Founding Product Designer

As a Founding Product Designer at Sunset, you will take charge of defining the design strategy and user experience for our core product. Your responsibilities include leading design processes across the project lifecycle, conducting user research to identify pressing problems, iterating design solutions for clarity and aesthetic appeal, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure successful product launches.

To be considered for the Founding Product Designer role at Sunset, candidates should have prior experience in product design, preferably in a tech startup environment. A strong portfolio demonstrating your design skills, an understanding of user-centered design principles, and excellent communication skills are essential. Ideally, you should also share our mission and enthusiasm for helping founders through the winding-down process.

Success as a Founding Product Designer at Sunset requires being problem and customer-obsessed. Applicants should possess a keen eye for design, be detail-oriented, and strive for simplicity while ensuring outstanding user experiences. Additionally, a proactive approach and the ability to collaborate effectively with teams will be crucial to pushing forward our design initiatives.

At Sunset, we prioritize the growth of our team members, offering opportunities for professional development through comprehensive onboarding and collaborative design rituals. Founding Product Designers will be encouraged to engage with team discussions, receive feedback, and participate in activities that support innovation and creativity, thereby fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

As a Founding Product Designer at Sunset, you can expect a dynamic and collaborative work environment. Our office in Dumbo, Brooklyn, encourages teamwork and creativity, with ample support provided for individual contributions. We also value work-life balance, offering generous PTO and thoughtful employee benefits to create a fulfilling workplace.

In my design process, I start by fully understanding the problem at hand and conducting user research to gather insights. I then brainstorm potential solutions, sketch initial ideas, and progressively refine them into wireframes and prototypes. Feedback from team members and users is integral to this process, ensuring we meet both aesthetic and functional needs effectively.

I prioritize design tasks by assessing project timelines, alignment with business goals, and user impact. Creating a visual timeline helps me effectively communicate progress and ensures that critical tasks addressing user needs receive the necessary focus while maintaining a steady workflow across projects.

I utilize various methods to gather user feedback, including usability tests, surveys, and user interviews. After initial prototypes are developed, I often conduct moderated session tests to observe user interactions and gather qualitative feedback, which informs further iterations and improvements in design.

To ensure designs are user-centered, I maintain a constant connection with user needs throughout the design process. This includes defining user personas, conducting user interviews, and implementing feedback loops. The goal is to create designs that solve actual problems while providing a positive user experience at every stage.

I once encountered a conflict between a project deadline and quality standards. I facilitated a discussion with team members to understand their concerns, allowing everyone to voice their opinions. Through collaborative brainstorming, we identified a solution that prioritized quality without jeopardizing the timeline, leading to a successful project launch.

I prefer using tools like Figma for prototyping because of its collaborative features and ease of use. It allows real-time feedback from team members and stakeholders, which accelerates the design process and promotes an inclusive approach to design iteration.

To handle tight deadlines, I focus on clear communication and breaking down projects into manageable tasks. I prioritize critical design elements that align with user needs and work with uniform standards to streamline the design process, ensuring we meet deadlines while delivering high-quality work.

I stay updated with the latest design trends by following influential design blogs, participating in design communities, and attending workshops and conferences. I also set aside time to explore new tools and methods, which enhances my knowledge and adaptability in the fast-evolving design landscape.

In previous roles, I’ve collaborated closely with engineering, marketing, and customer success teams. I believe in establishing open lines of communication and involving stakeholders in the design process, which fosters collaboration and ensures that designs meet both user and business needs effectively.

I am drawn to Sunset because of the mission to help founders through the challenging process of winding down. The opportunity to create meaningful design solutions in an impactful environment resonates with my professional values, and I am excited about the chance to innovate in a supportive and design-driven atmosphere.