Lead Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Brand Designer

Company: Novig

Location: Union Square, NYC (On-site)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand Design & Creative Operations

Date Posted: September 9, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the evolution and guardianship of Novig's brand identity, ensuring consistency and impact across all touchpoints.

• Drive design concepts with significant autonomy, from art direction to final execution for brand, campaign, and marketing initiatives.

• Serve as a strategic design partner, collaborating closely with product, marketing, and leadership teams to align creative vision with business objectives.

• Proactively identify and champion opportunities to elevate Novig's design standards and visual communication.

• Develop branded graphics, icons, illustrations, and promotional assets for in-app experiences and external campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Lead Brand Designer," the responsibilities and experience level (6-8 years) suggest a senior individual contributor role with significant creative ownership, rather than a direct management position. The emphasis is on hands-on execution and strategic influence within a small, high-output creative team. The role is categorized under "Brand Design & Creative Operations" to reflect the blend of brand stewardship and the operational aspects of executing creative initiatives.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Solidify and maintain Novig's brand identity, acting as its primary custodian as the company scales.

• Own the end-to-end design process for campaigns, marketing materials, and brand assets, demonstrating strong art direction and execution skills.

• Collaborate strategically with cross-functional teams, including product management, marketing, and executive leadership, to translate business goals into compelling visual narratives.

• Proactively identify design opportunities and initiatives, developing proposals and leading their execution from concept to completion.

• Create graphics, icons, illustrations, and promotional assets for integration within the Novig application, enhancing user experience and brand presence.

• Provide art direction and guidance to contract designers for overflow work and specialized projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand development and hands-on creative execution. The role requires not only artistic talent but also the ability to operate autonomously, identify needs, and drive projects forward in a fast-paced startup environment. The responsibility to "direct contract designers" indicates a foundational leadership component, even if not a large team management role.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for this level of experience. A strong portfolio can often substitute for formal education.

Experience: 6-8 years of progressive design experience working with top-tier brands, design studios, or advertising agencies.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in brand identity development, evolution, and guardianship.

• Proven ability in art direction and end-to-end design concept execution across various mediums (print, digital, campaign).

• Exceptional visual design and graphic design skills, with a keen eye for detail and aesthetics.

• Fluency in industry-standard design software: Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Strong portfolio showcasing a world-class eye, craft, and a diverse range of successful design projects.

• Confidence and capability to operate with significant autonomy in a dynamic environment.

• Meticulous attention to craft, applying the same level of care to small deliverables as to large campaigns.

• Versatility across both print and digital design disciplines.

• Ability to function effectively in a "wear many hats" capacity: art director, strategist, designer.

• A strong understanding and appreciation of current art, culture, and design trends.

• Comfort navigating ambiguity and a fast-paced startup environment. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in product design, including creating in-app graphics, icons, and branded moments.

• Familiarity with motion design principles and software (e.g., After Effects).

• Prior experience directing freelance or contract designers.

• Experience building or significantly evolving a brand identity from inception, particularly within a startup or in-house setting.

• Interest or experience in sports, betting, prediction markets, or other regulated/stigmatized industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "impeccable taste" and "obsession with craft" suggests that beyond technical proficiency, Novig is seeking a designer with a highly refined aesthetic sensibility and a deep commitment to quality in all aspects of their work. The requirement for "comfort with ambiguity" and "startup pace" is critical for candidates to understand the operational realities of the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A world-class portfolio is paramount, showcasing exceptional visual craft, a sophisticated aesthetic, and a diverse range of design projects.

• Demonstrations of end-to-end ownership of design concepts, from initial art direction and strategy to final execution across brand, campaign, and marketing work.

• Examples of brand identity development or evolution, illustrating the ability to solidify and maintain brand consistency.

• Case studies highlighting strategic design thinking and collaboration with cross-functional teams (product, marketing).

• Visual assets created for digital products or applications, showcasing an understanding of UI/UX integration.

• Evidence of meticulous craft applied to various project scales, from small deliverables to large campaigns. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a formal requirement for documentation, candidates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of design processes that lead to efficient and high-quality outcomes.

• The ability to articulate how they would approach brand guardianship and evolution, implying a structured thought process for maintaining brand integrity.

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their workflow for concept development, art direction, and execution, particularly in a fast-paced, autonomous environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements" section is inferred based on the "What you bring" section, which heavily emphasizes a "world-class portfolio" and "craft." For a role like this, the portfolio is the primary evidence of process and system understanding, demonstrating how the designer approaches problem-solving, executes work, and maintains quality standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $160,000 - $200,000 USD per year. This range is benchmarked at top-tier tech companies, reflecting the competitive nature of the role and the company's funding.

Benefits:

• Meaningful equity for all employees, regardless of role.

• 100% health premiums covered for employees.

• 99% dental and vision premiums covered for employees.

• 401(k) plan with a 4% company match.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) with a $1,080 annual company contribution.

• $50 monthly company contribution towards employee transit.

• $27 daily lunch stipend when working from the NYC office.

• $35 daily dinner stipend when working from the NYC office after 6:30 PM.

Working Hours: While a standard 40-hour work week is implied by the full-time employment type and stipends, the job description notes that work is tied to live sports, potentially requiring work during nights, weekends, and periods of high pressure. Flexibility and dedication are expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly provided. The benefits package is comprehensive, including significant equity and substantial stipends for food and transit, indicative of a well-funded startup aiming to attract top talent. The note about working hours and pressure acknowledges the demanding nature of the industry and the role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sports Prediction Markets / Financial Technology (FinTech) / Sports Technology. Novig operates at the intersection of sports, finance, and technology, aiming to create a regulated and efficient sports trading market. This unique positioning requires a blend of innovation, compliance awareness, and a deep understanding of sports culture.

Company Size: Small, high-output creative team within a growing startup. Novig has received significant funding ($100M+) from notable investors, indicating rapid growth and ambition. This means the design team operates with agility and direct impact.

Founded: Novig was founded with a vision to democratize sports trading, recently achieving CFTC designation, which is a significant regulatory milestone. This rapid progress suggests a culture of speed, execution, and strategic achievement.

Team Structure:

• The Lead Brand Designer will be part of a "small, high-output creative team."

• This role reports to the Head of Creative and works directly with peers in product, marketing, and leadership.

• Collaboration is expected to be close-knit and cross-functional, with direct access to decision-makers.

• The team operates with a high degree of autonomy, emphasizing initiative and self-direction. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Evolution: While creative, the brand identity's evolution will likely be informed by market feedback, user data, and strategic business goals.

• Agile Creative Execution: The team operates at startup pace, meaning rapid iteration, quick decision-making, and a bias for action are key.

• Proactive Opportunity Identification: The culture encourages team members to spot areas for improvement and take ownership of driving those changes, rather than waiting for assignments.

• Focus on Craft and Quality: Despite the fast pace, there's a strong emphasis on maintaining high standards of design execution across all projects.

Company Website: https://www.novig.us/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by rapid growth, significant investor backing, and a mission-driven approach to disrupting the sports trading industry. The "Not for everyone" section highlights a demanding, fast-paced environment that requires resilience and adaptability. The emphasis on "no politics, no waiting for needless red tape" suggests a culture that values directness and efficiency.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Individual Contributor (IC) role, specifically a Lead Brand Designer. It signifies a high level of expertise and responsibility within the design function, focusing on strategic brand development and hands-on creative execution. It's a position where the individual is expected to set standards and influence direction, rather than manage a large team directly.

Reporting Structure: The Lead Brand Designer reports directly to the Head of Creative. This close reporting line suggests significant mentorship opportunities and direct exposure to creative leadership and strategic decision-making.

Operations Impact: The Lead Brand Designer will have a direct and significant impact on Novig's market perception, user acquisition, and brand loyalty. By shaping the visual identity and creative output, they will influence how Novig is perceived by users, investors, and the broader market, which is critical for a company building a new type of financial market. The role is instrumental in translating the company's innovative vision into a tangible, compelling brand experience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Design Leadership: Potential to grow into a Design Director or Head of Creative role as the company scales and the creative team expands.

• Brand Strategy Ownership: Deepen expertise in brand strategy and become the ultimate authority on Novig's visual identity.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Develop stronger strategic partnerships across product, marketing, and leadership, influencing broader business initiatives through design.

• Industry Expertise: Gain specialized knowledge in FinTech, sports betting, and regulated markets, becoming a sought-after professional in these niches.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers or contract creatives, honing leadership and coaching skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is less about managing a large team (though that's a possibility) and more about deepening strategic influence, brand ownership, and potentially shaping the future of the creative function at Novig. The emphasis on "real creative freedom" and "your fingerprints will be on everything" suggests a significant opportunity for impact and personal brand building within the company.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Union Square, NYC, and is described as "Homebase." The company offers a "Meaningful equity for every employee" and provides daily stipends for lunch and dinner when working from the office, indicating a strong emphasis on the in-office experience and employee well-being. This suggests a hybrid or primarily on-site model, with the office serving as a central hub for collaboration and culture.

Office Location(s): Union Square, NYC. This is a prime location in Manhattan, offering excellent access to public transportation and a vibrant urban environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, given the emphasis on working directly with peers and leadership. The stipends for working in the office further encourage its use.

• Resourceful Environment: As a startup with significant funding, the office is expected to be well-equipped with the necessary tools and technology for a high-performing design team. This includes access to Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and potentially other creative software.

• Dynamic Interaction: The "small, high-output creative team" structure implies frequent, direct interaction with colleagues, fostering a close-knit and dynamic work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: While the baseline is likely a standard 40-hour work week, the nature of the business (tied to live sports) means there's an expectation of flexibility. This can include working nights, weekends, and during periods of high pressure, especially around major sporting events or product launches. The company offers daily stipends for lunch and dinner when working on-site, supporting longer hours when necessary.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Homebase" designation and the provision of daily stipends strongly suggest that while remote work might be an option for some roles or at certain times, this specific position is intended to be primarily on-site in NYC to maximize collaboration and engagement within the core team and the vibrant office environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio to assess alignment with the core requirements and assess the quality of your work.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A deeper dive into your portfolio with the Head of Creative or other senior team members. This will focus on your design process, strategic thinking, execution quality, and how you've handled past projects. Be prepared to walk through your case studies and articulate your contributions and the impact of your work.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: You may meet with individuals from product, marketing, or leadership teams to assess your collaboration style, strategic thinking, and cultural fit within the broader organization.

• Creative Challenge (Potential): While not explicitly mentioned, some companies at this stage may issue a small, take-home design challenge or ask for a presentation on how you would approach a specific brand challenge for Novig.

• Final Round: Likely involves meeting with founders or senior leadership to discuss overall fit, vision alignment, and your potential impact on the company.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that best showcase your brand identity, art direction, and campaign design skills.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, your process (strategy, ideation, execution), the challenges you faced, and the measurable results or impact achieved.

• Showcase Craft: Ensure high-quality visuals, clear typography, and a polished presentation. Pay attention to details.

• Highlight Autonomy and Leadership: If possible, include projects where you demonstrated initiative, took ownership, or led aspects of the design process.

• Tailor to Novig: If you have experience in FinTech, sports, or regulated industries, highlight those projects. Demonstrate an understanding of Novig's mission and target audience.

• Be Ready for "Taste" Questions: Prepare to defend your aesthetic choices and discuss your design philosophy.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Novig's Brand: Research Novig's current brand, mission, target audience, and competitive landscape. Understand their recent CFTC designation and what it signifies.

• Analyze Their Current Design: Critically assess their existing visual identity, marketing materials, and in-app graphics. Identify areas of strength and potential opportunities for improvement.

• Think Strategically: If given a challenge, frame your approach around Novig's business goals and target market. How can design drive user acquisition, engagement, or trust?

• Prepare to Articulate "Why": For any design decision you propose, be ready to explain the strategic rationale behind it, linking it back to business objectives and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior design role at a funded startup will heavily rely on the portfolio. Candidates should be prepared to thoroughly articulate their thought process, strategic contributions, and the impact of their work, demonstrating not just design skills but also business acumen and leadership potential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating UI elements. Proficiency is a must.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop (for image manipulation and asset creation), Illustrator (for vector graphics and illustrations), and InDesign (for print and marketing collateral).

• Prototyping Tools: While Figma is primary, familiarity with other prototyping tools may be beneficial for specific use cases.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility of the designer, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (e.g., conversion rates, user engagement, brand recall) is crucial. Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) can help in understanding design performance. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the day-to-day design tasks, but an awareness of how marketing automation tools or CRMs are used to deploy creative assets can be helpful for understanding campaign workflows. Other Potential Tools:

• Motion Design Software: After Effects or similar for creating animated assets, icons, or campaign elements (preferred, not strictly required).

• Project Management Tools: Such as Asana, Jira, or Trello, for managing design tasks and workflows within the team.

• Presentation Software: Google Slides or PowerPoint for presenting design concepts and strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and Adobe Creative Suite as required tools highlights the core technical competencies expected. The inclusion of motion design as a strong plus indicates the company's interest in dynamic visual content.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A relentless pursuit of high-quality design and meticulous attention to detail in every deliverable.

• Autonomy & Ownership: Empowering individuals to take initiative, make decisions, and own their work from concept to completion.

• Speed & Agility: Operating at a fast pace, making quick decisions, and adapting rapidly to changing market conditions and business needs.

• Impact & Results: Focusing on design that drives tangible business outcomes, user engagement, and brand growth.

• Collaboration & Directness: Working closely with cross-functional teams, communicating openly and directly to achieve shared goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The design team is expected to be deeply integrated with product, marketing, and leadership, acting as strategic partners rather than isolated creatives.

• Feedback-Rich Environment: While direct, the culture likely values constructive feedback to elevate the quality of work and foster continuous improvement.

• Knowledge Sharing: In a small team, sharing insights, techniques, and best practices is crucial for collective growth and efficiency.

• Experimentation: Encouraging the exploration of new ideas and approaches to design, with a willingness to test and iterate.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Why work here" testimonials provide direct insight into the team culture, emphasizing "stellar people," "owning real systems," "decisions happen fast," and "no politics." This paints a picture of a highly effective, meritocratic, and collaborative environment where initiative is rewarded.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Craft: The startup environment demands rapid execution, which can sometimes conflict with the meticulous craft expected for brand-level work. Navigating this tension will be key.

• Evolving Brand Identity: As a young, fast-growing company, Novig's brand identity will need to evolve. Leading this evolution while maintaining consistency and strategic direction can be challenging.

• Working in a Regulated Industry: Sports betting and prediction markets are often regulated. Designing within these constraints, while still being creative and engaging, requires careful consideration.

• Ambiguity and Rapid Change: The inherent nature of startups means constant change and a degree of ambiguity. Adapting to shifting priorities and building processes as you go requires resilience.

• Sports-Centric Demands: The business is tied to live sports, meaning potential demands outside of standard business hours during major events or critical periods.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepening Brand Strategy: Opportunity to become the definitive expert on Novig's brand and influence its long-term direction.

• Exposure to FinTech & Regulated Markets: Gaining specialized knowledge in a complex and growing industry.

• Growth within a Funded Startup: Experiencing rapid scaling and contributing to the foundational elements of a company with significant growth potential.

• Leadership Skills: Developing art direction and potential team leadership capabilities within a dynamic environment.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Enhancing strategic thinking by collaborating closely with product, marketing, and executive leadership.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly linked to the startup environment and the specific industry. The growth opportunities are framed around deepening expertise, expanding influence, and developing leadership skills within a high-potential company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving Novig's brand identity in the next 1-2 years, considering our mission and the regulatory landscape?" (Focus on process, research, and strategic alignment)

• "Describe a time you had to balance speed of execution with a high standard of craft. How did you manage it?" (Highlight prioritization, efficiency, and quality control)

• "How do you ensure your design work aligns with business objectives and drives measurable impact, particularly in a product like a prediction market?" (Emphasize data-driven design and ROI thinking) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Novig's mission and our position in the sports prediction market?" (Showcase research and genuine interest)

• "How do you handle ambiguity and operate autonomously in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Provide specific examples of initiative and self-direction)

• "Given our emphasis on craft and taste, how do you define and maintain high design standards?" (Discuss your personal design philosophy and quality control methods) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the problem, your specific role and contributions, your design process (from research to execution), challenges encountered, and the outcomes/impact.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, brand recall).

• Showcase "Taste" and Craft: Be prepared to discuss your aesthetic choices, why you made certain design decisions, and how your work reflects a high level of craftsmanship.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Highlight instances where you successfully partnered with other teams to achieve a common goal.

• Be Ready for Live Design Exercises: While not explicitly stated, be prepared to discuss how you might approach a small design problem or critique existing Novig assets on the spot.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation advice is tailored to a senior design role at a startup, emphasizing strategic thinking, portfolio presentation skills, and the ability to articulate impact and align with company values like speed, craft, and autonomy.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Lead Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 6-8 years of experience with top brands, agencies, or studios, emphasizing your skills in brand identity, art direction, and campaign development. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your visual craft, strategic thinking, and ability to execute end-to-end design concepts. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., a link to your website or a well-organized PDF).

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, articulating the problem, your role, your process, challenges, and the impact of your work for each project. Practice your presentation.

• Research Novig: Understand their mission, the sports prediction market, their recent CFTC designation, and their current brand presence. Think about how your skills can contribute to their growth.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.