Are you looking to hire an Interim Product Design Manager or transition into the role yourself? These temporary but crucial positions ensure continuity in product design and development, driving innovation and seizing market opportunities. Whether you’re a client seeking talent or a professional exploring this sector, this guide covers key skills, responsibilities and contract considerations.
An Interim Product Design Manager often reports into the Head of Product Design. Usually an Interim Product Design Manager is only responsible for their individual workload, but may have a small team of Junior Design Managers to oversee, depending on the size of the company and its hierarchical structure.
Interim Product Design Manager roles
If you are looking for an Interim Product Design Manager job role or would like to find out how to become an Interim Product Design Manager, what skills you need and what salaries / day rates are on offer, you will find a complete guide below.
If you are looking to recruit an Interim Product Design Manager, please see our Product Design and UX recruitment or interim recruitment services page. If you need to hire handpicked Product Design talent today, contact our Product Design recruitment team today.
What is an Interim Product Design Manager?
Interim Product Design Managers play a critical role in the development of any product. They oversee the entire design process from ideation to production and ensure that the final product meets the needs and desires of the target audience. In essence, Interim Product Design Managers are responsible for the overall look, feel, and functionality of a product on a temporary basis, usually bridging the gap during period of leadership transformation or business growth.
To understand the role of an Interim Product Design Manager, it’s essential to define what product design entails. Product design involves the creation of products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The process typically starts with an idea, which is then refined through research, prototyping, and testing.
Interim Product Design Managers are responsible for overseeing this entire process. They work with a team of designers, engineers, and other professionals to ensure that the final product meets the desired specifications. They are responsible for setting project timelines, managing budgets, and ensuring that the design team is working efficiently.
Read our guide to a Product Design Manager.
What does an Interim Product Design Manager do?
One of the critical tasks of an Interim Product Design Manager is to ensure that the product meets the needs of the target audience. To do this, they must have a deep understanding of the market, including customer needs, preferences, and trends. They work with the design team to create user personas, conduct user research, and gather feedback throughout the design process. This information is used to inform the design decisions and ensure that the final product is user-friendly and meets the needs of the target audience.
Another critical aspect of this role is to ensure that the final product meets the company’s goals and objectives. They work closely with stakeholders, including product managers, marketing teams, and executives, to ensure that the product aligns with the company’s vision and mission. This involves balancing the needs of the target audience with the company’s business objectives, such as revenue targets and profitability.
Interim Product Design Managers are also responsible for managing the design team. This involves hiring and training new designers, managing team dynamics, and ensuring that the team is working collaboratively and efficiently. They also provide guidance and feedback to designers, helping them to improve their skills and grow in their careers.
Interim Product Design Manager day rate
In today’s market, a typical Interim Vice President Product Design’s day rate would be in the region of £450 – £550.
Interim Product Design Manager job description
A typical Interim Product Design Manager job description will read something like the one below:
Job title: Interim Product Design Manager
Location: Remote or on-site
Duration: 3-12 months
Reporting to the Head of Product Design, the Interim Product Design Manager will join an innovative and growing product team to own product design for a core product area of the customer journey.
The Interim Product Design Manager will include some line management responsibility including supporting 1-2 product designers through their growth and development plans.
The Interim Product Design Manager will work to:
- Guide execution of the product design team objectives, managing all areas of the product lifecycle
- Uphold all design standards, showcasing best practice design processes and applying these where required
- Lead designers through design work by being well versed in design methodology
- Drive user centric design solutions and processes, understanding how design drives key business KPIs such as conversion and retention metrics
- Ensure good lines of communication are open with senior stakeholders, across different functions
- Cut through the noise to prioritise the commercial decisions that are going to add real value
To be successful in this Interim Product Design Manager role, you will:
- Have a Master’s degree in Product Design
- Have at least 5 years experience as a Product Designer within a similar business, with experience working across the relevant sub-disciplines including service design, visual and motion and interaction design
- Have demonstrable experience within product design, with a good portfolio of previous work
- Have previous experience of releasing successful applications
- Have a highly analytical mindset, driven by metrics and KPIs
- Implement a fact-based decision-making across the design team
- Expert use of Figma, Miro and prototyping software
Product Design interview questions
Read our guide to the top 50+ Product Design interview questions, often asked by employers at interview.
What Product Designer skills are employers looking for?
Innovation: be able to push the boundaries of design and come up with innovative ideas that differentiate their products from competitors. They should have a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies and be able to incorporate them into their product designs.
Analytical skills: be able to analyse and interpret data to make informed decisions. They should have experience with market research, user testing, and product analytics to understand the user experience and improve the product.
Attention to detail: have a strong attention to detail to ensure that every aspect of the product meets the required specifications. They should be able to identify and resolve design issues and ensure that the final product is of the highest quality.
Adaptability: be able to adapt to changing circumstances and be flexible in their approach to design. They should be able to pivot quickly if necessary and make adjustments to the design process based on new information or feedback.
Customer focus: have a customer-centric approach to design and be able to put the needs of the customer first. They should have a deep understanding of the customer journey and be able to design products that solve their problems and meet their needs.
Marketing skills: Product design managers should have a good understanding of marketing principles and be able to create designs that resonate with the target audience. They should be able to work closely with the marketing team to create compelling product messaging and branding.
Cultural awareness: Product design managers should have a good understanding of cultural differences and be able to design products that are sensitive to diverse cultural perspectives. They should be able to work effectively with global teams and adapt their designs to different markets.
In summary, employers look for Product Design Managers who possess a combination of innovation, analytical skills, attention to detail, adaptability, customer focus, marketing skills, and cultural awareness. These skills help product design managers to create products that are innovative, customer-focused, and culturally sensitive, driving growth for the company.
What is the difference between an Interim and Fractional Product Design Manager?
While both roles are temporary and bring senior-level design expertise, there are key differences:
- Interim Product Design Manager: Works full-time and is deeply embedded in the company, overseeing the design produce to ensure it meets the requirements of the target audience. They oversee and lead the team and execution of product for a defined period. They drive initiatives, align design with business goals and ensure seamless collaboration across teams.
- Fractional Product Design Manager: Provides part-time support, often working with multiple companies simultaneously. They focus on providing high-level strategic guidance rather than day-to-day execution or management.
The right choice depends on your company’s needs. If your business requires hands-on, dedicated design leadership to manage teams, implement processes, and execute a design vision, an interim role is the better fit. For broader, advisory-level input without full-time commitment, a fractional role may be more suitable.
When is the right time to hire an Interim Product Design Manager?
Here are some of the top scenarios where hiring an Interim Product Design Manager can be crucial:
Navigating a period of leadership transition, such as when a permanent Product Design Manager is leaving or has already left.
Scaling up product efforts during times of rapid growth or major product launches.
Stabilising and aligning product teams in response to organisational restructuring or a strategic pivot.
Driving critical projects to meet market deadlines or seize strategic opportunities.
Managing complex product portfolios in times of high complexity, such as mergers or partnerships.
Interim Product Design Manager FAQs
- What is an Interim Product Design Manager?
- An Interim Product Design Manager temporarily leads a team of designers, ensuring day-to-day work runs smoothly. They manage priorities, provide design feedback, support team growth, and maintain design quality during a leadership gap or period of change.
- What qualifications do you need to be an Interim Product Design Manager?
- To be a successful Interim Product Design Manager, you may have a Master’s degree in Product Design.
- How is an interim design manager different from a permanent one?
- An interim manager is brought in short-term to fill a leadership gap, often focusing on execution, team health, and continuity. A permanent manager is more likely to be involved in long-term team building, hiring, and strategic org development.
- When should a company hire an interim design manager?
- Companies bring in interim managers when a team lacks direct design leadership—perhaps due to a departure, promotion, or rapid growth. It’s especially helpful during transitions to keep momentum and avoid disruption in product delivery.
- What skills are essential for an interim product design manager?
- Core skills include design ops, people management, mentoring, stakeholder communication, and hands-on design critique. Interim managers should also be highly adaptable, empathetic, and able to quickly earn trust within the team.
- Can an interim design manager become a permanent hire?
- Yes, if both sides see a strong fit, interim roles can often evolve into full-time positions. Companies sometimes use interim roles as a “trial period” to test long-term alignment before committing to a permanent hire.
