Lead Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Brand Designer

Company: Bjak (ActAI)

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand & Visual Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-24

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Define and evolve the visual identity of the brand across all product launches, marketing materials, and digital platforms, ensuring a cohesive and impactful global AI brand presence.

• Create and maintain comprehensive brand guidelines and design templates to ensure consistency across all visual communications, from website and social media to recruiting and merchandise.

• Design compelling launch materials, marketing assets, presentations, and social content that effectively communicate the brand's mission and value proposition.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams to translate complex AI concepts into clear, accessible, and visually engaging designs that resonate with a global audience.

• Drive the visual storytelling of a cutting-edge AI product, contributing to a strong brand perception from the ground up in a fast-paced, high-talent-density environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is described as "Lead Brand Designer," implying a senior position with significant responsibility for strategic brand direction and execution. The company's focus on AI and "proactive applications" suggests a need for design that is both innovative and user-friendly, with an emphasis on clarity and minimal user friction. The "How We Work" section highlights a "small, highly capable teams" and "high talent density" environment, which is common in early-stage tech companies and suggests a need for self-starters who can operate independently and make decisions under ambiguity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and continuously evolve ActAI's visual identity, ensuring it accurately reflects the company's mission of building AI-native, proactive applications that organize life and minimize prompting.

• Design and produce high-impact visual assets for product launches, marketing campaigns, website content, social media channels, and internal presentations.

• Create engaging graphics for recruiting materials, events, and branded merchandise, reinforcing ActAI's employer brand and company culture.

• Establish and meticulously maintain comprehensive brand guidelines, style guides, and design templates to ensure brand consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

• Ensure a unified and professional visual representation of ActAI globally, from digital interfaces to physical collateral, by overseeing all visual communications.

• Translate abstract AI concepts and product benefits into intuitive and aesthetically pleasing visual narratives that resonate with both technical and non-technical audiences.

• Collaborate with product, engineering, and marketing teams to understand project requirements and deliver design solutions that align with business objectives and user needs.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, AI advancements, and competitor visual strategies to inform and innovate ActAI's brand expression.

• Manage design projects from concept to completion, including briefing, concept development, execution, and final delivery, often under tight deadlines.

• Contribute to the overall strategic direction of the brand by providing design insights and recommendations based on market analysis and user feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed around defining and executing a global AI brand's visual identity, implying a strategic and hands-on approach. The emphasis on "proactive applications" and "minimal to no prompting" suggests a design need for clarity, simplicity, and intuitive user experience, which the brand design must reflect. The mention of building a "global AI brand from the ground up" indicates a foundational role with significant creative freedom and impact.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Brand Design, or a related field is often preferred for senior design roles. Equivalent professional experience with a strong portfolio can also be a substitute.

Experience: A minimum of 5-10 years of professional experience in visual design, brand design, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of developing and managing brand identities, particularly within the technology or AI sector. Experience in a startup or fast-paced growth environment is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and execute strong visual designs across various mediums.

• Brand Identity Development: Proven experience in creating, evolving, and maintaining cohesive brand identities and visual systems.

• Typography & Layout: Exceptional command of typography, grid systems, and layout principles to create visually appealing and functional designs.

• Visual Communication: Skill in translating complex ideas into clear, compelling visual narratives that resonate with target audiences.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Mastery of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for graphic creation, editing, and layout.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and polish in all visual assets.

• Asset Creation: Ability to produce high-quality visual assets for digital and print, including marketing collateral, social media graphics, and web assets.

• Brand Guideline Creation: Experience in developing and documenting comprehensive brand guidelines and design systems.

• Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams, incorporating feedback and contributing to shared goals.

Preferred Skills:

• AI/Tech Industry Experience: Familiarity with design challenges and opportunities within the AI or technology sector.

• Motion Graphics/Animation: Basic understanding or experience with motion graphics tools (e.g., After Effects) for dynamic content.

• Web Design Principles: Understanding of web design best practices and how visual design impacts user experience and conversion.

• Presentation Design: Expertise in creating impactful presentations that convey complex information clearly and engagingly.

• Merchandise Design: Experience designing for physical products and merchandise.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title and the company's focus on building a brand from the ground up suggest that candidates with strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a strong understanding of brand architecture will be highly valued. The "AI-native" product focus implies a need for designers who can simplify complex technology visually.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a minimum of 5-10 high-quality projects that demonstrate expertise in visual and brand design.

• Projects should clearly illustrate the candidate's ability to develop and evolve a brand's visual identity, including logo design, color palettes, typography systems, and imagery style.

• Case studies demonstrating the design process for marketing assets, launch materials, website graphics, and social media content, highlighting problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Examples of well-structured brand guidelines or design systems that ensure brand consistency across diverse applications.

• Visuals demonstrating strong typography, layout, and overall aesthetic sensibility. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the design process from initial brief to final execution, including research, concept development, iteration, and rationale behind design decisions.

• For brand identity projects, documentation of the strategic thinking that informed the visual direction is crucial.

• Evidence of how designs were adapted for different platforms (web, social, print, merchandise) and how consistency was maintained.

• If applicable, examples of how design systems were implemented and managed to ensure scalability and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Lead" role in a brand-building phase, the portfolio should emphasize strategic thinking, brand guardianship, and the ability to translate company vision into a compelling visual language. The process should demonstrate how the designer manages projects, collaborates, and ensures brand integrity across all touchpoints.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the provided experience level (5-10 years), the seniority of the "Lead" title, and the London location, the estimated annual salary for a Lead Brand Designer in the UK tech/startup sector typically ranges from £55,000 to £75,000. This estimate is derived from industry benchmarks for senior design roles in London, considering the company's focus on AI and its early-stage growth.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and potential for equity/stock options in a growing AI startup.

• Comprehensive health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Professional development opportunities, such as training, conferences, and workshops to enhance design skills and stay current with AI and design trends.

• Flexible working arrangements, with a hybrid model allowing for a balance between remote work and in-office collaboration.

• Pension scheme contributions.

• Opportunities for career advancement within a rapidly scaling company.

• Potential for team-building events, offsites, and social gatherings to foster a strong team culture.

• Home office stipend or equipment allowance to support remote work setup.

Working Hours: The standard full-time working hours are typically 40 hours per week. While the role is hybrid, specific in-office days will likely be determined by team needs and collaboration requirements. The company emphasizes "fast execution speed" and "strong ownership," suggesting a results-oriented work environment where flexibility may be offered, but dedication to project completion is paramount.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on publicly available data for similar roles in London, considering the specified experience level and the tech/AI industry context. Benefits are typical for a UK-based tech startup aiming to attract and retain top talent, with a focus on professional growth and work-life balance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Artificial Intelligence, Software Development, AI-Native Applications). The company is focused on the emerging AI sector, aiming to integrate AI into everyday applications for billions of users. This positions ActAI at the forefront of technological innovation, with a mission to make AI accessible and practical.

Company Size: The description implies a small, highly capable team, characteristic of an early-stage startup or a rapidly scaling tech company. "Small, highly capable teams" and "high talent density" suggest a workforce that is lean, agile, and focused on impact. This environment fosters direct contribution and significant individual ownership.

Founded: The company's founding date is not explicitly stated, but the mission to build AI-native applications for existing basic tools suggests a relatively recent venture, likely established to capitalize on the current wave of AI advancements. The focus on building a "global AI brand from the ground up" further indicates an organization in its growth or expansion phase.

Team Structure:

• The operations team is likely small and integrated, comprising individuals with diverse skill sets focused on executing the company's vision.

• Reporting structure is expected to be relatively flat, with direct access to leadership and a focus on cross-functional collaboration.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with designers working closely with product managers, engineers, and marketing specialists to achieve shared objectives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: While primarily a design role, the company's emphasis on "practical benefits" and "reducing hallucinations" suggests a data-informed approach to product development, which design must support.

• Agile Workflow Planning: The "fast execution speed" and "strong ownership" point towards agile methodologies for project management and design iteration.

• Automation & Efficiency: The core product mission revolves around AI and efficiency, implying that design processes themselves may be streamlined or leverage automation where possible.

Company Website: https://bjak.my/en/about-us (Note: The provided URL is for Bjak, which seems to be the parent company or a related entity. The job description references "ActAI" as the product/brand focus.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as high-performance, emphasizing talent, speed, ownership, and practical execution. This suggests a demanding but rewarding environment for individuals who thrive on autonomy and direct impact.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This "Lead Brand Designer" role signifies a senior individual contributor position. It requires not only strong design execution skills but also the strategic thinking and leadership to define and champion the brand's visual direction. The role is central to establishing ActAI's external perception and brand equity.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Head of Design, Creative Director, or potentially a Head of Marketing or Product, depending on the company's current organizational structure. In a startup environment, direct interaction with founders and key stakeholders is common.

Operations Impact: The Lead Brand Designer's work will have a direct and significant impact on ActAI's market perception, user acquisition, and overall brand strength. By defining a compelling visual identity, the designer will influence how users understand and connect with the AI products, thereby contributing to customer adoption, engagement, and brand loyalty. This role is critical in differentiating ActAI in a competitive AI landscape.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Opportunity to grow into a Design Director or Head of Design role as the company scales, taking on broader strategic responsibilities for all creative output.

• Specialization in AI Design: Develop deep expertise in designing for AI products, a highly sought-after skill set, potentially leading to specialization in human-AI interaction design.

• Mentorship & Team Building: As the first or one of the first designers, there's potential to build and mentor a design team as the company expands.

• Cross-functional Influence: Gain experience collaborating across various departments (product, engineering, marketing) and influence product strategy through design.

• Equity & Ownership: In a startup environment, there's often the opportunity for equity, offering significant financial upside tied to the company's success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Lead" title and the "building from the ground up" nature of the brand suggest substantial growth potential, both in terms of role scope and personal career development, particularly within the specialized field of AI product design.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "Hybrid," indicating a blend of remote work and in-office collaboration. This suggests that while employees have flexibility, there will be designated periods or days where in-person interaction is expected, likely for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and crucial collaborative projects.

Office Location(s): The primary location is London, England. Specific details about the office space itself are not provided, but in a startup context, it's likely to be a modern, collaborative workspace designed to foster innovation and teamwork. The hybrid nature means employees will need to be able to commute to the London office when required.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on "small, highly capable teams" and "fast execution speed" points to a dynamic and interactive workspace where open communication and idea sharing are encouraged.

• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard design tools like Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite, along with robust IT infrastructure to support both remote and in-office work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with designers, product managers, engineers, and founders are abundant, facilitating a holistic understanding of the product development lifecycle.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week) apply, but the company culture values "strong ownership" and "practical execution," suggesting a focus on results rather than strict adherence to hours. Flexibility is likely afforded, provided project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is typical for tech companies, balancing the benefits of remote work with the necessity of in-person collaboration for strategic and creative endeavors. The London location places the role within a vibrant tech hub.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Candidates are required to submit their application, including a portfolio, as the initial step.

• Initial Screening: Applications and portfolios will be reviewed by team members to assess fit with the role and company culture.

• Round 1 Interview: Typically a screening call with a hiring manager or senior team member to discuss experience, motivations, and initial fit.

• Round 2 Interview: A more in-depth discussion, potentially with multiple team members, focusing on design philosophy, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking. This may also include a portfolio walkthrough.

• Design Challenge: A practical exercise designed to evaluate the candidate's skills in areas such as visual identity development, problem-solving, and execution under realistic project constraints.

• Final Interview/Offer: A final conversation, potentially with founders or senior leadership, to discuss terms, answer remaining questions, and extend an offer if there's a mutual fit.

• Decision: The company aims for "prompt decision" and transparency throughout the process.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Storytelling: Structure your portfolio to tell a story about each project – the challenge, your process, your role, and the impact/outcome. Focus on the "why" behind your design decisions.

• Showcase Brand Evolution: For this role, highlight projects where you developed or significantly evolved a brand's visual identity. Demonstrate your understanding of brand strategy and its translation into visual elements.

• Highlight AI/Tech Relevance: If possible, include projects that touch upon technology, software, or AI, showcasing your ability to design for complex or innovative products.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Clearly indicate your proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and ensure your work reflects high-quality execution using these tools.

• Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually polished. Avoid overwhelming reviewers with too many projects; select your strongest and most relevant work.

• Brand Guideline Examples: Include examples of brand guidelines or style guides you've created, showcasing your ability to establish and maintain visual consistency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: Carefully analyze the design challenge brief, identifying key objectives, target audience, and constraints.

• Emphasize Process: Even in a design challenge, articulate your thought process, research, and rationale. How did you approach the problem? What decisions did you make and why?

• Focus on Brand Alignment: Consider how your proposed solution aligns with ActAI's mission of building AI-native, proactive applications that are useful and minimize prompting. Your design should reflect simplicity, clarity, and intelligence.

• Presentation Skills: Prepare to present your work clearly and concisely, addressing potential questions about your design choices and their strategic implications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes a practical, skills-based evaluation, with the portfolio and design challenge being critical components. Candidates should prepare to articulate their strategic design thinking and demonstrate their ability to build a brand identity for an innovative AI product.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, collaborative workflows, prototyping, and creating design systems. Proficiency is a core requirement.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop (image editing, digital assets), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, illustrations), and InDesign (layout, presentations, brand collateral). Mastery is expected.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a direct responsibility for a Brand Designer, an understanding of how design impacts user engagement metrics (e.g., website traffic, conversion rates, social media engagement) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics or similar tools may be a plus for understanding design performance.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this role, but awareness of how marketing automation tools and CRM systems are used to deploy marketing assets and campaigns can provide context for design needs.

Other Potential Tools:

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, experience with other prototyping tools might be useful.

• Motion Design Software: Adobe After Effects or similar for creating animated graphics or short video assets.

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Trello, Jira, or similar may be used for managing design tasks and timelines.

• Collaboration Platforms: Slack, Microsoft Teams for team communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is heavily on core design software. Any additional tools that demonstrate a broader understanding of the digital product lifecycle or marketing execution would be a bonus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• High Talent Density & Quality: A commitment to hiring and working with exceptionally skilled individuals who can operate independently and contribute at a high level.

• Fast Execution Speed: A culture that values agility, quick iteration, and efficient delivery of high-quality work.

• Strong Ownership: Each team member is expected to take full responsibility for their work, from conception to completion, and to make sound decisions under pressure.

• Clear Thinking & Practical Execution: A focus on logical problem-solving and delivering tangible, useful outcomes rather than theoretical or overly complex solutions.

• Product Quality: A deep dedication to building products that are reliable, useful, and genuinely beneficial to users.

• Minimal Prompting/Simplicity: The core product philosophy emphasizes making complex AI accessible and intuitive, which should translate into a design ethos of clarity and ease of use.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with product, engineering, and marketing teams, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse perspectives inform design decisions.

• Independent Operation: While collaborative, team members are empowered to operate independently, making decisions and driving projects forward without constant oversight.

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

• Knowledge Sharing: An environment where best practices, insights, and learnings are shared openly to elevate the entire team's capabilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture values high performance, autonomy, and a focus on practical impact. The design team's values should align with the product's mission of simplifying complex AI for broad usability.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Defining a New Global Brand: Establishing a strong, recognizable visual identity for a new AI product in a competitive market requires strategic vision and creative execution.

• Balancing Innovation with Clarity: Designing for AI products can be challenging; the need to convey complex technology while maintaining simplicity and user-friendliness requires careful balance.

• Rapid Iteration and Scalability: Working in a fast-paced startup environment means adapting designs quickly and ensuring they scale effectively as the company grows.

• Managing Ambiguity: In an early-stage company, processes may not be fully defined, requiring designers to be comfortable working with ambiguity and defining their own workflows.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring design vision is understood and supported across different departments with potentially varied priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Specialization: Gaining deep expertise in designing for AI, a rapidly evolving and in-demand field.

• Brand Strategy Development: Contributing to the foundational brand strategy of a global tech company.

• Leadership Skills: Developing leadership capabilities by taking ownership of brand direction and potentially mentoring future team members.

• Exposure to Cutting-Edge Technology: Working directly with AI product development provides insights into future technological trends.

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Opportunities to attend relevant design and AI conferences to stay updated on industry best practices and network.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a startup environment focused on innovation. The growth opportunities are significant for individuals looking to shape a brand from its inception and specialize in the cutting-edge field of AI design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining the visual identity for a new AI product that aims to simplify complex tasks with minimal prompting?" (Focus on your strategic process, understanding of AI, and emphasis on clarity.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong brand vision with the practical constraints of a project or the feedback from stakeholders. How did you navigate that?" (Assess your collaboration, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a wide range of touchpoints, from digital assets to merchandise, in a fast-paced environment?" (Focus on your process for creating and managing brand guidelines and templates.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about ActAI's mission to build AI-native applications, and how do you see design playing a role in that mission?" (Demonstrate your understanding of the company's goals and your passion for AI.)

• "How do you thrive in a 'high talent density' and 'fast execution speed' environment? Can you give an example of a time you operated independently and made a significant decision?" (Highlight your autonomy, ownership, and efficiency.)

• "How do you measure the success of your brand design work, especially in terms of its impact on user perception and business objectives?" (Showcase your results-oriented mindset and ability to connect design to outcomes.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Start with the Vision: Begin your portfolio walkthrough by articulating your understanding of ActAI's mission and how your design philosophy aligns with it.

• Show, Don't Just Tell: For each project, clearly explain the problem, your role, your design process (research, ideation, iteration), and the final solution. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Brand Building: Emphasize projects where you built or evolved a brand identity. Discuss the strategic thinking behind your choices (color, typography, imagery).

• Demonstrate Tool Mastery: Briefly mention or show how you utilized Figma and Adobe Creative Suite to achieve your results.

• Address Potential Challenges: Be prepared to discuss how your designs address potential challenges of making AI accessible and user-friendly.

• Engage and Ask Questions: Treat it as a conversation. Be ready to answer questions about your work and ask thoughtful questions about the team, role, and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic design thinking, alignment with the company's AI mission, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, high-ownership startup culture.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Brand Designer position:

• Submit Your Application: Complete the application form on Ashby, ensuring all requested fields are filled accurately.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest 5-10 visual and brand design projects that best showcase your expertise in identity development, marketing assets, and digital design. Prioritize projects that demonstrate strategic thinking and high-quality execution, ideally with relevance to tech or innovative products.

• Craft a Compelling Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5-10 years of relevant experience, focusing on achievements in brand identity, visual communication, and proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. Use keywords from the job description to ensure ATS compatibility.

• Prepare Your Portfolio Walkthrough: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, strategic rationale, and the impact of your work. Be ready to articulate your design process and how your skills align with ActAI's mission.

• Research ActAI: Thoroughly understand ActAI's mission, product vision, and the company's culture of high talent density and fast execution. Prepare thoughtful questions about the brand's future and the design team's role.

⚠️ 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.

---