From Brand to Product Design: The Resources That Actually Helped

If you’ve ever worked in brand or marketing design and found yourself asking, “Could I do product design?” the answer is probably yes. I made the jump at the beginning of this year, and while it’s been exciting, it’s also been a little overwhelming (new tools, new team dynamics, new ways of thinking about design).

But here’s the thing: you’re not starting from scratch. You already know how to tell stories, guide users, build trust, and make things feel clear and beautiful. Product design just adds a few new layers to that.

These are the resources that helped me bridge the gap. No fluff. Just the ones that actually made a difference.

Books I’d Recommend to Anyone Making the Shift

Universal Principles of Design

This book is like a cheat sheet for understanding what makes good design work no matter the medium. It breaks down clear principles (like why people notice one thing over another, or why layout matters more than you think) and shows real-world examples. It’s the kind of book you’ll flip through a dozen times when you’re stuck or trying to explain your design decisions to someone else. You can find it on Amazon.

Laws of UX

Short, visual, and straight to the point. This one connects human behavior to how we interact with digital products. It helped me be more intentional about why I was placing buttons a certain way or designing flows in a specific order. Great for folks coming from brand design who want to get better at thinking through user actions, not just user attention. Also available on Amazon.

Org Design for Design Orgs

If you’re stepping into (or aiming for) a leadership role in product or design, this is essential. It helped me understand how design orgs SHOULD work, what kind of support designers need, how to grow a team, and how to structure things in a way that makes sense. I kept finding myself underlining stuff and feeling validated in processes and decisions I've made so far in my career as a Creative Director. And you guessed it, you can find it on Amazon.

Courses + Certifications That Were Actually Worth My Time

Advanced Figma Certification by Dive Club

Figma Certification – Dive Club
If you already know Figma but want to feel like you actually KNOW it, this course is gold. It covers everything from components and auto layout to efficient workflows and design systems. It’s also one of the few certifications where you can’t just coast, you actually have to pass a test. I learned a lot, and it’s made collaboration with dev teams smoother too.

UX & Website Design – Digital Marketing Institute

UX & Web Design – Digital Marketing Institute
This one’s great if you're coming from the marketing world. It gave me more ideas into how I think about user journeys, website architecture, and why certain design choices make people stay (or leave). I liked that it was simple and practical without assuming you already live in product land.

Podcasts That Kept Me Inspired and Learning (and LOLing sometimes)

UX Podcast

Listen on Spotify
Hosted by two designers who talk about UX in a way that feels approachable and thoughtful. They dive into everything from accessibility and research to ethics and future trends. Easy to listen to and full of ideas that had me pausing it to jot down a note in my phone to explore and build upon later.

Better Product

Listen on Spotify
This one leans more into the product side of the house. If you’re curious about how design fits into product strategy or how teams launch and scale things, this is for you. The interviews are always solid, they're honest, helpful, and grounded in real experiences.

So, if you’re thinking about switching...

You don’t need to wait for the opportunity to present itself. You don’t need to have it all figured out before you start. And you definitely don’t need to pretend you’ve been doing product design your whole career. If you’re curious, thoughtful, and already solving creative problems, you’ll be just fine. Start learning, ask lots of questions, and don’t be afraid to show your work.