📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Brand Designer & Illustrator
Company: Zams
Location: San Francisco, California, United States
Job Type: Contractor
Category: Brand Design, Visual Design
Date Posted: 2025-06-04
Experience Level: 2-5 years
Remote Status: Hybrid (San Francisco, California, United States)
🎨 Design Role Summary
- Maintain and evolve our brand design system across digital and physical experiences
- Create illustrations and motion graphics to support brand campaigns and product use-cases
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to deliver high-quality customer-facing materials
- Manage multiple projects and prioritize tasks to meet tight deadlines
📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires a strong portfolio showcasing brand design, illustration, and motion design skills. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and After Effects is essential.
🖼️ Primary Design Responsibilities
- Design, develop, and implement brand design system across customer touchpoints
- Expand brand design toolkit with illustrations, motion graphics, iconography, and graphic elements
- Create illustrations for social media, paid media, mock UIs, and product experience use-cases
- Manage projects, meet deadlines, and document design learnings
- Collaborate with stakeholders to produce presentations, PDFs, and customer-facing materials
📝 Enhancement Note: This role involves a mix of brand design, illustration, and project management responsibilities. Attention to detail and strong organizational skills are crucial for success.
🎓 Design Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Design, Fine Arts, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
Experience: Minimum of 2-5 years of visual design experience creating brands and/or visual design systems
Required Design Skills:
- Strong typographic skills and experience in print and digital environments
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and mid-level proficiency in After Effects
- High attention to detail and drive for design perfection
- Exceptional organizational skills and ability to balance multiple projects
Preferred Design Skills:
- Experience working in a tech startup or SaaS company
- Interest in artificial intelligence and technology
📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates with experience in brand design, illustration, and motion design will be prioritized. Familiarity with AI technology is a plus.
🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills with relevant case studies
- Demonstrate your ability to create brand design systems and expand design toolkits
- Include examples of your project management skills and ability to meet deadlines
- Highlight your collaboration skills and ability to work with cross-functional teams
Design Process Documentation:
- Include research and discovery phases, demonstrating your understanding of the brand and target audience
- Showcase your ideation and iteration methods, including sketches, wireframes, and mockups
- Document your validation and testing approaches, such as user testing and A/B testing
📝 Enhancement Note: Your portfolio should demonstrate your ability to manage projects, meet deadlines, and collaborate with stakeholders. Include case studies that showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $70,000 - $100,000 USD per year (Based on experience and location. Source: Glassdoor)
Benefits:
- Health Care Plan
- Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
- Work Equipment
- Stock Option Plan
- Training & Development
Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on market research and may vary depending on the candidate's experience and skills. Zams offers a comprehensive benefits package to support the well-being and growth of its employees.
🎯 Design Team & Company Context
🏢 Company & Design Culture
Industry: Embedded Software Products, with a focus on AI and Machine Learning
Company Size: 11-50 employees, providing a dynamic and collaborative work environment
Founded: 2020, with a mission to turn every company into an AI company by providing access to world-class data science talent
Design Team Structure:
- Small, scrappy team with a strong bent toward failing fast and bias for action
- Collaborative environment with a focus on doing the best work of our lives
- Hybrid team with most members located in San Francisco, CA, and others working remotely around the world
Design Methodology:
- User-centered design approach, focusing on solving real business problems
- Iterative design process, with a focus on failing fast and learning from user feedback
- Cross-functional collaboration, working closely with Sales, Customer Success, and Marketing teams
Company Website: https://www.zams.com
📝 Enhancement Note: Zams is a fast-growing company with a strong focus on AI technology. The design team plays a critical role in maintaining the brand design system and creating impactful customer-facing materials.
📈 Design Career & Growth Analysis
Design Career Level: Mid-level Brand Designer, with opportunities for growth and leadership roles
Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer will report directly to the Creative Director and collaborate closely with cross-functional teams
Design Impact: This role will have a significant impact on the company's brand and customer experience, contributing to revenue generation and customer satisfaction
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to grow into a senior design role or take on leadership responsibilities within 1-2 years
- Ongoing training and development opportunities to expand design skills and knowledge
- Chance to work on cutting-edge AI technology and contribute to the company's mission
📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for the right candidate, with opportunities to take on leadership responsibilities and contribute to the company's mission.
🌐 Design Work Environment
Studio Type: Hybrid work environment with a flexible, collaborative office space in San Francisco, CA
Office Location(s): 535 Mission St, San Francisco, California 94105, US
Design Workspace Context:
- Creative and dynamic workspace with access to the latest design tools and software
- Collaborative environment with regular team meetings and design critiques
- Opportunities to work with and learn from experienced designers and industry experts
Work Schedule: Full-time (40 hours per week) with flexible hours and a hybrid work arrangement
📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at Zams offers the best of both worlds, providing a collaborative office space and the flexibility to work from home when needed.
📄 Design Application & Portfolio Review Process
Design Interview Process:
- Initial phone or video screen with the Creative Director to discuss your portfolio and design process
- On-site or virtual design challenge, creating a brand design system and illustrations for a hypothetical client
- Final interview with the Creative Director and other team members to discuss your portfolio, design thinking, and cultural fit
- Reference check and offer extension
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills with relevant case studies
- Highlight your project management skills and ability to meet tight deadlines
- Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Include examples of your design thinking process and user-centered design approach
Design Challenge Preparation:
- Prepare a brand design system and illustrations for a hypothetical client, demonstrating your ability to create a cohesive visual identity
- Showcase your design process, including research, ideation, and iteration phases
- Present your design challenge solution to the team, articulating your design rationale and decision-making process
Design ATS Keywords:
- Design Skills: Brand Design, Illustration, Motion Design, Typography, Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects
- Tools: Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, Sketch, Figma, InVision
- Methodologies: User-centered Design, Design Thinking, Agile, Scrum
- Soft Skills: Communication, Collaboration, Project Management, Time Management, Attention to Detail
- Industry Terms: AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, SaaS, Startup, Tech
📝 Enhancement Note: Tailor your portfolio and design challenge preparation to showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills. Highlight your project management skills and ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams.
🛠 Design Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Design Tools:
- Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, XD)
- After Effects
- Sketch
- Figma
Design Collaboration & Handoff:
- InVision
- Zeplin
- Figma
Design Research & Testing:
- Google Analytics
- Hotjar
- UsabilityHub
📝 Enhancement Note: Zams uses a variety of design tools and software to support its brand design and illustration needs. Familiarity with Adobe Creative Suite and After Effects is required for this role.
👥 Design Team Culture & Values
Design Values:
- Creativity: Encourage experimentation and innovation in all design work
- Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment that values input and feedback from all team members
- User-centered: Prioritize user needs and preferences in all design decisions
- Continuous learning: Encourage ongoing professional development and growth
Design Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional collaboration with Sales, Customer Success, and Marketing teams
- Regular design critiques and feedback sessions
- Knowledge sharing and mentorship opportunities
📝 Enhancement Note: Zams values creativity, collaboration, and continuous learning in its design team culture. The Brand Designer will play a critical role in maintaining the brand design system and creating impactful customer-facing materials.
⚡ Design Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Design Challenges:
- Managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines
- Balancing brand design, illustration, and motion design responsibilities
- Collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
- Keeping up with industry trends and design best practices
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- On-the-job training and mentorship from experienced designers and industry experts
- Attending industry conferences and workshops
- Expanding design skills and knowledge through online courses and resources
📝 Enhancement Note: The Brand Designer role at Zams offers numerous learning and development opportunities, with a focus on continuous growth and professional development.
💡 Design Interview Preparation
Design Process Questions:
- Describe your brand design process and how you approach creating a cohesive visual identity
- Walk us through your design thinking process and how you incorporate user feedback into your work
- How do you balance brand design, illustration, and motion design responsibilities, and how do you prioritize tasks?
Company & Design Culture Questions:
- How do you see yourself contributing to Zams' brand and customer experience?
- How do you approach collaborating with cross-functional teams and stakeholders?
- How do you ensure that your design work aligns with Zams' brand standards and values?
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills with relevant case studies
- Highlight your project management skills and ability to meet tight deadlines
- Demonstrate your ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and stakeholders
📝 Enhancement Note: Prepare for design interview questions by reviewing your portfolio, design process, and design thinking approach. Familiarize yourself with Zams' brand and design culture to ensure a strong cultural fit.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Brand Designer & Illustrator position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Customize your portfolio to showcase your brand design, illustration, and motion design skills, with a focus on brand design systems and project management
- Optimize your resume for design roles, highlighting your relevant skills and experience
- Prepare for design interview questions by reviewing your portfolio, design process, and design thinking approach. Familiarize yourself with Zams' brand and design culture
- Research Zams' company culture and design team dynamics to ensure a strong cultural fit
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.