Brand Designer
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Brand Designer
Company: EliseAI
Location: United States
Job Type: FULL_TIME
Category: Marketing / Creative & Media / Art & Design
Date Posted: 2026-01-06
Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
- Drive visual design excellence and brand storytelling across all customer touchpoints, from digital experiences to marketing collateral.
- Evolve and maintain a scalable brand system that ensures consistency, flexibility, and adherence to brand standards across diverse organizational outputs.
- Translate strategic brand principles, themes, and moods into actionable visual frameworks and creative decision-making processes.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product, and sales teams to align design initiatives with overarching business objectives and execution roadmaps.
- Manage a high volume of design projects autonomously, from ideation through to final delivery, ensuring timely completion and high-quality outcomes.
📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is listed as "Brand Designer," the depth of responsibilities in translating brand principles, evolving brand systems, and managing cross-functional alignment suggests a role that bridges brand strategy with execution, requiring a strategic mindset alongside creative craft. The emphasis on "rocket speed" and a "fast-paced environment" indicates a need for efficiency and adaptability in a high-growth startup context.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
- Develop and refine comprehensive brand guidelines, toolkits, and templates to empower internal teams and ensure consistent brand presentation across all communications.
- Create compelling multi-media narratives that effectively convey stories of teams, projects, and company deliverables, tailored to specific audiences and communication goals.
- Design a wide spectrum of marketing materials, including digital and print advertisements, social media graphics, website assets, email templates, presentations, and promotional items, maintaining brand integrity and creative excellence.
- Support product design efforts by contributing to UI polish, ensuring visual consistency, and reinforcing brand alignment within digital products.
- Analyze brand performance metrics and leverage insights to inform and iteratively refine visual strategies and creative approaches, driving continuous improvement.
- Advocate for and champion design excellence, brand consistency, and creative innovation throughout the organization, fostering a culture of high-quality design.
- Manage project timelines and deliverables independently, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines in a dynamic, high-volume environment.
- Collaborate closely with sales, marketing, and product departments to ensure design outputs directly support business goals and execution strategies.
- Contribute to the evolution of the company's website and digital presence to effectively communicate value proposition, market positioning, and unique brand character.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand development and tactical execution. The emphasis on "translating brand principles" and "evolving the brand system" points to a need for a designer who can not only execute but also contribute to the strategic direction of the brand. The expectation to "analyze brand performance and gather insights" suggests a data-informed approach to design decisions.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, a related design or artistic discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
Experience: 3+ years of professional brand design experience, preferably within a fast-paced startup or agency environment.
Required Skills:
- Proven proficiency in professional brand design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating visually appealing and thoughtful design solutions.
- Expertise in contemporary design tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop) and Figma.
- Demonstrated ability to create multi-media narratives and engaging visual stories.
- Strong presentation and storytelling skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and strategic thinking.
- Confidence and proven experience in collaborating closely with cross-functional departments such as sales, marketing, and product.
- Ability to manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritize effectively, and deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.
- Understanding of how to translate brand principles into strategic visual frameworks.
- Experience in designing a wide range of marketing materials for both digital and print.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience working within diverse organizational structures (startup, corporate, agency/consultancy).
- Experience collaborating closely with product teams or contributing to product design initiatives.
- Proficiency in motion design and incorporating motion graphics into brand storytelling and expression.
- Experience working in fast-paced environments with a high volume of deliverables.
- A university degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related design or artistic discipline.
📝 Enhancement Note: The "Bonus if you have" section strongly suggests that experience in product design collaboration and motion graphics would be highly advantageous, indicating opportunities for growth into more integrated design roles. The requirement for experience in a "fast-paced environment with high volume of deliverables" underscores the need for efficiency and robust project management skills.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3 years of professional brand design work, with a clear emphasis on visual appeal, strategic thinking, and impactful storytelling.
- Demonstrated ability to translate brand principles into cohesive visual expressions and creative decision-making frameworks.
- Examples of evolved brand systems or contributions to brand consistency across various touchpoints.
- Case studies highlighting the successful creation of multi-media narratives or marketing materials that align with business objectives.
- Evidence of proficiency with essential design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
Process Documentation:
- While not explicitly stated as a deliverable, candidates are expected to demonstrate their design process through their portfolio and interview discussions, showcasing how they approach:
- Conceptualization and ideation for new brand expressions.
- Development and refinement of brand guidelines and toolkits.
- Collaboration with cross-functional teams to align design with business goals.
- Iteration based on feedback and performance analysis.
📝 Enhancement Note: The primary requirement for a "strong portfolio showcasing proficiency" is paramount. Candidates should prepare to walk through their portfolio, explaining their design process, the strategic rationale behind their creative choices, and the impact of their work, particularly in relation to brand consistency and storytelling.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,000 - $160,000 USD per year. This range is determined by factors including experience, skill level, location, and qualifications assessed during the interview process.
Benefits:
- Equity in the company, offering ownership and participation in EliseAI's growth.
- Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance, with premiums covered at 100% for employees.
- Fully paid parental leave, supporting new parents during this significant life event.
- Commuter benefits to assist with transportation costs.
- 401k retirement savings plan to support long-term financial planning.
- Monthly fitness stipend to encourage employee well-being and active lifestyles.
- A collaborative in-office environment designed for interaction and productivity, featuring a fully stocked kitchen and company-paid lunches.
- Fun company social events through the "Elise and the City" program, fostering team camaraderie.
- Unlimited vacation and paid holidays, promoting work-life balance and employee rejuvenation.
- Relocation packages to support candidates moving to join the team, aiming to make the transition smooth and positive.
Working Hours: While not explicitly stated, the "40 hours" derived from typical full-time employment and the mention of a fast-paced environment suggest standard full-time working hours, with potential for flexibility managed on a project basis.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a mid-level Brand Designer role in the US, especially considering the company's Series E funding and unicorn status. The comprehensive benefits package, including 100% premium coverage for health insurance and significant emphasis on employee well-being and work-life balance (unlimited vacation, fitness stipend), indicates a strong commitment to employee satisfaction and retention.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Technology (AI), Healthcare, Real Estate (Housing). EliseAI operates at the intersection of AI-driven solutions and essential services, aiming to improve efficiency and accessibility in critical sectors.
Company Size: Post-Series E funding, indicating a significant growth phase and likely a mid-to-large-sized organization, with a workforce that is expanding rapidly.
Founded: EliseAI was founded with a mission to improve industries that matter most. Its growth trajectory, highlighted by a $250 million Series E funding round, suggests a dynamic, ambitious, and well-capitalized company.
Team Structure:
- The Brand Design role will likely be part of a broader Marketing or Creative team.
- Designers are expected to work autonomously but also collaborate closely with Marketing, Product, and Sales teams, indicating a matrixed or project-based collaboration model.
- The company emphasizes a culture of "writing the playbook" rather than following one, suggesting an environment where initiative and innovation are highly valued.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Design: The role requires analyzing brand performance and gathering insights to inform visual strategies, indicating a data-informed approach to creative work.
- Agile Execution: The emphasis on "rocket speed," "fast-paced environment," and "high volume of deliverables" points to agile methodologies and rapid iteration cycles.
- Autonomy and Ownership: The company culture fosters "full autonomy, no micromanagement," empowering individuals to own their impact and drive projects independently.
Company Website: https://www.eliseai.com/
📝 Enhancement Note: EliseAI's mission to improve housing and healthcare with AI agents is a strong differentiator. The company culture is described as intense, ambitious, and rewarding, with a focus on rapid growth and individual ownership. This suggests a high-performing environment where designers can make a significant impact.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Brand Designer, requiring 3+ years of experience. It offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to influence brand direction, moving beyond execution to strategic contribution.
Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, the Brand Designer would likely report to a Creative Director, Head of Brand, or a Marketing Manager. The role requires close collaboration with Product and Sales, indicating an integrated reporting or project management structure.
Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's impact is directly tied to shaping EliseAI's visual identity and communication. This includes enhancing brand perception, supporting marketing and sales initiatives, improving the user experience of digital touchpoints, and ultimately contributing to the company's growth and market positioning.
Growth Opportunities:
- Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion design, digital experience design, or brand system architecture, given the "bonus" qualifications.
- Leadership Potential: Opportunity to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers (as the team grows), and contribute to strategic brand planning.
- Career Advancement: Progression to Senior Brand Designer, Art Director, or similar roles within the evolving creative team. The company's rapid growth provides fertile ground for accelerated career progression.
- Cross-functional Exposure: Gaining experience in product design, marketing campaign strategy, and sales enablement through close collaboration.
📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers substantial growth potential within a rapidly expanding startup. The emphasis on autonomy and impact means that successful candidates can quickly take on more responsibility and shape their career path. The "bonus" qualifications are clear indicators of areas for future development and specialization.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The description mentions a "collaborative in-office environment with an open floor plan." This suggests a modern, open-concept workspace designed to foster interaction and team cohesion.
Office Location(s): While the role is remote-eligible within the United States, the description specifically mentions a "collaborative in-office environment" and "company-paid lunch," implying that the role is primarily intended to be on-site at one of EliseAI's office locations. The "Elise and the City" program also suggests a focus on local team engagement.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Atmosphere: Open floor plan and company-sponsored social events encourage interaction and a strong team spirit.
- Resources: Fully stocked kitchen and company-paid lunches contribute to a comfortable and productive work environment.
- Technology: Proficiency in contemporary design tools (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) is expected, implying access to necessary hardware and software.
Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours are implied, with the company culture emphasizing "rocket speed" and high volume, suggesting a dynamic pace. However, the mention of "unlimited vacation" and a focus on impact rather than micromanagement suggests a degree of flexibility in managing personal time around project needs.
📝 Enhancement Note: Despite the "telecommute" designation, the description strongly leans towards an on-site or hybrid model, particularly with mentions of an "in-office environment," "open floor plan," and "company-paid lunch." Candidates should clarify their expectations regarding remote work versus in-office presence.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: A review of the application, resume, and portfolio to assess qualifications and cultural fit.
- Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, strategic thinking, and impact. This is a critical step to evaluate brand design craft and storytelling abilities.
- Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with team members from Marketing, Product, or Sales to assess collaboration skills and understanding of business objectives.
- Hiring Manager Interview: A final discussion with the hiring manager to delve deeper into role expectations, career aspirations, and cultural alignment.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Showcase Strategic Thinking: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design choices, linking them to brand objectives and business goals.
- Highlight Process: Detail your design process, from research and ideation to execution and iteration. Demonstrate how you solve problems.
- Emphasize Storytelling: Use your portfolio to tell a compelling story about your projects and your impact.
- Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure examples showcase expertise with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. Include examples of motion design if applicable.
- Tailor to EliseAI: If possible, demonstrate an understanding of EliseAI's brand and mission, perhaps by including speculative work or highlighting relevant past projects.
- Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., engagement rates, conversion improvements).
Challenge Preparation:
- Be prepared for a potential design challenge or case study that assesses your ability to translate brand principles into practical design solutions under time constraints.
- Practice articulating your design decisions concisely and persuasively, as this is crucial for collaboration and stakeholder buy-in.
📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component of the application. Candidates should curate their best work, focusing on projects that demonstrate strategic brand thinking, strong visual execution, and the ability to tell compelling stories. Preparing to articulate their process and the business impact of their designs will be key.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop): Essential for a wide range of graphic design, motion graphics, and video editing tasks.
- Figma: Crucial for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and maintaining design systems.
Analytics & Reporting:
- While not explicitly listed as a required tool, the role involves "analyzing brand performance and gathering insights." This suggests familiarity with or a willingness to learn tools used for website analytics (e.g., Google Analytics), social media analytics platforms, and potentially marketing automation reporting dashboards.
CRM & Automation:
- No specific CRM or automation tools are listed as direct requirements for this design role. However, understanding how design assets integrate with marketing automation platforms (e.g., for email campaigns) or CRM systems (e.g., for sales presentations) would be beneficial.
📝 Enhancement Note: The required toolset is standard for a modern Brand Designer. The "bonus" mention of motion design tools suggests that proficiency in After Effects and Premiere Pro will be particularly valued. An understanding of how design integrates with marketing and sales technology stacks will be advantageous.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Ambition & Impact: "Move at rocket speed, build something massive." This core value drives a culture of high performance, rapid growth, and a focus on creating significant impact.
- Autonomy & Ownership: "You own your impact; full autonomy, no micromanagement, no fluff." Employees are empowered to take initiative, make decisions, and be accountable for their work.
- Excellence & Quality: "We hire the best, expect the best, and give you the masterclass of your career." There's a strong emphasis on high standards, continuous learning, and delivering exceptional results.
- Collaboration & Support: While autonomous, the team operates collaboratively. "The rest of the team will be here to support you," indicating a supportive environment despite the intensity.
- Innovation & Agility: The company is at the forefront of AI in housing and healthcare, requiring a mindset that embraces new technologies and adapts quickly to market changes.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with marketing, product, and sales teams is a key aspect. Designers are expected to "drive collaboration" and align design work with business goals.
- Direct Communication: The "no fluff" culture suggests a preference for direct, clear, and efficient communication.
- Shared Ownership: The emphasis on "writing the playbook" implies a collaborative approach to problem-solving and strategic development, where input from various functions is valued.
📝 Enhancement Note: EliseAI fosters a high-octane, results-oriented culture. Candidates should be prepared for a demanding yet rewarding environment where individual contribution is highly visible and valued. The culture supports ambitious individuals who thrive on autonomy and are eager to contribute to a rapidly scaling company.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Pace and Volume: Working at "rocket speed" with a "high volume of deliverables" can be demanding and requires excellent time management and prioritization skills.
- Balancing Brand and Business Needs: Effectively translating strategic brand principles into designs that also meet specific marketing, sales, or product objectives requires strong negotiation and communication skills.
- Evolving Brand System: Continuously evolving and maintaining a scalable brand system for a rapidly growing company presents ongoing challenges in ensuring consistency and flexibility.
- Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring consistent brand application and design quality across diverse departments and projects requires proactive communication and stakeholder management.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Accelerated Growth: The startup environment and company's rapid scaling offer unparalleled opportunities for rapid career advancement and learning.
- Skill Expansion: Opportunities to develop skills in motion design, product design integration, and strategic brand development, particularly by leveraging the "bonus" qualifications.
- Industry Exposure: Gaining deep insights into the AI, healthcare, and real estate technology sectors.
- Leadership Development: Potential to grow into leadership roles as the design team expands, taking on more strategic responsibilities and mentoring junior designers.
📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in managing the demanding pace and high expectations of a fast-growing startup. However, these challenges are directly linked to significant growth and learning opportunities, making it an attractive role for ambitious designers.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "How would you translate EliseAI's mission of improving housing and healthcare with AI into a visual brand narrative?" (Focus on storytelling and mission alignment)
- "Describe a time you had to balance competing priorities from different departments (e.g., Sales vs. Product) for a design project. How did you approach it?" (Focus on collaboration and negotiation)
- "Imagine you're tasked with evolving our brand system to accommodate new product lines. What would be your initial steps and considerations?" (Focus on brand system thinking and scalability)
- "How do you stay updated on design trends and incorporate them into your work while maintaining brand integrity?" (Focus on continuous learning and brand consistency)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What excites you about EliseAI's mission and our approach to using AI in housing and healthcare?" (Focus on mission alignment and interest)
- "Describe your ideal work environment. How do you thrive in a fast-paced, high-volume setting?" (Focus on cultural fit and adaptability)
- "How do you approach receiving and giving constructive feedback, especially in a high-impact environment?" (Focus on collaboration and growth mindset)
- "EliseAI emphasizes autonomy and ownership. Can you provide an example of a time you took initiative and owned a project from start to finish?" (Focus on proactivity and accountability)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. Then, walk through 3-4 key projects, dedicating 5-7 minutes to each.
- Content per Project: For each project, explain the objective, your role, the challenges, your design process (ideation, tools used, iterations), the final solution, and the impact or outcome.
- Visual Storytelling: Use your presentation slides to visually guide the conversation, but focus on speaking about your work rather than reading from the slides.
- EliseAI Context: Be prepared to discuss how your skills and experience align with EliseAI's specific needs and mission.
- Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, problem-solving approach, and how you handle feedback. Be ready to discuss your experience with Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and potentially motion graphics.
📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate not just what they designed, but why they designed it that way and what the impact was. Demonstrating an understanding of EliseAI's business and mission will be crucial for demonstrating alignment and strategic thinking.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Brand Designer position:
- Submit your application through the provided link, including your resume and a link to your online portfolio.
- Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating brand strategy, visual storytelling, multi-media creation, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. Emphasize projects completed in fast-paced environments or those that show a strong understanding of translating brand principles into actionable designs.
- Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your 3+ years of professional brand design experience, highlighting achievements and responsibilities relevant to the job description, such as managing high-volume deliverables and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Use keywords from the job description.
- Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, strategic rationale, and the impact of your work. Prepare thoughtful questions about EliseAI's brand, culture, and the role's challenges.
- Company Research: Thoroughly research EliseAI's mission, products (housing and healthcare AI), recent funding news, and company culture as described. Understand their value proposition and target audiences to better tailor your application and interview responses.
⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have 3+ years of professional brand design experience and a strong portfolio showcasing their design skills. Proficiency in contemporary design tools and the ability to collaborate with multiple departments are also required.