Product Designer

Job Description

Job DescriptionDescriptionThis role is not a remote role; requires work 3 days a week in NYC.

Overview
The New York Public Library (the Library) is looking for a Product Designer to help shape the Library’s digital experiences by envisioning and designing user-centered solutions for future Research products and features. In this dynamic and innovative environment, you will play a vital role in creating digital products that advance and support the mission of the Library. Working with dedicated product managers, a full engineering team, project management, and user research, you’ll contribute to driving solutions that support the transformation of the Library’s Research products.
This is a four-year temporary grant-funded position.
We are looking for someone we can count on to:Own:

• The creation of engaging exploratory interfaces for complex and data-rich content sets designed for different personas and their goals
• The end-to-end design process by contributing to the definition, planning, and prioritization of user requirements per project
• Design decisions for projects based on overall Product/UX strategy
• Cultivate relationships with internal teams to promote user needs

Teach:

• Best practices for data-rich interfaces to the Digital team and the larger Library

Learn:

• About NYPL - our culture, goals, strategy, and the environment in which we work
• About the evolution of our Research products and their strategic goals
• About the specific challenges and opportunities that digital technology introduces for our patrons, the Library in general, and the work of our staff/vendors/partners
• About the wide variety of patrons and staff who use NYPL and the large array of resources that NYPL offers
• The latest advancements in AI/ ML, identifying opportunities to integrate these technologies into our products to enhance user value and create unique experiences

Improve:

• The Library’s digital presentation of its Research collections and related data
• Ideation and collaboration between Product Design and the Research Libraries
• Our ability to digitally connect patrons to the resources they need
• Users’ understanding of our offerings and the capabilities of each offering
• Workflows and user experience of staff-facing tools and systems
• User experience of search, discovery, and personalization features though the application of AI/ML

Some expectations for this role are that within:1 month, this person will:

• Learn about NYPL’s product research, design, and development process, including our accessibility standards and design system
• Learn about NYPL’s multi-year Digital strategy
• Start to build cooperative relationships within the Digital team and the larger Library
• Start to explore emerging technologies and their application to enhance user experiences
• Craft personal goals

3 months, this person will:

• Contribute to the creation of user research plans to help us define the future interfaces of our digital properties
• Have an understanding of the various catalogs, databases, collections, and tools that make up NYPL’s Research Libraries
• Conduct landscape analysis of the market sector and patron needs
• Begin ideation and testing of new interfaces
• Provide design direction for individual projects by determining which design decisions are most appropriate based on goals, budget, and priority
• Contribute to the ongoing refinement of our NYPL Design System
• Have an understanding of the current user flows in our properties (in digital and physical space)
• Conduct stakeholder and patron interviews to develop a working knowledge of our tools and systems

6 months and beyond, this person will:

• Create design mockups, prototypes, and specifications that communicate Product Design/UX solutions
• Develop, maintain, and evolve cohesive search and exploration patterns, contributing to the development of NYPL’s larger user experience
• Inform product decisions and strategies
• Collaborate with AL/ML engineers and researchers to understand technical capabilities and limitations, translating complex algorithms into clear user experiences

Responsibilities:

• Generate a range of design explorations, from initial sketches and wireframes to high fidelity prototypes, to effectively communicate and test ideas
• Analyze business needs and produce detailed wireframes that meet strategic objectives
• Optimize information architecture to promote usability while accommodating technical needs/constraints
• Translate functional objectives into detailed specifications to ensure the rapid development of projects
• Develop user flows to facilitate the design process of features, templates, and tools
• Clearly and concisely communicate design concepts, rationale, and specifications to stakeholders through presentations, documentation, and visual assets.
• Create user research plans and help conduct usability testing to explore and validate solutions

Required Education, Experience & SkillsRequired Education and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required (see below)
• A portfolio that features your past UX/product design work

Required Experience

• 2+ years of experience designing complex applications, with a demonstrated track record of creating thoughtful products that improve users’ experiences
• Experience with presenting designs and workflows to team members and stakeholders
• Mastery of industry standard design and prototyping tools such as Figma

Required Skills

• A proven understanding of evidence-based user-centered design, user engagement principles, and design systems
• Strong skills in visual design, interaction design, typography, and information hierarchy
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented with developed organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines
• Ability to work as part of a team in a highly collaborative and fast-paced environment
• Ability to clearly and concisely communicate design concepts and rationale to stakeholders through presentations and documentation

Managerial/Supervisory Responsibilities:

• N/A

More...Core Values
All team members are expected and encouraged to embody the NYPL Core Values:

• Be Helpful to patrons and colleagues
• Be Resourceful in solving problems
• Be Curious in all aspects of your work
• Be Welcoming and Inclusive

Work Environment

• Hybrid office environment; 3 days on site, 2 days remote

Physical Duties

• Some light lifting may be required

Pre-Placement Physical Required?

• No

Union/Non Union

• Non-Union

FLSA Status

• Exempt

Schedule

• Monday - Friday; 9-5
• Hybrid work environment; 3 days on site in NYC; 2 days remote

This job description represents the types and levels of responsibilities that will be required of the position and shall not be construed as a declaration of all of the specific duties and responsibilities for the role. Job duties may change if Library priorities change. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description as needed.

The New York Public LibrarySalary Statement
At the Library, we believe that pay transparency and pay equity are important to ensuring we source the best candidates and keep the best employees. When making a determination as to the appropriate salary for a candidate, we consider a variety of factors such, including, but not limited to, the position requirements, the skills, prior experience, and educational background required or preferred for the job, the scope and impact of the role within the organization, internal peer equity, and the candidate's specific training, experience, education level, and skills. No single factor is conclusive; the Library reserves the right to consider any and all relevant factors and make a decision consistent with its policies.
Union Salaries are determined by collective bargaining agreement(s).