2021   2022

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Senior Product Designer. Required Skills  – 2022

If you want to know how to create a perfect design resume, you have to know what companies are looking for in their job descriptions. On this page, you can find what companies are looking for when they hire a Senior Product Designer.

The 2022 list has expanded and includes the most popular terms from 100+ job descriptions. We analyzed job descriptions on LinkedIn, Glassdoor and Angellist from companies across Europe and North America. Let's dive deeper and see what you can learn to make the best product design resume and learn the necessary skills.

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Most Popular Design Tools of 2022

Design tools are essential to the design process, allowing designers to create, edit, and refine their work. In today's world, various design tools are available, each with unique features and capabilities.

We will look at some of the most popular design tools designers currently use worldwide. From industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Suite to newer, up-and-coming tools like Figma, these statistics will provide an overview of the tools that are helping designers create beautiful and effective designs.

This list comprises the top 10 design tools mentioned in job descriptions. The list is updated annually based on research on senior product designer job descriptions.

JD – Job description
How often a design tool appears in job descriptions?

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Figma is growing a lot. It's mentioned in every third job description. Many companies switched to Figma in the last few years, and it officially became a standard in the design industry. Figma is the most mentioned design tool in job descriptions in 2022.

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Compared to 2021, Sketch grew its user base a lot, even though there is still no free version like in Figma. This data was taken before the Adobe - Figma acquisition, so we look forward to seeing how it impacted statistics for tools like Sketch.

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These include all mentions of Photoshop, Illustrator or Adobe XD. In 2022, Adobe lost a shocking 7.3% of mentions in job descriptions. It feels like Adobe Suite is such a must-have toot nowdays that companies no longer mention them in job descriptions.

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Like the majority of tools in this list, CSS dropped in mentions compared to the previous year. Despite that, it still got to 4th place in our chart which means a bit over 6% of companies mentions CSS in their JDs.

invision

InVision keeps falling year over year. Fewer companies include InVision in their job descriptions. Even the launch of InVision Studio in 2017 didn't help them to retain the core user base, and this year they saw -3.1% in mentions.

html5

HTML lost 2.5% compared to the 2021 year. Last year HTML was mentioned more frequently than CSS, but in 2022, HTML lost its place to CSS.

js

We didn't expect to see JS falling anytime soon, but the demand for JavaScript knowledge among designers is also declining in 2022 and it appears just on a bunch of job descriptions.

miro

In 2022, Miro is gaining popularity as a go-to tool for quick prototyping among designers and product managers and has secured a spot on our list at the 8th position.

flinto

Flinto is a newly added tool on our list, with several companies consistently mentioning it in their job descriptions. It is used to create interactive and animated prototypes.

principle

The Principle app is a widely recognized UI animation tool that offers flexibility and supports imports from popular tools like Sketch and Figma. It has secured a place on our list at the 10th position.

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Position Requirements

Position requirements refer to the qualifications and skills necessary for a person to successfully fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a senior product designer role. These requirements may include education, experience, knowledge, skills, and other personal characteristics necessary for the job.

To be successful in a senior product designer role, individuals must meet certain requirements, such as possessing the right educational background, demonstrating prior experience, showcasing specialized knowledge, having relevant skills, and displaying desirable personal traits.

How often a word appears in job descriptions?

Research – 2/per listing
Design research is a broad term for the process designers use to understand better the underlying and sometimes hidden desires, needs, and challenges of end users, also known as the target audience.Research is a crucial part of every design process. No wonder why it appears 2 times per every job description.
Web – 75.7%
The web is the most popular medium for designers. There is a 75% chance that you will be dealing with web apps in your next position, and you must understand the limitations and differences between native apps and other mediums.
Prototyping – 66.2%
Prototyping is a common task for designers, as it allows them to test and communicate their design concepts before moving on to the final stage of the design process. Some designers may be responsible for creating prototypes as part of their regular workflow, while others may only be required to do so on an as-needed basis. Prototyping is definitely a must-have skill, as it appears on every second JD.
Mobile – 66.2%
Design for mobile is an important skill, especially when 59% of all web traffic comes through smartphones. Stay updated on the latest technologies and learn how people interact with the websites on their phones.
Wireframing – 39.2%
Wireframing is a way to design a website service at the structural level. A wireframe is commonly used to lay out content and functionality on a page which takes into account user needs and user journeys.
iOS – 39.2%
Not every company can afford to have a dedicated team for a native iOS application so having it in every third job description still makes it pretty popular. It's always beneficial to know the design specifications for this platform.
Accessibility – 28.4%
Recently, “accessibility” becomes a very popular word in job descriptions. Companies are looking for people who have worked with accessibility standards in the past and can implement them. 
Mockups – 28.4%
Mockups can help designers explore different design options, iterate on their ideas, and communicate their concepts to stakeholders. They can also be used to test usability and gather feedback from users, which can inform the final design.
Sketching – 16.2%
Everybody knows how to sketch. Some people can make it more beautiful than others, but this is not the point of sketching. This step is just a high-level exploration of the idea.
Android – 16.2%
Android is twice less popular as iOS in job descriptions. Even though there are more than a billion devices out there that work on Android, companies rarely ask for this specific platform.
User Flows – 13.5%
User flows are diagrams that show the steps a user takes to complete a task within a product or website. They are an essential part of the design process because they help designers understand and anticipate how users will interact with the product and identify potential roadblocks or bottlenecks in the user experience.
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Other Requirements

In addition to the specific qualifications and skills required for a senior product designer position, there may be other requirements that a candidate should possess to be successful in this role.

Business – 2.5/per listing
No wonder why the word "Business" appears so often in job descriptions. The word pair "Business needs" is the main driver of the popularity.
Feedback – 79.7%
Collecting feedback is one of the essential parts of our day-to-day work. Improvements to the implemented design can be made only in case you've collected the feedback and iterated on it.
Advocate – 18.9%
A design advocate is a person who would promote the design within the company and would be part of your day-to-day work. This is a proactive position in educating others about the importance of design.
Design Thinking – 16.2%
Design thinking is a buzzword that has become very annoying to designers. Everybody was trying to add this word to their vocabulary. In the last year or two, designers have begun to avoid this word; that's why it has only 16.2% and still falling.
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What Do Companies Provide?

Product designers enjoy various benefits and perks depending on the organization and the particular role. These include but are not limited to medical and dental insurance, retirement plans, vacation time, and other perks such as unlimited PTO or educational reimbursement.

Benefits – 70%
Companies provide benefits: an extended health package or some additional money for education. These are just several options that startups mention in their job description.
Dental – 16.2%
Some companies may offer dental insurance as part of their employee benefits package, while others may not. It is also possible that some job descriptions may mention dental insurance as a preferred or optional benefit.
Unlim. PTO – 16.2%
It is not uncommon for companies to offer unlimited paid time off (PTO) as a benefit to their employees. However, the prevalence of this benefit varies depending on the industry, size of the company, and location.
Vacation – 15%
Every company must provide vacation time by law, but only 15% mention it in their job description. Usually, vacation is mentioned when it is a bit more extended than a regular 2 weeks or just included in PTO wording. 
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Other Interesting Words

Check other interesting words that appear on senior product designer job descriptions that can help you understand what companies are looking for in a potential candidate for the senior designer role.

Design – 9/per listing
Yes, it's all about design. On average, it's mentioned around 9 times per application. 
Design System – 1.6/per listing
In the last 2-3 years ability to build and manage design systems has become one of the essential qualifications of a product designer. In 2022 mentions of a design system skyrocketed to 1.6 words per job description.
Data – 83.8%
Data is frequently mentioned in job descriptions and plays a significant role in informing research. Data is a cornerstone of product development.
Degree – 18.9%
Although an increasing number of companies no longer require degrees as a part of their hiring process, the word "Degree" is still frequently mentioned in job descriptions for senior designers.
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Trending Job Description Words 

In the 2022 edition, we are adding more popular keywords to our list so you can better understand the state of the world in the hiring process.

Experience – 7.5/per listing
Yes, it's all about design. On average, it's mentioned around 9 times per application. 
Product – 6/per listing
Product development is the process of creating a new product or service to be sold to customers. This process typically involves several different steps, including idea generation, market research, product design and testing, and product launch.
UX – 1/per listing
UX stands for user experience. It refers to the overall experience a person has when interacting with a product or service, such as a website or an app. It includes the practical, experiential, emotional, and psychological aspects of a person's interactions with a product or service. Every Senior Product Designer's job description includes at least one term UX.
Customer – 1/per listing
Customers play a crucial role in the product creation process. They are the ones who will be using the product, so it's essential to gather feedback from them to ensure that the product meets their needs and preferences.This feedback can inform the product's design, including its features, functionality, and overall user experience.
Remote – 83.8%
In recent years, there has been a trend towards remote work, where people can do their jobs from anywhere rather than being required to be in a specific location, such as an office. This trend has been driven by technological advances that make it easier for people to communicate and collaborate remotely.Remote work has become increasingly popular for employers and employees, as it offers flexibility, cost savings, and the ability to attract and retain talent from a global pool.
Culture – 82.4%
A company's culture refers to the shared values, beliefs, and behaviours present in the organization. It is the company's "personality," and it shapes how people interact with each other and the outside world. Company culture can be influenced by a variety of factors, including the company's mission and values, its leadership, and the industry in which it operates.
Disability – 66.2%
It is essential to create inclusive job descriptions that do not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. This can be done by focusing on the essential duties and requirements of the job rather than mentioning disabilities.
Diverse – 58.%
The word "divers" quite often (in every second JD) appears in a job description. In this context, the word "divers" refers to the inclusion of people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in the workforce. This can include factors such as race, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, and ability.
Inclusive – 55.4%
It is common for the word "inclusive" to appear on job descriptions as more and more companies are looking to create diverse and inclusive workplaces. In this context, "inclusive" refers to the inclusion of people from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Portfolio – 55.4%
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Interface – 45.9%
An interface is the part of a digital system that a person interacts with directly. It is how a person can control and communicate with a digital system. It typically consists of input and output devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch screen, and visual and auditory feedback, such as graphics, text, and sounds.
Usability – 33.8%
The word "usability" is essential for job descriptions because it can help clarify the specific skills and experience a candidate should have to succeed in the role. In general, usability refers to the ease with which people can use a product, service, or system.In the context of a job description, it may refer to a candidate's ability to design or evaluate the usability of a product, service, or system or to ensure that it is user-friendly and meets the needs of its intended users.
COVID-19 – 32.4%
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect many aspects of daily life and the economy, it is unsurprising that the term "COVID-19" is appearing more frequently in job descriptions.Companies may be looking for employees with experience dealing with the challenges posed by the pandemic, such as the ability to work remotely or implement increased health and safety measures.
Vaccination – 23%
"Vaccination" appears almost in every fourth job description as companies look for employees who have been vaccinated.