How to Become a Product Designer – With(out) a Background in Design

While a background in design can be helpful when transitioning into product design, it’s by no means a requirement. Product design is a multifaceted field, and no matter your background, there’s room for you in product design.

The key to breaking in lies in having a genuine interest in the field, paired with the willingness to learn design principles, frameworks, and tools.

Keep reading to discover how you can successfully make the transition.

Understanding the Basics of Product Design

What is Product Design?

Product design is, at its core, about problem-solving. It involves understanding user needs, balancing them with business goals, and making thoughtful decisions that drive a product’s success.

According to Emmanuel Baah, Senior Product Designer at Oyster® :

Product design is not just about making things look good; it’s about making them work well for the people using them. At its core, product design integrates user experience with business viability. And a good product designer understands both sides.

To break it down further, Emmanuel offers a helpful analogy:

Think of a restaurant kitchen. The chefs focus on making great food—that’s like addressing user needs. But the restaurant also has to run efficiently—that’s the business side. If chefs only prioritise taste without considering speed or cost, the business suffers. Similarly, a product designer ensures that user needs and business objectives are aligned.

Understanding both your target audience and business goals is crucial because design doesn’t happen in a vacuum. You need to know who you’re designing for and why. Every design decision should be backed by insights into user behavior and business priorities.

What Do Product Designers Do?

Depending on where they work, product designers may focus on digital products, physical products, or a hybrid of both.

Regardless of the type of product, the ultimate goal remains the same: to make the business profitable and users happy.

Product designers sit at the intersection of user needs and business goals, constantly working to align both sides. – Emmanuel Baah

Here are three core responsibilities that define a product designer’s role:

1. Decision-Making: A significant part of product design involves making informed decisions. Product designers determine how features should look, how they should function, and how they align with business objectives.

2. Collaboration: Product design is a team sport. Designers work closely with engineers, product managers, and marketers to bring ideas to life and ensure that solutions meet both user and business expectations.

3. Accountability: Product designers are accountable for how a product looks, feels, and functions. If a design falls short, they must be able to explain why, gather feedback, and iterate on their solutions.

While decision-making, collaboration, and accountability form the core of the role, product designers perform these tasks:

Conduct research: Product designers gather insights through user interviews, surveys, and usability testing to inform design decisions.
Develop user journey maps: They visualise the user’s experience to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement.
Establish design requirements: Product designers work with product managers and researchers to define what needs to be built and why.
Create mockups, wireframes, and prototypes: They turn ideas into visual representations that stakeholders can review and developers can build.

What Distinguishes Senior Product Designers from Juniors?

The key difference between junior and senior product designers lies in their scope of thinking and level of ownership.

Junior designers typically focus on execution. They follow design briefs, deliver mockups and prototypes, and ensure that their work meets the specified requirements. Their primary concern is producing designs that align with the given direction.

Senior designers, however, operate at a more strategic level. They don’t just execute—they shape the direction of the product itself.

Senior designers think beyond the pixels. They influence strategy, justify design decisions with data, and navigate trade-offs between user experience and business goals. – Emmanuel Baah

The most critical trait that sets senior designers apart is ownership. They own the results of their work, not just the output. If a design succeeds, they understand why. If it falls short, they take responsibility, analyse what went wrong, and iterate on the solution.

Who Do Product Designers Work With?

If you’re considering a career in product design, it’s essential to understand the stakeholders you’ll collaborate with and what those partnerships typically look like.

Product design is inherently a cross-functional role. Collaboration is at its core. If teamwork isn’t currently your strong suit, you might find the role challenging—but the good news is that collaboration is a skill you can develop with practice.

Here are 3 core stakeholders product designers work with:

1. Product Managers: Product managers set the product vision. They define what problems need solving and why they matter. As a designer, you’ll work closely with them to figure out how to solve those problems in a way that meets user needs and aligns with business goals.

2. Developers: Engineers bring your designs to life. Without clear communication, there’s a risk that your designs might not be implemented as intended. Successful collaboration ensures the final product stays true to the user experience you envisioned.

3. Product Marketers: Once a product or feature is built, product marketers ensure that users understand and engage with it. They help position the product effectively in the market, translating its value into messaging that resonates with the target audience.

Ultimately, a product designer’s success often hinges on their ability to work seamlessly with these teams, bridging the gap between user needs, business objectives, and technical feasibility.

What’s the Difference Between Product Design and UX Design?

UX design focuses on user experience, ensuring that products are easy, enjoyable, and efficient to use. Product design, however, takes a broader approach, integrating both user experience and business viability.

In product design, you’re thinking beyond usability. You’re considering:

How does the product grow?
How does it generate revenue?
How does it retain users over time?

What about UI design?

User Interface (UI) design focuses specifically on the product’s look and feel—the visual layout, colours, typography, and interactive elements. In smaller organisations, UI responsibilities often fall under the remit of UX or product designers.

How to Transition into Product Design

7 Key Steps to Become A Product Designer

1. Understand what product design entails: Start by learning the fundamentals of product design—what it involves, the problems it solves, and how it fits into the broader product development process.

2. Assess your existing skills and experience: Identify transferable skills from your current role, such as problem-solving, collaboration, or user-centric thinking. Domain expertise in areas like marketing, business strategy, or customer success can also be an advantage.

3. Conduct informational interviews: Speak with product designers. Their insights can clarify your learning path, help you avoid common mistakes, and validate the resources or courses you choose.

4. Bridge skill gaps: Read job descriptions to understand the skills, experience, and qualifications required. Then, take courses, read books, and explore tools like Figma and Maze to close those gaps.

5. Take on projects and build your portfolio: Build a portfolio by working on projects—don’t just focus on redesigns. Look for volunteer opportunities, freelance work, or projects within your current role. Then, create detailed case studies for each project, highlighting your design process and outcomes.

6. Network: Engage with design communities, attend events, and connect with other product designers. Networking can lead to mentorship, project opportunities, and job leads.

7. Apply for jobs: Once you’ve built the right skills and portfolio, start applying for internships, entry-level roles, or apprenticeships.

Pathways into Product Design

There are multiple pathways to transition into product design. And while many product designers come from graphic design, UI/UX, computer science, or business backgrounds, it’s entirely possible to break into the field from other professions.

Here are 7 common pathways into product design:

1. UI/UX Design → Product Design A natural progression for many designers who already focus on user experience and interface design.

2. Graphic Design → UX Design → Product Design Graphic designers often pivot into UX design by shifting their focus from aesthetics to functionality. From there, they expand their skills to embrace product thinking.

3. Business Management → UI/UX Design → Product Design Professionals with business backgrounds bring strong problem-solving and stakeholder management skills, making it easier to transition into product design through UX.

4. Content Writing/Marketing → UX Writing/Content Design → UI/UX Design → Product Design Writers and marketers can transition by focusing on user-centric content design, and then expanding their skills to include UI/UX and product design principles.

5. Customer Support/Success → UX Research → Product Design Professionals in customer-facing roles often have deep user insights, making UX research a natural entry point into product design.

6. Product Management → UI/UX Design → Product Design Those managing product development already work closely with designers and often transition by developing hands-on design skills.

7. Industrial Design → Digital Product Design Industrial designers skilled in creating physical products often adapt their skills to the digital world.

4 Tips for Budding Product Designers

Whether you’re just starting your transition into product design or looking to sharpen your skills, these tips can help you navigate the journey:

1. Shift your Mindset from Aesthetics to Problem-Solving

Success in product design hinges on solving real user problems while aligning with business goals. It’s not just about creating visually appealing designs but about ensuring those designs are functional and impactful.

If you’re coming from a graphic design background, start by learning UX principles. From there, expand your understanding of user research and business strategy. Product design sits at the intersection of all these disciplines.

2. Practice Consistently and Stay Disciplined

Consistency is key. The more you practice, the more confident and skilled you become. Work on projects regularly, even if they’re small. Keep refining your designs based on user feedback and industry best practices.

3. Find Mentorship and Accountability Partners

Learning in isolation can be challenging. Seek out mentors who can provide guidance, share industry insights, and help you navigate the challenges of your transition. Accountability partners can also keep you motivated and on track.

4. Engage with Design Communities

Networking is one of the fastest ways to grow. Join design communities, attend meetups, and participate in discussions.

Want to discover design communities? Check out our community database for NoCode Techies.

5 Essential Skills Great Product Designers Have

To excel as a product designer, you’ll need a mix of technical expertise, problem-solving abilities, and strong collaboration skills. Here are 5 essential skills that set great product designers apart:

1. Problem-solving: Great designers approach challenges with critical thinking, breaking down complex issues into actionable solutions that balance user needs and business goals.

2. Communication & Collaboration: Product design is a team sport. You’ll work closely with product managers, developers, marketers, and other stakeholders. Clear communication ensures that your design intentions are understood and executed effectively.

3. Visual design: While product design goes beyond aesthetics, having a solid grasp of visual design principles is important. This includes creating intuitive, functional, and visually appealing interfaces that enhance the user experience.

4. Empathy for users: Understanding user needs is non-negotiable. Great product designers prioritise user experience, advocating for solutions that make users’ lives easier while aligning with business objectives.

5. Adaptability: The tech industry moves fast, and so do user expectations. The best product designers are adaptable, continuously learning new tools, staying on top of design trends, and evolving with the industry.

Bottomline

Transitioning into product design might seem daunting, but it’s entirely possible—no matter your background. The key lies in understanding the role, identifying transferable skills, bridging knowledge gaps, and gaining hands-on experience.

This article was written based on an interview between Emmanuel Baah, Senior Product Designer at Oyster, and Jess Armooh, Founder at NoCode Techies. If you have more questions about transitioning into product design, feel free to reach out to Emmanuel directly—he’s always open to helping aspiring designers navigate their journey!