Founding UI/UX and Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding UI/UX and Graphic Designer

Company: Clera

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Brand Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-16

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a foundational design role within a YC-backed startup, focusing on establishing and owning the complete visual identity and user experience for a consumer wearable product.

• You will be responsible for end-to-end UI/UX design of the iOS application, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user journey.

• This position requires leadership in defining and maintaining a cohesive brand aesthetic across all digital and physical touchpoints, including the website, social media, and marketing collateral.

• The role offers a unique opportunity to build and lead a design function from its inception, shaping the product's visual language and brand perception.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title and description indicate a critical "founding" role, implying significant autonomy and impact. The emphasis on "consumer wearable startup" and "YC-backed" suggests a fast-paced, innovative environment where design directly influences product adoption and market positioning. This role is positioned as a leader in design, not just an executor, requiring strategic thinking and brand stewardship.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the complete UI/UX design lifecycle for the iOS application, from conceptualization and wireframing to high-fidelity mockups and prototyping.

• Develop and implement a comprehensive visual design language that spans the iOS app, company website, social media channels, email communications, and all marketing materials.

• Design compelling launch collateral, event invitations, and other brand assets that effectively communicate the product's value proposition and brand ethos.

• Collaborate closely with product and engineering teams to ensure design integrity and feasibility throughout the development process, advocating for user-centric design principles.

• Establish and maintain design systems and style guides to ensure consistency and scalability across all user touchpoints and future design initiatives.

• Conduct user research and usability testing to gather insights and inform design decisions, iteratively improving the user experience based on feedback.

• Stay abreast of the latest design trends, competitor activities, and emerging technologies in the consumer hardware and wearable space to drive innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a broad scope of design ownership, extending beyond just app UI to encompass the entire brand's visual presence. This implies a need for versatility and strategic thinking in design execution, crucial for an early-stage company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, Graphic Design, or a related field from a reputable institution is highly valued, especially if it complements practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 2-3 years of professional design experience, with a strong preference for candidates who have worked with premium consumer products or in environments demanding exceptional aesthetic rigor. This role is not suitable for recent graduates.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in UI/UX design, with a strong portfolio showcasing user-centered design solutions for mobile applications.

• Exceptional graphic design fundamentals and a demonstrated ability to create visually stunning and brand-aligned assets.

• Proficiency in Figma for UI/UX design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Experience in developing and maintaining brand identities and design systems.

• Ability to independently manage and execute design projects across multiple platforms, including mobile, web, and marketing collateral.

• Strong understanding of consumer hardware product aesthetics and user experience requirements.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions and rationale effectively. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other design and prototyping tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch).

• Familiarity with user research methodologies and usability testing.

• Experience working in a startup environment, particularly within the Y Combinator ecosystem.

• Knowledge of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS) to better inform design feasibility.

• Experience in designing for hardware-integrated software experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "2 to 3 or more years" combined with the specific exclusion of recent graduates, along with the emphasis on "premium consumer company" experience, suggests the company is looking for an established designer capable of immediate, high-level contribution and leadership.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is mandatory, showcasing a minimum of 2-3 professional projects that demonstrate end-to-end UI/UX design and exceptional graphic design capabilities.

• Projects should highlight strong aesthetic taste, attention to detail, and a clear understanding of premium consumer product design principles.

• Include case studies that detail the design process, problem identification, user research, design iterations, and final solutions, with a focus on visual execution and user experience.

• Demonstrate proficiency in Figma and showcase a range of design outputs, including mobile app interfaces, website designs, and marketing collateral.

• For each project, clearly articulate your role, the challenges faced, and the impact of your design contributions. Process Documentation:

• Showcase examples of how you have defined and maintained design systems or brand guidelines to ensure consistency across multiple touchpoints.

• Provide insights into your approach to user research and how it has informed your UI/UX design decisions, including any testing or validation methods used.

• Illustrate your workflow for creating marketing collateral and other brand assets, highlighting efficiency and brand alignment.

• Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., product, engineering) throughout the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "standout portfolio" and "exceptional aesthetic taste" implies that the portfolio review will be highly discerning. Candidates should curate their strongest, most visually compelling work that aligns with premium consumer hardware aesthetics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: GBP £70,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Equity: Up to 1-2% equity in the company, offering a significant stake in the startup's success.

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

• Professional Development: Implicit opportunity for growth within a founding role, with potential to build and lead a design team.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with the understanding that early-stage startups may require flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary of £70,000 is competitive for a mid-senior level designer in London with specialized skills. The equity component is substantial for a founding role, reflecting the high impact and risk associated with joining an early-stage venture. The explicit mention of visa transfer support indicates a willingness to attract international talent already within the UK.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Consumer Technology / Wearables. Clera is operating in the rapidly evolving consumer wearables market, likely focusing on health, fitness, or personal data tracking, aiming to disrupt the space with innovative hardware and software.

Company Size: Early-stage startup, Y Combinator backed. This implies a lean, agile team with a strong focus on rapid iteration, product-market fit, and growth. The culture is likely to be collaborative, fast-paced, and mission-driven.

Founded: The company's founding date is not explicitly stated but being YC-backed suggests it is a relatively young company, likely within the last 1-3 years, actively in its growth and product development phase.

Team Structure:

• As a founding designer, you will likely be one of the earliest hires in the design function, reporting directly to a founder or CEO.

• The immediate team will consist of individuals from product management, engineering, and potentially early marketing or operations roles, all working closely together.

• Cross-functional collaboration will be paramount, with designers working hand-in-hand with engineers to bring product visions to life and with founders to shape brand strategy. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making will be a core tenet, with design choices informed by user feedback, market analysis, and performance metrics.

• Agile development methodologies are likely employed, requiring flexibility and rapid iteration in design processes.

• A strong emphasis on user-centric design and continuous improvement to ensure product-market fit and user satisfaction.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "YC-backed" status is a significant indicator of the company's potential and its operational rigor. Y Combinator companies often have a strong emphasis on product-market fit, scalability, and a data-informed approach to growth.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Founding UI/UX and Graphic Designer" role, placing it at a critical juncture. It's beyond a junior or mid-level individual contributor and represents an opportunity to establish and lead the design function. The scope encompasses strategic brand definition, product UX, and visual design execution.

Reporting Structure: You will likely report directly to one of the company's founders or the CEO, indicating direct access to leadership and significant influence on company-level decisions.

Operations Impact: Your designs will be instrumental in shaping the perception and adoption of Clera's consumer wearable product. Success in this role will directly translate to user engagement, brand loyalty, and ultimately, the commercial success of the company. You will be the guardian of the brand's visual identity and user experience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and manage a design team as the company scales, evolving into a Design Lead or Head of Design role.

• Strategic Influence: Direct involvement in shaping the product roadmap, brand strategy, and overall company direction from a design perspective.

• Skill Expansion: Broaden expertise across product design, brand strategy, marketing design, and potentially even user research and design systems management.

• Equity Growth: As a founding member with significant equity, you have the potential for substantial financial reward as the company grows and achieves its milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "founding" nature of this role implies a steep learning curve and significant responsibility. Growth is tied not just to mastering design skills but also to developing leadership and strategic capabilities within a high-growth startup environment.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site in London, England, United Kingdom. This suggests a physical office space designed for collaboration and focused work.

Office Location(s): London, England, United Kingdom. Specifics about the office amenities or neighborhood are not provided but being in London implies access to a vibrant tech and design ecosystem.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic, hands-on work environment where close collaboration with founders, engineers, and product managers is the norm.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design tools like Figma, likely with opportunities to influence the technology stack.

• Team Interaction: Frequent team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and design reviews will be integral to the daily workflow, fostering a strong sense of shared purpose.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 per week) are expected, but the fast-paced startup environment may necessitate occasional flexibility to meet critical project deadlines or launch milestones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement in London indicates a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for early-stage startups to foster rapid communication and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your application, resume, and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session where you will present your portfolio, walking interviewers through key projects, your design process, and your rationale. Be prepared to discuss your contributions, challenges, and outcomes.

• Skills Assessment: Potential practical design exercises or case studies, possibly focused on a specific aspect of UI/UX or graphic design relevant to Clera's product.

• Cultural Fit & Team Interviews: Discussions with founders and team members to evaluate your collaboration style, problem-solving approach, and alignment with the company's culture and vision.

• Final Round: Likely a discussion with senior leadership to finalize the decision, focusing on strategic fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your strengths in UI/UX for mobile apps, graphic design fundamentals, and experience with premium consumer products. Prioritize quality and relevance over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the problem, your role and process, the solutions you designed, and the impact (quantifiable if possible). Emphasize your design thinking.

• Highlight Brand Consistency: Demonstrate how you've maintained a unified design language across different touchpoints, crucial for this role.

• Showcase Figma Proficiency: Ensure your work clearly reflects your mastery of Figma, including complex layouts, prototypes, and potentially design system elements.

• Address Aesthetic Taste: Be prepared to discuss your aesthetic sensibilities and how they align with premium consumer hardware.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Product: Research Clera's current product (if available) and the consumer wearable market to understand potential design challenges and opportunities.

• Practice Design Thinking: Be ready to articulate your approach to solving design problems, from user needs to technical constraints.

• Prepare for "Founding" Questions: Anticipate questions about your vision for design at an early-stage company, your ability to build a function from scratch, and your leadership potential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio presentation is a critical step. Candidates should prepare a concise, compelling narrative that highlights their ability to own a broad design scope and deliver high-quality, brand-aligned work for a premium consumer product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Mandatory proficiency for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows. This will be the core tool for app and web design.

• Brand & Graphic Design Tools: Proficiency in tools such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for creating marketing collateral, logos, and other visual assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned, familiarity with analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) and the ability to interpret user data to inform design decisions would be a strong asset. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this design role, but an understanding of how design integrates with marketing automation or CRM platforms for communication design would be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and familiarity with brand/graphic design tools underscores the dual nature of this role – encompassing both user interface/experience design and broader visual/brand design responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the end-user, ensuring intuitive and delightful experiences.

• Craftsmanship & Aesthetic Excellence: A dedication to high-quality design, attention to detail, and a sophisticated visual aesthetic suited for premium consumer products.

• Innovation & Iteration: Embracing new ideas, experimenting with design solutions, and continuously improving based on feedback and data.

• Collaboration & Ownership: Working effectively with cross-functional teams, taking initiative, and owning design outcomes from start to finish.

• Impact-Driven: Focusing on design that drives measurable business results, user adoption, and brand recognition.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated & Transparent: Expect close integration with product and engineering teams, with open communication channels and shared understanding of goals.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, design critiques, and collaborative problem-solving.

• Agile & Adaptable: The team will likely operate with agility, requiring flexibility in workflows and a willingness to pivot based on business needs and user insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: As a founding member, you will play a key role in shaping these cultural values. Demonstrating alignment with user-centricity, strong aesthetic principles, and collaborative ownership will be crucial.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Establishing Design Function: Building a design function from the ground up, including defining processes, standards, and potentially hiring future team members.

• Balancing Scope: Managing a broad design remit that spans UI/UX, graphic design, and brand identity across multiple platforms.

• Early-Stage Startup Dynamics: Navigating the inherent uncertainties, rapid pace, and resource constraints of an early-stage startup.

• Defining a New Brand: Creating a strong, memorable brand identity and user experience for a new consumer wearable product in a competitive market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Leadership Experience: Gaining invaluable experience in building and leading a design team and function.

• Strategic Design Impact: Directly influencing product strategy and company direction through design leadership.

• Broad Skill Development: Expanding expertise across the full spectrum of product and brand design for consumer hardware.

• Startup Ecosystem Exposure: Learning the intricacies of building and scaling a tech startup, particularly within the Y Combinator network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are significant but directly tied to the growth opportunities. This role is ideal for an ambitious designer eager to make a substantial impact and grow as a leader in a high-potential startup.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a design system for a new consumer wearable product from scratch?"

• "Describe your process for ensuring brand consistency across a mobile app, website, and marketing collateral."

• "Given our product is a consumer wearable, what unique UI/UX considerations do you think are most important, and how would you address them?"

• "How do you balance creative vision with technical constraints and business objectives in a startup environment?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your understanding of Clera's mission and target market, and how does your design philosophy align with it?"

• "How do you envision the role of design evolving within an early-stage startup like Clera?"

• "Describe a time you had to advocate for a design decision that was initially met with resistance. How did you handle it?"

• "What does 'premium consumer hardware aesthetic' mean to you, and how would you translate that into design?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of Clera and the role, then diving into 2-3 of your most relevant and impressive projects.

• Focus on Process & Rationale: For each project, explain the "why" behind your design decisions. Use visuals to support your narrative but don't let them overshadow your strategic thinking.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Showcase your ability to handle both UI/UX for an app and broader graphic/brand design elements.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved user engagement, conversion rates, positive feedback).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Prepare to answer detailed questions about specific design choices, tools used, and challenges overcome.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should anticipate questions that probe their strategic thinking, leadership potential, and ability to operate autonomously in a startup environment. Demonstrating a strong understanding of premium consumer product design is paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Founding UI/UX and Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience with consumer products, UI/UX for mobile apps, graphic design, brand building, and proficiency in Figma. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate exceptional aesthetic taste and end-to-end design capabilities. Ensure it is easily accessible and well-organized.

• Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Briefly explain why you are excited about Clera and this specific founding role, and how your skills and experience align with the requirements, particularly your vision for building a design function.

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, articulating your design process, rationale, and impact clearly and concisely.

⚠️ 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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