Graphic Designer - Howly

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Howly

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design

Date Posted: May 12, 2026

Experience Level: Entry-Level (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on creating a cohesive visual identity and digital content for Howly's suite of global products, spanning document automation, career growth, and AI-driven job search platforms.

• The Graphic Designer will be responsible for developing visual assets across various digital channels, including websites, applications, social media, and marketing materials.

• A key aspect of this position involves leveraging design software and potentially AI tools to produce engaging and effective creative output.

• The role requires a strong understanding of digital design principles, including composition, typography, color theory, and adaptability across different platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided job title is "Graphic Designer," the description heavily emphasizes digital product visuals, social media content, and AI tools. This suggests a strong leaning towards digital design and content creation within the GTM and product marketing functions of a tech company, rather than traditional print design. The "Hybrid" work arrangement implies a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration, which is common for design roles requiring team interaction and access to specific studio equipment or collaborative spaces.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop a comprehensive graphic ecosystem for Howly's digital products, including unique mascots, visual content for websites and applications, and interface banners.

• Create compelling visual assets for social media campaigns, blogs, longreads, and landing pages, ensuring brand consistency.

• Assist with the design and formatting of internal and external presentations, and contribute to the design of corporate merchandise.

• Adapt designs for various digital formats, understanding platform-specific requirements, safe zones, and responsive design principles.

• Collaborate with marketing and product teams to translate campaign objectives and product features into visually appealing designs.

• Utilize AI tools for image and video generation to enhance creative output and explore new visual possibilities.

• Ensure all designs adhere to brand guidelines, maintain strong composition, typography, and color hierarchy.

• Manage design projects from concept to final file delivery, incorporating feedback and iterating efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can contribute to both product-centric visuals (mascots, UI banners) and marketing-driven content (social media, blogs). This indicates a role that bridges product design and GTM support, requiring an understanding of how visual elements drive user engagement and conversion. The mention of "venture builder SKELAR" and multiple products suggests a dynamic environment where the designer will need to adapt to different brand aesthetics and project needs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or a related field is generally preferred for such roles.

Experience: Minimum of 1+ year of experience in a Graphic Designer role.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience in graphic design, with a portfolio showcasing strong composition, typography, and color theory skills.

• Demonstrated ability to create visuals for digital content (blogs, longreads, landing pages) and social media.

• Proficiency in understanding and designing for digital formats, including size requirements, safe zones, and platform adaptability.

• Ability to effectively work with text, visually structuring content and highlighting key messages.

• Experience in receiving and implementing feedback, with a capacity for rapid iteration.

• Strong self-management skills, capable of independently taking tasks from idea to final output.

• Familiarity with AI tools for generating images and basic video content.

• Foundational understanding of print design principles, including bleeds, CMYK, and cut lines.

• Technical proficiency in:

  • Figma
  • Adobe Illustrator

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion animation design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "1+ year of experience" positions this as an entry-level to early-career role. The emphasis on digital formats, social media, and AI tools, alongside core design software, indicates a need for a designer who is current with digital marketing and content creation trends. The "Nive to have" for motion animation suggests that candidates with this additional skill will be highly competitive.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of digital design projects, including website visuals, app interface elements, social media graphics, and marketing banners.

• Include examples demonstrating strong composition, typography, and color harmony across different projects.

• Present case studies that highlight the design process, from initial concept and ideation to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving.

• Feature projects that illustrate adaptability to different brand styles and target audiences, reflecting the multi-product nature of Howly.

Process Documentation:

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their design process, including how they approach brief interpretation, ideation, iteration, and final delivery.

• Demonstrate an understanding of workflow optimization within design tasks, such as efficient file management and asset organization.

• Be ready to explain how they incorporate feedback and collaborate with stakeholders to achieve project goals.

• Highlight experience in adapting designs for various digital platforms and formats, showcasing an understanding of technical specifications and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just display finished work but also demonstrate the candidate's thought process, problem-solving skills, and understanding of how design supports business objectives. Given Howly's focus on digital products and global markets, the portfolio should ideally reflect experience with international audiences and digital-first design strategies.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on Kyiv, Ukraine's market standards for a Graphic Designer with 1-2 years of experience and strong digital skills, a competitive salary range would typically fall between 20,000 UAH to 35,000 UAH per month. This estimate accounts for the specified experience level, the company's international focus, and the hybrid work model.

Benefits:

• Professional development clubs for various disciplines (marketing, development, finance, recruiting).

• Compensation for training, courses, and conference attendance.

• Medical insurance.

• Corporate doctor services.

• Compensation for Mental Health programs.

• Free sports classes with corporate trainers.

• Breakfast and lunch provided in the office.

• Access to autonomous, energy-independent offices with stable internet and power backup.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours, approximately 40 hours per week. The hybrid arrangement suggests flexibility in how these hours are structured, with a balance of remote and in-office days.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on general market data for Kyiv and the specified experience level. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific skills, portfolio, and interview performance. The benefits package is robust, emphasizing professional growth, well-being, and employee comfort, especially in light of Ukraine's current infrastructure challenges. The "Autonomous office" benefit is a significant differentiator, providing security and continuity of work.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Venture Builder, Professional Services, SaaS)

Company Size: 200+ employees. This size indicates a mature startup environment with established processes but still retaining agility and a "drive of a startup" without excessive bureaucracy.

Founded: 4+ years ago. This suggests a company that has moved beyond the initial startup phase and has proven products and operational stability.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will likely be part of a broader Marketing or Product team, potentially reporting to a Creative Lead or Marketing Manager.

• Collaboration is expected across multiple product teams and potentially with the venture builder SKELAR's central functions.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Decisions: The company emphasizes "Bias for action, but not chaos," suggesting a preference for making decisions based on data and evidence, but with swift execution.

• Process Optimization: While not explicitly stated for design, the company values "systemic and quality processes," implying that design workflows should be efficient and well-documented.

• Continuous Improvement: The value of "Active Infinite Growth" suggests a culture of ongoing learning and development, applicable to design skills and process improvements.

Company Website: https://howly.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Howly operates as a venture builder, meaning it likely incubates and scales multiple products. This implies a dynamic and potentially fast-paced environment where a graphic designer will need to be adaptable and comfortable working across different brand identities and project scopes. The company's Ukrainian roots and global market focus are key contextual elements.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level to early-career Graphic Designer role (0-2 years of experience). It's designed for individuals looking to build foundational experience in a fast-paced tech environment.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Lead, Head of Design, or Marketing Manager, depending on the specific team structure within Howly's product portfolio.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly influences the user experience and brand perception of Howly's digital products. High-quality visuals are crucial for user acquisition, engagement, and retention in the competitive global professional services market. Effective design supports marketing campaigns, product usability, and overall brand credibility.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in digital design, UI/UX principles, social media content creation, and potentially motion graphics or AI-driven design.

• Product Exposure: Gain experience working on multiple distinct digital products, broadening understanding of different market segments and user needs.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to a Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or specialized roles within product marketing or UI/UX design as experience grows.

• Learning & Development: Access to internal professional development clubs, external training compensation, and conferences to continuously upgrade skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Ownership" and "Active Infinite Growth" suggests that Howly encourages employees to take initiative in their career development. A designer who actively seeks out new challenges, learns new tools (like AI), and contributes beyond their immediate tasks will likely find significant growth opportunities within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. This means a mix of remote work and in-office days, allowing for flexibility while maintaining team cohesion and collaboration.

Office Location(s): Kyiv, Ukraine. The company specifically highlights its "Autonomous office" concept, which is crucial given the current context in Ukraine. These offices are designed to be warm, energy-independent, and fully autonomous, ensuring stable internet, power, and essential amenities even during power outages.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on team interaction mean designers will have opportunities to collaborate with colleagues, both in person and remotely.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software (Figma, Adobe Suite) and potentially AI tools. The autonomous office ensures a reliable tech environment.

• Team Interaction: Regular design critiques, brainstorming sessions, and project meetings are likely to foster a dynamic and interactive work environment.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) with a hybrid arrangement providing some scheduling flexibility. This allows for focused remote work and dedicated in-office time for collaboration and team building.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Autonomous office" is a critical aspect of the work environment, offering a unique benefit of operational stability and comfort, especially important for employees in Ukraine. This demonstrates Howly's commitment to employee well-being and business continuity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and visual style.

• Portfolio Review & Skills Assessment: A deeper dive into the candidate's portfolio, potentially with a practical design task or case study presentation. This stage will assess composition, typography, digital format understanding, and AI tool familiarity.

• Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion around Howly's values (Ownership, Openness, Bias for Action, Active Infinite Growth) and how the candidate embodies them. This may involve behavioral questions.

• Team/Manager Interview: Meeting with the hiring manager and potentially other team members to discuss role specifics, expectations, and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills required for this role (digital visuals, social media, AI elements, strong composition).

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your creative process, the tools used, and the outcome. Highlight challenges and how you overcame them.

• Demonstrate Digital Fluency: Ensure your portfolio clearly shows your ability to design for digital platforms, including examples of responsive design or adaptability.

• Highlight AI Integration: If you have projects where you utilized AI tools for image generation or enhancement, make sure to feature them and explain your approach.

• Prepare for Presentation: Be ready to verbally walk through your portfolio, articulating your design decisions and their impact.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Task: Be prepared for a practical design challenge, likely focused on creating a visual asset for a digital product or social media campaign. Focus on speed, creativity, and adherence to a brief.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would approach a new design brief, handle conflicting feedback, or adapt to a rapidly changing project scope.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop, and how you leverage their features for efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh the candidate's portfolio and practical design skills. Candidates should be prepared to articulate their design philosophy and demonstrate how their work aligns with Howly's values and business objectives. The "Bias for action" value suggests that speed and efficiency in problem-solving will be appreciated.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency expected for creating interface elements, banners, and web visuals.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logo design, mascot creation, and scalable illustrations.

• Adobe Photoshop: Used for image editing, manipulation, creating digital assets, and preparing visuals for various platforms.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

AI & Emerging Technologies:

• AI Image Generation Tools: Candidates are expected to have basic experience with tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, or Stable Diffusion for generating initial concepts or assets.

• Video Generation Tools (Basic): A "Nive to have" for motion animation suggests familiarity with tools that can create simple animations or video clips.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe Photoshop, along with AI tools, defines the core technical requirements. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their proficiency and creative application of these tools in their portfolio and during interviews.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking full responsibility for design tasks and proactively suggesting improvements to enhance product visuals and user experience.

• Openness: Engaging in transparent communication, providing honest and constructive feedback on designs, and being receptive to feedback from others.

• Bias for Action, but not Chaos: Approaching design challenges with a sense of urgency and a focus on execution, while maintaining a systematic and quality-oriented approach to design processes.

• Active Infinite Growth: Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning, exploring new design trends, tools (especially AI), and seeking opportunities to develop new skills within the company.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with product managers, marketers, and potentially developers to ensure design aligns with business goals and technical feasibility.

• Feedback Exchange: Participating actively in design reviews, offering constructive criticism, and incorporating feedback to refine designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing to a culture of learning by sharing insights on design best practices, new tools, and emerging trends within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Howly's values are deeply integrated into their operational philosophy. A graphic designer who can embody "Ownership" by taking initiative, demonstrate "Openness" through constructive feedback, act with "Bias for Action" by delivering quality work efficiently, and commit to "Active Infinite Growth" by staying current with design technologies will be a strong cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Multi-Product Environment: Adapting design aesthetics and brand guidelines across several distinct products requires versatility and strong organizational skills.

• Global Market Demands: Creating visuals that resonate with diverse international audiences and varying cultural contexts.

• Rapid Iteration Cycles: The "Bias for action" value implies a need to deliver high-quality designs quickly and efficiently, often with tight deadlines.

• Integrating AI Tools: Effectively leveraging AI image generation tools while maintaining brand consistency and artistic integrity requires experimentation and skill.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Opportunities to focus on areas like UI animation, advanced illustration, or specific digital marketing design strategies.

• Industry Exposure: Access to training, courses, and conferences to stay abreast of the latest design software, techniques, and industry trends.

• Mentorship & Leadership: Potential for mentorship from senior designers or creative leads, and pathways to leadership roles within design teams as experience grows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a growing tech company with multiple products. Successfully navigating these will require a proactive, adaptable, and growth-oriented mindset, which aligns with Howly's core values.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating a visual asset for a new digital product feature, from initial brief to final delivery." (Focus on your systematic approach, iteration, and tools used.)

• "How would you approach designing a social media campaign for a product targeting a global audience? What cultural considerations would you keep in mind?" (Demonstrate your understanding of digital marketing and internationalization.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Howly's values of 'Ownership', 'Openness', 'Bias for Action', and 'Active Infinite Growth' resonate with your own work philosophy?" (Connect your personal experiences and work style to their stated values.)

• "Describe a time you received constructive feedback on your design work and how you responded to it." (Illustrate your openness and ability to iterate.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: For each project, tell a brief story about the challenge, your solution, and the outcome.

• Focus on Impact: Highlight how your designs contributed to the product's goals (e.g., increased engagement, clearer communication).

• Demonstrate Process: Show sketches, wireframes, or early concepts to illustrate your thought process, not just the final output.

• Tool Specificity: Be ready to briefly explain why you chose certain tools (Figma, Illustrator, AI) for specific tasks within a project.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also an understanding of Howly's operational philosophy and the business context of their products. Candidates should be ready to discuss their proactive approach, collaborative spirit, and commitment to continuous improvement.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.ashbyhq.com.

• Customize Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features digital design projects, including website visuals, social media graphics, and examples of how you've used typography and color effectively. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to work with digital formats and potentially AI tools.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 1+ year of experience, proficiency in Figma, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop, and any experience with AI image generation or motion graphics. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed social media visuals that increased engagement by X%").

• Prepare for Portfolio Presentation: Practice walking through your chosen portfolio pieces, articulating your design process, decisions, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss how your skills align with Howly's products and values.

• Research Howly: Familiarize yourself with Howly's current products (document automation, career growth, AI job search) and their overall mission. Understand their brand aesthetic and target audience to better tailor your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.