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Product Design Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Manager of Product Design For more than 60 years, hand2mind has inspired learning through play by creating hands-on, classroom-tested materials that help children learn by doing. We're a growing ...

Atlanta, Georgia Senior Manager of Product Design As the Senior Manager of Product Design, you will lead key Meltwater applications through a distributed design team. Your role involves guiding ...

Manager of Product Design For more than 60 years, hand2mind has inspired learning through play by creating hands-on, classroom-tested materials that help children learn by doing. We're a growing ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Design Manager

Westmont, IL · On-site

$130K - $167K/yr

Onsite Overview The IS Design Manager is responsible for the design production throughout the life cycle of a project from development handoff to construction closeout. This position ensures that the ...

Product Design Engineer

Lisle, IL · On-site

$85K - $110K/yr

... manage risks, accurately quote design, and systematically solve problems. What You Will Do * Be a ... Develop product and application specifications documents for testing that meet our customer ...

Develops new product designs and manages product extensions focused on our High Power connector ... Performs design verification activities to ensure that design meets the specification requirements.

In this role as Design Manager within Retail Design & Construction, you'll leverage your extensive ... Collaborate with various consultants and product vendors to develop design solutions that meet ...

In this role as Design Manager within Retail Design & Construction, you'll leverage your extensive ... Collaborate with various consultants and product vendors to develop design solutions that meet ...

Design Manager

Lincolnshire, IL · On-site

$111.10 - $170.30/hr

We're looking for a Design Manager to help our business deliver high-quality, on-brand work that ... UI/UX experience across web and digital product.Integrating AI tools into design or creative ...

Design Manager

Lincolnshire, IL · Hybrid

$111K - $170K/yr

We're looking for a Design Manager to help our business deliver high-quality, on-brand work that ... After Effects and WordPress experience. * UI/UX experience across web and digital product.

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Showing results 1-20

Product Design Manager information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$90.7K

$195.4K

How much do product design manager jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 5, 2026, the average yearly pay for product design manager in Chicago, IL is $190,042.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $194,900.00 and $194,900.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a product design manager do?

A Product Design Manager leads and oversees a team of designers responsible for creating the visual and functional aspects of a product. They collaborate with cross-functional teams, such as engineering and product management, to ensure the product meets user needs and business goals. Their role includes mentoring designers, setting design standards, and ensuring projects are delivered on time and within scope. Product Design Managers play a key role in shaping the user experience and maintaining consistency across all product interfaces.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a product design manager?

To thrive as a Product Design Manager, you need expertise in user-centered design, design strategy, and a background in design or related fields, often supported by a relevant degree and leadership experience. Familiarity with design tools like Figma, Sketch, and Adobe Creative Suite, as well as project management systems such as Jira or Asana, is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and collaboration skills set outstanding managers apart in fostering creativity and guiding teams. These abilities are crucial for delivering innovative products, aligning teams with business goals, and ensuring seamless workflows.

How does a product design manager balance leading a design team with collaborating across departments?

As a Product Design Manager, you’ll often split your time between mentoring and guiding your design team and working closely with cross-functional partners such as engineering, product management, and marketing. This role requires excellent communication and organizational skills to align your team’s creative vision with overall business goals. You’ll facilitate regular check-ins, provide feedback, and help resolve blockers for your designers, while also participating in strategic meetings to ensure that design considerations are integrated early in the product development process. Successfully managing these responsibilities can lead to greater influence within the organization and pave the way for advancement into senior leadership roles.

What is a product design manager?

A product design manager oversees the development and execution of product designs, leading design teams to create user-centered solutions. They coordinate with cross-functional teams, ensure design quality, and often use tools like Sketch or Figma, while requiring strong leadership and communication skills.

What are the most commonly searched types of Product Design jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Product Design jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What job categories do people searching Product Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Product Design Manager jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Product Design Manager jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Product Design Manager job openings:

Infographic showing various Product Design Manager job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, 8% Part Time, and 8% Contract. Highlights an 92% In-person, and 8% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $190,042 per year, or $91.4 per hour.

Manager of Product Design

A. Daigger

Vernon Hills, IL • Hybrid

$125K - $132K/yr

Full-time

Retirement

This job post has expired today. Applications are no longer accepted.


Job description

Manager of Product Design

For more than 60 years, hand2mind has inspired learning through play by creating hands-on, classroom-tested materials that help children learn by doing. We're a growing, family-owned company recognized as a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace and trusted by teachers and families alike. We create a wide range of educational products—classroom tools like Hands-on Standards®, consumer products for NumberBlocks®, and innovative items like our new BubblePlushTM Yoga Balls. If you're curious, collaborative, and a kid at heart, you'll feel right at home here. Join us in shaping the future of learning with our award-winning team!

Position Description:

As Manager of Product Design on hand2mind's Design team, you will be responsible for bringing products to life. The Manager of Product Design will manage a team of industrial designers and oversee the entire product design process. This includes setting high standards for industrial design and safety standards; tracking budgets; planning resources effectively; and working cross-functionally with the Product Development and Marketing teams.

What you'll do day to day:

  • Manage and coach a team of Industrial Designers to foster creativity and ensure new products are developed within budget
  • Oversee the industrial design process, encouraging innovative brainstorming, sketches, mockups, 3D CAD, and renderings
  • Balance workload among the team and freelancers, adapting to the business's evolving needs throughout the year
  • Collaborate with Product Development, Marketing, and Sales to shape go-to-market strategies
  • Manage or support product revamps as needed throughout the year
  • Participate as an integral part of the Product Development Leadership Team, demonstrating flexibility to take on projects as needed

What we're looking for (Key Performance Objectives):

  • Develop fluency of project management workflow in Monday.com within 3 months
  • Within in the first 90 days, assess current design projects and establish a prioritization based on company goals and key deliverables.
  • Oversee and contribute to industrial design of 25-40 new products within the first 12 months.
  • Within the first 6 months, audit the design process and propose initiatives to integrate more continuous improvement and testing.
  • Act as a primary liaison with other departments (such as Product Development, Marketing, and Sales), setting up check-ins and collaborative sessions as needed. Continually develop management skills, attending 3-5 training sessions per year.

Requirements/Preferences :

  • BS/BA in Industrial Design, Toy Design or equivalent
  • 8-10 years of consumer product development experience in the toy and game industry
  • Excellent sketching, rendering, and graphic design skills
  • Able to meet multiple, challenging deadlines and work within budgets
  • Excellent at solving problems creatively and/or knowing when to seek help
  • Proficient in Adobe Creative suite, specifically Illustrator and Photoshop
  • Proficient in 3D CAD (Rhinoceros preferred), KeyShot and 3D printing
  • Intimately familiar with plastic materials and general manufacturing process
  • Able to effectively communicate with key stakeholders including colleagues, executive team, vendors, and customers
  • Portfolio demonstrating innovative thinking with on-trend designs in consumer products, preferably with some toy design
  • Travel to tradeshows 1-2 times per year
  • Travel to China up to 1 time per year

We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.

Compensation Range: $125,000 – $132,000 annual salary – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set and location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here).