Product Designer at Portfolio Creative in Columbus, OH

8723 | Columbus, OH (Hybrid) | Full-Time | 12-month Contract (high possibility of conversion to FTE)

ABOUT THE ROLE

This role sits at the center of a hard, interesting problem: making powerful, complex scientific tools feel effortless for the experts who rely on them — while AI reshapes both the products and how they're designed. You'll partner with product managers as a true thought partner, not a spec-taker, and own the design process end to end, from concept through engineering-ready handoff. The pace is fast and iterative, with prototyping and validation happening continuously. It's work that ships and matters — designs that help scientists reach answers sooner, with real potential to grow into a long-term engagement.

ABOUT OUR CLIENT

Our client is a leading scientific information and research technology organization serving scientists and researchers worldwide. Its products pair large, complex scientific databases with advanced search and discovery tools that experts depend on — users who value depth and precision, where the design challenge is clarity without oversimplification. The team is leaning into AI across both its products and its own design process, and values craft, creative problem-solving, and pragmatic delivery in complex, technical domains.

DAILY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Partner with product managers as a thought partner to define problems, shape product direction, and explore creative solution spaces beyond translating requirements.
• Turn complex scientific workflows into clear, user-centered designs that feel effortless for an expert audience — without stripping the power these users depend on.
• Own the design process end to end, from early concept and wireframes through polished, engineering-ready handoff.
• Work in fast, continuous loops where design, prototyping, and validation happen side by side.
• Generate multiple creative solution paths for complex workflows, pushing beyond obvious or incremental improvements.
• Build and maintain design systems that keep products consistent and the team moving quickly.
• Initiate user research and translate insights into design decisions that measurably improve the experience.
• Champion usability and accessibility, and stay current with UX trends, techniques, and technologies.

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• 3-5 years of UX design experience shaping software products from concept to launch.
• A degree in UX Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a biological-sciences field paired with significant design experience — or equivalent experience.
• Strong proficiency in Figma, with a portfolio that demonstrates design thinking, problem-solving, and craft.
• A track record of rapid prototyping to communicate and validate ideas, and comfort working in fast, iterative Agile teams.
• Experience building or contributing to design systems, including familiarity with design tokens and component libraries.
• Genuine enthusiasm for using AI tools across the design process — from research and ideation through rapid prototyping and design-to-code workflows.
• Solid understanding of user-centered design principles, usability, and accessibility standards (such as WCAG).
• Strong visual and interaction design skills, with an eye for detail and for making complex tools feel clear.
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, able to bring others along and make complex ideas clear to any audience.
• Demonstrated ability to think conceptually and creatively in complex or ambiguous domains, delivering high-quality work with speed and pragmatism.

NICE TO HAVE

• Experience designing for a scientific, life-sciences, or other expert, data-heavy audience.
• Experience with Storybook.

ADDITIONAL

• This is a hybrid role based in Columbus, OH; candidates must be able to work on-site as required. Employment is contingent on successfully completing a background check, drug screening, and signing a confidentiality agreement.

ABOUT US

Portfolio Creative is an award-winning specialized staffing and recruiting company providing talent in the digital, marketing, and creative industries. We work with clients in several states, and employ candidates in and outside of Ohio. Please note, we do not have the ability to work with candidates outside of the U.S.

Portfolio Creative is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to have a diverse and inclusive workforce and are committed to ensuring all employees are recruited, assigned, and employed on a nondiscriminatory basis.

Pay: From $45.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship?
• This is a hybrid role requiring regular onsite work in Columbus, OH. Are you based in Ohio, or close enough to be onsite in Columbus on a hybrid schedule?
• This role requires a background check, drug screening, and signing a confidentiality agreement prior to starting. Are you in agreement to complete these onboarding requirements?
• Briefly describe a complex, data-heavy, or technical product you've designed for an expert audience, and what made it challenging.

Experience:

• UX: 3 years (Required)
• Figma: 2 years (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Columbus, OH 43202