Deep dive into the difference between junior and senior product designers

For a long time I’ve wondered what the difference is between a Junior and Senior designer. Is it just years of experience? Don’t they do essentially the same job?

Since I became a senior designer, I’ve noticed it’s more than just doing the same tasks and responsibilities.

Here are a few differences — hope this helps with your design career!

//LINKS

//TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:15 - Channel announcements
1:47 - Context setting
2:40 - Junior designer - Smaller projects
4:04 - Junior designer - Pixels vs impact
5:05 - Junior designer - Level of ownership
6:40 - Junior designer - Developing your craft
8:40 - Senior designer - Strong design craft
9:55 - Senior designer - Autonomy
10:55 - Senior designer - Influence and impact
12:18 - Senior designer - Know what to focus on and when
14:09 - Senior designer - Ownership & independence
15:00 - Wrap up

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//GET STARTED IN UX

[pgbupes]

I love this so much. This helps me understand my role a little better. I'm technically a "Product Designer" but I'd say I'm doing some things in in the Senior Product Designer role and then there are definitely some of my skills that fall in the Junior Designer role that I can work on.

[hdk]

Would love to see a similar video on the difference between Senior vs Staff Designers.

[KaushikMuraliUX]

This video is so accurate. I can relate to it a lot as a junior designer.

[alessandroveggies]

Great video, as always, Femke. I personally would like to see more content about mid-level design, to better understand my position right now, and what to expect. Btw, I always listen to you and Charlie on Design life: I love your podcast! cheers from italy!

[paupowpow]

in my experience this is way more chaotic. during my “career” i have been tasked with “senior” tasks since the very beginning, and i have also been surprised by jobs where i was micromanaged/only tasked with “junior” tasks disregarding my other skills completely. anyone else?

[valvich]

I really love this channel. Everything you share here is incredibly helpful. Thank you for sharing your experience, you have no idea how much this helped me go through.

[MrTubber]

Love you and your content! Happy 2022😊

[GreciaOmana]

I loved this video! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge 🙏🏻💖

[aaronpaulgz]

This is amazing! Thanks for this, Femke!

[sebluketravis]

One of the most under-appreciated aspects of being a Senior Product Designer is the ability to negotiate your contract at the start. I am still shocked to see many Senior Product Designers accepting 6 month probations with 1 week notice periods or worse, zero contracts! I always get a long term notice period, as it means I am secure in the traditional sense, but also to use the C.H.R.I.S. framework - CHALLENGE, Honesty, Respectful, Integrity, Support. Most companies want senior skills in Product Designers with a mid-weight 'yes person' mentality. I tend to challenge assertively, and if it isn't a correlation, it is a big payoff and no skin off my beak in a candidate market.

[dilu]

Love your videos! Happy New Year Femke 🧋

[DesignDen]

Could you pls make a video on how you oragnise your design files? - How to document components, how to document flows, how to maintain all the rough work?

[emiliobuono]

Hey Femke! This is AMAZING - at this point in my journey as a Junior, your guidance is absolutely godlike!

[mehulshah]

This is amazing Femke!! Thanks for sharing !!

[jonathanpan]

This is a great video. Exactly explain the differences in bullet points! I felt exact the points you described :) I can relate so much as a senior designer. Although I do feel quite lonely sometimes hahaha. And struggling to having confidence in the proposal that maps to the vision.

[tyriquejohnson]

This video is very much appreciated. I’m currently preparing for my interview for a job as a Senior Designer tomorrow 😬😬😬

[matteoperdon]

Super video!!! In this year i started as a Junior Designer, following the Development Manager's decisions, and after starting to analyze multiple projects and brain storming with him. I think I m not a Senior, may be a beginner Mid(I know I have a lot of things to study).
I have seen myself in the first part of the video; now it's time to develop more for ux design.
Wonderful and inspirational video! Thanks

[afnovakful]

Great video 😊I love to hear other designers thoughts on this.
I personally didnt have such a linear path to becoming a senior product designer. In some ways it was backwards, at a more strategic company. I’m not saying this is good or bad, but I want to share in case others are experiencing or expecting this gradual and logical leveling up from craft to more strategic. I think it highly depends on the worksplaces you end up, and your manager, as you mentioned. Good to think of when you’re first starting out!

[DarshanGajara]

Moving or construction noise, nothing stops Femke from creating 🙌🏼

[brianm]

Femke, thank you!
This video really eliminated my anxiety.
I thought as a junior, I should be able to 100% handle myself and whatever they throw at me, but turns out, I'll be learning as time goes...

Thank you!