Head of Design

The Head of Design at Fieldguide will lead and mentor a growing design team and drive design strategy across multiple product areas. You'll establish a design culture that prioritizes user experience, collaborate closely with Product and Engineering on aligning design vision with strategic goals, and guide the user research and design iteration processes. Your focus will be on enhancing operational efficiency for audit practitioners.

To excel in the Head of Design role at Fieldguide, candidates should have over 10 years of experience in Product Design, including at least 3 years in design leadership. A strong portfolio showcasing expertise in product design, visual design, and design systems, particularly in B2B SaaS environments, is essential. The ideal candidate will also demonstrate experience in collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Fieldguide prioritizes design by establishing a culture that values user research and continuous innovation. As the Head of Design, you will act as a key voice in executive discussions, advocating for user insights and design-led product development. This focus extends to developing design systems that enable rapid iteration and scalable solutions to create business impact.

Fieldguide offers a remote-first work environment, allowing you to work from anywhere while being part of a collaborative team. This inclusive atmosphere encourages creative expression and supports your professional growth, making it an ideal place for a design leader to thrive and drive impactful change.

As the Head of Design at Fieldguide, you will have numerous growth opportunities, including shaping the design culture and influencing product strategy in a fast-moving startup. You'll be positioned to drive design innovation across various product lines, allowing you to lead transformative initiatives in a legacy industry and create significant impacts within the organization.

When answering this question, focus on specific strategies you’ve used to lead design teams effectively under pressure. Discuss methods like agile design principles, fostering open communication, and promoting a collaborative atmosphere. Highlight any tools or frameworks you've implemented that encourage rapid iteration while ensuring quality.

In your response, share a detailed overview of a project where you oversaw the design process from beginning to end. Detail your role, the challenges you faced, how you collaborated with cross-functional teams, and the impact the final product had on users and the company.

Discuss your methodologies for conducting user research, including how you identify target users, formulate questions, and apply findings to influence design decisions. Outline your process for usability testing, ensuring to mention how you iteratively improve designs based on user feedback.

Explain how you approach finding the middle ground between outstanding user experiences and meeting business objectives. Share examples of how you’ve successfully implemented designs that not only prioritize users but also align with strategic business outcomes.

Provide insights into any design frameworks you have utilized, such as Atomic Design or Design Thinking. Discuss how these models guide your design processes, help maintain consistency, and enable teams to collaborate more effectively on projects.

Share your views on the significance of mentorship in design. Talk about how you have previously supported junior designers through regular check-ins, structured feedback, and encouraging them to explore their creativity while learning from their experiences.

Demonstrate your commitment to professional development by discussing how you stay informed about the latest design trends, tools, and techniques. This could include attending design conferences, participating in workshops, or engaging with industry communities online.

Share specific experiences where you've integrated generative AI technologies into your design process. Explain the benefits and challenges you faced and how they influenced your overall design strategy, particularly in enhancing user experiences.

Outline your vision for creating a design culture that emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and user-centered design. Discuss initiatives you would implement, such as regular design critiques, workshops, and fostering cross-functional team partnerships.

Discuss the critical role design systems play in ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency in your design projects. Highlight examples where you've developed or utilized design systems to streamline design workflows and improve collaboration among team members.