Lead Product Designer

Company: Follett Software, LLC
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 16, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Company Overview: Everything we do is for educators. We're partnering with them to advance a bold vision for education that boosts district performance and student success. At Follett Software, we empower educators across roles with technology that streamlines processes and manages information and resources to improve their schools, increase student success, and drive the future of education. We believe that by empowering educators to amplify their impact on students' lives, we can change the world. Our goal and mission is to drive the future of education. We are inspired by educators to deliver transformative technology. Our innovative, connected solutions simplify challenges and offer a seamless and intuitive experience. Position Summary We are seeking a Lead Product Designer to join our growing team and support product discovery, testing, and design implementation of legacy and AI-powered features for an entire product line. You are a "T-shaped generalist" with capabilities in some or all these areas: design strategy, AI proficiency, Interaction design, Data literacy and Visual design. Position Scope Problem framing and strategy : Independently propose and drive the experience strategy and vision for an entire product line to align the experience with Product-led roadmap and company goals Collaborate with product managers and other designers to drive outcomes that are cohesive and on-brand Create design artifacts (diagrams, narratives, etc.) that describe business and user requirements and desired outcomes Independently conduct and synthesize ideation sessions that clarify requirements and design approach Conduct user research to uncover user motivations and needs Synthesize qualitative and quantitative data to support design decisions Define a design strategy for 0 to 1 product initiatives when needed Collaborate with Product and Design team members to implement a cohesive AI feature strategy Collaborate on proposals and presentations — championing our commitment to the strategic use of thoughtful, user-focused design throughout the organization Prototype and design : Rapidly create prototypes and iterate concepts using traditional and AI-powered tools (Figma, Figma Make, Claude Code, etc.) Collaborate with other designers and Engineers on the Design prototyping environment and tools (such as GitHub repositories, CLI, CSS, JSON, etc.) Align and focus prototype capabilities with discovery and usability test requirements Socialize discovery and usability learnings with other teams Produce designs that conform with accessibility, brand, and platform requirements (including mobile) Participate in Design team rituals (such as critiques and pair designing) to leverage other perspectives and specialties to improve design quality Collaborate with other designers to define and create reusable, intelligent UX components Contribute to and help maintain design systems components that support industry best practices and intelligent components Independently define and socialize UX metrics to provide design efficacy Synthesize user behavior data and machine learning metrics to inform iterative design Leverage knowledge of information architecture and collaborate with others to deploy UX hierarchies and copy that align with company standards and best practices Collaboration and implementation: Collaborate with Product, Marketing, Sales, and other teams to align designs with messaging and marketing efforts (using PIRATE method) Collaborate with other designers and Engineers to streamline dev handoffs Other duties as assigned Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent 5-7 years of experience Working understanding of AI design methods and tools, design strategy, conduct ideation sessions, and familiarity with design systems and dev handoff practices Capabilities in some or all these areas with specialty in at least one: Design strategy: ability to deliver product capabilities that align with brand and business goals, revenue targets, and long-term product roadmaps AI proficiency: understanding of, and proficiency using generative design tools and AI-assisted coding workflows (e.g., GitHub, Copilot, Claude Code, CLI, etc.). Interaction design : deep understanding of usability heuristics, common micro-interactions, and responsive frameworks across web and mobile Data literacy : ability to synthesize user behavior data and machine learning metrics to inform iterative design cycles Visual design : working knowledge of visual design fundamental principles (scale, hierarchy, balance, contrast, and Gestalt psychology) to create effective and aesthetically pleasing designs that guide the user's eye and communicate messages efficiently At Follett Software, our people come first. We're deeply committed to supporting the well-being, growth, and success of every Team Member. That commitment shows up in a thoughtfully designed, comprehensive benefits package that helps you thrive—at work and in life. Here's what you can expect: Fully remote work, giving you the flexibility to do your best work from anywhere in the continental U.S. (unless otherwise noted) Subsidized healthcare plans, including orthodontic coverage, with HSA option that includes employer matching Company-paid disability and life insurance , with the option to enhance coverage through voluntary plans Robust Paid Time Off, including Flex PTO for salaried roles, paid parental leave, company holidays, and paid volunteer service time Retirement savings with employer match, vesting every pay period Flexible Spending Accounts for healthcare and dependent care Optional supplemental coverages, such as accident, hospital, and critical illness insurance, identity theft and credit monitoring, and legal protection services Meaningful recognition and tangible rewards that celebrate achievements, fuel motivation, and recognize both individual and team success EEO Follett Software provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability. We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to, among others, individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you are interested in applying for employment and need assistance or an accommodation in the application process due to a disability, please contact us by email and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Email: recruiting@follettsoftware.com CCPA Notice for California Residents: https://follettsoftware.com/wp - content/uploads/2024/10/Notice -to-California-Applicants.pdf

Keywords: Follett Software, LLC, Crystal Lake , Lead Product Designer, IT / Software / Systems , Chicago, Illinois