Founding UI/UX & Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding UI/UX & Graphic Designer

Company: Clera

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Operations / GTM Design Enablement

Date Posted: 2026-09-02

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (2-8 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the visual identity and user experience for a Y Combinator-backed consumer wearable startup, defining its premium brand aesthetic from inception.

• Own the end-to-end UI/UX design for the core iOS application, ensuring an intuitive and engaging user journey.

• Drive the visual presence across all digital touchpoints, including the company website, social media channels, and email communications, ensuring a cohesive brand experience.

• Develop impactful launch collateral and event invitations that align with the premium consumer hardware brand's identity.

• Establish and maintain a unified design language across all user-facing platforms, ensuring consistency and brand recognition.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a "Founding Design" position, indicating a high level of autonomy and strategic input. The emphasis on "owning the entire visual presence" and "direct path to leading design" suggests this is not just an execution role but a foundational one for the company's design function, with significant potential for growth and leadership within the GTM and Product Design operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and execute comprehensive UI/UX for the native iOS application, focusing on user flows, wireframes, interactive prototypes, and pixel-perfect visual designs.

• Develop and maintain the visual design system and brand guidelines, ensuring consistency across all digital and physical touchpoints.

• Design and iterate on the company website, optimizing for user engagement, conversion, and brand storytelling.

• Create compelling visual assets for marketing campaigns, social media content, email newsletters, and product launch materials to support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.

• Collaborate closely with product management, engineering, and marketing teams to translate business requirements and user needs into elegant design solutions.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather feedback and inform design decisions, driving continuous improvement in the user experience.

• Stay abreast of industry design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in UI/UX and graphic design, particularly within the consumer hardware and wearable tech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to highlight the strategic impact of design in a GTM context. "Own end-to-end UI/UX," "Lead design across," and "Define and maintain a unified consumer design language" emphasize the critical role this designer will play in shaping the company's market perception and user acquisition efforts.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: A strong foundation in design principles is paramount. While formal education is not explicitly stated as a requirement, a background from a strong design school is considered a plus.

Experience: 2–8 years of dedicated experience in UI/UX design and graphic design.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in end-to-end UI/UX design for mobile applications, specifically iOS.

• Demonstrated proficiency in graphic design principles, including typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy.

• Advanced skill level with design and prototyping tools, with a strong emphasis on Figma.

• Experience designing for web platforms, including website interfaces and user flows.

• Ability to create high-quality marketing collateral and visual assets for various communication channels.

• A deeply ingrained aesthetic sensibility that aligns with premium consumer hardware and wearable brands.

• Demonstrated ability to work autonomously, manage multiple design projects concurrently, and drive initiatives with minimal oversight.

• Strong understanding of brand identity development and the ability to maintain visual consistency across diverse touchpoints. Preferred Skills:

• Experience within a fast-paced startup environment, ideally one backed by a reputable accelerator like Y Combinator.

• Familiarity with consumer hardware product development cycles and user experience challenges.

• Experience with animation or motion graphics for enhancing user interfaces or marketing materials.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS) to facilitate collaboration with engineering teams.

• Prior experience in a "founding" team role or leading design initiatives from an early stage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "standout portfolio demonstrating strong graphic design fundamentals and exceptional aesthetic taste" is highlighted as the most crucial factor, superseding specific years of experience. This indicates a preference for demonstrable talent and a strong visual portfolio over rigid tenure requirements.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is the primary evaluation criterion, showcasing a strong grasp of graphic design fundamentals and exceptional aesthetic judgment.

• Demonstrate end-to-end UI/UX design process for at least one mobile application (iOS preferred), from initial concept and user research to final visual design and prototyping.

• Showcase examples of website design, highlighting user flow, layout, and visual appeal.

• Include examples of marketing collateral, such as brochures, social media graphics, or launch materials, that align with a premium brand identity.

• Highlight projects where you defined or maintained a unified brand design language across multiple platforms.

• Showcase your proficiency with Figma, including complex component systems, interactive prototypes, and collaborative workflows. Process Documentation:

• Projects should ideally illustrate your approach to user-centered design, including wireframing, user journey mapping, and usability testing insights.

• Case studies should articulate your design rationale, problem-solving methodologies, and how your design decisions contributed to business or user goals.

• Demonstrate your ability to adapt design processes to the specific needs of a startup environment, balancing speed with quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Portfolio Essentials" section is heavily influenced by the job description's explicit mention of the portfolio being the "most important factor." The requirements are tailored to showcase the breadth of design responsibilities outlined in the role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: £70,000 per annum.

Benefits:

• Equity: A meaningful founding equity stake, reflecting the foundational nature of this role and the early stage of the company.

• Health & Wellness: Details not specified, but typically includes standard provisions for UK-based employees.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth and leadership within the design function as the company scales.

• Impact: The chance to shape the visual identity of a promising tech startup from its inception.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, with an expectation of on-site presence in London. Flexibility may be available, but the core requirement is office-based collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is explicitly stated as £70,000. The equity component is highlighted as a significant part of the compensation package, common for founding roles in startups. The note on visa sponsorship indicates that while H-1B transfers are considered, new visa sponsorships are not offered, which is a critical detail for international candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Technology, Wearables, Hardware. Clera is operating in the burgeoning market of consumer wearables, aiming to integrate technology seamlessly into daily life.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, Y Combinator-backed. This implies a lean, agile, and fast-paced work environment with a strong emphasis on innovation and rapid iteration.

Founded: The exact founding date is not specified, but being Y Combinator-backed suggests a recent founding with significant growth potential.

Team Structure:

• As a founding design hire, you will likely be the sole designer initially, working directly with the founding team (likely CEO, CTO, Product Lead).

• You will be integral to the core product and GTM strategy teams, collaborating closely with engineering and marketing.

• The structure is flat and collaborative, with direct access to leadership and a high degree of influence. Methodology:

• Design Thinking: Emphasizes user-centric problem-solving, iterative design, and rapid prototyping.

• Agile Development: Close collaboration with engineering to deliver product updates frequently.

• Data-Informed Decisions: While the designer will lead aesthetic vision, user data and market feedback will inform design iterations.

• Brand-First Approach: A strong focus on building a premium and recognizable brand identity from the outset.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Y Combinator-backed" status is a significant indicator of a high-growth, innovation-focused culture. This context is crucial for understanding the pace and expectations of the role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Founding Designer / Lead Designer Track. This role represents a critical early-stage contribution with the potential to evolve into a Design Lead or Head of Design position as the company matures and scales. The responsibilities are broad, covering all visual aspects of the company.

Reporting Structure: You will report directly to one of the founders, likely the CEO or Head of Product, depending on the company's internal structure. This provides direct access to leadership and strategic decision-making.

Operations Impact: Your work will have a direct and immediate impact on Clera's market perception, user acquisition, and overall brand success. As the primary owner of the visual presence, your designs will be instrumental in defining the customer experience and differentiating the product in a competitive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: The opportunity to build and lead a design team as the company grows, setting the vision and processes for future design hires.

• Strategic Influence: Directly contribute to product strategy and GTM planning through design insights and execution.

• Skill Expansion: Gain broad experience across product UI/UX, brand design, marketing collateral, and web design within a fast-paced startup.

• Equity Growth: As a founding member, benefit from the potential appreciation of your equity stake as the company achieves its growth milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding" title implies a unique growth trajectory, moving beyond individual contributor roles to potential leadership and strategic ownership within the company's design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in London, England, United Kingdom. This suggests a collaborative physical workspace designed for team interaction and focused work.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific details about office amenities or accessibility are not provided but can be assumed to be typical for a modern startup in a major city.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The on-site requirement points to an environment where in-person collaboration, brainstorming, and spontaneous discussions are encouraged.

• Tooling: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware, likely including high-performance workstations and subscriptions to Figma and other necessary tools.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with engineers, product managers, and marketing professionals, fostering a cross-functional work culture.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week is implied, typical for full-time employment. Given the startup environment, there may be periods of increased workload around product launches or key milestones, but the expectation is a structured work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in London is a key factor for candidates considering relocation or local employment. It signals a commitment to in-person collaboration which is often valued in early-stage startups for rapid iteration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of your resume and, most critically, your portfolio. The portfolio's aesthetic quality and demonstration of UI/UX process will be paramount.

• Portfolio Deep Dive: A session with the hiring manager or founders to discuss your portfolio in detail. Be prepared to walk through your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work on user experience and business objectives.

• Skills Assessment/Challenge: Potentially a design exercise or a case study presentation focused on a relevant problem (e.g., designing a key feature for the app, or a brand campaign concept). This will assess your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and ability to articulate your approach.

• Team/Culture Fit Interview: Discussions to assess your alignment with the startup's culture, your ability to work autonomously, and your collaborative spirit with cross-functional teams.

• Founder Interview: A final discussion with the founding team to ensure alignment on vision, expectations, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Ruthlessly: Select only your strongest, most relevant work that demonstrates your UI/UX and graphic design skills for a premium consumer brand.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the outcomes or impact. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Figma Proficiency: Showcase examples of complex Figma workflows, component libraries, or interactive prototypes that demonstrate your mastery of the tool.

• Emphasize Aesthetic Taste: Ensure your portfolio visually communicates your exceptional aesthetic sensibility and understanding of premium consumer branding. This is the most critical aspect.

• Address "Founding" Context: If possible, include projects where you took significant ownership or worked in an early-stage environment.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Clera and its mission. Understand the consumer wearable market and potential user needs.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to articulate your approach to problem-solving, user research, and iterative design.

• Articulate Brand Vision: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach defining and evolving the brand's visual identity for a premium consumer hardware product.

• Demonstrate Autonomy: Show examples of how you have taken initiative and driven projects forward independently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the portfolio review is directly derived from the job description's statement that it's the "most important factor." The interview process outline is structured to reflect a typical early-stage startup hiring process for a critical founding role.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Adobe Creative Suite: Likely beneficial for graphic design tasks, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for motion graphics.

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma has strong prototyping capabilities, familiarity with other tools like Principle or ProtoPie might be advantageous.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Mobile Analytics Platforms: Familiarity with tools like Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Firebase Analytics to understand user behavior within the iOS app.

• Web Analytics: Experience with Google Analytics or similar platforms for website performance tracking.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Tools: Understanding of how design assets are used within email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, HubSpot) or social media management tools.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira for managing design tasks and collaborating with development teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: Figma is explicitly mentioned, making it a core requirement. The other tools are inferred based on the scope of responsibilities (mobile, web, marketing) and the typical tech stack of a consumer tech startup.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the end-user, ensuring the product and brand resonate with consumers.

• Aesthetic Excellence: A passion for creating beautiful, intuitive, and high-quality design that elevates the brand.

• Ownership & Autonomy: A proactive, self-starter mentality, taking full responsibility for design outcomes and driving initiatives forward.

• Collaboration & Communication: Openness to feedback, strong communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.

• Innovation & Iteration: A willingness to experiment, learn from data, and continuously improve designs in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with product managers, engineers, and marketing to achieve shared goals.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that values constructive feedback and uses it to refine designs and processes.

• Shared Vision: A collective effort to build a cohesive brand experience that aligns with the company's mission and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values are inferred from the startup context, the "founding" nature of the role, and the emphasis on user experience and brand aesthetics.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing Brand Identity: Defining a unique and compelling visual identity for a new consumer product in a competitive market.

• Balancing Speed and Quality: Delivering high-quality designs rapidly in a fast-paced startup environment.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring design vision is effectively communicated and implemented across engineering, product, and marketing.

• Defining Design Processes: Establishing initial design workflows and best practices for a growing company.

• Scope Management: Managing a broad range of design responsibilities from app UI to marketing collateral.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Path: Opportunity to grow into a Design Lead or Head of Design role, building and managing a team.

• Strategic Impact: Directly influence product roadmap and GTM strategy through design.

• Broad Skill Development: Gain comprehensive experience in UI/UX, brand identity, marketing design, and web design.

• Industry Exposure: Work within a dynamic startup environment, gaining insights into consumer hardware and wearable technology.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced founders and advisors within the Y Combinator network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a founding design role in an early-stage startup, focusing on establishing foundational elements and navigating rapid growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the visual identity for a premium consumer hardware brand like Clera, starting from scratch?" (Focus on your process, inspiration, and key considerations for premium branding.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing a new feature within a mobile app, using a hypothetical example relevant to a wearable device." (Demonstrate user-centered design, wireframing, prototyping, and iteration.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance aggressive timelines with maintaining high design quality. What was your approach?" (Highlight your time management, prioritization, and problem-solving skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and the consumer wearable market?" (Show genuine interest and research.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with product managers and engineers on design projects?" (Emphasize your communication and teamwork skills.)

• "Describe your ideal design environment in a startup setting." (Align your expectations with the company's culture.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start Strong: Begin with your most impactful and relevant project that best showcases your aesthetic and UI/UX skills for a premium consumer brand.

• Focus on Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), and the rationale behind your key decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user engagement, positive feedback, conversion rates).

• Highlight Figma Expertise: Be ready to show specific examples of your Figma skills, such as component libraries, complex auto-layout, or interactive prototypes.

• Be Prepared for Critique: Approach feedback with an open mind and demonstrate your ability to incorporate constructive criticism.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are tailored to assess the core requirements of the role: design leadership, UI/UX process, graphic design sensibility, startup adaptability, and collaboration.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this founding design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your strongest UI/UX and graphic design work relevant to premium consumer hardware and mobile applications. Prioritize projects that showcase aesthetic taste and end-to-end design process.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume highlights your 2–8 years of experience, proficiency in Figma, and any experience in startup or consumer-facing environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Cover Letter (Optional but Recommended): Briefly articulate your enthusiasm for Clera's mission and why you are the ideal candidate for this foundational design role, emphasizing your aesthetic sensibilities and ability to own the visual presence.

• Prepare for Portfolio Review: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work during an interview. Practice presenting your key projects clearly and concisely.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Clera, its product, mission, and the consumer wearable market to demonstrate your understanding and alignment during interviews.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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