First Product Designer at CardNexus – California

About CardNexusCardNexus, is building the ultimate platform for the Trading Card Game (TCG) community. Designed for players, collectors, investors, and game stores, we simplify collection management, provide real-time market insights, and streamline trading through smart matching technology. Our all-in-one solution bridges the gaps between fragmented tools and outdated systems, enabling users to value, trade, and grow their collections efficiently.
Founded in 2024 by a team of repeat entrepreneurs and lifelong TCG enthusiasts, CardNexus brings together deep expertise in technology, product design, and competitive trading card games. We’re on a mission to redefine how millions of TCG fans engage with their collections—from streamlining inventory to optimizing trades and building a thriving community.
If you’re passionate about TCGs and want to shape the future of the industry, we’d love to have you on board!
Role OverviewAs First Product Designer at CardNexus, you will drive the design, UX, and visual identity of our platform. Working directly with our Founder & CPO, you will be responsible for building a seamless and engaging product that captivates TCG players, collectors, and investors.You will collaborate closely with engineering, marketing and growth to craft a colorful, fun, and gamified experience that feels playful yet powerful. Beyond aesthetics, you’ll be thinking about user acquisition, engagement loops, and how design can help grow our user base.This is a high-ownership role in which you’ll not only design screens but also help define how CardNexus grows and evolves.
What You’ll Do

• Define & Execute the Product Design Vision – Own the end-to-end design process, from user research and wireframing to final UI and polished interactions.
• Shape a Fun, Engaging, and Playful UX – Design interfaces that feel exciting, intuitive, and interactive, leveraging gamification techniques to drive user engagement.
• Create a Scalable Design System – Develop a flexible and visually compelling design system that allows for rapid iteration.
• Work in the Heart of the Startup Chaos – Adapt quickly to pivots, changing priorities, and fast decision-making without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Design for User Growth & Retention – Implement UX strategies that encourage virality, social engagement, and stickiness in a TCG-focused community.
• Test, Learn, and Iterate Rapidly – Move fast, A/B test, gather qualitative and quantitative insights, and refine experiences based on real user behavior.
• Make Data-Driven Design Decisions – Leverage analytics to continuously optimize onboarding, engagement, and conversion flows.
• Engage with the TCG Community – Be actively involved in user conversations on social media, Discord, and forums. Answer questions, collect feedback, and run surveys, polls, and interactive games to better understand our audience and create experiences that truly resonate with them.

What You BringCore Skills & Experience:✅ 8-10+ years of experience in product design, UX/UI, or interaction design, with at least one role in an early-stage startup.✅ English communication skills—you can articulate ideas, design concepts, and feedback to an international, remote-first team.✅ Experience working on B2C digital products, preferably with consumer marketplaces, gaming, or social platforms, or inventory management tool.✅ Strong ability to design for engagement—understanding gamification, habit-forming UX, and playful design approaches.✅ A highly adaptable mindset—you thrive in fast-moving environments where priorities shift and are comfortable working without strict processes.✅ No ego when things change—you embrace feedback, pivot when needed, and don’t get stuck on a single solution.✅ Strong cross-functional collaboration skills—experience working closely with developers, product managers, and marketing teams.
Bonus Points:⭐ Experience in gamification, social engagement mechanics, or community-driven products.⭐ A passion for gaming, trading card games, and geek culture—you understand our users because you are one of them.⭐ A portfolio that showcases colorful, engaging, and high-quality UI/UX work (extra points for gaming, collectibles, or marketplace products).
What We Offer🎯 Fully Remote Work – Work from anywhere, with flexible hours that fit your lifestyle.🚀 Early-Stage Equity – Be a core part of the founding team and share in our success.🎮 Work on What You Love – Help shape the future of the $15B TCG market with a team that’s as passionate about TCGs as you are.🔧 Build From the Ground Up – Define the design culture and vision in a role with high autonomy and impact.📈 Career Growth – Lead design in a growing startup, with the opportunity to build and scale a team.