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: Product Design & Branding Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-23

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a foundational role focused on establishing and scaling the visual identity and user experience for a Y Combinator-backed AI-powered consumer wearable product.

• The position requires end-to-end ownership of UI/UX design for the iOS application, alongside comprehensive graphic design responsibilities for web, social media, marketing collateral, and communications.

• Success in this role hinges on defining and meticulously maintaining a cohesive and premium consumer design language across all brand touchpoints.

• The role is designed to evolve into a design leadership position as the company experiences growth and scales its operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is distinctly focused on the operational execution of design within a startup environment, emphasizing the creation and maintenance of a unified brand experience across multiple platforms. While not a traditional "Revenue Operations" role, the operational impact of design on brand perception, user acquisition, and retention is significant, making it relevant to GTM operations by shaping the customer's first impression and ongoing interaction.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• End-to-End UI/UX Design: Lead the complete UI/UX design process for the company's iOS mobile application, from initial wireframing and user flow mapping to high-fidelity prototyping and user testing.

• Brand Visual Identity: Develop and implement a cohesive visual design language across all consumer-facing platforms, including the company website, social media channels, email marketing campaigns, and general communications.

• Marketing & Launch Collateral: Design impactful marketing materials, event invitations, launch collateral, and other creative assets that effectively communicate the brand's premium positioning and product value proposition.

• Design System Development: Establish and maintain a comprehensive design system, ensuring consistency, scalability, and efficiency in all design outputs and future product iterations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams to translate business requirements and user needs into intuitive and aesthetically pleasing design solutions.

• User Experience Optimization: Continuously iterate on designs based on user feedback, analytics, and market trends to enhance the overall user experience and drive engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for operational excellence in design execution. The "definition and maintenance of a unified consumer design language" is a core operational task that ensures brand consistency, impacting customer perception and GTM effectiveness. The emphasis on "end-to-end ownership" implies a need for strong project management and execution skills, akin to operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, user experience, and visual communication is essential. This can be demonstrated through formal education at a top design school or equivalent rigorous training.

Experience: 2 to 3+ years of professional design experience is required. This role is not suitable for recent graduates.

Required Skills:

• UI/UX Design Expertise: Proven ability to design intuitive and engaging user interfaces and experiences, with a portfolio showcasing iOS app design.

• Graphic Design Fundamentals: Strong command of graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and layout composition.

• Brand Design Acumen: Demonstrated experience in developing and maintaining brand identities, with a clear understanding of premium consumer aesthetics.

• Proficiency in Figma: Advanced skills in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and creating high-fidelity designs.

• Cross-Platform Design Capability: Ability to independently manage design across mobile (iOS), web, and marketing collateral.

• Consumer-Centric Design Sensibility: A strong aesthetic taste and understanding suited for a premium consumer hardware brand; B2B-only design backgrounds are not a fit.

Preferred Skills:

• Design System Implementation: Experience in building or contributing to design systems for scalability and consistency.

• Motion Design: Basic understanding or experience with motion design principles for UI elements.

• User Research & Testing: Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing to inform design decisions.

• Marketing Campaign Design: Experience in designing assets for digital marketing campaigns across various channels.

• Art Direction: Potential to guide visual aesthetics and provide creative direction as the company grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "standout portfolio" is paramount and signifies a need for candidates to operationalize their design skills into tangible, high-impact projects. The emphasis on "consumer company" experience and "premium consumer hardware brand" sensibility indicates a specific market focus for the operations of design output.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Aesthetic Excellence: A portfolio that clearly showcases exceptional aesthetic taste, high-quality visual design execution, and a strong understanding of graphic design fundamentals.

• End-to-End Project Ownership: Case studies illustrating the full design lifecycle of projects, from conceptualization and user flow to final polished UI and marketing assets.

• Consumer Product Focus: Projects specifically related to consumer-facing products, ideally in hardware or tech, demonstrating an understanding of the premium consumer market.

• Figma Proficiency Examples: Visual examples or case studies highlighting the effective use of Figma for complex UI/UX design and prototyping.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Projects that demonstrate the ability to define and maintain a unified design language across multiple touchpoints (app, web, marketing).

Process Documentation:

• User Flow & Wireframing: Examples of well-documented user flows and wireframes that led to the final UI design.

• Design Iteration & Rationale: Documentation explaining the design process, including iterations, user feedback incorporation, and the strategic rationale behind design decisions.

• System Design Principles: Evidence of how design systems or style guides were used to ensure consistency and scalability in previous roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is positioned as the primary tool for evaluating operational design capabilities. Candidates are expected to showcase not just creative output but also the process and systems used to achieve consistent, high-quality results across a broad design stack. This aligns with operations' focus on process and repeatable excellence.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: GBP 70,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Meaningful Early Equity: Opportunity for significant early-stage equity (up to 1-2%), reflecting the founding nature of the role and potential for high growth.

• Visa Transfer Support: Assistance for candidates requiring visa transfers to the UK.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, standard for a full-time role in the London tech scene. Flexibility may be expected given the founding nature of the role, common in startup environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is benchmarked against mid-level to senior design roles in London, particularly within the tech startup ecosystem. The inclusion of substantial equity is a key component of compensation for founding team members, aligning with the high-risk, high-reward operational model of early-stage startups. The visa transfer support is a practical operational consideration for attracting talent in a global market.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Wearables / AI Technology. Clera is developing an AI-powered consumer wearable, positioning itself at the intersection of cutting-edge technology and everyday consumer products. This industry demands innovation, user-centricity, and a strong brand presence to stand out.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, backed by Y Combinator. This implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment with a small, agile team where individuals often wear multiple hats.

Founded: The company is relatively new, indicated by its Y Combinator backing and the "founding" nature of this role. This suggests a culture of rapid iteration, high ownership, and a strong mission-driven approach.

Team Structure:

• Founding Team: As a founding designer, you will be an integral part of the core founding team, working directly with founders and early employees.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close collaboration is expected with engineering, product management, and potentially early marketing hires.

• Flat Hierarchy: Early-stage startups typically have a flatter organizational structure, fostering direct communication and influence for all team members.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Likely operates with agile principles, emphasizing rapid prototyping, iterative development, and continuous feedback loops.

• Data-Informed Design: While creative-led, design decisions will likely be informed by user data, analytics, and market research to ensure product-market fit.

• Lean Operations: Focus on efficiency and resourcefulness, typical of startups aiming to maximize impact with limited resources.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context emphasizes a startup environment where design operations are crucial for establishing a premium brand from inception. The "founding" aspect means this role will significantly shape the operational workflows and standards for design within Clera.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Founding" level role, signifying a senior individual contributor position with high impact and autonomy. It represents the initial phase of building out the design function within Clera.

Reporting Structure: Likely reports directly to one of the company founders (e.g., CEO, CTO, or Head of Product, depending on the immediate team structure).

Operations Impact: The design operations of this role directly influence customer acquisition, brand perception, user retention, and ultimately, the commercial success of the product. A strong visual identity and user experience are critical for a premium consumer product.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: The role is explicitly expected to grow into a design leadership position, potentially building and managing a design team as the company scales.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the product's visual strategy, brand direction, and user experience roadmap from the ground up.

• Skill Diversification: Exposure to a broad range of design challenges across product, brand, and marketing, allowing for significant skill expansion and operational versatility.

• Startup Growth Trajectory: Potential for significant career advancement and financial reward tied to the company's success.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for career acceleration within a high-growth startup. The "founding" title implies a significant operational responsibility and the potential to define the future design strategy and team structure, moving from a senior individual contributor to a leadership role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in London. This suggests a dedicated physical workspace designed for collaboration and focused work, typical of tech startups.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specific details on the office location would typically be provided during the interview process, but it will be within a major hub conducive to tech talent.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: Expect a dynamic and collaborative environment where close interaction with founders, engineers, and product managers is standard.

• Tooling & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware, with Figma being a core tool. The company will likely invest in the necessary resources for design operations.

• Startup Pace: The environment will be fast-paced, requiring adaptability, proactive problem-solving, and a willingness to contribute beyond defined responsibilities.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40/week), but with the inherent flexibility and potential for extended hours common in early-stage startups, especially during critical launch phases or product development sprints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in London fosters a tightly integrated team environment, crucial for the operational synergy needed in a fast-moving startup. This setting supports rapid design iteration and direct feedback loops essential for product development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess aesthetic taste, relevant experience, and Figma proficiency.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio, likely involving a presentation of 1-2 key projects. This will focus on design process, problem-solving, user-centricity, and brand alignment.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a practical design exercise or challenge, simulating real-world tasks related to UI/UX or graphic design for the product.

• Founder/Team Interviews: Discussions focused on cultural fit, strategic thinking, understanding of consumer brands, and long-term vision for the design function.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best showcase your aesthetic judgment, UI/UX skills for mobile (iOS), and graphic design versatility. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process (including Figma usage), key decisions, and the outcomes or impact.

• Highlight Consumer Focus: Emphasize projects that demonstrate your understanding of premium consumer products and brands.

• Showcase Brand Consistency: Include examples where you've established or maintained a unified design language across multiple touchpoints.

• Be Prepared for Figma Deep Dive: Expect questions about your Figma workflow, component usage, and prototyping capabilities.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Familiarize yourself thoroughly with Clera's mission, target audience, and any available product information.

• Analyze Competitors: Research the design landscape of similar consumer wearables and AI-powered products.

• Think Strategically: Be ready to discuss how design can support business goals and enhance user engagement for a premium product.

• Articulate Design Rationale: Practice explaining the "why" behind your design choices, linking them to user needs and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a rigorous evaluation of design execution and strategic thinking. The portfolio review is critical, acting as a demonstration of the candidate's operational design capabilities and their ability to create high-impact visual assets aligned with a premium brand.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaboration. Expect advanced usage expectations.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for graphic design, branding, and marketing collateral.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Product Analytics Tools: Familiarity with tools like Mixpanel, Amplitude, or Google Analytics for understanding user behavior and informing design decisions.

• User Feedback Platforms: Experience with tools or methods for gathering and analyzing user feedback to drive design improvements.

CRM & Automation:

• Marketing Automation Tools: Understanding of how design integrates with email marketing platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, HubSpot) and social media management tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tech stack highlights a focus on core design tools essential for operationalizing creative output. Proficiency in Figma is a non-negotiable requirement, indicating its central role in the company's design workflow and product development operations.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality, aesthetically superior, and user-friendly designs.

• User-Centricity: Placing the user at the heart of all design decisions, ensuring intuitive and delightful experiences.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and elevating the premium brand identity across all touchpoints.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Working effectively with cross-functional teams and taking full responsibility for design outcomes.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new ideas and adapting quickly to the fast-paced startup environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Direct & Open Communication: Expect a culture where feedback is given and received openly among team members.

• Cross-Functional Synergy: Design will be deeply integrated with product and engineering, requiring constant communication and shared problem-solving.

• Proactive Contribution: Team members are encouraged to identify opportunities and propose solutions, contributing to the overall operational efficiency and success of the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Brand Integrity" and "Design Excellence" aligns with the operational goal of establishing a strong, consistent brand presence for Clera. The collaborative style supports the agile nature of startup operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing a New Brand Identity: The primary challenge will be defining and operationalizing the visual identity for a new premium consumer product from scratch.

• Balancing Design Vision with Startup Constraints: Navigating the fast-paced, resource-constrained environment of a startup while maintaining high design standards.

• Scaling Design Operations: As the company grows, the challenge will be to scale design processes, systems, and potentially a team without compromising quality.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent communication and alignment on design vision and execution across different departments.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Impact: Gaining experience in shaping the strategic direction of a product's visual identity and user experience.

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to grow into a design leadership role, managing projects, mentoring junior designers, and building a design function.

• Industry Exposure: Deep immersion in the consumer tech and AI wearable industry, with potential for learning about product development, marketing, and business strategy.

• Equity Growth: Significant potential for personal financial growth tied to the company's success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges inherent in this founding role are directly related to operationalizing design for growth. Successfully navigating these will provide significant learning and development opportunities, particularly in leadership and strategic design operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the visual identity for a new premium AI wearable brand from the ground up?" (Focus on process, inspiration, and brand positioning.)

• "Describe your process for designing an iOS app interface. What are the key considerations for user experience in this context?" (Highlight user flows, wireframing, prototyping, and testing.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design touchpoints (app, web, marketing)? Can you provide an example?" (Focus on design systems, style guides, and operational implementation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Clera's mission and product?" (Show genuine interest and understanding.)

• "How do you see design contributing to the success of a Y Combinator-backed startup?" (Connect design to business objectives and GTM strategy.)

• "Describe your ideal collaboration style with engineering and product teams." (Emphasize communication, feedback, and iterative processes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a strong overview of your background and a concise summary of the projects you'll present.

• Focus on Process & Rationale: For each project, detail the problem, your role, the design decisions made (and why), and the tools/processes used (especially Figma).

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have metrics on user engagement, conversion, or satisfaction related to your designs, present them clearly.

• Showcase Brand Alignment: Explicitly connect your design choices to the requirements of a "premium consumer hardware brand."

• Be Ready for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, alternative solutions, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating operational design thinking – how you systematically approach design challenges, manage projects, and ensure consistent, high-quality output that drives business objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-critical design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 2-3 projects that best showcase your UI/UX skills for iOS, graphic design capabilities, and experience with premium consumer brands. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible online.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 2-3+ years of professional design experience, proficiency in Figma, and specific achievements in UI/UX, graphic design, and brand development for consumer products.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your understanding of Clera's brand, and how your skills align with the role's requirements, especially for the portfolio review and potential design challenge.

• Research Clera: Thoroughly understand Clera's mission, product, target audience, and the consumer wearable market to demonstrate your strategic thinking and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.