Brand Designer, Growth
π Job Overview
Job Title: Brand Designer, Growth
Company: Perplexity
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Growth Marketing Operations / Brand Operations
Date Posted: 2026-09-02
Experience Level: 5-10 years
Remote Status: Hybrid (Remote for US-based candidates)
π Role Summary
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Drive strategic concepting and execution for high-volume growth marketing campaigns across various channels, including paid ads, social media, and lifecycle emails.
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Partner closely with the Growth team to ideate, test, and iterate on creative concepts based on performance data, ensuring brand consistency and driving measurable results.
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Own the end-to-end design process for growth creative, from initial concept generation to final asset delivery, maintaining a balance between brand craft and performance metrics.
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Develop and maintain scalable design systems, templates, and asset frameworks to support rapid, on-brand creative production for growth initiatives.
π Enhancement Note: This role is positioned at the intersection of brand identity and performance marketing, requiring a unique blend of creative vision and analytical acumen. The emphasis on "shipping role" and "thinking role" indicates a need for a candidate who can both generate innovative ideas and execute them efficiently with a data-driven approach. The hybrid nature of the role suggests a need for strong self-management and communication skills, with the expectation of occasional in-office collaboration in San Francisco.
π Primary Responsibilities
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Spearhead strategic concept development for growth marketing campaigns, proactively bringing original ideas, creative territories, and testing hypotheses to the Growth team.
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Act as a collaborative ideation partner, co-developing campaign strategies and shaping creative briefs to unlock new growth avenues.
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Take full ownership of designing performance creative assets, including static and animated paid social and display ads, campaign landing page elements, and lifecycle email campaigns.
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Design and build variant sets for A/B testing, meticulously analyzing creative performance data (e.g., CTR, conversion rates, hook rates) to inform design iterations and optimizations.
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Translate product launches and Go-To-Market (GTM) campaigns into compelling, channel-specific creative assets that maintain visual consistency across all growth touchpoints.
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Create and manage scalable ad and email templates and asset kits to ensure high-frequency creative production remains efficient and aligned with brand guidelines.
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Collaborate closely with the Brand team to ensure visual consistency and adherence to the evolving brand system across all growth-related marketing materials.
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Partner with motion designers and web designers to ensure a cohesive and integrated campaign experience, from initial ad impression to final landing page conversion.
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Contribute a strong point of view on effective performance creative, balancing best practices with brand integrity and pushing back against designs that might dilute brand equity.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a proactive and strategic approach to growth creative, moving beyond pure execution to concept generation and data-informed iteration. The need to build "repeatable systems" highlights a focus on operational efficiency and scalability within the creative process.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: 5+ years of industry experience, with a significant portion focused on growth and brand design within a consumer or prosumer tech company.
Required Skills:
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A robust portfolio showcasing successful growth and brand design work, including paid ads, social campaigns, lifecycle emails, and campaign systems, demonstrating both aesthetic craft and measurable performance impact.
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Proven ability in strategic concepting, with the capacity to articulate the thinking behind campaigns where original ideas were the driving force, not just the execution.
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Exceptional visual design skills, encompassing strong typography, layout, composition, and a clear understanding of brand identity principles.
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Hands-on experience designing performance creative, specifically for consumer or prosumer tech companies, and direct collaboration with growth or performance marketing teams.
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Proficiency in analyzing creative performance data (e.g., CTR, conversion rates, hook rates) and translating these insights into actionable design decisions.
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Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of deliverables across multiple channels, iterating quickly while maintaining high-quality standards.
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Fluency in design software, including Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects).
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Instinct for building scalable, repeatable systems such as templates, variant frameworks, and asset kits, rather than solely creating one-off files. Preferred Skills:
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Motion design capabilities, including experience with animated ads, short-form video for social platforms, or proficiency in Adobe After Effects.
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Familiarity with the specifications and constraints of major advertising platforms (Meta, Google, TikTok, X, YouTube) and how they influence creative strategy.
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Experience leveraging AI-assisted design tools and image-generation workflows to enhance creative output and efficiency.
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Copywriting skills, with the ability to refine headlines and ad copy when necessary.
π Enhancement Note: The qualifications emphasize a blend of creative excellence and analytical capability, with a strong preference for candidates who have experience in fast-paced tech environments and can demonstrate a direct impact on business metrics through their design work. The mention of AI-assisted design points towards an interest in adopting cutting-edge tools for efficiency.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
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A curated selection of case studies that clearly demonstrate your involvement in growth marketing campaigns, highlighting your strategic concepting process and the problem you solved.
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Visual examples of paid ads, social media creative, and lifecycle email designs, showcasing variety in format and channel application.
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Evidence of how design decisions were informed by performance data (e.g., A/B test results, conversion rate improvements), ideally with quantifiable outcomes.
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Examples of scalable design systems, templates, or asset kits developed to streamline creative production and maintain brand consistency.
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Demonstrations of visual design craft, including typography, layout, color theory, and brand application. Process Documentation:
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For each case study, outline the end-to-end design process, from initial brief or ideation to final asset delivery and iteration based on performance feedback.
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Detail your approach to collaborating with growth teams, including how you gather requirements, present concepts, and incorporate feedback.
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Showcase your methodology for creating and managing design systems or templates, including how they are structured and maintained.
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Document your process for translating product launches or GTM strategies into effective creative assets across multiple channels.
π Enhancement Note: The portfolio is expected to be more than just a showcase of aesthetics; it must serve as a testament to strategic thinking, data-driven iteration, and operational efficiency in a growth marketing context. Candidates should be prepared to articulate not just what they designed, but why and how it achieved specific business objectives.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $150,000 - $225,000 USD per year.
Benefits:
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Equity: Stock options or grants, providing ownership and potential for long-term financial growth.
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Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical coverage to support employee well-being.
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Dental Insurance: Coverage for dental care needs.
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Vision Insurance: Coverage for vision care and eyewear.
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Retirement Plan: Options for retirement savings, such as a 401(k) plan, potentially with employer matching.
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Fitness Account: Stipend or reimbursement for gym memberships, fitness classes, or wellness activities.
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Commuter Account: Pre-tax benefits for commuting expenses (e.g., public transport, parking).
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Dependent Care Account: Pre-tax benefits for eligible childcare or dependent care expenses.
Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week. The role's hybrid nature suggests flexibility in daily schedules, with an expectation of availability for key meetings and collaborative sessions.
π Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a Brand Designer role with a growth focus in San Francisco, especially considering the 5+ years of experience requirement. The comprehensive benefits package indicates a commitment to employee well-being and financial security. The "hybrid" work arrangement for a US-based role implies that while remote work is an option, there may be an expectation for occasional in-person collaboration in the San Francisco office.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Search Technology, Information Services. Perplexity is at the forefront of AI-powered information discovery, aiming to revolutionize how people access and interact with knowledge.
Company Size: Perplexity is a rapidly growing startup, likely within the 50-200 employee range, indicating a dynamic, fast-paced, and entrepreneurial environment. This size often means individuals have a significant impact and can influence processes.
Founded: Perplexity was founded in 2022. Its recent founding suggests a culture that is agile, innovative, and focused on rapid development and market disruption.
Team Structure:
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The Brand Designer, Growth will report into the Brand/Creative Studio team, indicating a centralized creative function that supports various departments.
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Close collaboration is expected with the Growth team, Product Marketing, and Brand teams, suggesting a cross-functional operational model.
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Interaction with motion and web designers will be crucial for cohesive campaign delivery. Methodology:
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Data-driven decision-making is central, especially within the Growth team, influencing creative strategy and iteration.
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Emphasis on rapid experimentation and learning, characteristic of a growth-focused tech startup.
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A blend of strategic thinking and high-volume execution is required to meet the demands of growth marketing.
Company Website: https://www.perplexity.ai/
π Enhancement Note: The company's focus on AI and its recent founding suggest a culture that values innovation, speed, and a user-centric approach. The operational structure likely emphasizes agility and cross-functional collaboration to drive growth and product development.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-to-senior level individual contributor, focusing on specialized design execution within the growth marketing function. It requires a strong understanding of both brand strategy and performance metrics.
Reporting Structure: The role reports to the Brand/Creative Studio team, providing a clear reporting line within the creative function. However, daily work and strategic alignment will be heavily influenced by collaboration with the Growth team.
Operations Impact: The Brand Designer, Growth will have a direct impact on Perplexity's user acquisition, engagement, and retention metrics by creating compelling and effective marketing creative. Their work will be crucial in shaping the perception of Perplexity in the market and driving conversion rates for key campaigns.
Growth Opportunities:
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Specialization: Deepen expertise in performance creative, growth marketing strategy, and potentially motion design or copywriting through hands-on experience and collaboration.
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Leadership: Potential to evolve into a lead designer role within the growth creative function, mentoring junior designers or shaping creative strategy for larger initiatives.
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Cross-functional Exposure: Gain valuable insights into product marketing, GTM strategies, and the broader business objectives of an AI-powered tech company.
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Skill Development: Opportunities to learn and apply AI-assisted design workflows, advanced analytics interpretation, and new platform creative best practices.
π Enhancement Note: This role offers significant opportunities for professional development by operating at the nexus of brand and performance. Candidates can expect to hone their skills in a data-rich environment, contributing directly to the company's growth trajectory and potentially shaping future creative operations.
π Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid. While the role is remote-friendly for candidates within the United States, the San Francisco location implies access to a physical office for collaborative sessions, team meetings, or focused workdays.
Office Location(s): San Francisco, California. This is a hub for tech innovation, offering a vibrant professional ecosystem.
Workspace Context:
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Collaborative Environment: Expect frequent interaction with Growth marketers, brand strategists, and other designers, fostering a dynamic and communicative workspace.
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Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially internal tools for asset management and performance tracking.
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Operations Team Interaction: Regular touchpoints with the Brand/Creative Studio and Growth teams to align on campaign objectives, creative direction, and performance feedback.
Work Schedule: Flexible hybrid model. While core working hours may apply for meetings and team synchronization, the role likely offers autonomy in structuring the workday to balance creative deep work with collaborative demands.
π Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature suggests a balance between the flexibility of remote work and the benefits of in-person collaboration, essential for creative brainstorming and team cohesion within a fast-growing startup.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
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Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's requirements and assess the quality and relevance of your growth-focused design work.
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Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you will walk through your portfolio, highlighting specific case studies related to growth campaigns, strategic concepting, and data-informed iteration. Be prepared to discuss your thought process, challenges, and quantifiable results.
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Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or a discussion of how you would approach a hypothetical growth campaign challenge, focusing on concept generation, execution, and iteration strategy.
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Team & Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with members of the Growth team, Brand team, and potentially other designers to evaluate collaboration style, cultural fit, and strategic alignment.
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Hiring Manager/Leadership Interview: A final discussion to assess overall fit, career aspirations, and strategic contribution potential.
Portfolio Review Tips:
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Focus on Growth: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work directly relevant to growth marketingβpaid ads, social media, email, campaign assetsβand clearly articulates the business objectives and results.
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Showcase Strategic Thinking: Don't just present final assets; explain the "why" behind your creative decisions, the hypotheses you tested, and how you partnered with growth teams.
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Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics (e.g., CTR improvements, conversion rate lifts, engagement rates) to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.
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Highlight Systems: Include examples of templates, variant sets, or design systems you've built to showcase your ability to create scalable and efficient creative solutions.
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Brand & Performance Balance: Demonstrate your ability to maintain brand integrity while optimizing for performance metrics.
Challenge Preparation:
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Familiarize yourself with Perplexity's current marketing efforts and brand aesthetic.
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Prepare to discuss how you would approach designing creative for different growth objectives (e.g., awareness, acquisition, engagement).
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Be ready to articulate your process for concept generation, rapid iteration, and data analysis in a fast-paced environment.
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Consider how you would balance brand consistency with the need for diverse creative variations across multiple ad platforms.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to rigorously assess both creative talent and strategic/analytical capabilities. A strong portfolio that clearly articulates the connection between design, strategy, and business results will be paramount.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
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Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating scalable design systems and templates. Proficiency is a must.
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Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop (for image manipulation and ad creative), Illustrator (for vector graphics and icons), and potentially After Effects (for motion graphics and animated ads).
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Prototyping Tools: Potentially Figma's built-in prototyping, or other tools if used for specific campaign asset development.
Analytics & Reporting:
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Platform Analytics: Familiarity with interpreting data from ad platforms like Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, TikTok Ads Manager, etc., regarding CTR, conversion rates, engagement metrics, and impression data.
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Web Analytics: Understanding of how ad creative impacts website traffic and conversion through tools like Google Analytics or similar.
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Internal Dashboards: Potential use of internal BI tools or dashboards for tracking campaign performance and ROI.
CRM & Automation:
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Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms used for lifecycle email campaigns (e.g., Braze, HubSpot, Mailchimp) and how design integrates into automated workflows.
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Project Management Tools: Tools like Asana, Jira, or Trello for managing design workflows, task assignments, and tracking progress.
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Asset Management: Potentially DAM (Digital Asset Management) systems for organizing and distributing creative assets.
π Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable.
Application Requirements
The role requires 5+ years of industry experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating both brand craft and performance results. Proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and the ability to translate performance data into design decisions are essential.