ビジュアル クリエイティブ リード・Advanced UX

Woven by Toyota
Full_timeChūō, Japan

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Creative Lead - Advanced UX
Company: Woven by Toyota
Location: Chūō, Japan
Job Type: Full-time (正社員)
Category: Creative & Design Operations / Advanced UX
Date Posted: October 27, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Lead the creative vision and execution for UI design and visual expression across various Advanced UX (AUX) team projects, focusing on next-generation Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and Autonomous Driving (AD).
  • Develop and maintain a flexible, scalable design framework and system that supports long-term evolution and integrates with global design standards.
  • Foster a culture of creativity, craftsmanship, and experimentation within the design team, balancing strategic vision with daily delivery.
  • Drive design quality and innovation by acting as a bridge between leadership, creative teams, and engineers, ensuring seamless translation of design concepts into production-ready assets.
  • Champion design as a critical differentiator for Toyota's mobility strategy, enhancing brand identity and trust through consistent and forward-thinking visual experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership and creative direction opportunity within the Advanced UX team, focusing on the visual and interactive design aspects of future mobility solutions. The emphasis is on shaping the user experience through strong visual design systems and cross-functional leadership.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Design Leadership & Vision:
    • Define and champion the creative vision for UI design and visual expression within AUX team projects, from concept to mass production.
    • Architect and implement flexible, scalable design frameworks and systems capable of adapting to future advancements in automotive UX.
    • Ensure consistency and innovation across near-future production vehicles and forward-looking concept development initiatives.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration:
    • Align design direction and implementation with Toyota's global design organizations, including VID, TMNA, TME, and TMC.
    • Act as a crucial liaison between leadership, creative teams, and engineering to translate design quality into tangible product outcomes.
    • Represent the AUX design team in global collaborations, building trust and fostering strong working relationships with diverse stakeholders.
  • Mentorship & Team Development:
    • Cultivate a team environment that values creativity, craftsmanship, and a spirit of exploration and experimentation.
    • Partner with the AUX Design Team Manager to balance strategic vision setting with the practicalities of daily design delivery and execution.
    • Promote a design culture that encourages curiosity, iterative development, and a commitment to high-quality output.
  • Strategic Contribution:
    • Contribute to the AUX leadership team's efforts in advancing design quality, strategic vision, and inter-departmental collaboration.
    • Enhance AUX's value as an innovation partner in next-generation concept development, beyond contributions to mass-production projects.
    • Position design as a key differentiator in Toyota's overall mobility strategy, embodying brand identity and fostering customer trust.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a senior-level role requiring not only strong design execution skills but also strategic thinking, leadership, and the ability to influence across global teams. The emphasis on "design as a differentiator" highlights its strategic importance within Toyota's transformation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

  • While no specific degree is listed, a strong foundation in Design, Human-Computer Interaction, or a related field is implied by the responsibilities and experience requirements.

Experience:

  • A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in UI/UX design, with significant tenure in senior leadership or Creative Director roles.
  • Demonstrated experience in developing and managing visual design systems, including their implementation and evolution.
  • Proven ability to lead and coordinate diverse teams and stakeholders across different geographical regions and functional areas.
  • Experience in digital product design, visual identity development, and the creation of scalable design frameworks.
  • Practical experience in translating early-stage concept designs into robust, mass-production-ready deliverables.

Required Skills:

  • Creative Leadership: Ability to define and drive a compelling creative vision for complex UI/UX projects.
  • Visual Design Systems: Deep expertise in building, maintaining, and scaling design systems for digital products.
  • 2D/3D UI Design: Proficiency in designing user interfaces for both 2D and 3D environments, relevant to automotive displays and interactions.
  • Motion & Interaction Design: Strong understanding of animation principles and interaction design to create engaging and intuitive user experiences.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with engineers, product managers, researchers, and global design teams.
  • Stakeholder Management: Skill in managing expectations and building consensus among diverse stakeholders with varying priorities.
  • Portfolio Excellence: A strong portfolio showcasing successful projects in digital product design, visual identity, and scalable frameworks.
  • Adaptability: Flexibility to manage projects from initial concept ideation through to final mass-production delivery.
  • Communication: Excellent command of English for effective communication in a global business environment.

Preferred Skills:

  • Automotive/Mobility/Tech Industry Experience: Prior work within the global automotive, technology, or mobility sectors.
  • Business-Level Japanese Proficiency: Ability to communicate effectively in Japanese, facilitating deeper collaboration with local teams and stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive experience requirement (10+ years) and the emphasis on leadership, system design, and global collaboration suggest this role is critical for shaping Woven by Toyota's future product interfaces. The preference for Japanese language skills indicates a need for seamless integration with local Toyota entities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Visual Design Systems: Showcase examples of design systems you have architected, including their components, guidelines, and how they ensure brand consistency and scalability across multiple products or platforms.
  • 2D/3D UI & Animation Showcase: Present a range of work demonstrating your expertise in creating intuitive 2D and 3D user interfaces, accompanied by examples of motion graphics and interaction design that enhance usability and user engagement.
  • Cross-Functional Project Examples: Detail projects where you successfully led design efforts, demonstrating collaboration with engineering, product management, and other stakeholders to bring complex digital products to market.
  • Scalability & Brand Value: Provide case studies that highlight how your design strategies have successfully scaled across different products or regions, and how they have contributed to enhancing brand value and user experience.
  • Concept to Production: Include examples that illustrate your ability to translate initial concepts and prototypes into polished, production-ready designs, managing the entire design lifecycle.

Process Documentation:

  • Design System Documentation: Examples of clear, comprehensive documentation for design systems, including style guides, component libraries, and usage guidelines.
  • Workflow Optimization: Evidence of processes you've implemented or improved to increase design team efficiency, streamline collaboration, and ensure high-quality output.
  • Cross-Organizational Alignment: Documentation or case studies illustrating how you've established alignment on design vision and standards across different teams or global entities.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role at this level, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to demonstrate not just aesthetic skill but a strategic, systemic approach to design that can be applied to the complex, evolving landscape of automotive UX. The ability to document and articulate these processes is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

  • Estimated Range: ¥15,000,000 - ¥25,000,000+ JPY per year.
  • Basis for Estimate: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for senior-level Creative Directors/Visual Design Leads in the automotive and technology sectors in Tokyo, Japan. Factors considered include the 10+ years of experience requirement, the leadership scope of the role, the prestige of Woven by Toyota, and the advanced nature of the UX work. Salary data from reputable Japanese job market analyses and global compensation surveys for similar roles were consulted.

Benefits:

  • Flexible Working Hours: Allows for adjustment of daily work schedules to better suit personal needs and optimize productivity.
  • Annual Paid Leave: 20 days per year (pro-rated for the first year based on start date), providing ample time for rest and personal pursuits.
  • Sick Leave: 6 days per year (pro-rated for the first year), offering support for personal health needs.
  • Comprehensive Social Insurance: Includes Health Insurance, Employee Pension Insurance, Worker's Accident Insurance, Employment Insurance, and Long-Term Care Insurance, ensuring robust social security.
  • Housing Allowance: Financial support for housing costs, contributing to living expenses in Tokyo.
  • Retirement Benefits: A company-sponsored retirement savings plan or pension scheme.
  • Rental Car Support: Potential benefits related to car rental services, aligning with the company's mobility focus.
  • In-house Training Programs: Access to internal learning and development opportunities, including software skill enhancement and language learning (English and potentially Japanese).

Working Hours:

  • Flexible working hours are offered, with core hours likely established to facilitate team collaboration, but significant autonomy in daily scheduling. The standard Japanese workweek is typically 40 hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate reflects the senior leadership and specialized nature of this role within a prominent company like Woven by Toyota. The benefits package is comprehensive, typical for a large, established organization in Japan, with specific additions like housing allowance and rental car support highlighting company perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Automotive Technology & Mobility Services. Woven by Toyota operates at the forefront of automotive innovation, focusing on autonomous driving, software-defined vehicles, and the development of smart cities. This industry context means a culture of rapid innovation, complex system integration, and a strong emphasis on safety and user experience. Company Size: Part of the larger Toyota Group, Woven by Toyota is a significant entity with a growing workforce, suggesting a blend of startup agility within a large corporate structure. This implies access to substantial resources while fostering an environment that encourages rapid development and experimentation. Founded: Woven Planet Holdings was established in 2018 (later branded as Woven by Toyota), signifying a relatively young company with a forward-looking mission, aiming to transform mobility for the next century.

Team Structure:

  • Advanced UX (AUX) Team: This team is a specialized unit within Woven by Toyota, comprising UX researchers, strategists, UI/UX designers, 3D technical artists, animators, and project managers.
  • Reporting Structure: The Visual Creative Lead will likely report to a Director or Head of Advanced UX. They will also work closely with the AUX Design Team Manager and collaborate extensively with global design organizations (VID, TMNA, TME, TMC) and engineering teams.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaboration is a cornerstone of this role, involving close partnerships with global design divisions, engineering, product development, and potentially external partners. The team operates with a global mindset, integrating diverse perspectives.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Design: While the role is creative, insights from UX research and data analysis are expected to inform design decisions, ensuring that user needs and business objectives are met.
  • Agile Development & Design: Given the fast-paced nature of automotive tech, design processes likely follow agile methodologies, emphasizing iterative development, rapid prototyping, and continuous feedback loops.
  • Systems Thinking: The development of design frameworks and systems requires a holistic approach, considering how individual components interact within a larger ecosystem.
  • Human-Centric Design: The "Advanced UX" designation underscores a commitment to designing experiences around the human user, prioritizing intuitive interaction and emotional connection.

Company Website: https://woven.toyota/jp

📝 Enhancement Note: Woven by Toyota is positioned as a key player in Toyota's transformation into a mobility company. The AUX team's role is central to defining the user experience of future vehicles, necessitating a strong blend of creative excellence, technical understanding, and collaborative leadership within a dynamic, global organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior-to-lead level, often referred to as a Principal, Lead, or Director in creative operations or design leadership. It signifies a high degree of autonomy, strategic influence, and responsibility for team output and vision. The position is critical for shaping the user experience of Woven by Toyota's advanced mobility solutions. Reporting Structure: The Visual Creative Lead will report into the Advanced UX (AUX) leadership, likely a Director or Head of UX, and will partner closely with the AUX Design Team Manager. They will also be a key interface with global design entities like VID, TMNA, TME, and TMC, as well as engineering departments. This structure emphasizes both internal team leadership and external stakeholder management. Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to the perceived quality, intuitiveness, and desirability of Woven by Toyota's future mobility products. By leading the visual and interactive design of ADAS and AD systems, this role directly influences customer adoption, brand perception, and Toyota's competitive edge in the rapidly evolving mobility market. The focus on "design as a critical differentiator" underscores this strategic impact on revenue and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Leadership Expansion: Potential to grow into a broader leadership role overseeing larger design teams or multiple product areas within Advanced UX or the wider Woven by Toyota organization.
  • Strategic Design Influence: Opportunity to shape the long-term design strategy for Toyota's mobility initiatives, influencing product roadmaps and innovation direction.
  • Specialization & Expertise: Deepen expertise in cutting-edge areas like 3D UI for automotive, real-time rendering for UX, or advanced interaction paradigms for autonomous systems.
  • Cross-Cultural Leadership: Further develop skills in managing and inspiring diverse, global design teams, navigating complex international collaborations.
  • Industry Recognition: Contribute to industry-leading designs that could gain public and critical acclaim, enhancing personal and company reputation.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential within a company at the cutting edge of automotive innovation. The combination of creative leadership, strategic input, and a focus on future technologies provides a strong platform for career advancement and impact.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Chūō, Tokyo, Japan, indicating an on-site work arrangement. This environment is likely a modern office space designed to foster collaboration and innovation, characteristic of leading tech and automotive companies. Office Location(s): The primary office is in Chūō, Tokyo. This is a central business district in Tokyo, offering excellent accessibility and proximity to other major corporations and amenities. Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace that encourages interaction among team members, with dedicated areas for brainstorming, critiques, and team meetings.
  • Operations Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially advanced visualization tools necessary for 2D/3D UI design and animation. This would include powerful workstations and relevant software licenses.
  • Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with a diverse team of UX professionals, designers, researchers, and potentially engineers, fostering a rich exchange of ideas and continuous learning.

Work Schedule:

  • Flexible working hours are provided. While specific core hours might be in place for team synchronization, the role offers autonomy in managing daily schedules, allowing for effective management of design processes and deep work sessions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in a prime Tokyo location suggests a company that values in-person collaboration and team synergy, especially for creative leadership roles. The flexible hours, however, indicate a modern approach to work-life balance within that structured environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio by recruiters and hiring managers to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.
  • Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, discussing their design process, creative vision, leadership approach, and impact on previous projects. This will likely involve deep dives into specific case studies.
  • Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with members of the AUX team, global design leads (VID, TMNA, TME, TMC), and potentially engineering or product management representatives to assess collaboration skills, technical understanding, and cultural fit.
  • Leadership/Vision Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership to evaluate strategic thinking, long-term vision, and suitability for a leading role within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your leadership, design systems expertise, 2D/3D UI skills, and successful collaboration.
  • Focus on Process & Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process, key decisions made (and why), challenges overcome, and measurable outcomes or impact. Quantify results where possible.
  • Demonstrate Leadership: Highlight instances where you led teams, influenced design direction, mentored junior designers, or managed stakeholder expectations.
  • Showcase Systemic Thinking: Emphasize your experience with design systems, explaining how you built, scaled, and maintained them, and their benefits.
  • Visual Storytelling: Present your work compellingly, using high-quality visuals, clear explanations, and a narrative that guides the interviewer through your thought process.
  • Tailor to Woven by Toyota: Research Woven by Toyota's mission, values, and current projects to tailor your presentation and highlight how your skills and experience align with their future vision.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Be prepared for potential design exercises or case studies that might involve:
    • Critiquing an existing automotive UX/UI and proposing improvements.
    • Outlining a conceptual design framework for a new ADAS feature.
    • Discussing strategies for ensuring design consistency across global markets.
  • Practice articulating your design philosophy and leadership approach concisely.
  • Be ready to discuss how you would foster a collaborative and innovative design culture within the AUX team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio presentation and cross-functional interviews suggests Woven by Toyota places high value on practical experience, collaborative ability, and the clear articulation of design strategy and leadership.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Design & Prototyping Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects for motion), Figma or Sketch for UI design and prototyping, potentially specialized 3D software like Blender, Maya, or Unity for 3D UI elements and visualization.
  • Design System Management Tools: Tools like Zeroheight, Storybook, or internal platforms for documenting and managing design systems.
  • Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar for daily communication and team coordination.
  • Project Management Tools: Jira, Asana, Trello, or similar for tracking design tasks, project timelines, and progress.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not a primary focus for this creative role, understanding how design impacts user behavior will be crucial. Familiarity with analytics tools like Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, or in-car data platforms (if accessible) may be beneficial for understanding user engagement and informing design iterations.

CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to this creative leadership role, but an understanding of how design integrates into broader product development lifecycles is expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role requires proficiency in leading-edge design tools, with a strong emphasis on those that support complex UI development, animation, and the management of design systems. Experience with 3D visualization and real-time rendering environments is likely highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Innovation & Exploration: A core value, encouraging experimentation with new technologies and design approaches to push the boundaries of mobility UX.
  • User-Centricity: Deep commitment to understanding and addressing user needs, ensuring that all designs are intuitive, safe, and enhance the user's life.
  • Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering a global, diverse team environment where all voices are heard and valued, promoting cross-cultural understanding and teamwork.
  • Quality & Craftsmanship: A dedication to achieving the highest standards in design execution, attention to detail, and overall product polish.
  • Purpose-Driven: A strong alignment with Woven by Toyota's mission to create a safer and more mobile future, with a focus on societal benefit.

Collaboration Style:

  • Global Partnership: Emphasis on seamless collaboration with international teams, requiring strong communication and cultural sensitivity.
  • Cross-Functional Synergy: A working style that actively seeks input and partnership from engineering, product management, and research to ensure holistic product development.
  • Feedback-Rich Environment: Encouraging constructive feedback and open dialogue within the design team and across departments to continuously improve designs.
  • Transparent Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication regarding design decisions, project status, and challenges to build trust and alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Woven by Toyota, as reflected in this role, is a blend of the innovative spirit of a tech startup and the long-term vision and quality standards of a global automotive leader. The emphasis is on collaborative, purpose-driven innovation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Balancing Innovation with Production: The primary challenge will be translating cutting-edge, conceptual designs into robust, scalable, and manufacturable solutions within the automotive industry's stringent development cycles.
  • Global Design Consistency: Ensuring a unified and high-quality design experience across diverse global markets, user preferences, and regulatory environments.
  • Rapid Technological Evolution: Keeping pace with the accelerating advancements in ADAS, AD, and in-car technology, and translating these into intuitive user interfaces.
  • Cross-Disciplinary Alignment: Effectively bridging the gap between creative design vision and engineering realities, ensuring feasibility and technical integration.
  • Managing Diverse Stakeholders: Navigating the expectations and priorities of multiple global stakeholders, including different Toyota entities and leadership levels.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Immersive Technology Exposure: Direct involvement with advanced automotive technologies, providing unparalleled learning opportunities in areas like AI, sensor integration, and HMI for autonomous systems.
  • Industry Conferences & Workshops: Potential to attend leading design and automotive technology conferences to stay abreast of industry trends and network.
  • Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to be mentored by or mentor senior leaders within Woven by Toyota and the broader Toyota Group.
  • Skill Specialization: Focus on developing deep expertise in niche areas such as real-time 3D rendering for UX, advanced animation techniques, or UX for AI-driven systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity to tackle complex, forward-looking challenges at the intersection of design, technology, and mobility, with ample room for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • Design Vision for Future Mobility: "How would you define the ideal user experience for a Level 4/5 autonomous vehicle, and what role does visual design play in building trust and acceptance?"
    • Preparation: Research current trends in ADAS/AD UX, consider psychological aspects of trust in AI, and articulate a clear, user-centric design philosophy.
  • Design System Leadership: "Describe a time you built or significantly evolved a design system. What were the key challenges, how did you gain buy-in, and what was the impact on product consistency and development speed?"
    • Preparation: Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio, focusing on the strategic rationale, process, and quantifiable benefits.
  • Cross-Cultural Design Management: "How do you approach ensuring design quality and brand consistency when working with distributed, international teams and stakeholders with different cultural perspectives?"
    • Preparation: Draw on examples of global collaboration, discussing your methods for communication, alignment, and conflict resolution.

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Alignment with Woven by Toyota's Mission: "How does your personal design philosophy align with Woven by Toyota's mission to expand the definition of mobility and challenge the status quo?"
    • Preparation: Revisit the company's mission and values. Connect your passion for innovation and user experience to their goals.
  • Leading Creative Teams: "What is your approach to mentoring and developing a creative team, fostering both individual growth and high team performance?"
    • Preparation: Discuss your leadership style, your philosophy on feedback, and how you empower designers.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction to Woven by Toyota and your role, overview of 3-5 key projects (problem, solution, your role, process, impact), and a concluding statement on your fit.
  • Highlight Leadership: For each project, emphasize your leadership contributions, strategic decision-making, and how you influenced outcomes.
  • Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics (e.g., improved user satisfaction, increased conversion rates, reduced development time) to demonstrate the value of your work.
  • Visual Clarity: Ensure your visuals are high-resolution, professional, and clearly illustrate your design solutions and processes.
  • Concise Storytelling: Be prepared to tell compelling stories about your projects, focusing on the "why" and the "how," not just the "what."

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design expertise but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities in automotive UX.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Creative Lead position:

  • Submit your application through the provided Lever.co link.
  • Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful projects that best demonstrate your leadership in visual design systems, 2D/3D UI, animation, and cross-functional collaboration. Ensure each project clearly outlines the problem, your role, your process, and measurable outcomes.
  • Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 10+ years of experience, senior leadership roles, expertise in design systems, and any experience within the automotive or technology sectors. Use keywords from the job description.
  • Prepare Your Presentation: Practice delivering a concise and compelling portfolio presentation that showcases your creative vision, leadership capabilities, and strategic approach to design. Be ready to discuss your process in detail.
  • Research Woven by Toyota: Thoroughly understand the company's mission, values, current projects (e.g., Arene, Woven City), and their commitment to transforming mobility. Be prepared to articulate how your skills and vision align with their goals.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations/design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

Candidates must have over 10 years of practical experience in UI/UX design, including experience as a senior leader or creative director. A strong portfolio demonstrating expertise in visual design systems and flexibility in concept design and mass production delivery is essential.