Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer Company: Meta Location: Menlo Park, CA; Seattle, WA; New York, NY Job Type: Full-time Category: Creative & Design / Product Design Date Posted: February 18, 2026 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years) Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role focuses on product illustration and iconography within the WhatsApp product suite, requiring a strong understanding of design systems and their application across digital products.
• The Visual Designer will be instrumental in shaping the visual language of WhatsApp through innovative illustration and icon systems, directly impacting user experience and brand perception.
• Collaboration is key, involving close partnership with Product Designers, Art Directors, Creative Directors, and Engineers to translate product needs into cohesive visual assets.
• The position demands a blend of creative execution and strategic thinking, aiming to elevate the overall visual design craft and contribute to the evolution of WhatsApp's design identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Visual Designer," the core responsibilities heavily emphasize illustration and iconography for product. This suggests a specialized role within the broader design function, focusing on creating and maintaining visual asset systems rather than general UI/UX design. The emphasis on "systems thinking" points towards a need for designers who can create scalable and consistent visual elements.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the conceptualization and execution of illustration and icon systems, driving innovation and defining the visual direction for future product phases.
• Elevate the craft of visual design across all WhatsApp products, ensuring a high standard of aesthetic quality and user appeal.
• Develop compelling illustrations and visual concepts that accurately reflect product nuances, user needs, and the overall brand positioning.
• Proactively manage and navigate complex cross-functional partnerships, delivering practical and timely design solutions that meet project objectives.
• Collaborate intimately with Product Designers, Content Strategists, Art Directors, and Creative Directors to align illustration and icon system development with product requirements and user experience goals.
• Contribute significantly to shaping the vision and strategy for WhatsApp's illustration, icon, and creative design systems, ensuring seamless integration across content, design, and visual elements to enhance the overall user experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a leadership and innovation component, suggesting that candidates should not only execute but also influence design direction. The emphasis on "shaping the vision" and "leading innovation" indicates a need for strategic thinking and proactive problem-solving beyond just fulfilling briefs.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong portfolio and relevant experience are paramount. Candidates are expected to possess a deep understanding of design principles, visual communication, and user-centered design methodologies.

Experience: A minimum of 5 years of progressive experience in design, with a dedicated focus on product illustration and iconography. This experience should demonstrate a proven ability to think in terms of systems and scalability for visual assets within digital products.

Required Skills:

• 5+ years of design experience with a specialization in product illustration and iconography.
• A robust visual portfolio showcasing expertise in product illustration, icon system design, and evidence of systems thinking.
• High proficiency in Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.
• Advanced skills in Adobe Illustrator for creating and manipulating vector graphics.
• Strong command of Adobe Photoshop for image editing and asset preparation.
• Demonstrated experience working on digital products, including apps and/or operating systems.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Android or iOS design guidelines and best practices.
• Familiarity with AI Creative Work and/or Gen AI prompt engineering for design ideation and asset generation.
• Experience in typography design, ideally with a focus on typeface or font creation.
• Proficiency with Lottie animation for dynamic visual elements.
• Experience in creating editorial illustrations with a strong emphasis on storyboarding and narrative development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "systems thinking" is critical. Candidates should prepare to showcase how they've created cohesive and scalable visual systems, not just individual pieces. The preferred skills point towards a future-forward role, valuing experience in AI, animation, and advanced typography.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Illustration & Icon Systems: Showcase examples of comprehensive illustration and icon systems developed for digital products, demonstrating consistency, scalability, and adherence to brand guidelines.
• Systems Thinking: Provide case studies or examples that highlight your ability to think systematically about visual elements, showing how individual icons or illustrations contribute to a larger, coherent whole.
• Product Integration: Include projects where your illustrations and icons were integrated directly into digital products (apps, operating systems), illustrating their functional and aesthetic impact on the user experience.
• Production Quality: Demonstrate a high level of craft and attention to detail in production-ready assets, indicating proficiency in delivering polished, usable files.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Illustrate your process for conceptualizing, designing, and iterating on illustration and icon systems, from initial brief to final asset.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Detail how you engage with Product Designers, Art Directors, and Engineers, showcasing your ability to gather requirements, provide design rationale, and incorporate feedback.
• Quality Assurance: Explain your approach to ensuring the quality, consistency, and performance of visual assets across different platforms and contexts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the primary evaluation tool. Candidates should curate their work to specifically highlight systems thinking, illustration, and iconography for digital products. Demonstrating a structured design process and collaborative approach will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $122,000/year to $175,000/year

Benefits:

• Bonus: Performance-based bonus opportunities.
• Equity: Stock options or grants as part of the compensation package.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) with potential company match.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday policies.
• Professional Development: Opportunities for learning, training, and conferences.
• Wellness Programs: Initiatives supporting employee well-being.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with expectations for flexibility to meet project deadlines and collaborative needs across different time zones.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Visual Designer role at a major tech company like Meta. The inclusion of bonus and equity indicates a performance-driven culture and a desire to reward significant contributions. The specified range is for the base salary, and total compensation could be higher with bonuses and equity. The "On-site" work arrangement implies the role is not remote.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Social Media, Technology, Metaverse, Communications (WhatsApp). Meta operates at the forefront of digital connection and immersive experiences, driving innovation in how people communicate and interact online. Company Size: Large Enterprise (10,000+ employees). As a global technology leader, Meta offers a vast ecosystem of resources, opportunities, and complex challenges. Founded: 2004. Meta has a history of rapid growth and innovation, evolving from a social networking platform to a multi-faceted technology company shaping the future of digital interaction.

Team Structure:

• WhatsApp Design Team: This role sits within the WhatsApp product division, likely part of a larger design organization that includes Product Designers, UX Researchers, Content Strategists, Brand Designers, and Motion Designers.
• Reporting: The Visual Designer will report to an Art Director or Creative Director, with close collaboration across multiple product teams and disciplines.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Expect to work extensively with Product Managers, Engineers, and Marketing teams to ensure visual consistency and effective communication of product features and brand messaging.

Methodology:

• User-Centered Design: A strong emphasis on understanding user needs and creating intuitive, engaging experiences.
• Data-Informed Decisions: Utilizing analytics and user feedback to guide design iterations and improvements.
• Agile Development: Working within iterative development cycles to deliver features efficiently.
• Systematic Design: Championing the development and maintenance of robust design systems for consistency and scalability.

Company Website: https://www.metacareers.com/ & https://www.whatsapp.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's culture is fast-paced, highly collaborative, and focused on innovation. For a Visual Designer role, this means being adaptable, proactive, and comfortable working in a dynamic environment where design decisions have a broad impact. The emphasis on systems aligns with Meta's approach to building scalable products.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-to-Senior Level. This role is for an experienced designer specializing in illustration and iconography, expected to contribute significantly to product design strategy and execution. It's not an entry-level position but offers substantial growth potential.

Reporting Structure: The Visual Designer will likely report to an Art Director or Creative Director within the WhatsApp design team. This provides mentorship and strategic guidance while allowing for autonomy in day-to-day execution.

Operations Impact: The work directly influences the user experience and brand perception of WhatsApp, one of the world's most widely used communication platforms. Successful illustration and icon systems enhance usability, convey complex information, and strengthen brand identity, contributing directly to user engagement and product adoption.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in illustration, iconography, and design systems for large-scale digital products.
• Leadership: Potential to lead design initiatives, mentor junior designers, and influence design strategy for future product development.
• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Expand knowledge in areas like AI creative tools, animation, typography, and user experience design through collaboration.
• Career Advancement: Pathways to Senior Visual Designer, Lead Visual Designer, or Art Director roles within Meta's extensive design organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a significant opportunity to impact a globally recognized product. Growth will likely come from taking on more complex design challenges, leading projects, and potentially moving into leadership or more specialized design roles within Meta.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is based in Meta's offices, emphasizing in-person collaboration and engagement.

Office Location(s):

• Menlo Park, CA: Meta's global headquarters, offering a vibrant campus environment.
• Seattle, WA: A significant tech hub with a strong Meta presence.
• New York, NY: A dynamic urban setting for creative professionals.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Access to modern office spaces designed for teamwork, brainstorming, and cross-functional interaction.
• State-of-the-Art Tools: Equipped with the latest hardware and software necessary for high-level visual design work.
• Innovation Hub: An environment that encourages experimentation, idea sharing, and pushing creative boundaries.
• Company Amenities: Typically includes cafes, fitness centers, and other facilities to support employee well-being and productivity.

Work Schedule: While standard business hours are expected, flexibility may be required to accommodate project timelines, global team collaborations, and specific event-driven needs within the fast-paced tech industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests Meta values in-person collaboration for design roles, likely to foster spontaneous idea generation and maintain a strong team culture. Candidates should be prepared for a typical corporate tech office environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.
• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A session with hiring managers or senior designers to review your portfolio, discuss your design process, and assess technical skills (Figma, Adobe Suite). Expect deep dives into your systems thinking and illustration/iconography examples.
• Cross-functional Interviews: Interviews with Product Designers, Art Directors, or Product Managers to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of product development, and ability to communicate design rationale.
• Hiring Committee Review: Final decision often made by a committee based on interviewer feedback and portfolio strength.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Systems: Prioritize projects demonstrating illustration and icon systems, not just individual pieces. Show how you built and maintained consistency.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your process, your role, the solutions you implemented, and the impact (even if qualitative).
• Highlight Collaboration: Include examples or descriptions of how you worked with engineers, PMs, and other designers.
• Showcase Craft: Ensure all work is polished, high-resolution, and representative of your best work.
• Tailor to WhatsApp: If possible, include a conceptual project or adapt existing work to show how your style and skills would fit within the WhatsApp brand.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a take-home design challenge or an on-the-spot exercise, likely involving creating icons or illustrations for a hypothetical product feature or a quick iteration on an existing concept. Focus on speed, clarity, and adherence to brand principles.
• Systems Thinking: Practice articulating how you would approach building or expanding an icon system for a new feature.
• Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss how you’ve tackled design challenges related to consistency, scalability, or user understanding through visual design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount. Candidates should focus on showcasing systems thinking and collaborative capabilities. Preparing a concise narrative for each portfolio piece and practicing explanations of their design process will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative UI design, prototyping, and handoff. Proficiency in creating components, variants, and auto-layout is expected.
• Adobe Illustrator: The standard for vector graphics, crucial for creating scalable icons and illustrations. Mastery of vector pen tool, pathfinder, and shape tools is key.
• Adobe Photoshop: Used for image manipulation, texture creation, and asset preparation.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary focus for this role, understanding how design impacts user behavior is beneficial. Familiarity with A/B testing results or user feedback related to visual elements can be advantageous.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design assets are integrated into product development pipelines is relevant.

Preferred Tool Experience:

• Lottie: For creating lightweight, scalable animations.
• AI Creative Tools/Gen AI Prompt Engineering: For ideation, asset generation, or rapid prototyping of visual concepts.
• Typography Design Software: For custom font creation or modification.

📝 Enhancement Note: Strong proficiency in Figma and Adobe Illustrator is non-negotiable. Experience with animation tools like Lottie and emerging AI design tools is a significant plus, indicating an ability to stay current with industry advancements.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact: A drive to create products that connect billions of people and make a meaningful difference in the world.
• Pace: A commitment to rapid iteration and continuous improvement, moving quickly to build and ship.
• Collaboration: A belief in the power of teamwork, open communication, and diverse perspectives to solve complex problems.
• Data-Driven: Using insights from data and user feedback to inform design decisions and measure success.
• Innovation: Encouraging experimentation and embracing new technologies and approaches to design.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work closely with engineers, product managers, content strategists, and researchers.
• Direct Communication: Emphasis on clear, concise, and candid communication to ensure alignment and efficient problem-solving.
• Feedback Culture: A strong culture of providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work.
• Ownership: A sense of collective ownership over product success, with individuals empowered to take initiative.

📝 Enhancement Note: Meta's culture values individuals who are proactive, adaptable, and thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Designers are expected to be strong communicators and team players who can translate strategic goals into impactful visual solutions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scale and Complexity: Designing for a product used by billions requires meticulous attention to detail and the ability to create systems that are both consistent and adaptable across diverse contexts.
• Brand Evolution: Balancing the need to innovate and evolve WhatsApp's visual identity while maintaining brand recognition and user trust.
• Cross-Platform Consistency: Ensuring illustrations and icons function effectively and look great across a wide range of devices, operating systems, and screen sizes.
• Rapid Iteration: Adapting to fast-paced product development cycles and evolving design requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Skills: Opportunities to hone expertise in illustration, iconography, typography, and animation through challenging projects and internal workshops.
• AI in Design: Exposure to and training on cutting-edge AI tools for design ideation and asset creation.
• Product Strategy: Deeper involvement in product strategy discussions, understanding how visual design contributes to broader business objectives.
• Mentorship: Access to experienced design leaders and opportunities to mentor junior designers.
• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry conferences and workshops to stay abreast of design trends and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to working on a global-scale product. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to develop specialized skills, gain strategic influence, and advance within a leading technology company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you developed an illustration or icon system for a digital product. What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on systems thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving.)
• "How do you ensure visual consistency across multiple platforms and product features?" (Highlight your approach to design systems and asset management.)
• "Walk us through a challenging cross-functional collaboration. How did you navigate differing opinions or requirements to achieve a successful design outcome?" (Showcase your communication and negotiation skills.)
• "How would you approach designing icons for a new messaging feature on WhatsApp, considering the existing brand and user expectations?" (Prepare a mini-design exercise or articulate your thought process for a hypothetical scenario.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about working on WhatsApp, and what do you see as its biggest visual design opportunities?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the product and brand.)
• "How do you stay updated on design trends, particularly in illustration and iconography for tech products?" (Show your passion for continuous learning.)
• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you contribute to a positive team dynamic?" (Align your values with Meta's collaborative culture.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Concise Narratives: Prepare a brief, compelling story for each project, focusing on the problem, your role, your process, the solution, and the impact.
• System Focus: Explicitly point out how your illustration and icon work forms a cohesive system. Use visual aids (e.g., style guides, system maps) if possible.
• Interactive Elements: Be ready to zoom in on details, explain your vector techniques, and discuss your file organization.
• Brand Alignment: Be prepared to discuss how your design decisions align with or evolve the WhatsApp brand identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should center on demonstrating your systems thinking, collaborative abilities, and strong visual craft through specific examples from your portfolio. Be ready to articulate your design process and rationale clearly and concisely.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Meta Careers portal using the provided link.
• Tailor your Resume: Highlight your 5+ years of experience specifically in product illustration, iconography, and systems thinking. Use keywords from the job description like "illustration systems," "iconography," "Figma," "Adobe Illustrator," and "digital products."
• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects demonstrating your ability to create and manage illustration and icon systems for digital products. Prepare clear case studies for your strongest examples.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving approaches, and collaboration experiences for each portfolio piece. Be ready to discuss how you would approach design challenges specific to WhatsApp.
• Research Meta & WhatsApp: Familiarize yourself with WhatsApp's current visual language, brand guidelines, and recent product updates to better understand their design context and potential areas for innovation.

⚠️ 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.