Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Clera

Location: Berlin, Germany

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-30

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a full-ownership brand design role, responsible for the company's presence across digital, physical, and experiential touchpoints within a growing enterprise AI platform.

• The position requires extensive experience in defining and evolving brand identity through design systems, physical space design, and product launches.

• Candidates will independently manage projects from concept to delivery, including website frontend quality and end-to-end merchandise production.

• The role offers significant creative latitude, fast feedback loops, and the opportunity to leverage AI tools for workflow acceleration.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Brand Designer," its responsibilities heavily lean into aspects of "Creative Operations" and "Brand Experience Management," particularly in its emphasis on system ownership, physical space integration, vendor management, and end-to-end project execution without requiring traditional developer handoffs. This indicates a need for a highly autonomous and versatile design professional.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and continuously evolve the company's comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency and scalability of components, design tokens, and visual patterns across all brand applications.

• Lead the end-to-end design and production of branded merchandise, from initial concept and supplier briefing to sample iteration and final quality approval.

• Shape and execute the brand's physical presence, including office interior design, event space configurations, and conference booth aesthetics, to create cohesive and impactful brand experiences.

• Drive high-visibility creative projects from initial concept development through final delivery, encompassing product launches, marketing campaigns, and brand initiatives.

• Maintain and enhance the visual and frontend quality of the company website, independently shipping production-ready updates to ensure a polished and consistent online brand representation.

• Seamlessly transition between design tools (Figma), creative brief development, and vendor relationship management to ensure efficient project progression and timely execution.

• Strategically integrate and utilize AI design tools to accelerate workflows, enhance creative output, and maintain high standards of craft and creative judgment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "full-ownership" model, implying a need for a candidate who can operate autonomously and manage multiple facets of brand execution without relying on dedicated support roles for specific tasks like developer handoff or vendor negotiation. This is a key differentiator for operations-minded designers.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field is typically expected, though extensive relevant experience and a strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education in design roles of this nature.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in brand design, with a demonstrated track record of delivering comprehensive brand experiences across digital, physical, and experiential domains.

Required Skills:

• Brand Design Expertise: Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, and execute cohesive brand identities across diverse mediums.

• Design System Ownership: Hands-on experience in creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems, including components, design tokens, and reusable visual patterns.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma, with the capability to implement designs directly into production environments without requiring traditional developer handoffs.

• Spatial & Experiential Design: Experience in designing physical spaces (offices, event venues) and experiential activations to enhance brand presence.

• Merchandise Design & Production: Demonstrated ability to manage the end-to-end process of merchandise design, from concept to final product.

• Project Leadership: Proven ability to lead high-visibility creative projects from brief to completion, managing timelines and stakeholder expectations.

• Frontend Quality Assurance: Ability to ensure and maintain the visual and frontend quality of a website.

• AI-Assisted Design Workflows: Familiarity and comfort using AI tools to augment and accelerate design processes while upholding creative standards.

• Brief Development & Defense: Skill in defining creative briefs in ambiguous situations and confidently defending design decisions with strong rationale and aesthetic judgment.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion Design/Animation: Experience in motion graphics or animation to enhance digital brand assets.

• Accessibility-Conscious Design: Understanding and application of accessibility principles in design token work and overall brand execution.

• Vendor Management: Experience in briefing and managing relationships with external suppliers and vendors.

• Creative Direction: Aptitude for guiding creative vision and making final aesthetic decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "no developer handoff required" and the ability to "implement designs in production" strongly suggests that this role requires a blend of design and front-end development understanding, a common requirement in modern Brand and Creative Operations roles that bridge the gap between pure design and execution. The expectation to use AI tools also points to a forward-thinking and efficient operations mindset.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• End-to-End Project Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 comprehensive case studies demonstrating ownership of projects from initial concept through final execution across digital, physical, and merchandise touchpoints.

• Design System Examples: Include detailed examples of a design system you've owned or significantly contributed to, highlighting components, tokens, and the process of maintaining scalability and consistency.

• Production-Ready Designs: Demonstrate examples where your Figma work was directly implemented into production (e.g., website updates, live event collateral, shipped merchandise).

• Spatial Design Concepts: Visualizations or documentation of physical space design projects (office layouts, event booth concepts) that illustrate brand integration.

• Merchandise Design Process: Examples of merchandise designed end-to-end, showing the evolution from brief to final product, including any supplier interaction or material considerations.

• AI Tool Integration: Briefly describe or show how AI tools were used to enhance your workflow or creative output in specific projects.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to articulate your process for:

  • Developing and maintaining design systems.

  • Managing merchandise design and vendor relationships.

  • Conceptualizing and executing physical space branding.

  • Leading projects from creative brief to final delivery.

  • Ensuring website frontend quality and independent updates.

  • Integrating AI tools into design workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "full-ownership" nature and the expectation of direct production implementation, a portfolio that clearly outlines the candidate's process, decision-making, and execution capabilities is paramount. It should go beyond aesthetics to demonstrate operational rigor and project management within a design context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Brand Designer with 5+ years of experience in Berlin, Germany, the estimated salary range is €60,000 - €80,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in major German tech hubs, considering the company's focus on enterprise AI and the specific responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage (details to be confirmed).

• Generous paid time off (vacation days, public holidays).

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning, including access to AI design tools and training.

• Potential for stock options or equity in a growing enterprise AI startup.

• Company-provided merchandise and support for creating branded physical experiences.

• Collaborative work environment with a focus on creative ownership and fast feedback.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, approximately 40 hours per week. The company emphasizes efficient workflows and creative autonomy, suggesting flexibility may be available within the on-site framework, allowing for focused work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on common compensation structures for mid-senior level design roles in Berlin, Germany. The absence of a specified range suggests the company is open to negotiation based on candidate experience and qualifications. Benefits are inferred based on standard offerings for tech companies of this nature and stage.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Enterprise AI Platform. Clera is operating at the forefront of AI, aiming to revolutionize how businesses leverage artificial intelligence. This implies a fast-paced, innovative, and data-driven environment.

Company Size: The description implies a growing enterprise AI platform, suggesting a company that has likely moved beyond the early startup phase and is scaling its operations and market presence. This could range from 50-250 employees, indicating a structure where individual contributions are highly visible and impactful.

Founded: Founded in 2021, Clera is a relatively young company, positioning it as dynamic, agile, and likely still solidifying its long-term brand identity and operational processes.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Designer will likely be part of a Marketing or Product team, reporting to a Head of Brand, Creative Director, or Marketing Lead.

• Given the "full-ownership" nature, the designer will need to collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, marketing specialists, and potentially leadership on strategic brand initiatives.

• The team structure is likely lean, demanding cross-functional collaboration and self-sufficiency from its members. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: As an AI company, Clera will likely value data-informed design decisions, performance metrics, and A/B testing for brand assets and campaigns.

• Agile Development & Design: Expect a methodology that supports rapid iteration, continuous improvement, and quick adaptation to market feedback, mirroring the fast-paced nature of AI development.

• AI Integration: A core aspect of the company's ethos will be leveraging AI to optimize processes, including design workflows, to drive efficiency and innovation.

Company Website: https://www.getclera.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and its relatively recent founding suggest a culture that is forward-thinking, experimental, and values efficiency and innovation. The "full-ownership" role for the Brand Designer reinforces this, indicating a need for someone who thrives in autonomy and drives initiatives proactively.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level position within the Brand Design function. It's not an entry-level or junior role but a position of significant responsibility and creative autonomy. The "full-ownership" aspect implies a lead or principal individual contributor capacity, where the designer is expected to set direction and execute independently.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer will likely report to a senior leader within the marketing or creative department, such as a Head of Brand, Creative Director, or VP of Marketing. They will operate with a high degree of independence, directly influencing the company's visual and experiential brand output.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work will have a direct and significant impact on Clera's market perception, customer engagement, and overall brand equity. By shaping the visual identity across all touchpoints, from digital interfaces to physical spaces and merchandise, the role directly influences how the company is perceived by customers, partners, and potential employees. This role is critical for establishing a strong, consistent, and compelling brand narrative in the competitive enterprise AI landscape.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Brand Designer or Creative Director role as the company scales, managing a team and setting broader creative strategy.

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like design systems, spatial branding, or AI-driven design tools, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop strong relationships and influence across product, engineering, and marketing teams, potentially transitioning into broader brand management or GTM strategy roles.

• Impactful Project Ownership: Take ownership of major brand initiatives that have measurable business impact, building a strong portfolio and reputation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential for a designer who can demonstrate strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and a strong ability to drive brand initiatives autonomously. The direct impact on a growing AI platform provides a unique opportunity for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly on-site in Berlin, Germany, indicating a preference for in-person collaboration and direct engagement within a physical office setting. This suggests a company culture that values face-to-face interaction and a shared workspace for fostering creativity and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): The office is located in Berlin, Germany. Specific details about the office amenities or accessibility would require further inquiry, but Berlin is a major European hub with excellent public transportation infrastructure.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, with shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and areas for informal interaction, crucial for the fast feedback loops mentioned.

• Tools & Technology: Expect access to modern design software, including advanced Figma capabilities, and potentially company-provided hardware. The explicit mention of AI tools suggests these will be readily available and encouraged for use.

• Team Interaction: The on-site nature facilitates direct interaction with cross-functional teams, enabling seamless communication and integration of design into product development and marketing efforts.

Work Schedule: The standard 40-hour work week is expected, but the emphasis on "full ownership" and "fast feedback loops" suggests that the company values results and efficiency. While maintaining work-life balance is important, there may be periods requiring dedication to meet project deadlines, particularly around launch moments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Berlin is a key aspect, signaling a need for local candidates or those willing to relocate. The description of the workspace emphasizes collaboration and the use of advanced tools, aligning with the operational demands of a dynamic tech company.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements, particularly Figma proficiency, design system experience, and end-to-end project execution.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A dedicated session where you present key case studies from your portfolio. Expect to discuss your process, decision-making, challenges, and how you've managed projects from concept to delivery, including any physical/merchandise design elements.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a design challenge or scenario-based discussion to evaluate your problem-solving skills, creative judgment, and ability to apply design principles to specific business needs, possibly involving AI tool usage or design system thinking.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Conversations with potential team members and hiring managers to assess your collaborative style, ownership mentality, and alignment with Clera's values.

• Final Interview: A discussion with senior leadership to confirm strategic fit and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your end-to-end brand design capabilities, design system ownership, and experience with physical/merchandise design.

• Highlight Ownership & Process: For each project, clearly articulate your role, the problem statement, your design process, key decisions, challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes or impact. Emphasize where you had full ownership and managed the execution independently.

• Demonstrate Production Readiness: If possible, show examples where your Figma work was implemented directly, or describe your process for ensuring designs are production-ready without relying on a developer handoff.

• Showcase System Thinking: Clearly present your approach to design systems, including components, tokens, and how you ensured scalability and consistency.

• Address Physical & Experiential Design: Include examples of how you've translated brand identity into physical spaces or merchandise.

• Be Ready to Discuss AI Usage: Prepare to explain how you've leveraged AI tools in your workflow and how you maintain creative integrity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Design System Questions: Be ready to discuss how you would approach building or evolving a design system for an enterprise AI platform.

• Scenario-Based Problems: Prepare for questions that present ambiguous situations and require you to define a brief, outline a strategy, and propose design solutions, potentially involving physical spaces or merchandise.

• Brand Consistency: Think about how to ensure brand consistency across diverse touchpoints, especially in a growing company.

• AI Tool Application: Be prepared to discuss how you would strategically use AI tools to enhance efficiency and creativity in your role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes a strong portfolio that demonstrates end-to-end execution and operational capability, not just aesthetic design. Candidates should prepare to articulate their process and demonstrate how they manage projects autonomously.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for all UI/UX design, component creation, design system management, and prototyping. Mastery is required for production-ready implementation.

• Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign): Standard tools for vector graphics, image editing, and layout design, particularly for print collateral, merchandise, and physical space graphics.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned, candidates should be familiar with or eager to learn tools that assist in concept generation, asset creation, workflow automation, and potentially even design system tokenization or pattern generation. Examples could include Midjourney, Stable Diffusion, Adobe Firefly, or specialized AI design plugins.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics (e.g., Google Analytics): For understanding website performance, user behavior, and the impact of design changes on the website.

• Design Analytics Platforms (Emerging): Familiarity with tools that track design system usage, component performance, or the impact of brand assets would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly responsible for CRM management, understanding how brand assets are used in marketing campaigns and sales collateral is important. Familiarity with marketing automation platforms or DAM (Digital Asset Management) systems could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is advanced Figma proficiency with production implementation capabilities. The explicit mention of AI tools signifies a critical area where candidates are expected to be proficient or quickly become so, reflecting the company's technological focus and operational efficiency goals.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Ownership: A strong sense of responsibility and autonomy for one's work, driving projects to completion with high standards.

• Efficiency & Speed: A culture that values rapid iteration, lean processes, and leveraging technology (including AI) to deliver results quickly without sacrificing quality.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing data and performance metrics to guide design choices and measure the impact of brand initiatives.

• Collaboration & Kindness: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, offering and receiving feedback constructively, and fostering a positive team environment.

• Craft & Rigor: Maintaining a high level of design quality, attention to detail, and a thoughtful approach to problem-solving.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will work closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams, requiring clear communication and an understanding of different departmental needs.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback on design work to ensure the best possible outcomes.

• Proactive Communication: Expectation to communicate project status, potential roadblocks, and key decisions proactively to relevant stakeholders.

• Shared Learning: A willingness to share knowledge, experiment with new tools (like AI), and collectively improve design processes and outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to value autonomy, efficiency, and a blend of creative excellence with data-driven decision-making. The emphasis on AI tools suggests a forward-thinking and innovative approach to design operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Rapid Growth: As Clera scales, maintaining a cohesive brand identity across an expanding range of touchpoints and markets will be a continuous challenge.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively leveraging AI tools without compromising creative integrity or brand uniqueness requires careful selection, implementation, and ongoing refinement of workflows.

• End-to-End Execution Autonomy: Operating with "full ownership" means managing all aspects of design projects, from concept to production, which can be demanding without dedicated support roles.

• Defining Brand in a New Space: For an enterprise AI platform, establishing a clear, differentiated, and compelling brand narrative in a complex and evolving market can be challenging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into AI Design Tools: Become an expert in cutting-edge AI tools for design, driving innovation in workflow efficiency and creative output.

• Mastering Design Systems for Enterprise: Gain extensive experience in building and scaling robust design systems for complex enterprise software.

• Experiential & Physical Branding: Develop expertise in translating digital brand strategies into impactful physical and experiential brand touchpoints.

• Strategic Brand Impact: Contribute directly to the growth and market positioning of a cutting-edge AI company, building a strong track record of strategic brand leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges present opportunities for a proactive designer to develop advanced skills in managing complex projects, integrating new technologies, and shaping brand strategy in a dynamic industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining and evolving a design system for a rapidly growing enterprise AI platform like Clera?" (Focus on scalability, governance, and adoption.)

• "Describe a time you had to define a creative brief in an ambiguous situation. What was your process, and how did you defend your final design decisions?" (Highlight your strategic thinking and rationale.)

• "Walk us through a high-visibility creative project you owned end-to-end. What were the key challenges, how did you overcome them, and what was the impact?" (Emphasize your project management and execution skills.)

• "How would you integrate AI design tools into your workflow to accelerate production while maintaining high creative standards and brand integrity?" (Showcase your understanding of AI's role in design operations.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and the enterprise AI space?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with product, engineering, and marketing teams?" (Highlight your cross-functional communication and teamwork skills.)

• "Describe your approach to ensuring brand consistency across digital, physical, and merchandise touchpoints." (Focus on process and strategic thinking.)

• "How do you handle receiving constructive feedback on your design work?" (Show your openness to iteration and improvement.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your experience and then diving into 2-3 detailed case studies.

• Narrative is Key: For each case study, tell a compelling story: the problem, your approach, your role (emphasizing ownership), the solutions, and the results.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-quality visuals and mockups. For physical/merchandise design, show mockups or actual product photos. For design systems, show component libraries and examples of their application.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your projects (e.g., website engagement improvements, successful campaign metrics, positive feedback on merchandise).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about your specific design choices, process steps, and how you managed challenges. Be prepared to discuss your Figma workflow and any AI tools used.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skill but also operational capability, strategic thinking, and a proactive, autonomous approach to project management. The emphasis on AI tools and end-to-end execution means candidates need to articulate their processes and problem-solving skills effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby HQ.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful projects that clearly demonstrate end-to-end brand design ownership, design system expertise, and experience with physical/merchandise design. Ensure it highlights your ability to implement designs directly in production.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements related to brand system evolution, project leadership, spatial/experiential design, and proficiency in Figma and AI design tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, decision-making rationale, and project management approach during portfolio presentations and interviews. Practice explaining how you've leveraged AI tools and managed projects autonomously.

• Research Clera: Understand their mission, product, and current brand presence. Be prepared to discuss how your vision and skills align with their goals as an enterprise AI platform.

⚠️ 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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