Founding Product Designer - Decentralized Identity

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Founding Product Designer - Decentralized Identity

Company: Hyphen Connect Limited

Location: Singapore

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Product Design / Web3 Design

Date Posted: 2026-03-13

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the complete product design lifecycle, from initial concept ideation through to final execution and iteration for a decentralized identity (DeID) protocol.

• Define and implement the core visual identity and brand language, ensuring consistency across all user touchpoints and platforms.

• Drive the creation of intuitive, engaging, and user-centric experiences within the rapidly evolving Web3 ecosystem.

• Collaborate closely with engineering, product management, and potentially blockchain development teams to translate complex technical concepts into accessible and effective design solutions.

• Champion user research and feedback integration to continuously refine and optimize the product's design and usability.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a "Founding" position, implying a high degree of autonomy, impact, and responsibility for establishing design foundations within an early-stage startup. The focus on "Decentralized Identity" and "Web3" signals a need for candidates with specific domain knowledge and an understanding of the unique design challenges and opportunities in this sector. The "Remote Solely" work arrangement indicates a distributed team environment requiring strong self-management and communication skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the end-to-end product design process, encompassing user research, wireframing, prototyping, UI design, and user testing for the DeID protocol.

• Develop and meticulously maintain a comprehensive design system and style guide that defines the brand's visual language and ensures design consistency.

• Translate user needs and business requirements into elegant, functional, and user-friendly interfaces and workflows.

• Create detailed design specifications, user flows, and interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts to engineering and stakeholders.

• Conduct user interviews, usability testing, and analyze feedback to identify areas for design improvement and innovation.

• Stay abreast of emerging trends in product design, UI/UX, and specifically within the decentralized technologies and Web3 space.

• Partner with marketing and communications to ensure brand consistency in all external-facing design assets.

• Contribute to product strategy discussions by providing design perspective and advocating for the user.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "end-to-end design processes, from concept to execution" and "establishing and maintaining a cohesive visual language" highlights the foundational nature of this role. This goes beyond typical UI/UX tasks and requires strategic thinking about brand building and design system architecture from scratch.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 2-5 years of progressive experience in product design, UI/UX design, or interaction design, with a strong preference for experience in early-stage startups or fast-paced tech environments.

Required Skills:

• Product Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead design initiatives from inception to completion with minimal supervision.

• Figma Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Figma for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration.

• Portfolio: A robust and compelling portfolio showcasing a range of product design projects, with a specific emphasis on Web3 applications, decentralized technologies, or complex digital products. The portfolio should demonstrate your process, problem-solving skills, and visual design capabilities.

• User Experience (UX) Design: Strong understanding of user-centered design principles, user research methodologies, and usability testing.

• Visual Design & Branding: Excellent aesthetic sensibility and a proven ability to establish and maintain a consistent visual language and brand identity.

• Prototyping: Skilled in creating interactive prototypes to effectively communicate design concepts and user flows.

• Communication & Collaboration: Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design decisions clearly and collaborate effectively with technical and non-technical teams.

• Adaptability & Initiative: Ability to thrive in a dynamic startup environment, take ownership of projects, and proactively drive design forward.

• Web3 Passion: A genuine interest and understanding of decentralized technologies, blockchain, and their implications for identity management.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with design systems, component libraries, and style guides.

• Familiarity with animation and motion design principles.

• Basic understanding of front-end development principles (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to facilitate better collaboration with engineers.

• Experience working in a remote-first or distributed team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a "strong portfolio showcasing Web3 projects" is critical. Candidates should prepare to highlight specific contributions to decentralized identity, blockchain, or related technologies, detailing their process, challenges, and outcomes in these unique domains. The "2-5 years" experience level suggests they are looking for someone who can operate independently but may not have extensive managerial experience yet.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Web3 Project Focus: Showcase at least one significant project related to decentralized identity (DeID), blockchain, cryptocurrency, or other Web3 technologies. Clearly articulate the problem, your role, design process, and the impact of your work.

• End-to-End Design: Your portfolio should demonstrate your ability to handle the entire design process, from initial user research and conceptualization through to detailed UI design and prototyping.

• Figma Mastery: Include examples that highlight your advanced use of Figma for complex design systems, interactive prototypes, and collaborative workflows.

• Visual Language & Branding: Present case studies that clearly illustrate your capability in establishing and evolving a distinct visual language and brand identity for a product or company.

• Problem-Solving & Iteration: Demonstrate how you use user feedback, testing, and data to iterate on designs and achieve measurable improvements in user experience or business metrics.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal design process in detail, including how you approach user research, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, and user testing.

• Highlight your experience in creating and maintaining design systems or style guides, explaining the benefits and challenges of such initiatives.

• Be ready to articulate how you collaborate with engineering teams to ensure accurate implementation of designs, including the handover process and feedback loops.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Founding" role, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase technical design skills but also strategic thinking, initiative, and a deep understanding of the Web3 landscape. The ability to articulate a clear, repeatable design process, especially one that is adaptable to a startup environment, will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Remote Work Stipend: Potential for a home office setup or internet reimbursement to support a fully remote work environment.

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Stock Options/Equity: As a founding member, significant equity or stock options are likely to be offered, aligning the employee's success with the company's growth.

• Professional Development: Budget for conferences, courses, and learning resources, particularly in Web3 and design innovation.

• Flexible Working Hours: While a standard 40-hour work week is typical, flexibility may be offered to accommodate different time zones and personal needs.

• Unlimited PTO (Potential): Many startups offer flexible or unlimited paid time off policies.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility is expected given the remote nature and potential for global team collaboration, but core hours may be established for team synchronization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary figures are estimates for Singapore and may vary significantly based on the candidate's exact experience, negotiation skills, and the company's funding stage. The inclusion of equity is a strong possibility for a "Founding" role in an early-stage startup, and candidates should inquire about this during the interview process. The Job Description includes a "#li-remote" tag, reinforcing the fully remote nature.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology / Blockchain / Decentralized Identity (DeID) / Web3

Company Size: Early-Stage Startup (likely under 50 employees, potentially <20 initially)

Founded: Hyphen Connect Limited is an early-stage startup, implying a recent founding date and a focus on rapid growth and product development.

Team Structure:

• Lean & Agile: Expect a small, highly collaborative team where individuals wear multiple hats.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Close working relationships with founders, engineers (potentially blockchain specialists), and product managers.

• Flat Hierarchy: A less formal management structure, encouraging direct communication and input from all team members.

• Emphasis on Innovation: A culture that embraces experimentation, rapid iteration, and pushing the boundaries of decentralized technology.

Methodology:

• Agile Development: Iterative product development cycles, focusing on delivering value quickly and adapting to feedback.

• User-Centric Design: A strong commitment to understanding and serving the needs of users in the decentralized space.

• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing user feedback, analytics, and potentially blockchain data to guide product and design choices.

• Decentralized Principles: Embracing principles of decentralization, transparency, and user empowerment in both the product and company operations.

Company Website: hyphen-connect.com (Assumed based on domain_derived, actual URL may vary)

📝 Enhancement Note: As an early-stage startup, Hyphen Connect likely fosters a culture of high ownership, rapid learning, and a strong sense of mission. Candidates should be prepared for a fast-paced environment where they can make a significant impact on the company's trajectory.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Founding Product Designer

Reporting Structure:

• Likely reports directly to one of the company's founders or the Head of Product (if such a role exists early on).

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Lead Design Function: Grow into a Head of Design or Design Lead role as the company scales, building and managing a design team.

• Product Strategy: Deepen involvement in product strategy, contributing significantly to roadmap planning and feature prioritization based on design insights.

• Specialization: Become a recognized expert in decentralized identity design, a niche but growing field.

• Technical Acumen: Develop a deeper understanding of blockchain technology, cryptography, and decentralized systems, enhancing cross-functional collaboration.

• Equity Growth: Benefit from the appreciation of company stock options as the startup achieves milestones and secures further funding rounds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Founding" title signifies a unique growth trajectory. It's less about incremental promotion and more about growing with the company, taking on increasing responsibility and influence as the business matures.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the company is based in Singapore, which may influence time zone considerations for team synchronization.

Workspace Context:

• Asynchronous Communication: Heavy reliance on tools like Slack, email, and project management software for communication, necessitating clear and concise written updates.

• Virtual Collaboration: Utilizing video conferencing (Zoom, Google Meet) for meetings, design reviews, and brainstorming sessions.

• Digital Tooling: Access to a robust suite of digital design and collaboration tools (Figma, Miro, project management platforms).

• Global Team: Potential to collaborate with team members across various time zones, fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment.

Work Schedule:

• While the role is full-time (approx. 40 hours/week), the fully remote nature allows for flexibility. Some core overlap hours might be expected for critical team syncs, but the schedule can often be adapted to individual productivity peaks and global team needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote aspect requires a proactive approach to building relationships and maintaining visibility within the team. Candidates should be comfortable managing their own time and communication effectively in a distributed setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

1. Initial Screening: A brief call with a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest in Web3/DeID.

2. Portfolio Presentation & Design Discussion: A dedicated session where the candidate presents their portfolio, focusing on Web3 projects. This will involve in-depth discussion of their design process, problem-solving approach, and rationale behind design decisions.

3. Technical/Skills Assessment: Potentially a short design exercise or a more in-depth discussion about specific design challenges related to decentralized identity, user experience in Web3, or Figma techniques.

4. Founder/Team Interviews: Meetings with key team members, including founders, to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with the company's vision.

5. Final Decision: Offer extended based on overall assessment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Storytelling is Key: Don't just show screens; tell the story behind each project. Explain the problem, your hypothesis, your process, the challenges you faced, and the outcomes.

• Highlight Web3 Relevance: Clearly articulate your contributions to decentralized identity or related Web3 projects. Emphasize any unique challenges or learnings from this domain.

• Showcase Figma Skills: Demonstrate advanced Figma features, including complex prototypes, design systems, and collaborative workflows.

• Focus on Process: Explain how you design, not just what you design. Detail your research, ideation, iteration, and testing methods.

• Be Concise and Impactful: Select your strongest 3-5 projects for a focused presentation. For a "Founding" role, a deep dive into one or two foundational projects might be more valuable than a broad overview of many.

• Prepare for Specific Questions: Anticipate questions about managing design in a startup, building a brand from scratch, designing for trust in Web3, and handling ambiguity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss hypothetical design challenges related to user onboarding for decentralized identity, securing user data, building trust in a decentralized system, or creating intuitive interfaces for complex blockchain interactions.

• Consider how you would approach building a design system for a new protocol with evolving technical requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is likely the most critical stage. Candidates should meticulously prepare to walk through their Web3 projects, emphasizing their ability to operate autonomously and define design direction in a nascent field.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The core tool for UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaboration. Mastery is essential.

• Miro / FigJam: For collaborative whiteboarding, brainstorming, user flow mapping, and ideation.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or linear for task management and sprint planning.

• Communication Platforms: Slack, Discord, or Microsoft Teams for real-time team communication.

Analytics & Reporting:

• User Analytics Tools: Potentially Amplitude, Mixpanel, or Heap for tracking user behavior within the application (once established).

• Web3 Analytics: Familiarity with on-chain data explorers (e.g., Etherscan, PolygonScan) or specialized Web3 analytics platforms may be beneficial for understanding protocol usage.

CRM & Automation:

• Not typically primary tools for a Product Designer, but familiarity with how user data flows from front-end interactions into backend systems or CRMs can be advantageous for understanding the broader product ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: While Figma is explicitly mentioned, candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with other tools commonly used in remote, agile startup environments for collaboration and project management.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• User-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the needs of users in the decentralized identity space.

• Innovation & Experimentation: A willingness to explore new design paradigms and technologies, embracing the experimental nature of Web3.

• Transparency & Trust: Upholding the principles of decentralization by fostering trust through clear design and communication.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking full responsibility for design outcomes and driving projects to completion.

• Collaboration & Open Communication: Valuing input from all team members and maintaining open lines of communication.

Collaboration Style:

• Agile & Iterative: Collaboration occurs within rapid development cycles, with frequent feedback loops between design, product, and engineering.

• Remote-First: Emphasis on asynchronous communication and effective use of virtual collaboration tools.

• Cross-Functional: Designers are expected to work closely with engineers and product managers, bridging the gap between user needs and technical implementation.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that encourages constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Founding" nature, the candidate will play a significant role in shaping these values and the collaborative style. They should be prepared to contribute to defining and embodying the company's culture.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Designing for Trust in Web3: Building user confidence in decentralized identity solutions, which can be complex and perceived as risky by mainstream users.

• Onboarding Complexity: Creating intuitive onboarding flows for users new to decentralized technologies and digital identity management.

• Evolving Technology Landscape: Staying ahead of rapid advancements in blockchain, Web3 protocols, and identity standards.

• Ambiguity and Rapid Iteration: Working in an early-stage startup environment with evolving requirements and a need for quick pivots.

• Establishing Design Foundations: Building a visual language and design system from scratch with limited resources.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into DeID: Becoming an expert in the specific domain of decentralized identity and its technical underpinnings.

• Web3 Design Best Practices: Contributing to the development of best practices for UI/UX in the Web3 space.

• Startup Growth Dynamics: Gaining invaluable experience in scaling a tech startup from its inception.

• Leadership Potential: Developing leadership skills as the design function grows within the company.

• Networking: Connecting with a vibrant community of Web3 developers, designers, and entrepreneurs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are inherent to working in a cutting-edge, early-stage Web3 startup. The growth opportunities are significant for someone looking to make a substantial impact and become a leader in a specialized field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach building a design system from scratch for a new decentralized identity protocol?"

• "Describe your process for designing an intuitive onboarding experience for users unfamiliar with Web3 concepts like private keys or wallets."

• "What are the key challenges in designing for trust and security in the decentralized identity space, and how would you address them?"

• "How do you balance the need for rapid iteration in a startup with the importance of a consistent and robust design system?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in decentralized identity and Web3 specifically?"

• "What excites you about joining an early-stage startup like Hyphen Connect?"

• "How do you handle ambiguity and prioritize tasks when requirements are not fully defined?"

• "Describe your experience working in a fully remote team. What strategies do you use to stay connected and productive?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best showcase your ability to handle the core responsibilities, especially Web3, DeID, and establishing visual identity.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, prototyping, testing), key decisions, and the outcome. Quantify impact where possible.

• Highlight Figma Skills: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma techniques or workflows that are efficient and effective.

• Emphasize Strategic Thinking: Show that you understand the business goals and user needs, and how your design decisions align with them.

• Prepare for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, trade-offs made, and how you would iterate further.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to defend their design choices rigorously, especially for Web3 projects. They should also demonstrate enthusiasm for the mission and a proactive, problem-solving mindset suitable for a founding team member.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Founding Product Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features your most relevant Web3/DeID projects and clearly highlights your Figma expertise and ability to establish visual language. Tailor your portfolio narrative to address the "founding" aspect and startup environment.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize experience in startups, product design leadership, Web3 technologies, and successful project execution. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, especially for Web3 challenges, and prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail. Research Hyphen Connect Limited and the decentralized identity space.

• Company Research: Understand Hyphen Connect's mission, their approach to DeID, and the current landscape of decentralized identity solutions. Formulate thoughtful questions to ask the interviewers.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with Hyphen Connect Limited before making application decisions. The salary range is an estimate for Singapore and may vary.