Associate Marketing Designer (College Grad 2027)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Marketing Designer (College Grad 2027)

Company: Solace

Location: Redwood City, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-25

Experience Level: 0-2 years (Entry Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop visually compelling and performance-driven marketing creative assets for paid channels, social media, websites, and email campaigns.

• Translate complex healthcare concepts into clear, engaging, and effective design solutions that resonate with target audiences.

• Execute high-quality graphic design and motion graphics, leveraging industry-standard tools to bring campaigns to life dynamically.

• Collaborate closely with performance, integrated, and lifecycle marketing teams to address design challenges and drive campaign success.

• Embrace a fast-paced, feedback-driven environment, taking full ownership from concept to execution, and iterating based on performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is specifically tailored for recent college graduates (Class of 2027) seeking to build a career in marketing design within a high-growth, mission-driven startup environment. The emphasis on "performance-driven design" and "iterating based on results" indicates a strong link to revenue operations and marketing operations, where design directly impacts campaign effectiveness and ROI.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce high-performing graphic design assets for a variety of marketing initiatives, including social media posts, paid advertisements, landing pages, email campaigns, and print collateral.

• Create engaging motion graphics and animated content for digital platforms, leveraging tools like After Effects, Lottie, or similar to enhance campaign impact.

• Partner with marketing teams to understand campaign objectives, target audiences, and key messaging, translating these into visually impactful creative solutions.

• Maintain and evolve the Solace brand identity across all marketing touchpoints, ensuring consistency and visual appeal.

• Actively participate in A/B testing of creative assets, analyzing performance data to inform design iterations and optimize future campaign effectiveness.

• Take ownership of design projects from brief to final delivery, managing timelines and ensuring all details are meticulously executed.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of design processes and workflows within the marketing team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a direct connection to marketing operations and GTM strategy by emphasizing "high-performing creative," "performance-driven design," and "iterating based on results." This suggests the design output will be heavily scrutinized for its impact on key marketing metrics.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: 0-2 years of experience in graphic design, with a focus on marketing or digital media. This is an entry-level role for recent graduates.

Required Skills:

• Strong foundation in graphic design principles, including typography, color theory, composition, and layout.

• Exceptional proficiency in design software, with a mandatory requirement for fluency in Figma.

• Demonstrated ability to create high-quality graphic design assets for digital marketing channels.

• An intuitive understanding of what resonates in consumer-facing paid marketing campaigns.

• Strong visual communication skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into simple, effective designs.

• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, enabling effective partnership with marketing teams.

• A proactive and autonomous work style, with a strong bias toward action and execution.

• Comfort with ambiguity and a willingness to embrace feedback for continuous improvement.

• Online portfolio showcasing a range of high-quality design work, particularly in marketing contexts. Preferred Skills:

• Experience or strong aptitude in creating motion graphics and animated content using tools such as After Effects, Lottie, or similar.

• Familiarity with performance marketing metrics and how design impacts campaign outcomes.

• Understanding of brand consistency and its importance across various marketing channels.

• Experience working in a startup environment or a fast-paced, dynamic setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma proficiency and the optional but strong preference for motion graphics tools like After Effects and Lottie indicate a need for technically adept designers who can produce dynamic, modern marketing assets. The requirement for an online portfolio is critical for assessing design craft and relevant experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated online portfolio demonstrating a range of design projects, with a clear emphasis on marketing and paid media creative.

• Case studies or project examples that showcase the applicant's ability to translate complex ideas into compelling visual narratives.

• Visuals that highlight strong typography, color application, composition, and overall design craft.

• Examples of how design was used to achieve specific marketing objectives or drive engagement.

• If motion graphics experience is present, include examples of animated content or video. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a formal requirement for this entry-level role, candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, including:

  • How they approach creative briefs and understand project requirements.

  • Their methods for ideation and concept development.

  • How they incorporate feedback and iterate on designs.

  • Their workflow for preparing final assets for various channels.

  • Their understanding of brand guidelines and how they maintain consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an Associate Marketing Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing pretty pictures, but demonstrating an understanding of how design serves marketing objectives. Candidates should be ready to articulate their thought process behind their portfolio pieces, especially how their designs aim to achieve specific performance goals.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the entry-level nature of this role, the location in the high-cost Bay Area, and the startup environment, a competitive salary range for an Associate Marketing Designer in Redwood City, California, would likely fall between $65,000 to $85,000 per year. This estimate is based on current market data for similar roles in the San Francisco Bay Area, considering the required skills in Figma and motion graphics, and factoring in the company's Series C funding status and valuation.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Stock Options: Potential for equity in a rapidly growing Series C startup.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) with potential company match.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and attending industry conferences.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility with 3 days in the Redwood City office and 2 days remote.

• Mission-Driven Work: Opportunity to contribute to a company focused on improving healthcare accessibility and literacy.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid, the fast-paced startup environment may occasionally require extended hours to meet project deadlines, especially in the lead-up to campaign launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate for an entry-level marketing design role in a high-cost-of-living area like Redwood City. The benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for Series C startups in the tech and healthcare sectors, emphasizing growth potential and employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Healthcare Technology (HealthTech), focused on patient advocacy and healthcare navigation. Solace aims to simplify the complex U.S. healthcare system.

Company Size: Series C startup, indicating a significant stage of growth with a lean, mission-driven, and rapidly expanding U.S.-based team. This size suggests a dynamic and potentially agile work environment.

Founded: 2022, making it a relatively young company but one that has achieved rapid scaling and significant funding rounds.

Team Structure:

• The marketing team likely comprises specialists in performance marketing, integrated marketing, and lifecycle marketing, with the designer collaborating closely with these functions.

• Given the startup nature, cross-functional collaboration is expected to be high, with designers potentially interacting with product, engineering, and advocacy teams.

• Reporting likely goes up through a Marketing Manager or Director, with direct collaboration with marketing campaign managers. Methodology:

• Solace emphasizes a "performance-driven" approach to marketing, suggesting data analysis and iteration are key to their strategy.

• The company culture values urgency, precision, heart, and a drive to do the "best work of your life."

• Expect a culture that embraces feedback, moves quickly from concept to execution, and fosters autonomy.

Company Website: https://www.solace.health/

📝 Enhancement Note: Solace operates in a high-impact sector (healthcare) with a mission to solve a critical societal problem. This mission-driven aspect is likely a core component of their culture, attracting individuals passionate about making a difference. The "intense" and "fast-paced" culture implies a demanding but rewarding environment for ambitious professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level Associate Marketing Designer position, designed for individuals at the beginning of their career in marketing design. It offers a foundational experience in a high-growth startup, focusing on developing core design skills within a performance-oriented marketing context.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Marketing Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager or Creative Lead, working closely with various marketing specialists (performance, integrated, lifecycle). This structure allows for direct mentorship and exposure to different facets of marketing operations.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role, the design output directly impacts marketing operations by influencing campaign performance, conversion rates, and user engagement. The effectiveness of marketing creative is a critical component of overall GTM strategy and revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Develop deep expertise in digital marketing design, motion graphics, and potentially user interface (UI) design for marketing assets.

• Performance Marketing Acumen: Gain hands-on experience in understanding how design impacts key performance indicators (KPIs) such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and customer acquisition cost (CAC).

• Brand Stewardship: Grow into a role responsible for evolving and maintaining brand consistency across all marketing efforts.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and growth, opportunities may arise to lead design projects, mentor junior designers, or move into a Senior Marketing Designer or Art Director role.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Develop a broad understanding of marketing strategy, campaign execution, and the interplay between design and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory emphasizes building expertise in design specifically for performance marketing. This is a key differentiator for operations-minded candidates, as it links creative output directly to measurable business outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "in person" for 3 days a week at their Redwood City office, indicating a hybrid work model with a strong emphasis on in-office collaboration.

Office Location(s): Redwood City, California, United States. This is a prime location within the San Francisco Bay Area, offering access to a vibrant tech ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model suggests opportunities for in-person brainstorming, feedback sessions, and team building with colleagues.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to modern design software and hardware necessary for high-quality creative production, with a strong emphasis on Figma.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with marketing teams will be integral to the role, fostering a dynamic and communicative work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid schedule allows for focused workdays in the office and remote flexibility. While core hours are standard, the startup environment may require flexibility to meet critical deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is designed to balance the benefits of in-office collaboration and team cohesion with the flexibility of remote work, which is common in the tech industry. This setup is ideal for fostering creativity and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and online portfolio to assess qualifications and design aesthetic.

• Skills Assessment/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into your portfolio, potentially with a live review session. You may be asked to discuss your design process, rationale behind specific projects, and how your work aligns with performance marketing goals.

• Design Challenge: A practical exercise to evaluate your design skills, speed, and ability to translate a brief into creative assets. This might involve creating a specific ad or social media graphic.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interviews: Discussions to assess cultural fit, collaboration skills, communication style, and understanding of the role's responsibilities. You'll likely discuss your motivation for joining Solace and your career aspirations.

• Final Round: Potentially a meeting with senior leadership to discuss your fit with the company's mission and vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills for marketing design and performance creative. Prioritize pieces that show a clear understanding of client goals or campaign objectives.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly outline the brief, your role, your thought process, challenges encountered, and the outcome or impact.

• Highlight Performance: If possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs. For example, "This ad campaign achieved a 2x higher CTR than the previous iteration."

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly shows your expertise in Figma. If you have motion graphics experience, include examples of After Effects or Lottie work.

• Brand Consistency: If you have examples of maintaining brand guidelines across multiple assets, highlight this.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully read and re-read any design challenge prompt. Ask clarifying questions if needed.

• Focus on Solace's Brand: Review Solace's existing marketing materials and website to understand their visual identity and tone.

• Prioritize Speed & Quality: Balance the need for a well-executed design with the time constraints. Focus on delivering a strong concept and execution rather than perfection.

• Prepare to Explain Your Choices: Be ready to articulate why you made specific design decisions, linking them back to the brief and potential performance impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and a potential design challenge indicates that practical skills and demonstrated ability are highly valued. Candidates should prepare to "show, not just tell" their capabilities, with a clear focus on how their design work contributes to marketing success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory for all graphic design and prototyping tasks. Proficiency is essential.

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: For image editing and manipulation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics and logo work.
  • After Effects: Highly preferred for motion graphics and animation creation.

• Lottie: Preferred for optimizing animations for web and mobile.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly using these tools, understanding data from platforms like Google Analytics, Meta Ads Manager, and email marketing platforms will be crucial to inform design decisions and iterate on creative performance. The designer will need to be able to interpret basic reports on creative effectiveness. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM interaction is expected, but understanding how marketing assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms and CRM campaigns is beneficial for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma as "mandatory" and the strong preference for After Effects/Lottie highlight the technical skills required. Understanding how design assets function within the broader marketing technology stack and contribute to measurable outcomes is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A deep commitment to improving healthcare and helping patients navigate complex systems.

• Urgency & Precision: A fast-paced environment where accuracy and timely delivery are paramount.

• Heart & Empathy: A focus on understanding and supporting patients, which should translate into thoughtful design.

• High Standards: A culture that pushes individuals to do their "best work" and strives for excellence in all outputs.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take responsibility for their work and drive projects forward independently.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Close working relationships with performance, integrated, and lifecycle marketing teams are essential for success.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open culture where constructive feedback is regularly given and received to drive improvement.

• Iterative Approach: A willingness to test, learn, and adapt designs based on performance data and market response.

• Agile & Responsive: The ability to adapt quickly to changing campaign needs and market dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Solace is described as intense, ambitious, and mission-focused. The values emphasize both high performance and a genuine desire to help people, suggesting a team that is driven, collaborative, and cares about the impact of their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Translating Complexity: The primary challenge will be simplifying intricate healthcare concepts into accessible and visually appealing marketing materials.

• Balancing Creativity and Performance: Striking the right balance between aesthetic appeal and driving measurable marketing results (e.g., high CTR, conversion rates).

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to rapid iteration cycles, tight deadlines, and evolving campaign requirements common in a startup.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand experience across a wide range of marketing channels and asset types.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Performance Creative: Gaining in-depth knowledge of what makes marketing creative effective in driving business outcomes.

• Motion Graphics Expertise: Developing advanced skills in animation and motion design for digital marketing.

• Industry Insights: Learning about the healthcare industry and the unique challenges and opportunities within patient advocacy.

• Career Advancement: Progressing from an Associate role to a full Marketing Designer, Senior Designer, or Art Director position within Solace.

• Exposure to Growth Strategies: Understanding how marketing design contributes directly to a company's growth and revenue targets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth. Successfully navigating them will equip the designer with highly valuable skills in performance marketing and creative strategy, which are critical in today's marketing landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a complex healthcare concept and translating it into a simple, effective marketing visual." (Focus on your ideation, simplification, and execution steps.)

• "How do you balance creative vision with the need for performance-driven results in marketing design?" (Discuss how you use data and feedback to inform your creative choices.)

• "Walk us through a project in your portfolio where you had to iterate significantly on a design based on feedback or performance data." (Highlight your adaptability and learning process.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Solace and our mission to improve healthcare?" (Connect your personal values and career goals to the company's mission.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Emphasize your openness to feedback and commitment to improvement.)

• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with marketing teams." (Showcase your understanding of teamwork and your preferred working style.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with Impact: Begin with your strongest, most relevant projects that align with Solace's needs (performance marketing, clear communication).

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the problem, your solution (design process), and the outcome (results, learnings).

• Highlight Figma & Motion: Explicitly point out your proficiency with Figma and any motion graphics work, explaining its purpose and impact.

• Quantify Success: If possible, use numbers and data to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Engage and Ask Questions: Be prepared to answer questions about your work and ask thoughtful questions about the team, role, and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for not just design talent, but also an understanding of how design serves business objectives, a collaborative spirit, and a passion for Solace's mission. Be prepared to articulate your design process and its impact on marketing performance.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your online portfolio to highlight projects most relevant to performance marketing, digital advertising, and clear communication of complex ideas. Emphasize your Figma skills.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your degree, graduation year (Class of 2027), relevant design skills (Figma, Adobe Suite, motion graphics if applicable), and any internship or project experience that showcases your design capabilities.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, your understanding of performance marketing, and your enthusiasm for Solace's mission during interviews.

• Research Solace: Familiarize yourself with Solace's website, recent news (like their Bloomberg announcement), and their current marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their brand and goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.