr. Product Designer opens up numerous opportunities for growth, including the chance to influence the direction of our design philosophy, lead a growing design team, and develop your skills in various aspects of design including product, branding, and motion graphics. This role is a significant stepping stone in your career as you help shape a high-impact product in a burgeoning industry.

As a Head of Design, my process starts with understanding the user needs through research and feedback collection. I iterate through brainstorming sessions, sketching out ideas, and creating prototypes in Figma, followed by user testing to refine the designs based on real feedback. Collaboration with other teams is also key to ensure alignment with product goals.

Prioritization is key as a Head of Design; I evaluate projects based on impact, urgency, and alignment with overall business objectives. I believe in maintaining open communication with stakeholders to ensure that everyone is aligned on priorities and timelines, which helps in managing resources effectively.

User feedback is invaluable in my design work. It informs me about user pain points and successes, allowing me to iterate on designs for better usability and satisfaction. I actively engage with users to gather insights, which helps to drive innovations that are not only creative but also aligned with customer needs.

Ensuring accessibility in design is essential; I prioritize it by adhering to established design guidelines such as WCAG standards. This involves using appropriate color contrasts, providing text alternatives for media, and building intuitive navigation systems that cater to all users, including those with disabilities.

One memorable project was the redesign of a user dashboard for a complex SaaS product. By conducting user interviews and testing, we identified pain points and created a more streamlined interface that improved user engagement by over 40%. This success came from collaborative work with cross-functional teams and an iterative design process.

I regularly engage with design communities online, attend webinars and conferences, and follow leading design publications. Keeping myself updated ensures that I can integrate the latest technologies and methodologies into my work, fostering innovation and relevance in my designs.

I believe that empathy is the most crucial skill for a Head of Design. Understanding the users' perspective allows me to create designs that resonate and cater to their needs. Additionally, strong communication skills and the ability to inspire a team are equally important in driving a successful design vision.

Building and managing a design team involves identifying diverse skill sets that complement each other, nurturing an environment of collaboration and continuous learning, and promoting a culture of feedback. I would implement regular design reviews and encourage team members to share their ideas and insights for collective growth.

Working within tight deadlines requires a strategic approach; I focus on defining the essential features that deliver the most value and prioritize those in the design process. By fostering collaboration and communication among team members, we can work efficiently and ensure that everyone is aligned and productive.

Prototyping is a critical phase of my design process. I start with low-fidelity wireframes to visualize layouts and user flows, transitioning to high-fidelity prototypes using tools like Figma. This allows for rapid testing and iteration, ensuring we receive user feedback that can be incorporated effectively before final implementation.