Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Good Maven

Location: Japan (with remote flexibility for APAC/EMEA for certain brands)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Design Leadership / Creative Direction

Date Posted: 2026-05-07

Experience Level: 10+ Years (Software Design), 5+ Years (Design Leadership)

Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote Flexible (with on-site preference for some roles)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the comprehensive design vision and execution for cutting-edge brands within a venture creation firm, spanning digital products, physical experiences, and brand identity.

• Drive innovative product development by integrating diverse design disciplines, including product, brand, visual, and physical experience design, to create cult viral products with maximum emotional impact.

• Serve as a player-coach, contributing directly to design craft while also directing collaborators and cross-functional teams to achieve ambitious project goals.

• Translate complex, visionary ideas into clear, compelling, and actionable design outputs across multiple touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand narrative.

• Foster a high-trust, experimental environment that encourages risk-taking and innovation, directly contributing to the growth of ambitious startups.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within a venture creation firm, demanding a blend of strategic vision, hands-on execution, and cross-disciplinary expertise. The company's focus on "cult virality" and "emotional impact" suggests a need for design that is not only aesthetically superior but also deeply resonant and shareable. The dual brand focus (Migaku for digital product, Psy Living for physical/lifestyle) indicates a requirement for adaptability and potentially specialized expertise in either digital product design or brand/physical design, with a strong preference for multidisciplinary capabilities.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the overall design strategy and execution for one or both of Good Maven's portfolio brands: Migaku (language learning software) and Psy Living (luxury interior design/fashion lifestyle).

• Develop and articulate compelling brand narratives and visual identities that explain unique product visions to a global customer base, leveraging exceptional storytelling abilities.

• Shape and unify brand direction, product experience, and visual aesthetics into a coherent and impactful whole across all brand touchpoints.

• Translate ambitious, innovative concepts into tangible, high-quality design outputs, encompassing user interfaces, physical products, brand campaigns, and environmental design.

• Collaborate closely with the Founder & CEO to define strategic vision and with engineering, production, and marketing teams to ensure seamless execution of design initiatives.

• Act as both a hands-on contributor and a leader, directing internal and external design collaborators to elevate the quality and consistency of design work.

• Drive forward the design evolution of Migaku, a rapidly growing language learning platform, and Psy Living, a forward-thinking luxury lifestyle brand, ensuring alignment with their respective growth trajectories and market positioning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: strategic leadership and direct creative contribution. The emphasis on "explaining unique product vision" and "turning ambitious ideas into clear, compelling experiences" points to a need for strong communication and conceptualization skills. The mention of "physical or digital touchpoints" and "working across disciplines" underscores the multidisciplinary nature of the role, requiring comfort with both software interfaces and tangible product/environmental design.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in design principles, visual communication, and user experience is essential. A degree in Design, Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, or a related field would be advantageous.

Experience:

• Minimum of 10+ years of experience in Software Design.

• Minimum of 5+ years of experience in a Design Leadership role, demonstrating the ability to manage teams, projects, and strategic design initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead design strategy and execution for complex digital products, with a focus on user experience and engagement.

• Brand Design & Storytelling: Exceptional ability to craft compelling brand narratives, visual identities, and storytelling assets that resonate with target audiences.

• Creative Direction: Strong capacity to define and maintain a clear creative vision, guiding aesthetic direction across multiple disciplines.

• Visual Design Craftsmanship: High-level proficiency in visual design principles, typography, color theory, and layout, capable of producing polished and impactful creative work.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Demonstrated experience working effectively with engineering, product management, marketing, and production teams.

• Ambiguity Navigation: Comfort and effectiveness in working within ambiguous environments, adapting to evolving project requirements and strategic shifts.

Preferred Skills:

• Digital Product Design Expertise (Migaku Focus): Deep understanding of consumer software design, UI/UX principles, and growth-oriented design strategies.

• Graphic Design & Branding Expertise (Psy Living Focus): Strong visual graphic design skills to develop a vibrant and timeless brand universe, with potential for analog design talent.

• Physical/Industrial Design Understanding: Experience or strong appreciation for the design and development of physical products, including materials, manufacturing, and user interaction.

• Global Aesthetics & Japanese Design: Familiarity with global design trends and a nuanced understanding of Japanese design aesthetics and cultural sensitivities.

• Experience across Digital & Physical Expressions: Proven ability to create cohesive brand experiences that span both digital platforms and physical touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements clearly differentiate between experience levels for software design and leadership. The preferred skills section is particularly insightful, suggesting that candidates with specific expertise in either digital product design (for Migaku) or graphic/brand design with an analog component (for Psy Living) will be highly valued. The emphasis on "moving between strategy and craft" is a critical differentiator for this senior role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase exceptional work across product design, brand identity, visual design, and/or creative direction within complex product environments (e.g., hardware, software, fashion).

• Demonstrate a clear ability to transition between strategic thinking and hands-on execution, highlighting your process and decision-making.

• Include examples that illustrate how you have shaped or built brands and products from their early stages.

• Present projects that highlight cross-disciplinary work, connecting product, story, identity, and environment.

Process Documentation:

• For digital products (Migaku), clearly document your UI/UX design process, including user research, wireframing, prototyping, user testing, and iteration cycles.

• For brand and physical products (Psy Living), illustrate your process for developing brand systems, visual identities, campaign materials, and potentially product design concepts.

• Show how you have collaborated with engineering, product, and other stakeholders throughout the design lifecycle.

• Detail your approach to translating ambitious ideas into concrete design solutions and articulating the rationale behind your creative choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount, with an expectation that it will demonstrate breadth across design disciplines and depth in strategic leadership. The "player-coach" aspect means the portfolio should not only showcase strategic vision but also high-quality craft and execution. Submitting work that reflects the company's focus on "cult virality" and "emotional impact" would be highly beneficial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Given the seniority of the role (10+ years of experience, leadership position), the location (Japan), and the nature of a fast-growing venture-backed startup, an estimated annual salary range for a Head of Design in Tokyo would typically fall between ¥12,000,000 and ¥20,000,000 JPY. For remote candidates in APAC or EMEA, the range would be adjusted based on local market rates and cost of living, likely correlating to USD $150,000 - $250,000 USD, depending on specific location and experience.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience and location.

• Potential for equity or performance-based bonuses, reflecting the startup growth environment.

• Comprehensive health insurance and wellness programs.

• Opportunities for professional development, including conferences, workshops, and advanced training in design and leadership.

• Generous paid time off and flexible working arrangements (where applicable).

• Access to state-of-the-art design studios and resources in Tokyo.

Working Hours:

The role is expected to require a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility for project demands. For roles requiring overlap with Asia-based working hours, candidates will need to accommodate this through their schedule.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in major tech hubs and adjusted for Japan's market. The remote flexibility for APAC/EMEA suggests a need for compensation to be competitive within those regions as well. Benefits are standard for senior roles in growth-stage companies, with an emphasis on professional growth and impact.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Venture Creation, Product Development, Interior Design, Fashion, Lifestyle, Software (Language Learning). Spacecurve operates at the intersection of multiple forward-thinking industries, aiming to build innovative companies with a focus on unique product experiences.

Company Size: Small to Medium-sized (within the venture creation firm context, likely a core team of <50, with individual brands having smaller, dedicated teams). This size fosters agility, direct impact, and close collaboration.

Founded: Spacecurve is a venture creation and product development firm. While the founding date isn't specified, its mission implies a relatively recent establishment focused on building new entities.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will report directly to the Founder & CEO, indicating a high level of executive visibility and influence.

• Design teams will likely be lean, with the Head of Design acting as a player-coach, potentially directing a small team of designers or external collaborators.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Innovation: While creative vision is paramount, the success of Migaku (10x revenue growth) and the focus on "cult virality" suggest a data-informed approach to design and product development.

• Iterative Product Development: The reimagining of Migaku and the early stage of Psy Living indicate a culture of continuous iteration, experimentation, and learning.

• Holistic Design Approach: The firm emphasizes integrating product, brand, storytelling, and physical/digital experiences into a cohesive whole.

Company Website: https://goodmaven.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by ambition, creativity, and a focus on building novel product experiences. The venture creation model means the Head of Design will be instrumental in shaping new entities from the ground up, offering significant autonomy and impact within a high-trust, experimental environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Head of" role, signifying a senior leadership position responsible for defining and executing the design strategy for multiple brands. It's a strategic role with significant scope for impact on product direction, brand perception, and business growth.

Reporting Structure: Direct reporting to the Founder & CEO. This provides high visibility and direct access to executive decision-making, allowing for substantial influence on company direction.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design's impact is directly tied to the success and growth of the venture-backed companies. This includes driving user acquisition and retention for Migaku through exceptional product and brand design, and establishing Psy Living as a leading luxury lifestyle brand through its unique product and experiential design. Success will be measured by metrics such as revenue growth, user engagement, brand recognition, and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Development: Opportunity to deepen strategic thinking and leadership skills by shaping the direction of multiple innovative companies.

• Cross-Disciplinary Mastery: Develop expertise across a wide range of design disciplines, from digital product interfaces to physical product design, branding, and experiential design.

• Startup Growth Experience: Gain invaluable experience in scaling startups from early stages, understanding the dynamics of rapid growth and market entry.

• Potential for Executive Advancement: As the company portfolio grows, opportunities may arise for higher executive roles within the venture creation firm or its individual brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique path for design leaders to gain experience in venture building and to influence multiple product lines. The direct reporting line to the CEO is a significant indicator of the role's strategic importance and the potential for accelerated career growth.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a state-of-the-art design studio in Tokyo. While remote work is an option for the Migaku brand (APAC/EMEA), there's a strong preference for on-site presence in Tokyo for Psy Living due to the hands-on nature of the team and its physical products. The Tokyo studio is described as a hub for innovation and collaboration.

Office Location(s):

• Tokyo, Japan: Specifically Ebisu for the Psy Living studio, and a general presence for Migaku team members. This location is central to Japan's design and fashion scene.

• Remote Flexibility: Available for the Migaku brand, with a preference for candidates in APAC or EMEA who can maintain regular overlap with Asia-based working hours.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studio Environment: The Tokyo studio is designed to foster collaboration among diverse creative and technical teams.

• Access to Tools & Technology: Candidates can expect access to the necessary design software, prototyping tools, and potentially physical resources for product development.

• Interdisciplinary Interaction: The environment encourages frequent interaction with engineers, fashion designers, textile designers, and creative directors, promoting a rich exchange of ideas.

Work Schedule:

The role is generally full-time (40 hours/week) but emphasizes flexibility, particularly for remote positions. For roles requiring overlap with Tokyo hours, candidates will need to manage their schedule accordingly. The focus is on output and impact rather than strict adherence to hours, especially in a startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment balances the collaborative, hands-on nature of design with the flexibility required for a global team. The preference for on-site work in Tokyo for Psy Living indicates a commitment to physical product development and an immersive brand experience, while remote options for Migaku reflect the digital nature of that product.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess fundamental qualifications, experience level, and alignment with the role's multidisciplinary demands.

2. Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into your portfolio with the Founder & CEO and/or senior team members. This will focus on your strategic thinking, creative judgment, process, and ability to execute across different design disciplines. Expect to discuss specific case studies in detail.

3. Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from engineering, product, and/or marketing to assess collaboration skills and understanding of interdisciplinary workflows.

4. Culture Fit & Vision Alignment: Discussions focused on your approach to leadership, innovation, ambiguity, and how your design philosophy aligns with Spacecurve's mission and values.

5. Final Round: Potentially a more strategic discussion or a hands-on design challenge to assess practical application of skills.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Breadth and Depth: Showcase projects that demonstrate your leadership, strategic thinking, and ability to execute across product, brand, visual, and physical design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process, the solutions you developed, and the impact achieved. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight Ambiguity Navigation: Include examples of projects where you had to work with incomplete information or evolving requirements, demonstrating your adaptability.

• Showcase Player-Coach Capabilities: Include examples where you both led and contributed hands-on, demonstrating your ability to move between strategy and craft.

• Tailor to Brands: If possible, highlight relevant work for Migaku (digital product, growth) and Psy Living (brand, luxury, physical/experiential).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared to discuss your design philosophy, leadership style, and how you foster innovation.

• Anticipate questions about how you would approach specific challenges for Migaku or Psy Living, considering their unique market positions and growth goals.

• Practice articulating complex design concepts and strategies clearly and concisely, as if presenting to a non-design audience.

• Prepare questions that demonstrate your understanding of Spacecurve's mission and your interest in their venture-building approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess a candidate's strategic vision, creative execution, leadership capabilities, and cultural fit. The portfolio review is critical, requiring candidates to present a compelling narrative of their experience and impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), and potentially 3D modeling software (e.g., Rhino, Blender) for physical product exploration.

• Prototyping Tools: Experience with tools like InVision, ProtoPie, or built-in prototyping features in Figma/Sketch for creating interactive user flows.

• Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Jira, Trello, or Monday.com for managing design projects and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Data Analysis Tools: Ability to interpret user analytics (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel, Amplitude) to inform design decisions, particularly for Migaku.

• A/B Testing Platforms: Understanding of how to leverage A/B testing to optimize designs and user experiences.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a CRM role, an understanding of how design integrates with customer journeys and marketing efforts is beneficial.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) for web presence and potentially marketing automation tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack emphasizes tools for digital product design, brand asset creation, and project management. Given the multidisciplinary nature, adaptability to various tools and a willingness to learn new technologies will be key. A strong understanding of data to inform design is crucial for the Migaku brand.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Visionary Ambition: A drive to create "truly new product experiences" with "cult virality and maximum emotional impact."

• Innovation & Experimentation: Encouragement of risk-taking, exploration of uncharted territory, and continuous learning.

• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: A high-trust environment that values diverse perspectives from designers, engineers, creatives, and business leaders.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A commitment to excellence in both strategic thinking and hands-on execution across all design outputs.

• Adaptability & Agility: Comfort working within ambiguity and evolving landscapes, typical of venture creation and early-stage startups.

Collaboration Style:

• Holistic Integration: Design is seen as an integrated function that weaves together product, brand, storytelling, and physical/digital touchpoints.

• Direct Communication: Open dialogue and close collaboration with the Founder & CEO and cross-functional teams are essential for aligning vision and execution.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that values constructive feedback to refine ideas and elevate outputs, fostering continuous improvement.

• Shared Ownership: Team members are encouraged to take ownership of their work and contribute to the collective success of the venture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is built around a shared passion for creating impactful, innovative products and experiences. The Head of Design will be a key cultural contributor, embodying these values and fostering them within their design leadership.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Brands: Effectively leading design strategy and execution across two distinct brands (Migaku and Psy Living) with different needs and audiences.

• Navigating Ambiguity: Working in a venture creation environment means constant evolution and the need to define processes and strategies from scratch.

• Bridging Digital & Physical: Seamlessly integrating digital product design with physical product design, brand experiences, and environmental design.

• Rapid Growth Demands: Supporting the rapid growth of Migaku (10x revenue increase) while building a new luxury brand (Psy Living) requires agility and scalable design solutions.

• Global Aesthetics & Local Nuance: Balancing international design trends with a deep understanding and thoughtful application of Japanese aesthetics.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Venture Building Expertise: Gain firsthand experience in building and scaling multiple companies within a venture creation firm.

• Multidisciplinary Design Mastery: Deepen expertise across product design, brand, visual design, industrial design, and experiential design.

• Strategic Leadership in Innovation: Hone strategic leadership skills by influencing the direction of ambitious, forward-thinking products.

• Exposure to Diverse Creative Fields: Collaborate with and learn from professionals in fashion, interior design, engineering, and software development.

• Global Design Influence: Contribute to shaping design landscapes in both Japanese and global markets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are significant but offer commensurate growth opportunities. Successfully navigating these will position the candidate for substantial career advancement and unique professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to leading design for multiple, distinct brands simultaneously. How would you prioritize and allocate resources between Migaku and Psy Living?"

• "How do you balance visionary creative direction with the practical needs of engineering, production, and market viability?"

• "Walk us through a time you had to define a brand or product strategy from scratch. What was your process, and what were the key challenges and outcomes?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Spacecurve's mission and our approach to venture creation?"

• "How do your personal design values align with the company's emphasis on 'cult virality' and 'emotional impact'?"

• "Describe your experience working in high-trust, experimental environments. How do you contribute to such a culture?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process, the strategic rationale behind your decisions, the final solution, and the measurable impact.

• Showcase Versatility: Highlight projects that demonstrate your ability to work across digital (Migaku) and physical/brand (Psy Living) domains.

• Emphasize Leadership: Clearly articulate instances where you led teams, mentored designers, or influenced strategic direction.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your design work.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and problem-solving approaches.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, cross-disciplinary capability, leadership, and a strong understanding of the company's unique venture creation model and design philosophy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight relevant experience for both Migaku (digital product, growth) and Psy Living (brand, luxury, physical/experiential). Showcase your leadership capabilities and ability to work across disciplines.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 10+ years of software design and 5+ years of design leadership experience, using keywords and achievements relevant to product design, brand strategy, and creative direction.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership approach, and key portfolio case studies. Be ready to discuss your experience in navigating ambiguity and driving innovation.

• Company Research: Deeply research Good Maven, Spacecurve, Migaku, and Psy Living. Understand their mission, target markets, and design challenges. Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your engagement and strategic thinking.

⚠️ 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.