Product designer (PD) vs. product manager (PM): What’s the difference?

The roles of product manager and product designer are crucial yet distinct within the product development lifecycle. A product manager primarily oversees the product strategy, which involves establishing the product vision, conducting market research, and ensuring organizational alignment with business objectives. In contrast, the product designer focuses on creating a user-friendly product experience, from wireframes and mockups to usability testing, ensuring the product is intuitive and meets user needs. Both roles significantly contribute to the product discovery phase, where they collaborate to align user problems with business goals and define a minimum viable product (MVP). Despite their distinct focuses, the success of a product relies on the seamless collaboration between product managers and product designers, as both perspectives are necessary to effectively connect user needs with business objectives, ultimately leading to a well-rounded, successful product.