Creative Designer
π Job Overview
Job Title: Creative Designer Company: TryHackMe Location: London, England, United Kingdom Job Type: Full-time Category: Creative & Media / Technology / Marketing Date Posted: June 23, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-level (3-5 years) Remote Status: Fully Remote (with UK timezone overlap requirement)
π Role Summary
- Drive brand visual identity and execution across all marketing and content touchpoints, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence for TryHackMe.
- Develop and design a wide array of static and motion assets for diverse digital platforms, including social media, email campaigns, paid advertisements, and landing pages, directly contributing to user acquisition and engagement strategies.
- Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Growth, and Content, to translate creative briefs into on-brand visual content that effectively supports performance-driven campaigns.
- Support the evolution and enforcement of brand guidelines and templates, ensuring all visual outputs align with TryHackMe's mission of making cybersecurity education accessible, intuitive, and exciting.
π Enhancement Note: While the title is "Creative Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean towards a Digital Marketing Designer or Brand Designer with a strong emphasis on performance marketing assets and brand system adherence. The role requires not just aesthetic skill but also an understanding of how design contributes to campaign objectives and user engagement within the tech/cybersecurity education space.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Design compelling static and motion graphics for social media posts, email newsletters, digital advertisements, website landing pages, and event collateral.
- Assist in the development, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of TryHackMe's brand guidelines, ensuring consistency and quality across all visual communications.
- Translate project briefs from Marketing, Content, and Growth teams into clear, impactful, and on-brand creative assets that are optimized for performance and engagement.
- Collaborate with internal teams and external partners (illustrators, motion designers) to ensure a unified brand experience across all user touchpoints.
- Prepare and export final design assets in appropriate formats for developers, vendors, and other stakeholders, ensuring technical specifications are met.
- Actively participate in brainstorming sessions and creative reviews, contributing innovative ideas and constructive feedback to elevate the overall creative output.
- Support the creation of templates and design systems to streamline the design workflow and maintain brand consistency across the organization.
π Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for versatility in design output, from social media graphics to motion assets. The emphasis on "performance-focused campaigns" and translating briefs into "creative that drives performance" suggests the role is integral to the Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy, requiring an understanding of marketing funnel stages and conversion-oriented design principles.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for mid-level roles. Equivalent practical experience and a strong portfolio can often substitute formal education in this industry.
Experience: 3-5 years of professional experience in graphic design or visual design, with a demonstrable track record of creating high-performing digital assets. Experience in a fast-paced startup, tech, or cybersecurity-related environment is highly advantageous.
Required Skills:
- Proven proficiency in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows.
- Expert command of the Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop for image manipulation and digital asset creation, Illustrator for vector graphics and branding, and After Effects for motion graphics and animation.
- Strong understanding of typography, layout principles, and color theory to create visually appealing and effective designs.
- Experience in developing and working with brand systems and style guides to ensure visual consistency.
- Ability to interpret creative briefs and translate them into engaging visual content that meets project objectives.
- Skill in designing for various digital channels, including social media, email marketing, and web design.
- Experience preparing and exporting design assets for different platforms and developers.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with motion design beyond basic animation, including more complex video editing or motion graphics creation.
- Familiarity with social-first, performance-focused campaigns and an understanding of how design impacts conversion rates.
- Previous experience working in a start-up or rapidly scaling environment, demonstrating adaptability and ability to work under pressure.
- Knowledge or interest in cybersecurity, gaming, or tech audiences, allowing for more resonant design creation.
- Experience collaborating with external vendors like illustrators or specialized motion designers.
π Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, combined with the need for a strong portfolio showcasing "clean, modern, and high-performing digital work," indicates a preference for designers who are not only technically proficient but also strategically minded and results-oriented. The "performance-focused campaigns" and startup experience are key indicators of the desired candidate profile for a growth-oriented company like TryHackMe.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating 3-5 years of professional graphic and visual design work, with a clear emphasis on digital assets.
- Showcase a range of projects, including social media graphics, email campaign visuals, ad creatives, and landing page design elements.
- Highlight at least 2-3 case studies of projects where your design directly contributed to campaign performance or achieved specific marketing objectives.
- Include examples of motion graphics or animated assets if applicable, demonstrating proficiency in After Effects.
- Ensure your portfolio clearly displays your skills in typography, layout, and brand system adherence.
Process Documentation:
- Provide evidence of experience in translating creative briefs into design solutions, detailing your approach from brief interpretation to final asset delivery.
- Showcase your workflow for preparing and optimizing assets for various digital platforms and developer handoff, including file management and export settings.
- If possible, include examples of how you have contributed to or maintained brand guidelines and templates.
π Enhancement Note: For a role emphasizing performance and brand consistency, the portfolio should not just be a gallery of work but a testament to the candidate's ability to understand objectives, execute effectively, and demonstrate tangible results. The emphasis on "high-performing digital work" means case studies that quantify impact are highly valued.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: The company states they use "leading compensation benchmarking tools" based on Geographic Location, Seniority, Interview Performance, and Market Rates. For a Mid-Level Creative Designer (3-5 years experience) based in London, England, the estimated annual salary range would typically be between Β£35,000 to Β£50,000. This range can fluctuate based on the specific seniority and the candidate's performance during the interview process.
Benefits:
- Competitive Salary: Determined by location, seniority, interview performance, and market rates.
- 100% Remote Work: Freedom to work from anywhere.
- Flexi Time: Flexible working hours with a requirement for at least 4 hours of overlap with the UK timezone (8 am - 6 pm).
- Dedicated Work Laptop & Accessories: Provision of necessary equipment to facilitate optimal work performance.
- Swag Pack: A branded TryHackMe merchandise bundle upon joining.
- Personal Development Budget: Β£2,500 annually for certifications, books, and further learning.
- Annual Company Retreat: Fully paid company-wide retreat.
- Health Insurance: Provided for employees in countries without public healthcare.
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave: A package exceeding statutory requirements.
- 401k / Pension Contributions: Support for retirement savings.
- Virtual Team Lunches: Company-covered costs for recurring virtual team lunches.
- Free TryHackMe Subscription: A complimentary subscription for family and friends.
Working Hours: The role requires a minimum of 4 hours of overlap with the UK timezone (8 am - 6 pm GMT/BST). The total working hours are expected to be around 40 hours per week, with flexibility around the non-overlapping periods.
π Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is based on aggregated data for similar roles in London, UK, considering the company's stated methodology. The benefits package is extensive and reflects a company culture that values employee well-being, professional development, and work-life balance, particularly for remote employees.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Cybersecurity Education Technology (EdTech). TryHackMe operates within a rapidly growing and dynamic sector, aiming to democratize cybersecurity knowledge. The industry is characterized by innovation, a strong community focus, and a constant need to adapt to evolving threats and technologies.
Company Size: TryHackMe has experienced significant growth, serving over 4 million community members. While the exact employee count isn't stated, its rapid expansion suggests a mid-sized to large-sized startup or scale-up environment. This implies a dynamic, potentially fast-paced culture with opportunities for impact.
Founded: TryHackMe was founded a "handful of years ago," indicating a relatively young company that has achieved rapid scaling. This suggests an agile, forward-thinking organizational structure, likely with a strong emphasis on innovation and market responsiveness.
Team Structure:
- The Creative Designer reports to the Creative Lead, indicating a structured creative department within the broader marketing or growth team.
- Collaboration is expected with Marketing, Growth, and Content teams, suggesting a cross-functional environment where design is integrated into broader business objectives.
- The company's remote-first nature implies a team structure that relies heavily on digital communication and collaboration tools.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes translating briefs into "creative that drives performance," suggesting that design decisions are informed by data and campaign objectives.
- Agile Development: Given the startup environment and rapid growth, design processes likely align with agile methodologies, allowing for iterative feedback and quick adjustments.
- Community-Centric Approach: As an EdTech platform with a large community, designs may need to resonate with a diverse user base of learners and educators.
Company Website: https://careers.tryhackme.com
π Enhancement Note: The company's focus on cybersecurity and gamified learning suggests a culture that is innovative, perhaps playful, and deeply committed to its mission. The rapid growth implies a need for individuals who are adaptable, proactive, and can contribute to scaling processes and brand presence effectively.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Creative Designer, requiring 3-5 years of experience. It's a hands-on design position focused on execution and contributing to marketing and brand initiatives. The opportunity to work with a fast-growing EdTech platform in cybersecurity offers significant exposure to a high-demand industry.
Reporting Structure: The Creative Designer reports directly to the Creative Lead. This provides a clear line of mentorship and guidance within the creative function. Collaboration with Marketing, Growth, and Content teams will be extensive, allowing for broad exposure to different business functions.
Operations Impact: The Creative Designer's work directly impacts TryHackMe's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by producing visual assets that drive user acquisition, engagement, and brand perception. High-performing creative is crucial for successful marketing campaigns, user onboarding, and maintaining a strong brand identity in a competitive EdTech landscape. The role's contribution to "performance-focused campaigns" makes it a vital part of the revenue-generating efforts.
Growth Opportunities:
- Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in motion graphics, performance marketing design, or brand system development.
- Leadership Potential: Progress to a Senior Creative Designer role, potentially leading smaller projects or mentoring junior designers.
- Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain experience in marketing strategy, content creation, and product design through collaboration.
- Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge in the cybersecurity and EdTech sectors, making them a valuable asset in a high-growth industry.
- Training Budget: Utilize the Β£2,500 personal development budget for advanced courses, certifications, or workshops relevant to design and marketing.
π Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role likely involves increasing responsibility for campaign strategy input, leading design for specific initiatives, and potentially moving into specialized areas of design within the company or into a senior/lead creative position. The focus on performance marketing suggests a pathway towards roles that bridge creative execution with measurable business outcomes.
π Work Environment
Office Type: This is a 100% Remote position. TryHackMe operates as a fully distributed company, meaning there is no central physical office for employees to commute to.
Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company has a UK timezone overlap requirement, and their registered address is in London, UK (128 City Rd, London, EC1V 2NX). This suggests a strong operational base in the UK, but employees can be located anywhere as long as they can meet the timezone requirements.
Workspace Context:
- Digital Collaboration: The primary workspace is digital, relying on tools like Slack, Figma, and project management software for communication and collaboration.
- Technological Support: Employees are provided with a dedicated work laptop and accessories, ensuring they have the necessary tools to perform their roles effectively.
- Team Interaction: While remote, the company fosters connection through virtual team lunches, annual company retreats, and proactive communication channels.
Work Schedule:
- Flexi Time: Employees have the flexibility to choose their working hours.
- UK Timezone Overlap: A minimum of 4 hours of overlap with the UK timezone (8 am - 6 pm GMT/BST) is required daily. This ensures effective real-time collaboration with colleagues and stakeholders in the UK.
π Enhancement Note: The remote-first, flexible-hours environment is a significant perk, but the UK timezone overlap is a critical operational requirement for this role, impacting how candidates should structure their workday. The company's investment in remote work infrastructure (laptops, retreats) indicates a mature and supportive remote work culture.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Stage One: Intro Call (Talent Acquisition): A 30-minute initial screening to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and understanding of the role.
- Stage Two: Take-Home Task: Candidates will be given a design challenge to complete, simulating real-world tasks the Creative Designer would perform. This is a key opportunity to showcase problem-solving and design skills.
- Stage Three: Task Presentation (Hiring Manager): Present the completed take-home task to the hiring manager, explaining design choices, process, and how the solution addresses the brief.
- Stage Four: Final Interview (Co-Founder): A 30-minute conversation with a co-founder, likely focusing on strategic alignment, long-term vision, cultural fit, and broader company understanding.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best align with the job description's emphasis on digital, performance-driven, and brand-consistent design. Ensure your portfolio is easily navigable.
- Highlight Performance: For each relevant project, clearly articulate the brief, your design process, the challenges faced, and, most importantly, the results or impact your design achieved. Quantifiable metrics are highly valuable.
- Showcase Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates mastery of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. If motion graphics are included, clearly label them and describe your role.
- Brand System Understanding: Include examples demonstrating your ability to work within established brand guidelines or how you've contributed to them.
- Tailor to TryHackMe: If possible, subtly tailor your portfolio presentation or a specific case study to address the cybersecurity/EdTech context, showing you've researched the company.
Challenge Preparation:
- Deconstruct the Brief: For the take-home task, thoroughly analyze the brief. Identify key objectives, target audience, and any constraints.
- Process Over Perfection: While the final output matters, be prepared to articulate your design process, decision-making rationale, and any iterations or feedback you incorporated. This is crucial for Stage Three.
- Time Management: The take-home task will have a deadline. Plan your time effectively to ensure completion without sacrificing quality, especially for core elements.
- Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your take-home task clearly and concisely. Be ready to answer questions about your design choices and how they align with potential business goals.
π Enhancement Note: The interview process is structured to assess practical design skills (take-home task), strategic thinking (presentation), and overall fit. The portfolio review is a critical component, acting as the primary evidence of the candidate's capabilities. The emphasis on presentation of the take-home task suggests strong communication skills are as important as design execution.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, collaborative design, and potentially design system management. Candidates must be highly proficient.
- Adobe Creative Suite:
- Photoshop: For raster image editing, digital art, and asset creation.
- Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and brand assets.
- After Effects: For motion graphics, animations, and video editing for social media, ads, and web content.
Analytics & Reporting:
- While not explicitly tools to be used by the designer, understanding how design impacts metrics tracked in tools like Google Analytics, Mixpanel, or Amplitude is beneficial, especially for performance-focused campaigns.
CRM & Automation:
- Familiarity with marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Mailchimp) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot CRM) can be helpful for understanding how design assets are deployed and their performance is tracked within marketing workflows.
π Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. The company expects designers to be comfortable with the full Adobe suite, including motion graphics software. An understanding of how design integrates with marketing automation and analytics tools is a significant advantage for a role focused on performance.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Mission-Driven: A strong commitment to TryHackMe's mission of making cybersecurity education accessible, intuitive, and exciting. Designs should embody this ethos.
- Innovation & Creativity: Encouragement to bring "fresh, bold, and polished" design work to life and contribute ideas in brainstorms.
- Collaboration: Working closely with diverse teams, requiring strong communication and teamwork skills.
- Performance-Oriented: A focus on creating "high-performing digital work" and designs that "drive performance," indicating a results-driven culture.
- Adaptability: Working in a fast-paced startup environment demands flexibility and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Designers work closely with Marketing, Growth, and Content teams, necessitating clear communication and understanding of different departmental goals.
- Feedback-Driven: The role involves iterating based on feedback, indicating an open and constructive feedback culture.
- Remote Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital platforms (Slack, Figma) for seamless communication and project updates across distributed teams.
π Enhancement Note: The culture appears to be a blend of startup energy, mission dedication, and a professional approach to creative execution. Candidates should demonstrate an ability to be both creative and analytical, contributing to a collaborative environment that values impact and continuous improvement.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Balancing Brand and Performance: The primary challenge will be creating designs that are both aesthetically strong and aligned with brand guidelines, while also optimizing for campaign performance and conversion goals.
- Fast-Paced Environment: As a rapidly growing startup, priorities can shift quickly, requiring adaptability and efficient project management.
- Remote Collaboration: Maintaining strong creative synergy and clear communication within a fully remote team requires proactive effort and excellent digital communication skills.
- Evolving Industry: The cybersecurity and EdTech landscapes are constantly changing; staying current with design trends and industry knowledge will be essential.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Specialized Design Skills: Opportunity to deepen expertise in motion graphics, performance marketing design, or brand system development.
- Industry Exposure: Gain in-depth knowledge of the cybersecurity and EdTech sectors, a high-demand and rapidly evolving field.
- Strategic Design Input: Contribute to the strategic direction of marketing campaigns through design, moving beyond pure execution.
- Professional Development Budget: Access to a Β£2,500 annual budget for courses, certifications, books, or conferences to enhance skills.
- Mentorship: Potential for mentorship from the Creative Lead and exposure to senior leadership and co-founders.
π Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a high-growth tech startup but offer significant opportunities for professional development. The company's investment in employee growth through a dedicated budget signals a commitment to upskilling its workforce.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to balance strong brand guidelines with the need for a high-performing, conversion-focused campaign. How did you approach it?" (Assess understanding of dual objectives)
- "How do you approach translating a creative brief into visual assets? Walk me through your typical process." (Evaluate design process and brief interpretation)
- "Tell me about a design project where you received critical feedback. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Gauge receptiveness to feedback and problem-solving)
- "How do you stay updated on design trends, especially within the tech/cybersecurity or EdTech space?" (Assess industry awareness and continuous learning)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What interests you about TryHackMe's mission and the cybersecurity education space?" (Evaluate alignment with company values and industry)
- "How do you approach collaboration in a fully remote environment?" (Assess remote work competency and teamwork)
- "What are your thoughts on our current brand aesthetic, and where do you see opportunities for creative enhancement?" (Demonstrate research and critical thinking about the brand)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Tell a Story: For each portfolio piece, clearly articulate the problem, your solution, your process, and the impact. Focus on the "why" behind your design choices.
- Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved click-through rates, increased engagement, higher conversion).
- Showcase Technical Skills: Be prepared to briefly discuss your workflow in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, highlighting specific features or techniques you used.
- Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse presenting your portfolio items concisely and engagingly. Aim for clarity and impact within the allocated time.
π Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also a strategic mindset, an understanding of business objectives, and strong communication skills. The take-home task presentation is a critical component, so practicing the narrative and rationale behind design decisions is paramount.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Creative Designer position:
- Submit your application through the provided link on the TryHackMe careers page.
- Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features digital design work, including examples of social media, email, and ad creatives. Highlight any projects that demonstrate performance optimization or contribution to campaign success.
- Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight your 3-5 years of experience in graphic and visual design, specifically mentioning proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (mentioning Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), typography, and layout. Include any experience in fast-paced environments or the tech/gaming/cybersecurity sectors.
- Prepare for the Take-Home Task: Familiarize yourself with common design challenges for digital marketers. Think about how to approach a brief, manage your time, and present your rationale clearly.
- Research TryHackMe: Understand TryHackMe's mission, target audience, and current brand presence. Be prepared to discuss why you are a cultural fit and how your design approach aligns with their goals.
β οΈ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding salary and specific process expectations, should be verified directly with TryHackMe during the application and interview process.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have 3-5 years of experience in graphic or visual design with a strong portfolio. Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is essential, along with a keen eye for typography and layout.