Why every product designer should channel their inner PM

So far in my design journey, I’ve had the chance to work with three fast-growing, impact-driven startups. It’s been a wild ride—from designing splash screens at 3AM to shipping MVPs in record time. But beyond all the pixels, prototypes, and post-its, I learned something that completely changed the way I design:

Designers who make product decisions are 10x more valuable.

Yes, solving design problems is our job. But understanding why we’re solving them and how those solutions impact the product? That’s where the magic is.

Product managers = Coaches, not controllers

Let’s be real, PMs have tough jobs. They’re the team GPS, guiding everyone toward launch while juggling stakeholder meetings, timelines, scope creep, and the occasional existential crisis.
But here’s a hot take:
PMs don’t build the product. They don’t write the code. They don’t create the interface.
What they do build is alignment.

They’re like great sports coaches:

• They know who’s best for what role.

• They shuffle the lineup mid-match.

• They call the plays that win games.

• And they make sure every player feels supported and seen.

• They don't take the shot, but without them, the team has no game plan.

But here’s where designers step in...

If you’re a designer who’s only ever “waiting for briefs” or “polishing UI until it’s perfect”—you’re playing it way too safe.
Product Designers today are decision-makers.

We’re not just asked to design the user experience. We’re expected to understand:

• The business goals

• The tech feasibility

• The user pain points

• And how all of that connects

So here’s a bold idea:

Be your own product manager.
It doesn’t mean replacing the PM—it means supporting them and levelling up your own game.

6 ways designers can start thinking like PMs

1. Kickoff with team Planning

Before you even open Figma, start with alignment.
Gather your:

• Engineers

• Marketers

• QA

• Product folks

• Business stakeholders

Ask questions like:

• What are we really trying to solve?

• What are the user pain points?

• What’s the launch goal?

You’ll uncover insights that no design doc could’ve revealed.

2. Set deadlines that scare you (a Little)

Designers love “more time.” But guess what helps more?
A hard shipping date.
It forces you to prioritise what matters, avoid over-polishing, and build momentum across the team. The goal isn’t to rush—it’s to stay realistic and focused.
Remember: "Done is better than perfect." (Especially in version 1.0)

3. Work in sprints - Demo or die

My personal favourite: weekly design sprints.
One week. One goal. One demo.

This keeps you:

• Accountable

• Feedback-ready

• And iterating fast

Plus, it builds trust with your team. When they see progress, they stay invested.

4. Design for real life, not just case studies

Don’t stop at the “happy path.” Real users don’t follow perfect flows.

Design the:

• Error states

• Edge cases

• Offline states

• Empty states

• Slow loading scenarios

If you don’t think about them, guess who will? No one. (Until users start tweeting about it.)

5. Include engineers early (Not after you’ve fallen in love with the design)

One of the smartest moves you can make as a designer? Walk over to your dev before you get too attached to an idea.

They’ll tell you:

• What’s possible

• What’s complex

• And what could be built faster with small tweaks

Collaborate early and save everyone from future pain. Also: your engineers will love you for it.

6. Own the QA experience like a pixel perfectionist

Before you toss your design over the wall to QA, do your own sweep.

Check:

• Padding

• Spacing

• Interactions

• Performance

• Font rendering

Because users aren’t reading your Figma file—they’re experiencing the product.

Bonus: Speak the language of business

You want to grow fast as a designer?
Learn how to speak in outcomes, not just aesthetics.

Instead of:

“I redesigned the card UI.”

Try:

“I reduced the bounce rate on this page by making the CTA 2x more visible and removing friction in the flow.”

That’s what execs understand. That’s how you stand out.

Final thoughts:

You're More Than Just a Designer
Today’s best designers are multi-dimensional:

• Part artist

• Part builder

• Part strategist

• Part psychologist

• Part PM

The sooner you step into those shoes, the more valuable you become to your team—and the more impactful your work becomes.

So stop waiting for the PM to lead the way.
Ask the tough questions. Own the decisions. And design not just with polish—but with purpose.

Thanks for scrolling this far. Now go design like the product boss you are.
(And maybe send this to that one designer friend still stuck in the visual layer.)