Brand Designer, Link

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Designer, Link
Company: Stripe
Location: Canada
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Brand Design / Art Direction
Date Posted: December 17, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Elevate and shape a flexible brand system that exemplifies Stripe’s commitment to craft and beauty for the Link product.
• Drive creative vision and execution through experimental, idea-driven, and collaborative projects.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to enhance the quality and consistency of Link experiences across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Develop storytelling, create digital tools, and lead art direction for a consumer-facing product within the Stripe ecosystem.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for design, pushing brand boundaries and building awareness for Link's importance to Stripe.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a Brand Designer focused on Stripe's consumer product, Link. While Stripe is a fintech company, the Brand Designer role leans heavily into creative strategy, visual identity systems, and consumer-facing brand expression rather than traditional revenue or sales operations. The emphasis is on brand building, storytelling, and cross-functional collaboration within a creative team.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and evolve a versatile, forward-looking visual identity system for Link, ensuring flexibility across various surfaces and mediums.
• Lead art direction for projects, ensuring a cohesive and high-quality brand representation.
• Craft compelling brand and product storytelling that resonates with global audiences.
• Design and execute on a wide range of experimental projects, from digital tools to narrative concepts.
• Collaborate closely with product managers, engineers, marketing, and other design teams to integrate brand vision into product development.
• Set creative direction and strategy for diverse projects, amplifying Link's message across channels, objects, and environments.
• Act as an advocate for brand quality and consistency, providing feedback and guidance to internal teams and external partners.
• Innovate on ideas, narrative, and the creation of visually appealing assets that embody Link's brand essence.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to realize great ideas through hands-on execution and making.
• Actively participate in design critiques, offering and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand development and hands-on creative execution. The emphasis on "making beautiful things" and "tinkering, iterating quickly" suggests a dynamic, agile creative environment. Responsibilities are framed as proactive contributions to brand strategy and execution rather than purely task-based.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles with this experience level. Formal education is often complemented by a strong portfolio.
Experience: 6+ years of relevant design and art direction experience, with a focus on technical and product-driven companies. Experience working on experimental projects demonstrating expertise in design, creative technology, typography, and art direction is crucial.

Required Skills:

• Brand System Development: Ability to elevate and shape flexible visual identity systems that work across diverse surfaces.
• Art Direction: Proven experience in leading art direction for projects, ensuring cohesive brand expression.
• Storytelling: Skill in developing compelling narratives and brand stories for consumer products.
• Design Execution: Strong hands-on design skills and the ability to execute high-quality creative work.
• Collaboration: Experience working effectively with cross-functional teams (product, engineering, marketing).
• Strategic Acumen: Ability to build leading brands in a fast-paced, global environment and shape strategic design vision.
• Tool Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, Keynote, and Google Slides.
• Craftsmanship: Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to high-quality design execution.
• Experimental Mindset: Curiosity, ambition, and a willingness to experiment and iterate on ideas.

Preferred Skills:

• Creative Technology: Background or strong understanding of creative technology, digital tools, and design engineering.
• Typography: Impeccable typography skills and a deep appreciation for its nuances in brand expression.
• Communication & Presentation: Excellent organization, presentation, and written/verbal communication skills for effectively explaining work and facilitating stakeholders.
• Mentorship: Experience in helping other designers learn and grow, and a desire for reciprocal learning.
• Creative Coding: Experience with creative coding or a creative technologist background is a significant plus.
• Agency/Contractor Management: Track record of influencing and managing the work of other designers, contractors, and agencies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Minimum requirements" align with a senior-level designer role. The "Preferred qualifications" emphasize a growth mindset, strong interpersonal skills, and advanced technical or experimental creative capabilities, suggesting the company values continuous learning and innovation.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand System Case Studies: Showcase examples of developing or evolving comprehensive brand identity systems, detailing the strategic thinking, visual elements, and application across various touchpoints.
• Art Direction Examples: Present projects where you led art direction, illustrating your ability to set a creative vision and guide execution for cohesive brand experiences.
• Experimental Design Projects: Include work that demonstrates your curiosity, innovation, and ability to experiment with new ideas, narratives, or technologies.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Highlight projects where you successfully partnered with product, engineering, or marketing teams, showcasing your ability to integrate brand strategy into product development.
• Digital & Physical Applications: Demonstrate how your brand designs translate effectively across both digital (websites, apps, social media) and physical (events, merchandise, packaging) mediums.

Process Documentation:

• Design Process Explanation: Be prepared to articulate your design process, from initial ideation and research to iteration, feedback incorporation, and final execution.
• Brand Strategy Articulation: Clearly explain the strategic rationale behind your design decisions and how they align with business objectives and target audiences.
• Tool Utilization: Demonstrate proficiency in using core design tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud) to create, iterate, and present design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Brand Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase aesthetic quality but also strategic thinking, problem-solving abilities, and the capacity to articulate the "why" behind design choices. The emphasis on "making" and "tinkering" suggests that demonstrating a hands-on, iterative process is highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Brand Designer with 6+ years of experience in Canada, particularly in a major tech hub like Toronto or Vancouver, a competitive salary range would typically fall between CAD $100,000 - $150,000 annually. This estimate considers Stripe's market position, the specialized nature of brand design for a global tech product, and the cost of living in major Canadian cities. However, specific compensation will depend on the candidate's exact experience, skill set, and the final negotiation.

Benefits: While not explicitly detailed in the provided job description, Stripe is known for offering comprehensive benefits packages, which typically include:

• Health & Wellness: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement Savings: Contributions to retirement savings plans (e.g., RRSP matching in Canada).
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and public holidays.
• Stock Options/Equity: Potential for equity grants in a high-growth tech company.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning, training, and attending industry events.
• Parental Leave: Paid leave for new parents.
• Wellness Stipends: Support for gym memberships or other wellness activities.
• Relocation Assistance: If applicable, for candidates moving to Canada.

Working Hours: The role is listed with an estimated 40 hours per week, standard for a full-time position. However, the dynamic nature of creative projects and global collaboration may require occasional flexibility outside of standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary information is an estimate based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in Canada, considering the company's profile. Benefits are inferred from typical offerings by large, established tech companies like Stripe.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Fintech / Financial Infrastructure. Stripe operates at the intersection of finance and technology, providing payment processing and financial services for online businesses. Link, as a consumer product, adds a direct consumer-facing element to this ecosystem. Company Size: Stripe is a large, established technology company with thousands of employees globally. This implies a structured environment with extensive resources, established processes, and opportunities for specialization. Founded: Stripe was founded in 2010. With over a decade of growth and innovation, it has a mature culture that balances rapid innovation with operational excellence.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Designer will be part of the Stripe Brand Studio, specifically within the Link brand team.
• This team operates with a distinctive consumer lens, focusing on how Link is perceived globally.
• Designers are multidisciplinary, contributing to visual systems, art direction, and brand/product storytelling.
• The team works closely with cross-functional teams across Stripe and external partners.
• The structure encourages collaboration and idea sharing among individuals with diverse skill sets.

Methodology:

• Brand System Elevation: Focus on building and evolving a robust, flexible visual identity system.
• Experimental & Idea-Driven: The work is highly experimental, encouraging innovation and rapid iteration.
• Collaborative Creation: Emphasis on working in partnership with diverse creative individuals and cross-functional teams.
• Quality & Craftsmanship: A strong commitment to high standards in design execution and brand representation.
• Strategic Visioning: Developing creative strategies that push brand boundaries and build awareness.

Company Website: https://stripe.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Stripe's culture is known for its emphasis on engineering excellence, rigorous problem-solving, and a high degree of intellectual curiosity. The Brand Studio, and specifically the Link team, likely brings a strong creative and consumer-centric approach to this core ethos, aiming for both functional sophistication and aesthetic beauty.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Brand Designer or Lead Brand Designer, indicated by the 6+ years of experience requirement and the emphasis on shaping brand systems, leading art direction, and influencing others. It represents a mid-to-senior level position within the creative function. Reporting Structure: The Brand Designer will likely report to a Creative Director or Head of Brand within the Stripe Brand Studio, specifically overseeing the Link brand. They will work collaboratively with product managers, marketing leads, and other designers. Operations Impact: The Brand Designer's impact is crucial for establishing and reinforcing the Link brand's identity, perception, and user trust. This directly influences consumer adoption, engagement, and ultimately, the success of Link as a standalone product within Stripe's broader ecosystem. Strong branding can lead to increased market share, customer loyalty, and premium positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in consumer brand building within the fintech space or focus on specific areas like digital product design, motion graphics, or creative technology.
• Leadership: Progress into a Senior Art Director or Creative Director role, leading larger creative initiatives and managing teams.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Take on more strategic roles, influencing product roadmaps and marketing strategies through design leadership.
• Skill Development: Opportunities to learn new creative technologies, explore emerging design trends, and enhance strategic thinking through internal workshops, external conferences, and project experience.
• Mentorship: Serve as a mentor to junior designers and be mentored by senior creative leaders within Stripe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path emphasizes both deepening creative expertise and moving into leadership or strategic roles, aligning with typical career progressions for senior designers in established tech companies. The impact on a consumer-facing product like Link offers significant visibility and potential for career advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Stripe operates with a hybrid work model, encouraging on-site collaboration for certain roles and teams. For this Brand Designer position, the "On-site" designation suggests a preference for in-person collaboration within a designated Stripe office in Canada. Office Location(s): While the job is posted for "Canada," specific office locations would need to be confirmed. Major tech hubs like Toronto, Vancouver, or Montreal are common locations for such roles. Candidates should verify the exact office location and its proximity to their residence.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role is situated within the Stripe Brand Studio, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where designers share ideas and work together.
• Creative Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud) and potentially advanced creative technology tools.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: Regular opportunities to interact with product managers, engineers, marketing specialists, and other creative professionals.
• Focus on Craft: A workspace that values high standards of design execution and aesthetic quality.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. While flexibility is often part of creative roles, the emphasis on on-site collaboration suggests a need for presence during core business hours to facilitate team interaction and project momentum.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation for a creative role in Canada implies a structured office environment designed to facilitate collaboration and creative ideation. Candidates should inquire about the specific office setup and hybrid policies if applicable.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role.
• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage where candidates present their work, showcasing design systems, art direction examples, and experimental projects. Be prepared to articulate your process, strategic thinking, and impact.
• Cross-Functional Interviews: Discussions with potential collaborators from product, engineering, or marketing teams to assess teamwork and communication skills.
• Creative/Team Interviews: Conversations with members of the Brand Studio and Link team to evaluate creative fit, collaborative style, and problem-solving approach.
• Final Interview: Typically with a senior leader (e.g., Creative Director, Head of Brand) to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in brand systems, art direction, and experimental design relevant to Link's consumer focus.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the creative process, your specific contributions, and the outcomes or impact. Use visuals to support your narrative.
• Highlight Process: Showcase your iterative design process, how you incorporate feedback, and your problem-solving methods.
• Demonstrate Craft: Ensure high visual fidelity and attention to detail in your presentation.
• Tailor to Link: If possible, subtly demonstrate an understanding of Stripe's brand and Link's positioning in your project selection or presentation narrative.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a potential design challenge, which might involve developing a concept for a new brand element, iterating on an existing design, or solving a specific brand communication problem within a given timeframe.
• Case Study Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio case studies concisely and engagingly. Focus on clear communication of strategy and results.
• Stakeholder Management: Think about how you would collaborate with and influence diverse stakeholders (product managers, engineers, executives) to advance design initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a creative role like this heavily relies on the portfolio. Candidates should prepare to not just show their work but to thoroughly explain the thinking and process behind it, demonstrating strategic alignment with Stripe and Link's objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative interface design, prototyping, and design system management. Proficiency is expected for creating and iterating on visual assets and brand elements.
• Adobe Creative Cloud: Includes Photoshop for image manipulation, Illustrator for vector graphics, After Effects for motion graphics and animation, and InDesign for layout and print collateral. Crucial for a wide range of creative outputs.
• Keynote/Google Slides: For presentations, creative pitches, and articulating design strategies to stakeholders.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility for this role, understanding how design impacts key metrics (e.g., user engagement, conversion rates via Link) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics tools might be a plus for understanding user behavior and design effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this role's core responsibilities, but awareness of how brand elements integrate with customer-facing platforms could be useful.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite is a non-negotiable requirement for this role, reflecting industry standards for senior-level brand and graphic designers. Experience with presentation software is also critical for communication.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craft & Beauty: A core value at Stripe, emphasizing meticulous attention to detail and aesthetic excellence in all outputs.
• Ambition & Curiosity: A drive to explore new ideas, push boundaries, and constantly learn.
• Collaboration: A strong belief in working together across disciplines and teams to achieve shared goals.
• Impact: A focus on creating work that has significant positive influence on the product, users, and the company.
• Optimism & Progress: A forward-looking perspective that aims to build a better future through technology and design.

Collaboration Style:

• Multidisciplinary Partnership: Working alongside individuals with diverse skill sets to foster innovation and holistic problem-solving.
• Feedback-Oriented: Encouraging open, honest, and constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work.
• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamless collaboration with product, engineering, marketing, and other creative teams to ensure brand consistency and strategic alignment.
• Idea Exchange: An environment where ideas are freely shared, debated, and iterated upon.

📝 Enhancement Note: Stripe's culture is often described as intellectually rigorous, driven by a deep sense of mission, and committed to excellence. The Brand Studio likely embodies this with a creative lens, valuing both strategic thinking and hands-on execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a cohesive brand identity for Link while continuously experimenting and pushing creative boundaries.
• Global Scalability: Ensuring the brand system is flexible and effective across diverse global markets and cultures.
• Cross-Functional Alignment: Navigating the complexities of collaborating with various teams to ensure brand integrity and strategic alignment.
• Rapid Growth Environment: Adapting to Stripe's fast-paced growth and evolving product landscape.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest developments in branding, design technology, and consumer product marketing.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gaining exposure to product strategy, engineering challenges, and marketing insights through close collaboration.
• Creative Technology Exploration: Opportunities to work with or learn about creative coding and emerging digital tools.
• Mentorship & Skill Advancement: Access to experienced creative leaders and structured opportunities for skill development in areas like art direction, brand strategy, and design leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior creative roles in fast-growing tech companies, requiring adaptability and strategic problem-solving. The growth opportunities focus on both deepening creative expertise and expanding into strategic leadership roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Brand Strategy & Vision: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach building and evolving the Link brand system, your philosophy on consumer-facing brands in fintech, and how you align design with business objectives.
• Collaboration & Influence: Discuss scenarios where you've influenced stakeholders or collaborated with cross-functional teams on complex projects. How do you handle differing opinions or creative roadblocks?
• Problem-Solving & Iteration: Prepare examples of how you've tackled challenging design problems, iterated on ideas, and used feedback to improve your work. Focus on your experimental approach.

Company & Culture Questions:

• Stripe & Link Understanding: Demonstrate your understanding of Stripe's mission and Link's role within it. Research Link's current brand presence and user experience.
• Team Dynamics: Discuss how you contribute to a collaborative creative environment and how you give/receive feedback.
• Impact Measurement: How do you measure the success of your design work? Discuss how brand design contributes to business goals.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly outline the challenge, your role, your process, key decisions, and the outcome.
• Emphasize Strategy: Don't just show beautiful visuals; explain the strategic thinking behind them. Why did you make those choices?
• Showcase Process: Highlight your iterative approach, how you handled feedback, and your hands-on making skills.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time, keeping the audience engaged.
• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design choices, your collaboration style, and how your work aligns with Stripe's values.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing not just design talent but also strategic thinking, collaborative capabilities, and a deep understanding of brand building in a tech context. The portfolio is the centerpiece, and candidates must be able to articulate its contents effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Stripe's careers page.
• Curate and refine your portfolio: Ensure it prominently features brand system development, art direction, and experimental design projects relevant to consumer tech products. Tailor your selection to showcase your best work that aligns with Stripe's emphasis on craft and innovation.
• Tailor your resume: Highlight your 6+ years of experience, specific achievements in brand design and art direction, and proficiency in key tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud. Use keywords from the job description.
• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through 2-3 key case studies, focusing on your strategic thinking, design process, and collaborative approach. Be ready to discuss your role and the impact of your work.
• Research Stripe and Link: Understand Stripe's mission, its brand identity, and Link's specific value proposition. Familiarize yourself with their current digital presence and any recent announcements.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions for a Brand Designer role. All details should be verified directly with Stripe before making application decisions.