Brand Designer

Outset
Full-time$140k-180k/year (USD)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer

Company: Outset

Location: San Francisco, California, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-18

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-4 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

  • This role is a critical component of the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, focusing on visual brand execution for all marketing initiatives.

  • The Brand Designer will be responsible for translating marketing briefs into high-impact visual assets that resonate with target audiences and reinforce the Outset brand identity.

  • This position requires a strong understanding of how design directly influences demand generation and customer acquisition efforts through compelling campaign creative.

  • The Brand Designer will play a key role in maintaining brand consistency and evolving the visual system across all customer touchpoints, directly supporting sales enablement through effective collateral design.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Brand Designer," the responsibilities clearly place this role within the broader GTM and Marketing Operations function, focusing on the operational execution of brand strategy through creative assets. The emphasis on campaign design, landing pages, social content, and sales collateral indicates a direct link to revenue generation and operational efficiency in marketing.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Own the visual design execution for all marketing campaigns, including digital ads, email marketing, social media content, and event materials, ensuring brand alignment and campaign effectiveness.

  • Serve as the primary day-to-day creative partner for the marketing team, rapidly transforming creative briefs into polished, on-brand visual assets that meet strategic objectives.

  • Maintain, evolve, and champion the Outset brand system, ensuring consistent application of visual identity, typography, and design language across all marketing channels and touchpoints.

  • Design compelling pitch decks, sales collateral, and customer-facing materials that effectively communicate Outset's value proposition and support the sales enablement process.

  • Collaborate closely with content creators and demand generation specialists to define and execute the creative direction for both paid and organic marketing channels, optimizing for engagement and conversion.

  • Develop and execute creative assets for product launches and feature announcements, ensuring a cohesive and impactful visual narrative that drives awareness and adoption.

  • Contribute to the overall visual language of new product initiatives and feature releases, working in tandem with the product design team for a unified brand experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong operational focus on creative delivery, brand system management, and direct support for GTM functions like demand generation and sales enablement. This role is integral to the operational execution of marketing strategies.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

  • 2-4 years of professional brand design or graphic design experience, with a demonstrable focus on marketing creative and campaign execution.

  • Prior experience in a startup environment, with a proven track record of owning creative projects from ideation to completion (0-1 experience).

Required Skills:

  • Visual Design Expertise: Strong portfolio showcasing exceptional visual design skills across digital, print, and social media formats.

  • Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative asset creation.

  • Brand System Management: Proven ability to develop, maintain, and evolve brand guidelines and design systems.

  • Marketing Campaign Design: Experience creating high-impact visual assets for diverse marketing campaigns, including landing pages, social content, and email.

  • Typography & Layout: A keen eye for typography, hierarchy, and layout, with meticulous attention to detail.

  • Fast-Paced Execution: Ability to move quickly and produce high-quality assets in a dynamic, fast-moving startup environment where priorities can shift.

Preferred Skills:

  • AI Design Tools: Experience leveraging AI tools in the design workflow (e.g., for ideation, asset generation, or enhancement).

  • Web Development Basics: Familiarity with web development fundamentals, particularly for updating and maintaining marketing website infrastructure, potentially with AI assistance.

  • Motion Design/Video Editing: Proficiency in motion design or video editing software (e.g., After Effects, Lottie) for dynamic content creation.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Experience working closely with marketing, product, and sales teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on startup experience, owning projects 0-1, and proficiency with Figma and AI tools points to a need for a highly adaptable and technically skilled designer. The "Startup experience owning projects 0-1" requirement suggests a need for self-starters who can define processes and execute independently within a lean GTM operations framework.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Campaign Case Studies: Showcase 2-3 detailed case studies of marketing campaigns you designed, highlighting the brief, your design process, the final assets, and quantifiable results (e.g., engagement rates, conversion improvements).

  • Brand System Evolution: Include examples of how you have developed, documented, or evolved a brand or design system, demonstrating your understanding of consistency and scalability.

  • Cross-functional Collaboration Examples: Provide examples of how your design work has directly supported marketing or sales enablement goals, illustrating collaboration with other teams.

  • Digital Asset Production: Demonstrate a range of digital assets created for various channels (landing pages, social media, email, paid ads), showing versatility and understanding of platform-specific design needs.

Process Documentation:

  • Design Workflow: Clearly outline your typical design workflow from brief to final asset delivery, emphasizing efficiency, collaboration touchpoints, and quality assurance steps.

  • Brand System Implementation: Document your approach to implementing and maintaining a brand system, including how you ensure consistency across different teams and projects.

  • Asset Management & Optimization: Describe your methods for organizing, versioning, and optimizing design assets for various platforms and performance tracking.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio demonstrating end-to-end design execution, brand system management, and direct impact on marketing/GTM objectives is crucial. The emphasis on process documentation highlights the operational aspect of design, requiring candidates to articulate not just their creative output but also their systematic approach to design delivery.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $140,000 - $180,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

  • Founder Collaboration: Daily interaction and collaboration with Outset founders, offering direct influence on core product vision and GTM strategy.

  • Industry Exposure: Opportunities to engage with and learn from design and research leaders at top global enterprises.

  • Competitive Compensation: Competitive cash salary and equity compensation package, reflecting the value of your contributions.

  • Health & Wellness: Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

  • Professional Development: Support for continuous learning, including workshops, conferences, and access to design resources.

  • Flexible Work Environment: Hybrid work model offering a balance between in-office collaboration and remote flexibility.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to accommodate project needs and team collaboration, particularly within the San Francisco (Pacific Time) timezone.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level Brand Designer in San Francisco, reflecting the high cost of living and the startup's growth stage. The benefits emphasize high-impact opportunities and founder interaction, appealing to ambitious professionals. The mention of "Actual compensation packages are based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, depth of experience, and certifications" is standard but implies a performance-based component to compensation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI-Powered User Research / Market Research Technology. Outset operates within the rapidly growing market for AI-driven insights, disrupting traditional, high-cost research methodologies. This context means the brand must convey innovation, speed, and reliability to enterprise clients.

Company Size: Emerging Growth/Series B Funded (implied by recent $30M Series B raise). This size indicates a dynamic, fast-paced environment where roles are often broad and impact is significant.

Founded: 2021 (implied by Series B funding in Dec 2025, less than six months after Series A). This suggests a relatively young company with a strong growth trajectory and a culture that is likely still solidifying but emphasizes innovation and speed.

Team Structure:

  • Marketing Team: The Brand Designer will work closely with the marketing team on a day-to-day basis, indicating a collaborative and integrated approach to GTM execution.

  • Product Design Integration: Collaboration with the product design team is essential for maintaining a cohesive brand vision across all touchpoints, highlighting interdisciplinary teamwork.

  • Founder Access: Direct collaboration with founders provides visibility into high-level strategy and decision-making.

Methodology:

  • AI-Driven Innovation: The company's core product is AI-powered, suggesting a culture that embraces technological advancement and data-driven decision-making in all aspects, including marketing.

  • Speed & Scale: The business grew 8x, indicating an operational focus on rapid scaling and efficient delivery of services.

  • Enterprise Focus: Serving global enterprise clients means a professional, polished, and reliable brand presence is paramount.

Company Website: https://outset.ai

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and rapid growth in the enterprise market dictates a brand that is modern, sophisticated, and trustworthy. The culture likely values agility, innovation, and a results-oriented approach, making this a high-impact role for a designer.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Brand Designer. This role is positioned to take ownership of significant creative output within the marketing function, moving beyond junior design tasks to strategic visual execution. It's a key contributor role within the GTM operations.

Reporting Structure: Reports to a marketing lead (e.g., Head of Marketing, Director of Demand Generation, or Marketing Manager), with close day-to-day collaboration with that team and dotted-line interaction with product design and founders.

Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's work directly impacts the company's market perception, lead generation effectiveness, sales conversion rates, and overall brand equity. High-quality, on-brand creative is essential for operationalizing marketing strategies and supporting revenue growth.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Lead Brand Designer or Art Director role as the company scales, overseeing broader creative initiatives and potentially managing junior designers.

  • GTM Strategy Influence: Deeper involvement in shaping the visual direction of GTM strategies and product launches based on demonstrated impact and strategic thinking.

  • Cross-functional Expertise: Development of skills in marketing operations, demand generation creative, and potentially product marketing through close collaboration.

  • Industry Specialization: Becoming an expert in designing for AI/SaaS companies and the enterprise market.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential beyond traditional design, with opportunities to influence GTM strategy and evolve into leadership positions within a rapidly scaling tech company. The hybrid nature also allows for flexibility, aligning with modern work expectations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment, with a physical office located in San Francisco's Financial District. This suggests a blend of in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): San Francisco, California, United States. The office is situated in a prime business district, likely offering good accessibility and a professional atmosphere.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hub: The office serves as a hub for focused work and in-person collaboration, especially for design reviews, brainstorming sessions, and team meetings.

  • Modern Tech Stack: Access to and likely use of industry-standard design software and potentially internal tools for project management and asset sharing.

  • Founder/Leadership Proximity: Opportunities for direct interaction with founders and senior leadership, fostering a culture of open communication and strategic alignment.

Work Schedule: The hybrid model allows for flexibility, balancing structured in-office days with remote work, which can be beneficial for deep design work and personal productivity. Standard business hours are expected, with a focus on achieving project milestones and supporting GTM schedules.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model in a prime SF location offers a professional yet flexible work environment, catering to the needs of creative professionals who benefit from both focused work and collaborative interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Creative Challenge: A session where you present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially complete a small, timed creative exercise relevant to Outset's brand and marketing needs.

  • Marketing Team Interview: Discussion with members of the marketing team to evaluate collaboration style, understanding of marketing objectives, and ability to translate briefs into assets.

  • Founder/Leadership Interview: A final conversation with founders or senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and overall potential impact on the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight GTM Impact: For each project, clearly articulate how your design contributed to marketing objectives, lead generation, sales enablement, or brand awareness. Use metrics where possible.

  • Showcase Brand System Work: Detail your process for creating or evolving a brand system, emphasizing consistency, scalability, and practical application.

  • Demonstrate Process & Problem-Solving: Walk through your design process for key projects, explaining your rationale, how you overcame challenges, and how you leveraged tools like Figma and AI.

  • Tailor to Outset: Research Outset's current brand and marketing materials. Consider how your portfolio examples demonstrate your ability to align with and elevate their existing visual identity.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand Outset's Brand: Familiarize yourself with Outset's mission, target audience (enterprise clients), and current visual identity.

  • Prepare for Brief Interpretation: Be ready to discuss how you'd approach a hypothetical marketing brief for a new feature launch or campaign.

  • Articulate AI Tool Usage: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools in design and how you envision them being used effectively at Outset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not just design skills but also strategic thinking, collaboration abilities, and alignment with Outset's fast-paced, AI-driven, GTM-focused environment. A strong, results-oriented portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Figma: The core tool for all visual design, prototyping, and collaborative asset creation. Proficiency is essential.

  • Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop): Standard tools for image editing, illustration, and graphic creation.

  • AI Design Tools: Experience with tools like Claude Code, Cursor, or similar AI assistants for design ideation, content generation, or workflow optimization.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • Web Analytics Platforms (e.g., Google Analytics): Familiarity with how website and campaign performance is tracked to inform design decisions.

  • Marketing Automation Platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo): Understanding how visual assets are deployed within these systems for email campaigns and landing pages.

CRM & Automation:

  • CRM Systems (e.g., Salesforce): Awareness of how sales collateral and customer-facing materials are used within a CRM context.

  • Project Management Tools (e.g., Asana, Jira): Experience using tools for tracking design tasks, managing workflows, and collaborating on projects.

  • Web Development/CMS: Basic understanding of web development principles and experience with Content Management Systems for updating marketing websites.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with AI design tools are key technical requirements. A basic understanding of web development and marketing technology is also important for effective integration of design into GTM operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Innovation & Agility: A culture that embraces new technologies (like AI) and can adapt quickly to market changes and business priorities.

  • Data-Driven Decision Making: While creative, decisions are informed by performance metrics and strategic objectives, aligning with operational efficiency.

  • Collaboration & Transparency: Open communication and close teamwork across marketing, product, and leadership are highly valued.

  • Impact & Ownership: A focus on delivering tangible results and taking initiative to drive projects forward.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: The role is embedded within the marketing team, requiring seamless collaboration with demand generation, content, and product marketing functions.

  • Feedback-Driven: An environment where constructive feedback is shared and utilized to refine creative output and processes.

  • Proactive Communication: Encouraging proactive communication to ensure alignment and efficient project execution, especially in a hybrid work setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely rewards individuals who are proactive, adaptable, and driven by impact, fitting well within a high-growth startup environment focused on operational excellence in GTM.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Rapidly Evolving Brand: As a growing startup, the brand identity may still be evolving, requiring adaptability and a proactive approach to maintaining consistency.

  • Balancing Speed and Quality: The need to produce high-quality assets quickly in a fast-paced environment requires excellent time management and prioritization skills.

  • Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring visual consistency and brand integrity across diverse marketing initiatives and product touchpoints requires strong communication and collaboration.

  • Integrating AI Tools: Effectively leveraging new AI design tools to enhance creativity and efficiency while maintaining brand standards.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in motion graphics, advanced digital design, and potentially UI/UX principles through collaboration with the product design team.

  • GTM Strategy Insight: Gaining a deeper understanding of marketing operations, demand generation strategies, and sales enablement through close partnership with the marketing team.

  • Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a leadership role within the creative function as the company scales.

  • Industry Exposure: Learning from experienced founders and leaders in the AI and enterprise software space.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents opportunities to tackle significant design challenges in a high-growth environment, with ample room for professional development and career advancement within the GTM and operations functions.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe a time you had to balance aggressive deadlines with maintaining high-quality design standards. How did you prioritize and execute?" (Focus on process, time management, and quality assurance)

  • "How would you approach evolving the Outset brand system to support a new product launch? What steps would you take?" (Focus on brand strategy, collaboration, and systematic thinking)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What are your thoughts on Outset's current brand identity? What opportunities do you see for its evolution?" (Assess research, critical thinking, and brand alignment)

  • "How do you approach collaboration with non-designers, such as marketers or product managers?" (Assess communication, teamwork, and stakeholder management)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the objectives and the measurable results your design contributed to. Use numbers and data whenever possible.

  • Detail Your Process: Don't just show final assets; explain your thought process, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Highlight your use of Figma and any AI tools.

  • Tell a Story: Frame your portfolio as a narrative of your problem-solving abilities and your capacity to deliver impactful creative solutions for business objectives.

  • Showcase Brand System Thinking: Present examples of how you've built or maintained design systems, emphasizing consistency and scalability.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only creative talent but also a strategic, process-oriented approach to design that directly supports GTM operations and business objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

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

  • Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature marketing campaign design, brand system work, and examples of 0-1 project ownership. Tailor your case studies to highlight GTM impact and quantify results.

  • Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 2-4 years of relevant experience, proficiency in Figma and AI tools, and any startup or campaign design achievements, using keywords relevant to brand design, marketing operations, and GTM creative.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and the business impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI design tools and your approach to brand system management.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research Outset, its product (AI-powered user interviews), its market position, and its current marketing efforts to demonstrate genuine interest and an understanding of their business context.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates need 2-4 years of brand or graphic design experience, preferably in a startup environment with a strong marketing portfolio. Proficiency in Figma, AI tools, and basic web development is required, along with a strong eye for typography and layout.