Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Ambrook

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-18

Experience Level: Mid-level to Senior (4+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (with options for fully remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive brand narrative and visual identity across diverse physical and digital touchpoints, from websites and campaigns to unique merchandise and editorial content.

• Collaborate closely with the Creative Director and cross-functional teams (Marketing, Product Design) to evolve and advance the brand's expression.

• Build and maintain scalable design systems, including Figma libraries and Sanity components, to empower any Ambrook team member to produce on-brand work.

• Leverage AI tools, including custom Claude Skills, to automate routine design tasks, allowing for greater focus on strategic and creative work.

• Own the end-to-end execution of brand assets, whether by direct creation, directing contractors, or enabling teammates.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role operates within a fast-paced Series B startup environment focused on rebuilding financial infrastructure for American family-run businesses. The Brand Designer will play a pivotal role in shaping the company's visual identity and brand expression, with a strong emphasis on innovation and leveraging emerging technologies like AI. The hybrid work model allows for flexibility, with options for remote work supplemented by in-person collaboration.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Shape compelling brand narratives by translating project goals into impactful visual and written content, ensuring cohesive storytelling across all mediums.

• Bring abstract ideas to life through tangible prototypes, mockups, and physical samples, facilitating stakeholder buy-in and understanding.

• Execute a wide range of design projects, including website assets, email campaigns, editorial layouts, merchandise, event experiences, microsites, and in-product brand moments.

• Develop and maintain scalable design solutions, such as templates and Claude Skills, to enable efficient, on-brand content creation across the organization.

• Direct and manage external vendors including illustrators, photographers, printers, and fabricators, ensuring high-quality output that aligns with brand standards.

• Maintain and update brand systems, including Figma design libraries, Sanity CMS components, and comprehensive brand documentation, ensuring their continued utility and relevance.

• Actively contribute to brand evolution by collaborating with the Creative Director to mature and advance the brand's visual language and strategic positioning.

• Proactively identify opportunities to integrate AI tools into the design workflow, automating tasks and freeing up time for higher-impact creative and strategic initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a builder's mindset, requiring the designer to not only conceptualize but also to execute and operationalize design solutions. The expectation is to take ownership of projects from conception to completion, including directing others and building scalable systems. The role demands a proactive approach to problem-solving and a keen understanding of how to make abstract brand concepts tangible and accessible to a wider audience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is paramount.

Experience: 4+ years of professional experience in brand design, with a proven track record of creating impactful brand work across various mediums.

Required Skills:

• Craftsmanship & Detail Orientation: Exceptional attention to detail in typography, layout, whitespace, and overall aesthetic quality.

• Figma Proficiency: Mastery of Figma, including advanced features like auto layout, component-based design systems, and leveraging AI agents for workflow optimization (e.g., layer cleanup, animation).

• Cross-Media Execution: Proven experience designing for both physical (print production, merchandise, environmental graphics) and digital (web, email, social media) platforms.

• Builder Mentality: Ability to translate concepts into tangible deliverables, including working directly with CMS, code (e.g., Claude Code, Niteshift), or print vendors.

• AI Integration: Demonstrated experience building with or significantly leveraging AI tools in the design process, with specific examples of automation and its impact on productivity.

• Project Management: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, set deadlines, track milestones, and coordinate with vendors and internal teams (experience with tools like Linear is a plus).

• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and proficiency in gathering context, requirements, and data from various sources to define and propose effective solutions for ambiguous problems.

• Collaborative Spirit: Strong ability to work effectively across diverse teams and disciplines, understanding that brand touches all areas of the business.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design: Experience with motion graphics or familiarity with tools like Figma Motion or Jitter for creating animated assets.

• Sanity CMS Experience: Familiarity with content management systems, specifically Sanity, for implementing and managing web content.

• Art Direction: Experience directing illustrators, photographers, printers, and fabricators to achieve desired creative outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building" and leveraging AI tools suggests a forward-thinking company culture that values efficiency and innovation. Candidates are expected to not only be skilled designers but also proactive problem-solvers who can contribute to the operationalization of design. The "4+ years" experience level indicates a need for candidates who can operate with a high degree of autonomy and strategic input.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Craftsmanship: Showcase meticulous attention to detail in layout, typography, and visual hierarchy across various projects.

• Showcase Range: Include examples of both digital (websites, campaigns, email) and physical (print, merchandise) design work.

• Highlight System Building: Present case studies on the creation or significant contribution to design systems, Figma libraries, or brand style guides.

• Illustrate AI Integration: Detail specific instances where AI tools were used to automate tasks, enhance workflows, or generate novel creative outputs, explaining the impact.

• Evidence Project Ownership: Provide examples where you managed projects from conception to completion, including directing external resources or enabling internal teams.

• Problem-Solving Case Studies: Include projects that demonstrate your ability to navigate ambiguity, gather requirements, and develop innovative solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization: Showcase how you've streamlined design processes, perhaps through templating, automation, or improved collaboration methods.

• System Implementation: Detail the process of creating, documenting, and maintaining design systems and component libraries for ongoing use.

• Vendor Management: Illustrate your process for briefing, managing, and evaluating work from external creative partners.

• Brand Evolution Strategy: Present how you've contributed to the strategic evolution of a brand's visual identity over time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements strongly emphasize practical application, system thinking, and a forward-looking approach to design. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but also their ability to build scalable solutions, manage projects effectively, and integrate new technologies like AI into their workflow. Demonstrating ownership and a proactive, builder-oriented mindset will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on location (New York, NY), experience level (4+ years), and the startup environment of a Series B company, the estimated salary range for a Brand Designer is typically between $85,000 - $120,000 annually. This range can fluctuate based on specific skills, the depth of AI integration experience, and the candidate's negotiation.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary

• Comprehensive health insurance

• 401(k) with matching contribution, aiding in long-term financial planning.

• Paid parental leave, supporting work-life balance during significant life events.

• Flexible vacation time, allowing for personal rejuvenation and time off as needed.

• Flexible work hours, promoting autonomy and accommodating individual work styles and needs.

• Work-from-home/remote office stipend, or a desk at Ambrook's NYC, SF, or Denver office, offering flexibility in work location.

• Wellness stipend, supporting employee health and well-being initiatives.

• Professional development stipend, encouraging continuous learning and skill enhancement relevant to the role and industry.

Working Hours: The standard full-time work week is approximately 40 hours. The company offers flexible work hours, allowing employees to adjust their schedules to best suit their productivity and personal needs, within the context of team collaboration and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Brand Designers in major metropolitan areas like New York, considering the experience level and the typical compensation structure for Series B startups. The comprehensive benefits package highlights Ambrook's commitment to employee well-being, professional growth, and work-life integration, which are attractive factors for mid-to-senior level talent.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Ambrook operates at the intersection of FinTech, AgriTech, and Sustainability. The company is focused on rebuilding the financial infrastructure for real economy operators, specifically family-run businesses in agriculture, helping them become more profitable and resilient through modern accounting, banking, and spending tools. The company aims to make sustainable investments more accessible and financially viable for these businesses.

Company Size: Ambrook is a Series B startup, indicating a growth phase with an established team but still maintaining the agility and innovative spirit of a smaller organization. This size often means opportunities for significant impact and direct influence on company direction.

Founded: While the exact founding date isn't provided, the company has progressed to a Series B funding round, suggesting it has been operational for several years and has a proven business model and traction. This implies a stable yet evolving operational environment.

Team Structure:

• Brand Team: Works closely with a Creative Director, indicating a structured approach to creative output and brand strategy.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The Brand Designer will work closely with Marketing, Product Design, and other teams, suggesting a highly collaborative environment where design is integrated across departments.

• Reporting: The Brand Designer reports directly to the Creative Director, Ali Aas.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The company emphasizes financial clarity and data for its clients, suggesting a similar approach internally for strategic and operational decisions.

• Process Optimization: A core part of Ambrook's mission is to replace "paperwork with modern tools," implying a strong focus on efficiency, automation, and streamlined processes.

• Innovation & AI Integration: The explicit mention of working with AI, Claude Skills, and Claude Code indicates a culture that embraces cutting-edge technology to enhance productivity and creative output.

Company Website: https://ambrook.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value intentionality, craftsmanship, and innovation. The focus on "real economy operators" and sustainability suggests a mission-driven organization. The emphasis on AI integration indicates a proactive approach to leveraging technology for efficiency and creative expansion, which is a significant differentiator for a brand design role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-level to Senior Brand Designer. It requires significant autonomy, the ability to shape brand direction, and the capacity to mentor or direct others (contractors, teammates) and build scalable systems. The expectation is for the individual to contribute strategically, not just execute tasks.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer reports directly to the Creative Director, Ali Aas. This provides a clear line of mentorship and strategic alignment within the brand function. The role also involves close collaboration with Marketing and Product Design, offering exposure to different facets of the business.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work will directly influence Ambrook's market perception, customer acquisition, and brand loyalty. By shaping the narrative and visual expression, they will be instrumental in communicating the company's value proposition and mission to a broad audience, thereby impacting business growth and investor relations.

Growth Opportunities:

• Brand Leadership: Potential to grow into a lead design role or Art Director position as the brand team expands, taking on more strategic oversight and team management.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion design, AI-driven design workflows, or specialized print/merchandise production.

• Cross-functional Exposure: By working closely with Product Design and Marketing, the designer can gain a broader understanding of business operations, potentially leading to roles in product marketing or growth design.

• AI & Innovation: The company's commitment to AI offers a unique opportunity to become an expert in integrating cutting-edge technologies into creative workflows, a highly valuable and future-proof skill set.

• Startup Growth Impact: As a Series B company, there's potential for significant personal growth and career advancement tied to the company's overall success and expansion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is strong, particularly due to the company's innovative approach to design and technology. The opportunity to influence brand strategy and build scalable systems provides a solid foundation for career progression within Ambrook or the broader design industry, especially in areas leveraging AI.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Ambrook offers a hybrid work environment. Employees can choose to work remotely with a stipend, or utilize desks available at their physical offices located in NYC, San Francisco, or Denver. This model prioritizes flexibility while maintaining options for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Physical office spaces are available in New York City (NY), San Francisco (CA), and Denver (CO). This provides geographical flexibility for employees who prefer or require an office setting.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hubs: The physical offices are likely designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and team cohesion, providing spaces for brainstorming, meetings, and focused work.

• Technology-Rich: As a tech-forward startup, expect access to modern design tools and technology, including high-performance hardware and software essential for design work.

• Dynamic Atmosphere: Working in a Series B startup typically means a fast-paced, dynamic environment where adaptability and proactive engagement are key. The presence of designers and creative directors in these spaces facilitates on-the-spot feedback and knowledge sharing.

Work Schedule: The company offers flexible work hours, allowing employees to manage their schedules around core collaboration needs. This flexibility is beneficial for operations roles that may require deep focus time for creative tasks, balancing it with team syncs and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid and flexible work environment caters to modern professional preferences, offering a balance between remote autonomy and in-office collaboration. The availability of multiple office locations provides additional flexibility for those who might relocate or prefer a specific city. This setup supports an operations-focused approach where efficiency and individual productivity are prioritized.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, craft, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Creative Director Interview: A deep dive with Ali Aas (Creative Director) focusing on your design philosophy, experience with brand systems, AI integration, and how you approach ambiguity and craft. Expect to discuss specific projects from your portfolio.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with members from Marketing, Product Design, or other relevant teams to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and how you translate brand vision into actionable design across disciplines.

• Portfolio Presentation/Case Study: A likely requirement to present a selected project or a series of projects from your portfolio, detailing your process, challenges, solutions, and the impact of your work. This may include a small design challenge.

• Final Round: Potentially a discussion with founders or senior leadership to assess cultural fit and strategic alignment with Ambrook's mission.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your skills in brand identity, digital/physical execution, design systems, and AI integration.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (including any AI usage), the challenges, the solutions, and the measurable outcomes or impact.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Dedicate a section or specific project to demonstrating your ability to build, maintain, and utilize design systems, Figma libraries, or brand guidelines.

• Highlight AI Contribution: Specifically call out projects where you leveraged AI tools. Explain what you automated, how you used the AI output, and the benefits it brought (e.g., time saved, enhanced creativity, new possibilities).

• Demonstrate Ambiguity Navigation: Choose projects that started with unclear briefs and show how you gathered information and defined the path forward.

• Prepare for Live Walkthrough: Be ready to present your portfolio digitally and discuss your work in detail, answering questions about your design decisions and technical skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate a Design Challenge: Be prepared for a small, focused design task that might involve creating a quick mockup, developing a concept for a specific brand asset, or outlining a process for a given scenario.

• Focus on Process: For any challenge, emphasize your thought process, how you'd approach the problem, and what questions you'd ask to clarify requirements, rather than just delivering a polished final output.

• AI Integration Strategy: Consider how you might use AI tools to accelerate the process or explore different options within the challenge timeframe.

• Time Management: Practice working under timed conditions, simulating the pressure of a design challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess both technical design skills and a candidate's ability to operate within a startup environment. The emphasis on portfolio presentation, AI integration, and navigating ambiguity suggests that Ambrook is looking for proactive, strategic, and technologically adept designers who can contribute significantly from day one.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency in advanced features and AI integrations is expected.

• Sanity CMS: The company uses Sanity for content management, implying the need for designers to understand how to work with and contribute to CMS components and content structures.

• Adobe Creative Suite: While Figma is primary, proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects or Premiere Pro is likely needed for asset creation, editing, and motion graphics.

• Linear: Mentioned as a preferred project management tool, indicating a preference for modern, efficient workflow management systems.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly for the designer, understanding how design impacts key metrics (e.g., website conversion rates, engagement) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics or Amplitude could be advantageous for understanding design performance. CRM & Automation:

• Claude Skills/AI Agents: Explicitly mentioned as a tool for automation and scaling design work. Candidates are expected to have experience building or utilizing these.

• Other Automation Tools: Familiarity with other workflow automation tools or scripting (e.g., for Figma) would be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is modern and forward-thinking, with a strong emphasis on Figma, AI integration, and efficient workflow tools like Linear. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency and an eagerness to leverage these technologies to drive design efficiency and innovation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Reach Understanding: Emphasizes curiosity and empathy, suggesting a culture where designers are encouraged to deeply understand user needs, business goals, and industry context to inform their work.

• Real Talk: Promotes straightforward, vulnerable, and accountable communication, indicating an environment where direct feedback is valued and constructive dialogue is encouraged for problem-solving.

• Be Proactively Resourceful: Highlights internal motivation and empowerment to identify opportunities and solve problems, aligning with the "builder" mentality and expectation of autonomy in this role.

• Derisk Thoughtfully: Encourages systematic identification and mitigation of risks, suggesting a strategic approach to decision-making and problem-solving, even in creative endeavors.

• Find the Positive-Sum: Focuses on creating incentive structures that align company, customer, and planet needs, indicating a mission-driven and ethical approach to business and design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Brand touches every team, so collaboration is essential. Expect a style that involves active participation in cross-departmental projects, clear communication, and a willingness to integrate design feedback from various stakeholders.

• Process-Oriented Feedback: The "Real Talk" value suggests that feedback loops are open and that discussions around process improvements and creative direction are common.

• Knowledge Sharing & Experimentation: The emphasis on building scalable systems and leveraging AI implies a culture that values sharing best practices and experimenting with new methods to improve efficiency and creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ambrook's values foster a culture of proactive contribution, thoughtful problem-solving, and empathetic collaboration. For a Brand Designer, this means being a team player who can articulate their ideas clearly, embrace feedback, and contribute to a mission that extends beyond just aesthetics to encompass business impact and ethical considerations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Craft with Scale: The need to maintain high standards of design craftsmanship while also building scalable systems and leveraging AI for efficiency presents a unique challenge.

• Navigating Ambiguity in a Startup: As a Series B startup, priorities can shift, and the path forward may not always be clear. The designer will need to be comfortable gathering information and defining solutions independently.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Successfully implementing and scaling AI tools in a creative workflow requires experimentation, learning, and adapting to new technologies, which can be challenging but also rewarding.

• Directing External Resources: Effectively managing and directing the work of illustrators, photographers, and printers requires strong communication, clear briefs, and discerning judgment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI Design Techniques: Opportunity to become a leader in leveraging AI for creative production and automation, a highly sought-after skill.

• Brand Strategy & Evolution: Direct involvement in shaping and evolving a growing brand's identity under the guidance of a Creative Director.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skill Development: Exposure to product design, marketing strategy, and business operations provides a well-rounded understanding of how design contributes to overall business success.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: The professional development stipend can be used for relevant conferences (e.g., design systems, AI in design, brand strategy) or workshops to enhance skills.

• Mentorship: Direct mentorship from a Creative Director and collaboration with experienced professionals across various functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical of growth-stage startups but are framed as opportunities for significant professional development. The company's investment in AI and its focus on mission-driven work offer a compelling environment for a designer looking to expand their skillset and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to build a design system or significant brand guideline from scratch. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on process, scalability, and stakeholder buy-in).

• "How have you leveraged AI tools in your design process? Can you share a specific example of a 'Claude Skill' or automated workflow you created and its impact?" (Highlight practical application, efficiency gains, and innovation).

• "Imagine you're given a vague brief for a new marketing campaign. How would you approach gathering requirements, defining the narrative, and developing the visual direction?" (Demonstrate problem-solving, ambiguity navigation, and strategic thinking). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about Ambrook's mission to support family-run businesses and rebuild financial infrastructure?" (Connect your values and interests to the company's mission).

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-design teams like Marketing or Product? Can you give an example of a successful cross-functional project?" (Showcase your collaborative spirit and communication skills).

• "How do you see the role of a brand designer evolving with the rise of AI? Where do you see the biggest opportunities and challenges?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking and adaptability). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your specific role, the problem you solved, your process (including any AI integration), the outcome, and key learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, time saved through automation).

• Showcase Systems Thinking: Dedicate a segment to your work on design systems, Figma libraries, or brand documentation, explaining their purpose and how they benefit the organization.

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design decisions, technical choices, and any challenges you encountered.

• Enthusiasm for AI: Clearly articulate your excitement and experience with AI tools, positioning yourself as someone who can drive innovation in this area.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skill but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and a proactive, builder-oriented mindset. Highlighting experience with design systems, AI integration, and cross-functional collaboration will be key to success.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Carefully select and refine your portfolio to showcase projects that best align with Ambrook's needs, emphasizing brand identity, digital/physical execution, design systems, and AI integration. Prepare specific case studies for your top 3-5 projects.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 4+ years of relevant experience, specific skills in Figma, AI tool usage, project management, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on clear storytelling, quantifiable results, and articulating your thought process, especially regarding AI integration and ambiguity navigation.

• Company Research: Deeply understand Ambrook's mission, values, and target audience. Be ready to discuss how your design skills can contribute to their goals of empowering family-run businesses.

⚠️ 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.

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