Creative Designer

Octopus Energy Group
Full-time€32k-40k/year (EUR)Milan, Italy

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Creative Designer

Company: Octopus Energy Group

Location: Milan (IT)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-09-09

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Drive visual storytelling and brand consistency across all customer touchpoints, from digital interfaces to physical campaign materials.

  • Translate complex product requirements and marketing briefs into intuitive and engaging user interfaces, wireframes, and graphical assets.

  • Develop dynamic content, including motion graphics and short videos, for digital marketing campaigns and social media channels to enhance customer engagement.

  • Execute multi-channel marketing campaigns by producing and adapting creative assets for digital platforms (Meta, Google) and offline media (print, OOH), ensuring strict adherence to deadlines and publisher specifications.

  • Contribute to the ongoing development and optimization of the company's website and customer portal, enhancing user experience and brand presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Creative Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into UI/UX design for digital products and multi-channel campaign execution, indicating a strong focus on GTM (Go-To-Market) and brand operations. The role requires a blend of creative artistry and operational execution within a marketing context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Product & UI Design: Translate product requirements and business needs into detailed user flows, wireframes, and high-fidelity interfaces using Figma, meticulously considering various states, responsive layouts, and edge cases to ensure a seamless user experience.

  • Content Creation & Motion Graphics: Conceptualize and produce visually compelling graphic assets, animations, and short video content for digital campaigns and social media, employing motion design principles to create impactful and engaging narratives.

  • Multi-Channel Campaign Execution: Develop and adapt creative assets for diverse digital advertising platforms (e.g., Meta, Google Ads) and offline channels (e.g., print, Out-of-Home), ensuring all creative output adheres to specific technical specifications and brand guidelines of various publishers and media portals.

  • Media Asset Management & Delivery: Oversee the precise formatting and delivery of creative assets, managing uploads to relevant platforms and ensuring rigorous compliance with all project deadlines and media buying schedules.

  • Digital Platform Evolution: Actively participate in the continuous maintenance, enhancement, and evolution of the company website and the customer personal area, contributing design expertise to improve functionality, usability, and visual appeal.

  • Cross-Functional Brand Support: Provide comprehensive graphic design and branding support to various internal teams, creating essential materials such as flyers, promotional merchandise, and internal office/event collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for tactical execution and project management within a creative framework. Emphasis on "Media Execution" and "rigorous respect for deadlines" points to operational efficiency and process adherence being as crucial as creative output.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating proficiency in design principles and software is paramount. A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is often preferred.

Experience: 3-5 years of experience in a design role, ideally within an agency or a fast-paced startup environment, is required. Experience in sectors with a strong customer experience component (utilities, fintech, telco) is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

  • UI/UX Design: Expert proficiency in Figma for creating user flows, wireframes, and interfaces, with a strong understanding of UX principles and best practices.

  • Graphic Design Software: Advanced command of Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating a wide range of visual assets.

  • Motion Design: Solid working knowledge of After Effects (or similar tools) for producing animated graphics, micro-interactions, and short video content.

  • Campaign Production: Proven experience in producing and adapting creative assets for both digital (Meta, Google) and offline (print, OOH) marketing campaigns.

  • Project Management: Demonstrated ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet strict deadlines in a dynamic environment.

  • User Empathy: A strong capacity to understand and represent the needs of the average user, making design choices that are practical and effective in real-world scenarios.

  • Collaborative Spirit: A proactive and team-oriented approach, with a willingness to work collaboratively in an office setting and engage closely with colleagues.

  • Operational Autonomy: Ability to take ownership of tasks and drive them to completion with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving skills.

  • Copywriting Sensibility: A keen eye for clear, concise, and engaging microcopy, including CTAs, labels, and error messages that resonate with the target audience.

Preferred Skills:

  • Experience with web content management systems (CMS) for website updates.

  • Basic understanding of video editing software beyond motion graphics.

  • Familiarity with A/B testing creative assets for performance optimization.

  • Knowledge of SEO principles as they relate to visual content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Figma, Adobe Suite, and After Effects, coupled with experience in specific campaign channels and user empathy, suggests a need for a designer who can not only create but also execute and optimize within a GTM framework. The "startup" or "agency" preference indicates comfort with rapid iteration and diverse project scopes.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • UI/UX Case Studies: Showcase detailed examples of UI/UX design processes, from initial wireframes and user flows to final interface designs, clearly articulating problem statements, design decisions, and outcomes.

  • Campaign Creative Examples: Present a range of creative assets developed for multi-channel campaigns, demonstrating adaptability across digital (social media ads, banners) and offline (print ads, OOH) formats.

  • Motion Graphics Showcase: Include examples of motion graphics and animated content, highlighting technical proficiency and creative application for digital storytelling.

  • Brand Consistency Examples: Provide evidence of maintaining brand integrity across various projects and platforms, illustrating adherence to brand guidelines and visual identity systems.

  • Tool Proficiency Demonstration: Implicitly demonstrate proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and After Effects through the quality and complexity of portfolio pieces.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design: Illustrate how you approach design projects, from brief interpretation and concept development to execution and final delivery, showing an understanding of efficient design workflows.

  • System Implementation: Where applicable, show how your designs integrate with or enhance existing digital systems (e.g., website, app) and how you consider technical constraints.

  • Performance Analysis: For campaign work, ideally, include examples where you can discuss the performance of your creative assets and how they contributed to campaign objectives, even if indirectly.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is critical for this role, not just for showcasing creative talent but also for demonstrating an understanding of operational execution, user-centric design, and campaign effectiveness. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design choices, especially in relation to user needs and business goals, will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: €32,000 - €40,000 per year.

Explanation: This range is provided based on the specified salary band in the job description and is typical for a mid-level Creative Designer role in Milan, Italy, considering the required 3-5 years of experience and the specific skill set (Figma, Adobe Suite, Motion Graphics). Regional salary data for similar roles in Milan supports this estimate.

Benefits:

  • Equity Options Scheme: Opportunity to receive stock options in Octopus Energy Group, aligning personal incentives with company growth and value creation.

  • Meal Vouchers: Provision of meal vouchers to assist with daily living expenses.

  • Psychological Wellbeing Sessions: Access to free professional psychological support sessions, emphasizing the company's commitment to employee mental health and overall wellbeing.

  • Family Dinners: Weekly company-wide updates and social gatherings held on Fridays, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, standard for a full-time position in Italy. The company culture emphasizes results and efficiency over rigid adherence to time, suggesting potential for flexibility within this framework, though the role is primarily on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated, but the company's note about "buonsenso" (common sense) and tailoring offers based on experience and fit is important. The benefits package includes unique elements like equity options and "Family Dinners," which are strong cultural indicators.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Energy (Utilities), Technology, with a strong focus on customer experience and innovation. Octopus Energy Group is disrupting the traditional energy market with a tech-driven, customer-centric approach.

Company Size: Large. Octopus Energy Group operates globally and has a significant presence in Italy with over 300 employees across multiple offices, having surpassed one million customers.

Founded: Octopus Energy was founded in 2015. Its entry into Italy was in 2022. This relatively young company history implies a dynamic, growth-oriented, and innovative culture.

Team Structure:

  • The Creative Designer will be part of the Marketing team.

  • Collaboration is expected across various departments, including the Tech team, to translate requirements into finished creative assets.

  • The culture emphasizes cross-functional teamwork, with a desire to break down traditional departmental silos and foster direct problem-solving. Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decisions: The company leverages data, automation, and AI to understand problems and improve services, suggesting an analytical approach even within creative roles.

  • Agile & Lean Operations: The description explicitly rejects bureaucracy and unnecessary procedures, favoring a direct, responsible, and efficient approach to problem-solving.

  • Customer-Centricity: A core tenet, reflected in high customer satisfaction scores and awards, indicating that all operations and creative output are geared towards improving the customer experience.

Company Website: https://octopus.energy/ (Global site, Italian operations are a key focus)

📝 Enhancement Note: Octopus Energy positions itself as a modern, tech-forward company disrupting a traditional industry. The culture is described as energetic, collaborative, and results-oriented, with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and innovation. This context is vital for a Creative Designer to understand how their work contributes to broader business objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level individual contributor within the Marketing/Creative function. It offers significant exposure to product design, campaign execution, and brand management, providing a solid foundation for further specialization.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager or Head of Creative/Marketing. They will work closely with product managers, marketing specialists, and potentially engineers.

Operations Impact: The Creative Designer's work will have a direct and visible impact on customer acquisition, engagement, and retention. High-quality, consistent creative assets are crucial for brand perception, campaign effectiveness, and the overall user experience of Octopus Energy's digital platforms and marketing efforts.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UI/UX design, motion graphics, or specific campaign channels based on project involvement and personal development goals.

  • Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience by collaborating with tech, product, and other marketing teams, leading to a broader understanding of business operations.

  • Leadership Potential: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to take on more senior design responsibilities, mentor junior designers, or lead specific creative initiatives.

  • Industry Impact: Contributing to a company that is actively transforming the energy sector, offering a chance to be part of a significant industry shift.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a clear path for growth within a rapidly expanding company. The emphasis on "taking responsibility" and "making a real impact" suggests that proactive individuals can carve out significant career development opportunities beyond the initial scope of the role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly on-site in Milan, Italy. This indicates a preference for in-person collaboration and a shared workspace environment.

Office Location(s): Milan, Italy. Specific office address details are not provided but are implied to be accessible within the city.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: The company culture promotes working closely with colleagues, suggesting an open-plan office or shared studio space conducive to teamwork and spontaneous idea exchange.

  • Tools & Technology: Employees are expected to have curiosity and comfort with technology. The role necessitates proficiency in industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Suite, After Effects). Access to necessary hardware and software will be provided.

  • Team Interaction: Regular interaction with marketing, tech, and potentially other cross-functional teams is a key aspect of the role, facilitating a holistic understanding of project lifecycles and business objectives.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, likely adhering to standard Italian business hours (e.g., 9 AM to 6 PM with a lunch break), totaling around 40 hours per week. While the company values efficiency, the on-site requirement suggests a structured daily presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "working in the office in contact with the team" and a preference for agency/startup environments suggests a dynamic, hands-on workspace where collaboration is key, and a strong sense of camaraderie is fostered.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely a review of CV and portfolio by the recruitment team or hiring manager.

  • Creative Assessment: A practical exercise or portfolio review to evaluate design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of UI/UX principles and campaign execution. This may involve presenting specific case studies.

  • Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, cultural fit, and approach to collaboration. Expect questions about how you handle feedback, work under pressure, and contribute to a team.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss career aspirations and overall alignment with Octopus Energy's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills required for this role (UI/UX, motion graphics, multi-channel campaigns).

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem statement, your role, the design process, key decisions made, and the measurable impact or outcome. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

  • Showcase Process: Include wireframes, user flows, mood boards, and iterations to demonstrate your design thinking and problem-solving approach, not just the final polished output.

  • Highlight Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your mastery of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and After Effects.

  • Tailor to Octopus: If possible, include a project that shows an understanding of the energy sector or a similar customer-centric industry, or demonstrate how your design thinking aligns with Octopus's mission.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Anticipate Design Challenges: Be prepared for a potential design exercise that might involve creating a UI element, adapting a creative for a new platform, or solving a user experience problem within a limited timeframe.

  • Articulate Your Rationale: Practice explaining your design decisions clearly and concisely, linking them back to user needs, brand guidelines, and business objectives.

  • Understand the Brand: Research Octopus Energy's current branding, marketing campaigns, and customer communication style. Be ready to discuss how your work would align with or evolve this.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely focus on practical design skills, problem-solving capabilities, and cultural fit. A well-curated portfolio that showcases process and impact, along with the ability to articulate design rationale, will be crucial for success.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

  • Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is a core requirement.

  • Adobe Creative Suite:

    • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and asset creation.
    • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
    • InDesign: For layout design, print materials, and digital publications.
  • After Effects: Key for motion graphics, animations, and creating dynamic visual content for digital campaigns.

Content & Campaign Tools:

  • Meta Ads Manager: Familiarity with the creative requirements and best practices for advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

  • Google Ads: Understanding of creative specifications for various Google advertising formats (display, video).

  • Digital Publishing Platforms: Experience with uploading and managing creative assets on various ad platforms and publisher portals.

Web & Digital Platforms:

  • Website CMS: While not explicitly stated, experience with content management systems (e.g., WordPress, or proprietary systems) would be beneficial for website evolution tasks.

  • Personal Area/App Interfaces: Experience designing for user accounts and customer portals.

Collaboration & Project Management:

  • Team Communication Tools: Likely Slack or similar for internal communication.

  • Project Management Software: Potentially tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira for task tracking and workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on industry-standard design software. Mastery of Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The ability to leverage these tools for both static and motion graphics, and to then execute them across various digital and offline channels, is paramount.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the customer, making their experience with energy simple, fair, and accessible.

  • Innovation & Technology: Embracing new technologies and data-driven approaches to solve problems and improve services, rather than relying on traditional, often inefficient, methods.

  • Efficiency & Simplicity: Actively avoiding bureaucracy, unnecessary procedures, and internal hand-offs, favoring direct action and clear communication.

  • Responsibility & Ownership: Encouraging individuals to take ownership of tasks and problems, empowering them to find solutions and drive impact.

  • Collaboration & Generosity: Fostering a supportive team environment where colleagues help each other, share knowledge, and work towards common goals.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: The company actively promotes collaboration between departments, breaking down silos to ensure that creative work is aligned with product development and marketing strategy.

  • Direct Communication: Emphasis on clear, concise, and honest communication, valuing feedback and open discussion to resolve issues quickly.

  • Shared Purpose: A strong sense of collective mission to revolutionize the energy sector, which unites team members across different functions and levels.

📝 Enhancement Note: Octopus Energy's culture is characterized by its disruptive approach to a traditional industry, driven by technology, customer focus, and a lean, collaborative ethos. A Creative Designer who thrives in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment and values teamwork will be a good fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to the fast-paced nature of a rapidly expanding company, where processes may evolve quickly and new challenges arise frequently.

  • Balancing Creative Vision with Operational Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas into practical, executable assets that meet technical specifications, budget, and strict deadlines for diverse campaign channels.

  • Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand identity across a wide array of touchpoints and campaigns, from digital interfaces to physical marketing materials, as the company scales.

  • Evolving Technologies: Staying abreast of new design tools, software updates, and digital marketing trends to maintain a cutting edge in creative output.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Specialized Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas like advanced motion graphics, interactive design, or user research methodologies through internal projects or external courses.

  • Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining insights into marketing strategy, product development, and business operations through close collaboration with other teams.

  • Industry Exposure: Contributing to a company at the forefront of energy tech innovation, providing exposure to a dynamic and evolving industry landscape.

  • Mentorship: Potential for guidance from experienced marketing and design leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges inherent in a high-growth, innovative company. The opportunities for learning are significant, particularly in developing a holistic understanding of how creative operations contribute to broader business success in a disruptive industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • Design Process & Problem Solving: "Describe a time you had to translate a complex product requirement into a simple, intuitive interface. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on Figma usage, user-centricity, and problem-solving.)

  • Campaign Execution: "Walk us through a multi-channel campaign you worked on. What were the different creative assets, how did you adapt them for each platform, and what were the key challenges?" (Highlight experience with Meta, Google, print, OOH, and deadline management.)

  • Motion Graphics Application: "How have you used motion graphics to enhance user engagement or communicate a key message in a campaign? Can you show an example?" (Demonstrate understanding of After Effects and creative storytelling.)

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Cultural Alignment: "What excites you about Octopus Energy's mission to change the energy industry, and how do you see your creative contributions supporting this?" (Research the company's values and mission.)

  • Teamwork & Collaboration: "Describe your ideal work environment and how you collaborate with non-designers, such as engineers or marketing managers." (Emphasize collaboration, direct communication, and a willingness to work on-site.)

  • Impact Measurement: "How do you measure the success of your creative work, particularly in marketing campaigns?" (Discuss metrics like engagement rates, conversion rates, brand recall, or qualitative feedback.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: Begin with a brief overview of Octopus Energy and the role, then present 3-5 key projects, dedicating 5-7 minutes per project.

  • Focus on Process & Rationale: For each project, explain the "why" behind your design choices, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them. Showcase wireframes, user flows, and iterations.

  • Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your work (e.g., increased click-through rates, improved user satisfaction scores, successful campaign launches).

  • Be Ready for Technical Questions: Prepare to discuss your proficiency with Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and After Effects in detail.

  • Engage and Ask Questions: Show genuine interest in the role, the team, and the company by asking thoughtful questions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative talent, operational execution, and cultural fit. Be ready to articulate your design process, showcase your technical skills with specific examples, and explain how your work contributes to business objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent creative position:

  • Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co.

  • Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that align with the job description's requirements, specifically highlighting UI/UX design in Figma, multi-channel campaign creative, and motion graphics work. Tailor your project selection to showcase your experience in customer-centric industries if possible.

  • Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize keywords from the job description, such as "Figma," "UI Design," "Motion Graphics," "Campaign Execution," and "Adobe Creative Suite." Quantify your achievements with specific metrics where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work using case studies. Prepare to discuss your experience with the required tools and your understanding of Octopus Energy's mission and values.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research Octopus Energy Group's brand, mission, values, and recent marketing activities. Understand their approach to customer experience and innovation in the energy sector.

⚠️ 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

The ideal candidate has 3-5 years of design experience with strong proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. You should possess a collaborative mindset, experience in motion design, and the ability to manage multiple projects while meeting deadlines.