Design Director, Branding

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Branding

Company: Clera

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design / Creative Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-08-13

Experience Level: 10+ years (Inferred from 8+ years requirement and leadership scope)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and execution of Clera's visual identity and brand narrative across all touchpoints, from marketing campaigns to product experiences.

• Drive creative direction and ensure brand consistency by translating complex AI technology into clear, culturally resonant visual systems and compelling storytelling.

• Collaborate closely with Brand, Marketing, Product, and Leadership teams to influence market perception and achieve business objectives through exceptional design.

• Serve as a hands-on creative leader, balancing high-level strategic thinking with meticulous execution of design assets and brand collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as a "hands-on creative leadership role at an early-stage ambient intelligence AI startup," indicating a need for both strategic vision and the ability to execute. The "10+ years" experience level is inferred from the "8+ years of design experience specializing in brand identity, visual systems, campaigns, and creative direction" requirement, combined with the leadership and strategic responsibilities. The focus on "ambient intelligence AI startup" suggests a need for design that can demystify complex technology.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and continuously evolve the comprehensive visual identity system for Clera, ensuring cohesive branding across all channels including marketing, product, communications, and content.

• Translate overarching brand strategy into tangible visual systems, compelling narratives, impactful campaigns, and seamless customer experiences.

• Create a wide range of high-quality visual assets, encompassing launch materials, executive presentations, campaign creative, social media content, web pages, and essential brand collateral.

• Design creative concepts that effectively simplify complex technology, making it understandable and culturally relevant to the target audience.

• Define and establish scalable design principles and visual storytelling frameworks to ensure consistent branding and effective communication across all organizational touchpoints.

• Foster strong partnerships with Marketing and Product teams to align design initiatives with business goals while rigorously upholding brand integrity.

• Work strategically with company leadership to shape market perception and brand positioning through insightful creative direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic brand development and hands-on creative execution. The mention of "translating complex technology" highlights the need for design to serve an educational and accessibility function, crucial for an AI startup. The collaboration with "Leadership" points to a strategic advisory component of the role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Design Director role of this caliber.

Experience: 8+ years of dedicated design experience with a specialization in brand identity, visual systems, campaign development, and creative direction. Proven experience in a fast-paced startup environment with high creative standards is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proven ability to develop and evolve comprehensive visual identity systems across diverse channels (brand, marketing, product, communications, content).

• Demonstrated success in translating brand strategy into effective visual systems, narratives, campaigns, and customer experiences.

• Expertise in creating high-quality visual assets, including launch materials, presentations, campaign creative, social assets, web pages, and brand collateral.

• Strong capability to establish scalable design principles and visual storytelling frameworks.

• Deep understanding of how brand strategy influences market perception and product experience.

• Proven track record of effective cross-functional collaboration with Marketing, Product, Brand, and Leadership stakeholders.

• Strategic thinking skills with a focus on translating complex concepts into clear, resonant design.

• Hands-on execution skills with a portfolio showcasing strategic thinking and practical design application.

• Adaptability and comfort operating within a fast-paced startup environment. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience designing for luxury, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), wellness, or technology brands.

• Experience in making complex technology accessible and culturally relevant through design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required" skills are directly extracted from the job description. The "Preferred" skills are inferred from the "Nice to Have" section, which often indicates areas that would make a candidate stand out. The experience level is corroborated by the 8+ years requirement and the leadership scope.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong foundation in brand identity development and visual system design.

• Evidence of strategic thinking, demonstrating how design decisions align with brand strategy and business objectives.

• Examples of translating complex technical concepts or brand strategies into clear, compelling visual narratives and campaigns.

• High-quality examples of diverse visual assets, including presentations, campaign creative, web design elements, and brand collateral.

• Case studies illustrating cross-functional collaboration and the impact of design on market perception and customer experience.

• Demonstrations of how design principles have been scaled and applied consistently across multiple touchpoints. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated, candidates should be prepared to discuss their process for developing and evolving visual identity systems.

• Be ready to articulate methodologies for translating brand strategy into actionable design frameworks.

• Prepare to explain how you ensure brand consistency and manage design execution across various teams and deliverables.

• Be prepared to discuss your approach to user-centered design, especially when making complex technology accessible.

📝 Enhancement Note: Portfolio requirements for a Design Director role are critical. This section infers standard expectations for such a position, focusing on strategic alignment, execution quality, and collaborative impact, crucial for an operations-adjacent role like brand management. The emphasis is on demonstrating a structured approach to design processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 – $170,000 USD annually. This range is based on the provided salary information and is competitive for a Design Director role with significant brand and creative leadership responsibilities in the US market, especially within the tech/AI startup sector. Factors influencing placement within this range include the depth of experience, specific industry background (e.g., luxury, DTC, tech), and demonstrated impact.

Benefits:

• Specific benefits are not detailed in the provided job description. However, typical benefits for a full-time, remote role at a US-based startup often include:

  • Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance

  • Stock Options or Equity Grants

  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays

  • Potential for Professional Development Stipends (e.g., for conferences, courses)

  • Home Office Stipend or Equipment Allowance Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week. As a leadership role in a startup, flexibility and dedication beyond standard hours may be expected, particularly during critical project phases or launches.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is directly from the input. The benefits are inferred based on common offerings for full-time, remote roles at US-based startups. The working hours are based on the standard 40-hour week for full-time employment, with a note on expected startup flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Ambient Intelligence AI Startup). Clera is operating in the cutting-edge field of ambient intelligence, focusing on AI that understands and adapts to its environment. This industry demands innovation, rapid iteration, and a strong emphasis on user experience and trust.

Company Size: Early-stage startup. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where roles can be fluid, and individuals have a significant opportunity to shape processes and outcomes. Collaboration is often direct and cross-functional.

Founded: The company was founded in 2021, indicating a relatively young organization still establishing its market presence and brand identity.

Team Structure:

• Branding/Marketing Focus: The Design Director will likely work within or closely with the Marketing and Brand teams, reporting to a senior marketing leader or potentially directly to a founder/CEO in very early stages.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close partnerships with Product, Engineering, and Leadership teams are essential to ensure brand consistency and effective communication of the AI technology.

• Lean Operations: As an early-stage startup, the operations and design teams are likely lean, requiring team members to be adaptable and wear multiple hats.

Methodology:

• Agile Development & Design: Given the startup nature and AI focus, design processes will likely be agile, iterative, and closely integrated with product development cycles.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative direction is paramount, decisions will increasingly be informed by user research, market analysis, and performance metrics as the company scales.

• User-Centricity: A strong focus on understanding the end-user's needs and translating complex AI capabilities into intuitive and valuable experiences.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Information on industry, size, and founding date is derived from external knowledge about Clera. The team structure and methodology are inferred based on typical early-stage AI startup dynamics and the role's collaborative requirements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the creative and brand function. It's a strategic role focused on establishing and amplifying the company's brand identity, directly impacting market perception and customer acquisition. It sits at the intersection of creative execution and business strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report to a VP of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), or potentially a Founder/CEO, depending on the current organizational structure of this early-stage startup. They will lead the visual branding efforts and may manage a small team or external agencies as the company grows.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's work is fundamental to establishing Clera's market presence and credibility. Strong branding is crucial for attracting customers, investors, and talent in the competitive AI space. Effective visual communication can demystify complex technology, driving adoption and building trust.

Growth Opportunities:

• Brand Authority: Opportunity to build Clera's brand from an early stage, establishing significant personal and professional legacy within the company and industry.

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to build and lead a larger design and branding team as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Direct impact on company-wide strategy, influencing product direction and market positioning through design leadership.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen expertise in branding for advanced technology sectors, particularly AI and ambient intelligence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis is based on the seniority of the "Design Director" title and the context of an early-stage startup. The "Operations Impact" section links the creative role to broader business outcomes, which is a key consideration for operations-minded professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote. This role is designed for individuals who can work effectively from a home office environment, requiring self-discipline, strong communication skills, and reliable technology.

Office Location(s): Open to candidates based in the United States. This allows for a broad talent pool but may necessitate coordination across different US time zones.

Workspace Context:

• Home Office Environment: Candidates are expected to have a dedicated, productive workspace conducive to creative work and remote collaboration.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with virtual collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, Miro, Figma) is essential for seamless teamwork.

• Independent Work Ethic: The remote nature requires a high degree of autonomy, time management, and proactive communication.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with potential for flexibility. Given the startup environment and remote nature, asynchronous communication and flexible scheduling to accommodate meetings across time zones will likely be part of the work rhythm.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Office Type" and "Office Location(s)" are directly from the job description. The "Workspace Context" and "Work Schedule" are inferred based on the remote nature and startup environment, emphasizing the need for self-management and digital collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: While not explicitly detailed, a typical interview process for a Design Director role at a startup would likely include:

• Initial Screening: HR or Recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, often involving a presentation of key case studies demonstrating strategic thinking, execution, and impact. This is where the candidate translates their experience into tangible examples.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key cross-functional stakeholders (e.g., Head of Marketing, Product Lead, potentially Founders) to assess collaboration style, strategic alignment, and creative judgment.

• Creative Challenge (Optional): A small, focused design exercise or brief to evaluate problem-solving skills and approach to a specific branding challenge relevant to Clera.

• Final Round: Discussion with senior leadership or founders for final assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Clearly articulate the strategic thinking behind each project. How did your design solve a business problem or advance brand goals?

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-fidelity mockups and examples of final assets. For visual systems, show how they are applied across various touchpoints.

• Demonstrate Impact: Where possible, quantify the results of your work (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand perception metrics, successful campaign performance).

• Highlight Collaboration: Showcase examples of working with cross-functional teams and how you incorporated feedback.

• Tailor to Clera: Emphasize projects that demonstrate experience with technology, startups, or complex problem-solving through design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Research Clera's current branding (website, social media) and identify potential areas for enhancement or strategic direction.

• Be prepared to discuss how you would approach developing a brand for an "ambient intelligence AI startup," considering the unique challenges of communicating such technology.

• Practice articulating your design process and rationale concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section outlines a likely interview process and provides actionable tips for portfolio presentation and challenge preparation, tailored to a senior design leadership role in a startup environment. The emphasis is on demonstrating strategic value and collaborative capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is standard. Figma is increasingly becoming the industry standard for UI/UX and collaborative design, and likely essential for a remote team.

• Prototyping/Wireframing: Tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or InVision may be used for creating interactive prototypes and user flows.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides for creating executive-level presentations and communicating design concepts.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility, understanding how to interpret brand performance metrics and user engagement data (e.g., from Google Analytics, social media analytics tools, CRM data) will be beneficial for informing design strategy. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation platforms are used to deliver branded content and customer experiences will be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section infers the likely technology stack based on industry standards for a Design Director role, particularly in a remote, tech-focused startup. The emphasis is on design execution tools and an understanding of how design integrates with broader marketing and customer experience platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Creativity: A core value for an AI startup, driving the development of novel solutions and compelling brand expressions.

• Strategic Impact: A focus on ensuring design efforts directly contribute to business objectives and market positioning.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Essential for a remote, early-stage team, fostering open communication and shared understanding across departments.

• User-Centricity: A commitment to understanding and serving the needs of the target audience, especially in demystifying complex technology.

• High Standards & Craftsmanship: Maintaining a high level of design quality and attention to detail in all outputs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect close collaboration with Marketing, Product, and potentially Engineering teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate between creative and technical disciplines.

• Feedback-Driven: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to refine designs and strategies.

• Proactive Communication: In a remote setting, proactive updates and clear articulation of needs and progress are vital.

📝 Enhancement Note: These values and collaboration styles are inferred based on the company's industry (AI startup), stage (early-stage), and work arrangement (fully remote), as well as the inherent needs of a creative leadership role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Definition for Novel Technology: Articulating the value and essence of "ambient intelligence AI" visually for a broad audience can be challenging.

• Startup Pacing: Balancing high creative standards with the rapid iteration cycles and demands of an early-stage startup environment.

• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective communication, alignment, and creative synergy within a fully remote team.

• Scalability: Developing brand systems that can grow and adapt as the company expands its product offerings and market reach.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Leadership: Opportunity to become a recognized leader in branding for the AI/ambient intelligence sector.

• Strategic Brand Building: Gain extensive experience in shaping a brand from its foundational stages.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Deepen understanding of AI technology, product development, and marketing strategies through close collaboration.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers or team members as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are identified based on the role's specific context: a senior design leadership position at an early-stage AI startup operating remotely. This provides a realistic outlook for potential candidates.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a visual identity for an 'ambient intelligence AI startup' like Clera, considering the need to make complex technology accessible and culturally relevant?"

• "Describe a time you translated a complex brand strategy into a cohesive visual system and campaigns. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?"

• "How do you balance maintaining brand integrity with supporting specific marketing or product launch objectives?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Clera, what do you see as our biggest branding challenges and opportunities?"

• "How do you foster a collaborative and productive design culture within a remote team?"

• "How do you measure the success and impact of your branding initiatives?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a story, starting with the strategic challenge, moving through your creative process, and concluding with the impact and results.

• Focus on Strategic Relevance: For each project, clearly articulate why you made certain design decisions and how they served the brand's strategic goals.

• Showcase Breadth and Depth: Include examples of visual identity systems, campaign creative, and asset creation. Highlight projects that demonstrate experience with technology or complex concepts.

• Be Prepared for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your process, decision-making, and how you handle feedback or challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: These interview questions and preparation tips are designed to align with the specific requirements and context of the Design Director, Branding role at Clera, focusing on strategic thinking, creative execution, and collaborative leadership in an AI startup environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature projects demonstrating expertise in brand identity, visual systems, campaign creative, and strategic storytelling, especially those involving technology or complex concepts. Tailor your presentation to Clera's AI focus.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your 8+ years of relevant experience, leadership roles, and quantifiable achievements in brand development and creative direction. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic rationale, and collaborative approach. Be ready to present your portfolio and discuss how you would tackle Clera's branding challenges.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clera, its mission, current branding, and the ambient intelligence AI market. Understand their value proposition and target audience to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic insight.

⚠️ 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.