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KODE Product OS

Design

Four levels describe how a designer's craft, scope and influence grow over time.

Designers at KODE shape how our products look, work and read. They design in the browser as much as in design tools, and work directly in our Rails codebase alongside engineers.

  • Every designer's work gets reviewed, at every level. Design critique spreads ideas the same way code review does.
  • Designers run point on a project's design, working with the project lead and engineers. Leading a project is an assignment, not a level.
  • Lead and Principal designers don't need direct reports. They need high influence across the organization.
  • Design levels start at L2. Level numbers mean the same scope in every job family, so a Senior Designer and a Senior Engineer are both L3.

The levels

  1. L2 · Designer

    Designs and ships small projects alongside an engineer, with light guidance.

  2. L3 · Senior Designer

    Leads the design of projects end to end and helps other designers grow.

  3. L4 · Lead Designer

    Invents new experiences and raises the bar for design across the product.

  4. L5 · Principal Designer

    Shapes how KODE's products look, feel and read for years to come.