313: Building relationships with PM's & Product Marketers

313: Building relationships with PM's & Product Marketers

Author: Charli Prangley, Femke Van Schoonhoven June 30, 2025 Duration: 30:26

Thank you to our sponsor, Framer. Ready to build a site that looks hand-coded—without hiring a developer? Start free today at framer.link/femke

Femke and Charli delve into the relationship between a designer and a product manager, exploring perspectives on role responsibilities, skill overlaps, relationship-building advice and distinctions between product marketing and brand design roles.

Timestamps: 

01:27 Episode starts

02:22 Framer sponsorship

04:00 Typical relationship between a designer and a PM — what it looks like from Fem’s perspective.

05:26 Is it the PM's responsibility to set the direction of the role, meaning: defining the problem to solve, outlining potential solutions? And then, is it the designer's role to present what they believe is the best solution?

06:55 Is it fair to say that there's a significant overlap in the skill sets of a product manager and a UX designer?

11:55 What advice would you give for building a strong relationship? How can designers foster a good partnership with PMs?

13:47 What are the key differences between a product marketing manager and a brand designer or marketing designer? Specifically, on the product design side.

17:57 Regarding briefs from product marketers — how solution-oriented are they? Are they more focused on campaign goals, or do they also include specific design solutions?

19:58 Since you work in a decentralized manner from the product or feature teams, do product marketers coordinate among themselves? What happens if two campaigns conflict or need to be run simultaneously? How does Charli handle such situations?

22:57 How do you collaborate with a product marketing manager as a UX designer?

 

Links: 

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Femke's new community

Femke’s course “Product strategy for designers”

Share your topic suggestions for the show with us at hello@designlife.fm


Hosted by designers Charli Prangley and Femke Van Schoonhoven, Design Life feels like eavesdropping on a candid conversation between two friends who genuinely understand the hustle. This podcast digs into the reality of a creative career, moving beyond portfolio tips to discuss the actual challenges of making a living from your ideas. Each episode stems from their own experiences as serial side-project addicts, covering everything from navigating client negotiations and pricing your work to pushing through creative blocks and finding time for personal work. You’ll hear them dissect the intersection of design, business, and technology with a relatable, grounded perspective. The discussion they foster is particularly valuable for young creatives seeking honest advice and a sense of community, all delivered through the lens of two practitioners in the field. Tune in for a blend of practical strategy and personal reflection that focuses on building a sustainable and fulfilling design practice.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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