Head of Design

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Head of Design

Company: Good Maven

Location: Japan (Preferred Tokyo, Remote APAC / EMEA with Asia overlap)

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Product & Brand Design Leadership

Date Posted: May 1, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with location preference)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead a comprehensive reinvention of an immersive language learning platform, Migaku, defining its product, brand, and user experience from inception to execution.

• Drive the strategic vision for Migaku's design, translating complex language acquisition principles into intuitive and effective user interactions.

• Spearhead the creation of a scalable design system to support rapid iteration and maintain consistency across product and brand touchpoints.

• Collaborate directly with the Founder & CEO and a technical team, acting as both a hands-on designer and a strategic design leader.

• Shape a new brand identity that amplifies the product's effectiveness and ambitious mission to foster genuine language fluency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a transformative leadership opportunity, focusing on a complete redesign rather than incremental improvements. The emphasis on "reinvention," "full reset," and "inflection point" suggests a high degree of autonomy and strategic influence for the Head of Design. The target company, Migaku, is a language learning platform with a strong existing community and significant revenue growth, indicating a need for a leader who can scale design operations and user engagement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end design strategy and execution for Migaku, encompassing product, brand identity, and growth initiatives.

• Architect and redesign the core product experience from the ground up, ensuring it is intuitive, engaging, and highly effective for language acquisition.

• Translate intricate concepts of language acquisition into simple, user-friendly interactions and workflows.

• Develop and maintain a robust design system that promotes usability, brand consistency, and rapid iteration cycles.

• Define and craft a compelling new brand identity that resonates with Migaku's mission and target audience.

• Design for virality and social sharing, considering how the product’s impact can be showcased in user-generated content and shared moments.

• Foster a close working relationship with the engineering team to ensure seamless implementation and iterative refinement of designs.

• Serve as a dual-threat leader, contributing hands-on design work while also guiding and mentoring design efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a broad scope, extending beyond traditional product design to include brand and growth design, indicating a holistic approach to user experience and market presence. The requirement to "design for virality" suggests a focus on user-generated content and social amplification, a key growth lever for community-driven platforms.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is typically expected for leadership roles.

Experience: 5-10 years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion dedicated to consumer software products and leadership responsibilities.

Required Skills:

• Proven track record in end-to-end design of consumer software products.

• Demonstrated ability to simplify complex systems into intuitive and elegant user experiences.

• Versatility in moving fluidly between product design, brand expression, and narrative storytelling.

• A strong aesthetic sensibility and a well-defined point of view on design excellence.

• Comfort and proficiency in navigating ambiguous environments and building foundational design frameworks.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing learning tools, educational platforms, creator tools, or habit-forming applications.

• Expertise in building products that leverage strong community engagement or viral growth loops.

• Proficiency in creating and scaling design systems within fast-paced, small-team environments.

• Experience integrating product design with brand expression to create a cohesive and impactful identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "shipping real products, not just concepts" and the preference for experience in "learning tools" or "habit-forming products" strongly suggests the need for a candidate who understands user motivation, retention, and the practicalities of product development in a dynamic startup environment.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated selection of case studies showcasing end-to-end design ownership for consumer software products.

• Demonstrations of how complex concepts were simplified into intuitive user flows and interactions.

• Examples of brand identity development or significant brand evolution alongside product redesigns.

• Evidence of creating and implementing scalable design systems, highlighting their impact on iteration speed and consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Case studies detailing the design process from problem identification through to shipped product, emphasizing strategic decision-making.

• Documentation of how user research and feedback were integrated into iterative design improvements.

• Examples of collaboration with engineering and product teams to ensure successful product launches.

• Visualizations of user journeys and interaction models that simplify complex language learning processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on "reinvention" and "building from scratch" implies that a portfolio should highlight the candidate's ability to establish foundational design processes and systems, not just optimize existing ones. Demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving in ambiguous scenarios will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the "Head of Design" title, 5-10 years of experience, and the company's rapid growth (10x revenue growth), a competitive salary in Japan (or for a remote APAC/EMEA role with Asia overlap) would likely range from ¥10,000,000 to ¥18,000,000 annually, depending on exact location, candidate experience, and negotiation. For remote roles outside Japan, USD $120,000 - $200,000 annually is a comparable benchmark.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for equity/stock options.

• Comprehensive health insurance, potentially covering medical, dental, and vision.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional development budget for courses, conferences, and learning resources.

• Flexible working hours and remote work support, ensuring work-life balance.

• Opportunity to shape a product with a significant social impact in language education.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to accommodate remote work across different time zones, prioritizing overlap with Asia working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary ranges are estimated based on industry benchmarks for Head of Design roles in technology companies, considering the company's stated growth trajectory and the specified geographic preferences. Equity is a common component for leadership roles in high-growth startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: EdTech (Education Technology), specifically focusing on Immersive Language Learning. Migaku is positioned to disrupt traditional language learning methods with a science-backed, immersive approach.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the description implies a fast-growing startup environment. With a "Founder & CEO" and a "highly technical team," it suggests a team size likely between 20-50 employees, with plans for significant expansion.

Founded: The company is likely relatively young, given its rapid growth and the opportunity for a "full reinvention." This suggests a dynamic, agile, and potentially less bureaucratic culture.

Team Structure:

• The Head of Design will report directly to the Founder & CEO, indicating a close working relationship and high-level strategic input.

• The design team will likely be nascent, requiring the Head of Design to build and potentially lead a small, high-performing team.

Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making, leveraging user analytics and community feedback to inform design and product strategy.

• Iterative development processes, with a focus on rapid prototyping, testing, and refinement.

• Emphasis on user-centric design, translating complex language acquisition principles into intuitive experiences.

• A culture of innovation and experimentation, encouraging bold ideas for product and brand reinvention.

Company Website: https://goodmaven.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on "radical new approach" and "real fluency" suggests a mission-driven culture. The "fast-growing" nature implies a need for adaptability, speed, and a willingness to embrace change.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a senior leadership position, equivalent to a Director or VP level within a design organization. It offers the opportunity to define and build the entire design function for a rapidly scaling product. The scope includes strategic vision, team building, process establishment, and hands-on execution.

Reporting Structure: Reporting directly to the Founder & CEO, the Head of Design has a direct line to executive leadership, allowing for significant influence on company strategy and product direction.

Operations Impact: The Head of Design will have a profound impact on Migaku's success by shaping the user experience, brand perception, and growth trajectory. Their work will directly influence user acquisition, retention, engagement, and the company's ability to achieve its mission of making people truly fluent.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership: Opportunity to build and scale a design team from the ground up, establishing design principles, processes, and culture.

• Product Innovation: Lead the reinvention of a core product, directly influencing its effectiveness and market position in the competitive EdTech landscape.

• Brand Development: Define and evolve a brand identity for a rapidly growing, mission-driven company, creating a strong market presence.

• Industry Influence: Contribute to the advancement of language learning methodologies through innovative design solutions.

• Entrepreneurial Experience: Gain valuable experience in a high-growth startup environment, working closely with founders and contributing to business strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Head of Design" title in a startup context often implies building the function. The growth opportunities are heavily geared towards establishing and leading a design department, making it an ideal role for someone looking to transition into a more senior leadership capacity or take on broader responsibilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates with a hybrid model, preferring a physical presence in Tokyo but offering full remote options. This suggests a culture that values both in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): Tokyo, Japan is the preferred location. Remote candidates are considered for APAC and EMEA regions, with a strong emphasis on ensuring regular overlap with Asia working hours. This is crucial for effective real-time collaboration with the existing team in Tokyo.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic and collaborative setting, especially with the Tokyo-based team. Regular virtual or in-person (if in Tokyo) collaboration will be key.

• Technology-Forward: Access to modern design tools and technologies is implied, necessary for building sophisticated consumer software and design systems.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: The role requires constant interaction with engineering, product, and potentially marketing/growth teams, fostering a cross-functional approach to problem-solving.

Work Schedule: While a standard full-time schedule is expected, the remote nature and preference for Asia working hour overlap allow for a degree of flexibility in structuring the workday, provided core collaboration times are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The preference for Tokyo location and the requirement for Asia working hour overlap for remote candidates highlight the company's emphasis on maintaining strong team cohesion and efficient communication, despite geographical distribution.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A deep dive into your portfolio, focusing on case studies that demonstrate end-to-end design ownership, simplification of complex systems, and brand integration. Be prepared to discuss your strategic thinking, design process, and impact.

• Founder/CEO Interview: A conversation with the Founder & CEO to assess cultural fit, strategic vision, leadership potential, and alignment with Migaku's mission.

• Team/Engineering Interview: An opportunity to meet with key members of the technical team to evaluate collaboration style and technical understanding.

• Final Round/Offer: Discussions on role expectations, compensation, and potential offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase End-to-End Ownership: Highlight projects where you were responsible for the entire design lifecycle, from concept to launch and iteration.

• Simplify Complexity: Clearly articulate how you translated complex language acquisition concepts into intuitive user experiences. Use visual aids and flow diagrams.

• Demonstrate Brand & Product Synergy: Include examples where you've effectively integrated product design with brand identity. Explain your thought process.

• Highlight Impact: Quantify the impact of your design work whenever possible (e.g., improvements in user engagement, retention, conversion rates, or community growth).

• Focus on Process: Be ready to discuss your design process, how you approach ambiguity, and how you collaborate with engineering and other stakeholders.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study that requires you to outline a strategy for redesigning a part of Migaku's experience or brand.

• Focus on your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and how you would leverage design to drive user acquisition and retention for a language learning product.

• Practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely, as you may need to present your findings to the Founder and team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "reinvention" and "building from scratch" means interviewers will be looking for candidates who can not only execute but also strategize and establish foundational design practices. A portfolio demonstrating initiative, strategic thinking, and the ability to thrive in ambiguity will be highly valued.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design & Prototyping: Figma, Sketch, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator), InVision, Principle, or similar industry-standard tools for UI/UX design and prototyping.

• Design Systems: Experience with tools and methodologies for building and managing scalable design systems (e.g., Storybook, Zeroheight, or custom-built systems).

• Collaboration: Tools like Slack, Notion, Asana, or Jira for team communication, project management, and workflow tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with product analytics platforms such as Amplitude, Mixpanel, Google Analytics, or similar, to understand user behavior and inform design decisions.

CRM & Automation:

• While not a direct CRM role, understanding how design integrates with marketing automation and user onboarding funnels is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: While specific tools aren't listed, proficiency in modern design and prototyping tools like Figma is a near-universal requirement. The ability to build and scale a design system is a key technical requirement for this role, given the company's growth ambitions.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to the mission of making language learning truly effective and accessible.

• User-Centricity: A deep focus on understanding and serving the needs of language learners.

• Innovation & Boldness: Encouraging creative solutions and a willingness to challenge conventional approaches in EdTech.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Working closely with cross-functional teams and maintaining open communication.

• Growth Mindset: Embracing continuous learning, iteration, and adaptation in a fast-paced environment.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where design works hand-in-hand with engineering and product leadership.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that values constructive feedback to drive continuous improvement in both product and processes.

• Agile & Iterative: A working style that embraces agility, rapid prototyping, and iterative development cycles to respond quickly to user needs and market opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "radical new approach" and "real fluency" suggests values centered around efficacy, innovation, and a deep understanding of the learning process. The Head of Design will be expected to embody and champion these values within the design function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Vision: The primary challenge is to lead a complete reinvention of the product and brand, requiring strong strategic vision and the ability to navigate significant ambiguity.

• Balancing Scope and Speed: Effectively balancing the need for a comprehensive redesign with the company's rapid growth and need for quick iteration.

• Translating Complex Concepts: Simplifying sophisticated language acquisition theories into intuitive and engaging user experiences for a diverse global audience.

• Building a Design Function: Establishing design processes, standards, and potentially a team from the ground up within a fast-scaling startup.

• Remote Collaboration: Ensuring effective collaboration and team cohesion across different time zones and locations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Design Leadership: Opportunity to define and build the entire design department, setting the strategic direction for design at Migaku.

• Product Innovation: Lead the development of a cutting-edge language learning platform, contributing to a significant innovation in the EdTech space.

• Brand Building: Shape the identity of a rapidly growing company, creating a powerful and memorable brand.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor and grow junior designers as the team expands.

• Industry Impact: Directly influence how millions of people learn languages, contributing to a tangible social good.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed as opportunities for growth, emphasizing the transformative nature of the role and the potential for significant career advancement and impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach redesigning the core Migaku experience given our mission to achieve 'real fluency'?" (Prepare to discuss your framework for understanding user needs, translating learning science, and proposing innovative interaction models.)

• "Describe your process for translating complex technical or scientific concepts into simple, intuitive user interfaces." (Be ready with specific examples from your portfolio demonstrating this skill.)

• "How would you define and evolve Migaku's brand identity to reflect its effectiveness and ambitious mission?" (Think about visual identity, tone of voice, and brand storytelling.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about Migaku's mission and approach to language learning?" (Research Migaku's current product, community, and philosophy.)

• "How do you approach working with engineering teams to ship products quickly and iteratively?" (Highlight your collaboration skills and understanding of agile development.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear narrative for each case study, focusing on the problem, your strategic approach, the design solution, and the impact.

• Visual Emphasis: Use high-quality visuals, mockups, and prototypes to showcase your work. Explain your design decisions clearly.

• Process Transparency: Be prepared to walk through your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your design solutions.

• Tailor to Migaku: Emphasize projects that align with Migaku's focus on learning, community, and simplifying complexity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, a deep understanding of user-centered design principles, and the ability to translate complex ideas into actionable design solutions. Highlighting experience with EdTech or habit-forming products will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Head of Design position:

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

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features case studies demonstrating end-to-end consumer software design, simplification of complex systems, and brand integration. Tailor your presentation to highlight experience relevant to learning tools and community-driven products.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your leadership experience, strategic design contributions, and quantifiable achievements in product and brand development. Use keywords like "Product Design," "Brand Identity," "UX/UI," "Design Systems," and "Consumer Software."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design philosophy, strategic approach to complex problems, and your vision for Migaku's product and brand. Prepare to present your portfolio with a clear narrative and focus on impact.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Migaku, its current product, its mission, and its community. Understand their unique approach to language learning and identify potential design opportunities and challenges.

⚠️ 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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