Product Design Manager Career Path

Starting a career as a product design manager requires understanding the key steps, skills, and experiences needed for success.

In this article, we will outline the typical journey for product design managers, covering educational requirements, entry-level positions, potential advancements, and long-term opportunities.

Without further ado, let’s get into it!

TL;DR

A product design manager in the SaaS industry oversees the design and development of software products. Their primary role involves leading a team of designers to create user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interfaces.
They work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers, to translate user needs and business requirements into effective design solutions.
According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a product design manager in the United States is $149,628 per year. This figure can vary significantly based on factors like location, experience level, company size, and industry.
Here is what a typical product design manager career path looks like:
- Junior product designer
- Product designer
- Senior product designer
- Lead product designer
- Product design manager
- Senior product design manager
- Director of product design
- VP of product design
- Chief design officer
To become a product design manager, start by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as graphic design, industrial design, or human-computer interaction. Pursue internships or entry-level positions in design to gain practical experience and build a robust portfolio. Focus on developing strong skills in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, utilizing design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite.
Alongside design tools, here are some more tools every product design manager should have in their tech stack:
- Best tool for User Onboarding and Engagement – Userpilot
- Best tool for Project Management – Monday
- Best tool for Product Management – Jira Software
- Best tool for Customer Experience – Zendesk
- Best tool for Customer Success – ClientSuccess
Looking into tools for product design managers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!

What is a product design manager?

A product design manager in the SaaS industry oversees the design and development of software products. Their primary role involves leading a team of designers to create user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

They collaborate closely with product managers, developers, and stakeholders to ensure the design aligns with business goals and user needs.

Additionally, they focus on optimizing the user experience and staying updated with the latest design trends and technologies. Their goal is to deliver a seamless and engaging user experience that enhances the product’s functionality and appeal.

What does a product design manager do?

A product design manager leads a team of designers to create and refine software products, focusing on user experience and interface design.

They work closely with cross-functional teams, including product managers and engineers, to translate user needs and business requirements into effective design solutions.

Responsibilities include overseeing the entire design process from concept to final implementation, ensuring design consistency, conducting usability testing, and iterating on feedback.

They also mentor designers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment to produce high-quality, user-centric products.

Product design manager’s main responsibilities

Product design manager plays a critical role in shaping the user experience and visual design of SaaS products. Here are the main responsibilities and duties:

Leading and mentoring a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and innovative design environment.
Collaborating with product managers and developers to define design requirements and objectives specific to SaaS products.
Overseeing the entire design process from user research and wireframing to prototyping and final implementation.
Ensuring design consistency and adherence to brand guidelines across all SaaS products.
Conducting usability testing and gathering user feedback to iterate and improve design solutions.
Creating and maintaining design systems and component libraries to ensure efficiency and consistency in product design.
Staying updated with the latest design trends, tools, and technologies relevant to the SaaS industry.
Working closely with engineering teams to ensure designs are implemented accurately and efficiently.
Balancing user needs, business goals, and technical constraints to deliver optimal design solutions.
Managing project timelines, deliverables, and resources to ensure timely and high-quality output.
Advocating for user-centric design principles and best practices within the organization.

This list encompasses the core responsibilities of ensuring the effective design and delivery of high-quality SaaS products and enhancing user experience and product functionality.

Product design manager salary

Product design managers are crucial in shaping the user experience and interface of products, and their compensation varies widely based on experience, location, industry, and the specific company.

By Experience Level

Junior Product Design Manager (2-4 years): Typically earns around $80,000 to $100,000 per year.
Mid-level Product Design Manager (5-7 years): Usually earns between $100,000 and $130,000 per year.
Senior Product Design Manager (8+ years): Can earn from $130,000 up to $160,000 per year.

By Location

San Francisco, CA: Average salary is approximately $150,000 to $172,000 per year.
New York, NY: Average salary is around $130,000 to $150,000 per year.
Chicago, IL: Average salary is about $120,000 to $130,000 per year.
Austin, TX: Average salary is between $110,000 and $120,000 per year.

By Industry

Technology: Product Design Managers in tech companies can earn between $120,000 and $150,000 per year.
Finance: Those in financial technology (FinTech) can expect to earn around $110,000 to $140,000 annually.
Healthcare: Typically earn between $100,000 and $130,000 per year.
Retail: Salaries range from $90,000 to $120,000 per year.

Highest Paying Companies

Meta (Facebook): Total compensation ranges from $287,000 to $434,000 per year.
Apple: Total compensation is approximately $250,000 to $363,000 per year.
Microsoft: Total compensation ranges from $214,000 to $290,000 per year.

These figures provide a general overview. For precise and updated information, it’s best to refer directly to salary reporting websites like Glassdoor, Indeed, or Reed.

Source: Glassdoor

Here is what a typical product design manager career path looks like:

Junior product designer: Entry-level position focusing on assisting senior designers, creating design components, and conducting user research. To progress in this position, you need to build a strong portfolio, learn from senior designers, master design tools, and seek feedback to improve your skills.
Product designer: Involved in designing product interfaces, conducting usability tests, and collaborating with cross-functional teams. To progress in this position, you need to take on more complex projects, develop a deep understanding of user experience (UX) principles, and start leading smaller design initiatives.
Senior product designer: Leads major design projects, mentors junior designers, and plays a key role in strategic design decisions. In this position, you need to focus on leadership skills, contribute to creating design systems, and build strong relationships with product managers and developers.
Lead product designer: Oversees the design team, ensures design consistency across projects, and aligns design goals with business objectives. Your primary focus needs to be on developing project management skills, driving innovation within the team, and engaging in high-level strategic planning.
Product design manager: Manages the design team, coordinates design projects, and ensures alignment with business goals and user needs. To progress in this position, learn to enhance leadership and managerial skills, stay updated with industry trends, and focus on optimizing team performance and design processes.
Senior product design manager: Manages larger design teams, oversees multiple projects, and plays a critical role in company-wide design strategy. A career progression tip would be to develop a vision for the design department, influence company design culture, and mentor upcoming leaders within the team.
Director of product design: Sets the overall design direction for the company, collaborates with top executives, and ensures the design vision aligns with the company’s mission. Focus on strategic leadership, expand your influence across departments, and drive the company’s design innovation.
VP of product design: Responsible for the entire design organization, driving design excellence and contributing to the overall business strategy. Strengthen executive leadership skills, maintain a forward-thinking design vision, and foster a culture of creativity and innovation.
Chief design officer: Top-level executive overseeing all design aspects of the company, ensuring cohesive design strategy across all products and services. Focus on visionary leadership, drive company-wide design integration, and champion design as a core business value.

By progressing through these roles, continuously developing skills, and taking on increasing responsibilities, one can advance to higher positions within the product design field.

How to become a product design manager

To become a product design manager, start by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field such as graphic design, industrial design, or human-computer interaction.

Pursue internships or entry-level positions in design to gain practical experience and build a robust portfolio. Focus on developing strong skills in user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design, utilizing design tools like Sketch, Figma, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Additionally, gaining experience in project management and leadership can be beneficial. As you advance, seek roles with increasing responsibility and consider obtaining certifications in design or project management to further enhance your qualifications.

Building a diverse portfolio and demonstrating the ability to lead and collaborate effectively will position you for success as a product design manager.

Best resources for product design managers

To excel as a product design manager, leveraging various resources such as books, training programs, podcasts, and blogs can provide valuable insights and keep you updated on industry trends and best practices.

Best books for product design managers

Reading books by industry experts can provide deep insights and practical knowledge about product design and management:

“The Design of Everyday Things” by Don Norman – A must-read for understanding the principles of good design and human-centered design.
“Hooked: How to Build Habit-Forming Products” by Nir Eyal – This book explores the psychology behind user habits and how to create products that keep users engaged.
“Lean UX: Designing Great Products with Agile Teams” by Jeff Gothelf and Josh Seiden – Offers practical advice on integrating UX design with Agile methodologies.
“Inspired: How To Create Products Customers Love” by Marty Cagan – A comprehensive guide on product management and creating products that delight customers.
“Sprint: How to Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days” by Jake Knapp – Provides a step-by-step process for solving problems and testing ideas quickly.

Best webinars for product design managers

Participating in webinars can offer real-time learning and insights from industry experts.

Userpilot Webinars – Offers a range of webinars focused on user onboarding, engagement, and product growth.
Nielsen Norman Group Trainings – Provides expert insights on various UX topics, including usability, user research, and interaction design.
UX Design Institute Webinars – Covers topics related to UX design principles, methodologies, and career advice.
Adobe XD Webinars – Offers tutorials and deep dives into design tools and best practices using Adobe XD.
InVision Webinars – Features discussions with industry experts on design, collaboration, and product management.

Best blogs for product design managers

Following blogs can help you stay updated on the latest trends, tips, and best practices in product design and management.

Userpilot Blog – Offers insights on user onboarding, product growth, and UX design.
Nielsen Norman Group Blog – Provides in-depth articles on usability, user experience, and design research.
Smashing Magazine – Covers a wide range of topics, including UX design, web development, and product management.
UX Collective – A community-driven platform with articles on UX design, product design, and industry trends.
IDEO Blog – Shares stories and insights from one of the leading design firms in the world.

Best podcasts for product design managers

Listening to podcasts is a convenient way to stay informed and inspired by industry leaders while on the go.

“The Design Better Podcast” – Interviews with design leaders discussing the craft and business of design.
“High Resolution” – Features in-depth conversations with design leaders from top companies.
“The UX Podcast” – Discusses UX design, strategy, and how to integrate UX into business practices.
“Product to Product” – A podcast for product people, by product people, covering various aspects of product management and design.
“Product Love” – Focuses on product management and features interviews with product leaders.

Best tools for product design managers

As a product design manager, leveraging a diverse set of tools is crucial for managing projects, enhancing customer experience, ensuring customer success, and creating exceptional UX/UI designs.

Here are some of the key tools every product design manager should have in their tech stack:

Best tool for User Onboarding and Engagement – Userpilot: Userpilot is designed to help product managers create personalized in-app experiences and guide users through the product, enhancing user engagement and retention. Product design managers can create different experiences without any need to code.
Best tool for Project Management – Monday: Monday.com offers a flexible and visual way to manage projects and tasks, helping teams collaborate efficiently and stay on track with deadlines.
Best tool for Product Management – Jira Software: Jira Software is a powerful tool for product management, offering robust features for tracking and managing development tasks, sprints, and releases.
Best tool for Customer Experience – Zendesk: Zendesk provides comprehensive customer support solutions, enabling teams to manage customer inquiries, feedback, and support tickets effectively.
Best tool for Customer Success – ClientSuccess: ClientSuccess helps customer success teams manage and measure customer relationships, ensuring customers achieve their desired outcomes with the product.
Best tool for UX/UI Design – Figma: Figma is a cloud-based design tool that allows for real-time collaboration, making it ideal for teams working together on UX/UI design projects.
Best tool for UX/UI Design – Sketch: Sketch is a vector graphics editor focused on digital design, offering a wide range of plugins and integrations to streamline the design process.
Best tool for Data Analytics – Tableau: Tableau provides powerful data visualization capabilities, allowing teams to analyze and present data in an intuitive and visually appealing way.
Best tool for Data Analytics – Power BI: Power BI is a business analytics service by Microsoft that delivers insights through interactive dashboards and reports, helping teams make data-driven decisions.
Best tool for UX/UI Design – InVision Studio: InVision Studio is a comprehensive design tool that offers advanced prototyping and animation capabilities, enabling designers to create interactive and high-fidelity prototypes.

Conclusion

We hope our article has given you a good overview of the career path for product design managers.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to advance, the key is to stay curious, keep learning, and remain open to new opportunities along the way.

Looking into tools for product design managers? Userpilot is an all-in-one product platform with engagement features and powerful analytics capabilities. Book a demo to see it in action!