Product Designer vs. Product Manager: What’s the Difference?

The main difference between Product Designer and Product Manager is that designers focus on creating how a product looks and feels, while managers oversee the overall product strategy and development.

Before we move to more differences, let’s first understand Product Designer and Product Manager:

  • Product Designer: A Product Designer creates how things look and work, like toys or apps. They think about what people want and make it easy to use. They draw pictures and make models to show how things will be made.
  • Product Manager: A Product Manager makes sure a product is made the right way. They plan, organize, and talk to different people to make sure everything goes smoothly. They help the team make good decisions.

Now, let’s get to Product Designer vs Product Manager:

Major differences between Product Designer and Product Manager

Product Designer Product Manager
Product Designers focus on creating user-friendly interfaces and experiences for products. Product Managers concentrate on defining the product strategy and roadmap.
Product Designers are more involved in the visual and interactive aspects of a product. Product Managers are responsible for the overall success and market performance of the product.
Product Designers work closely with UX/UI design, prototyping, and testing. Product Managers collaborate with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and customers to align on product goals.
Product Designers prioritize user needs and design aesthetics. Product Managers prioritize business objectives and market demands.
Product Designers typically use design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD. Product Managers use tools like Jira, Trello, or Asana for project management and communication.

So, these are the main differences between the entities.

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