product owner vs. Product Designer: What Are the Differences?

In the business world, there are many different types of jobs that fall under the umbrella of product development. Two common positions are that of a product owner and a product designer. Though both roles are important in the development process, there are several key differences between them.

In this article, we discuss the differences between a product owner and a product designer, and we provide additional information about other jobs in product development.

What is a Product Owner?

The product owner is responsible for the product vision and strategy and works with the development team to ensure that features are being built to meet the needs of the users. The product owner is the voice of the customer and represents their interests to the development team. They are responsible for maintaining the product backlog and ensuring that it is prioritized so that the development team is always working on the most important features. The product owner also works with stakeholders to get feedback on the product and ensure that it is meeting their needs.

What is a Product Designer?

Product Designers collaborate with a team of engineers, researchers, and marketing professionals to design and develop products that people use every day. They work on everything from small electronics to large appliances and even vehicles. The goal of a Product Designer is to create products that are not only functional and easy to use, but also aesthetically pleasing. They research and analyze trends, generate ideas, create prototypes, and test products to ensure they meet all safety and quality standards.

Product Owner vs. Product Designer

Here are the main differences between a product owner and a product designer.

Job Duties

Product owners and product designers share some of their job duties. These shared duties include researching customer needs, brainstorming ideas for new products and evaluating existing products to determine ways they can be improved. Another duty that product owners and product designers often share is communicating with different teams within their companies. This typically includes interacting with engineers, developers and other professionals who work on the product they’re developing.

Product owners and product designers also have responsibilities that are unique to their role. For example, product owners are responsible for deciding which features an engineer and developer build into a product. Product designers are responsible for creating prototypes of these features so that they can test them and get feedback from customers.

Job Requirements

Product owners and product designers typically need a bachelor’s degree in business administration, marketing or another related field. Some employers prefer candidates to have a master’s degree as well, but it is not required for entry-level positions. Additionally, many product owners and product designers pursue certifications through the Product Management Institute (PMI) or the Association of International Product Marketing and Management (AIPMM). These organizations offer training programs that teach professionals how to use product management software and other tools they might need on the job.

Work Environment

Product owners and product designers typically work in different environments. Product owners often work in an office setting, where they collaborate with other team members to create a successful product. They may also travel to meet with clients or attend conferences related to their industry.

Product designers usually work in an office environment as well, but they may spend more time working independently than product owners do. This is because product designers are responsible for creating the visual aspects of products, such as logos, packaging and advertisements.

Skills

There are several similarities between the skills needed for a product owner and a product designer. Both roles require excellent communication skills to be able to explain their ideas clearly to colleagues, managers and clients. They also both need strong problem-solving skills to be able to identify issues with products and come up with creative solutions.

There are also several differences between the skills needed for these two roles. A product owner needs to have strong project management skills to be able to keep track of deadlines, budget and progress on a project. A product designer does not necessarily need these skills, as they may be working under the supervision of a project manager. A product designer also needs to have strong visual design skills to be able to create prototypes and mockups of their product ideas.

Salary

Product owners can earn an average salary of $108,042 per year, while product designers can earn an average salary of $87,538 per year. Both of these average salaries may vary depending on the size of the company at which you work, location of your job and the level of experience you have prior to pursuing either position.