Design Lead, Metalab
Product & interface design studio
Be an early applicant
Product & interface design studio
201-500 employees
Be an early applicant
201-500 employees
Company mission
To help everyone from tiny early-stage startups to Fortune 500 companies build products that are simple, beautiful, and easy to use.
Role
Who you are
- 5+ years of product design experience at a digital product agency or consultancy, ideally in a Lead role
- Demonstrated mastery of UI/UX principles, best practices, and common design tools (read: Figma)
- Adequate level of interaction design skills to guide the work (think After Effects, Principle, Framer, Origami)
- A portfolio that reflects your strengths in UX and visual design
- A natural inclination to take the lead and help everyone arrive at a deeper understanding and greater appreciation of the work
- Fluent in translating stakeholder goals, user research, and complex user flows into simple UIs
- Passionate about staying ahead of desktop and mobile best practices, developments, and trends in web, mobile, and iOS design
- Communication pro, with the ability to deliver compelling design rationales in both client and internal contexts
- Comfortable with ambiguity and client briefs that lead to more questions than answers
- Motivated by feedback, and by the opportunity to improve in your role, in the work, and in how you work together as a team
- Does this role sound like it was made for you, yet you don’t check every box, reach out anyways
What the job involves
- We believe magic happens when thoughtful collaboration and unparalleled expertise come together to turn great ideas into great products
- Design Leads at Metalab play a direct role in that magic
- They steer projects in the right direction by leading the day-to-day work internally and managing clients' expectations, while also getting into the files themselves
- It’s about high-quality output and outcomes
- As a Design Lead, you’ll have a vested interest in helping other designers find their groove
- Given that our primary focus is product design, a deep understanding of what it takes to get digital products out the door is our first non-negotiable
- Beyond that, you’ve established yourself as someone people look up to, and you don’t take that privilege lightly
- You’ll still deal in pixels, but you’ll also play an integral role in a project’s success with clear direction, leadership, guidance, and encouragement
- You believe that good ideas can come from anywhere, and you actively support your team in making sure everyone is heard
- You'll guide the design process throughout the entire project lifecycle
- Drive client presentations and discussions of your team’s work
- Respectfully decline the status quo and push both clients and colleagues outside their comfort zones
- Foster positive client relationships and directly influence client stakeholders
- Work with Project Delivery Managers and Client Partners to scope project requirements
- Help promote an inspiring and inclusive environment for the team
- Coach and mentor Product Designers to determine and work towards desired career growth paths, sharing tailored feedback and guidance, and monitoring overall fulfillment and happiness
- Work hand-in-hand with engineers and product team members to foster innovation and ensure feasibility and fidelity of implementation
- Promote a culture of autonomy balanced with proven ways of working
Our take
MetaLab, founded in 2006, has established itself as one of the most respected design studios in the industry. Since its inception, the company has designed products for some of the biggest names in tech and entertainment, including Apple, Google, Disney, Uber, TED, Tinder, Slack, and Headspace.
The company's story is especially remarkable considering its founder, Andrew Wilkinson, was just 20 years old when he launched MetaLab.Since then, Wilkinson has gone on to achieve significant success with Flow, a task management SaaS company and Tiny Capital, a tech-focused holding group.
MetaLab's continued success is a testament to its ability to adapt to a constantly evolving design landscape. Recent projects, including work for sports media startup The Athletic and meditation app Waking Up, showcase Metalab's ongoing growth in the design industry.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
1% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company benefits
- Remote & IRL: We've been doing remote work since '06 and wouldn't have it any other way — and make space for quality time in-person to stay connected
- 4.5 day weeks We take half-day Fridays because there's life outside of work
- Unlimited time off: Unlimited PTO (really). We want everyone to be healthy and get time to give back
- Zero timesheets: We are focused on the results and quality of our work — not on counting hours
- Learning & Growth: Custom opportunities to invest in your career growth
- Flex hours & locations: For a schedule that's one-size-fits-you
- Equity program: Make an impact on the world's leading products and sometimes have a stake in them, too
- Health & wellness coverage: Both mental and physical benefits so you can be your best on and off the screen
- Parental leave: We give 16 weeks of paid and protected leave for primary caregivers
Company HQ
Downtown, Victoria, BC
Leadership
Luke Des Cotes
(CEO)Initially joined Metalab in 2015 as a Client Partner, since then, they have worked in a number of roles, becoming CEO in 2023. Previously they worked as an Account Executive at TBA Digital and as a Busines Development Manager at Red Label Communications.
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