Lead Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Lead Brand Designer

Company: Venn

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Brand Operations / Product Design

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual identity and brand strategy for a rapidly growing B2B fintech company, influencing both product and marketing design outputs.

• Lead the design of compelling marketing collateral, digital campaigns, and product interfaces to enhance user experience and business growth.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Product, Growth, Marketing, and Sales teams to ensure brand consistency and drive measurable performance.

• Maintain and evolve a comprehensive design system across all platforms, ensuring scalability and a cohesive brand experience.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a hybrid of Product Design and Marketing Design, requiring a candidate comfortable switching between strategic brand development and tactical campaign execution. The "Lead" title suggests a senior individual contributor role with potential for mentorship or project leadership within the design function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with Product, Growth, Marketing, and Sales teams to ideate, design, and implement new product features, marketing campaigns, and Go-To-Market (GTM) collateral.

• Develop visually compelling and high-performing web pages, paid ad creative, launch decks, and other marketing assets that capture attention and drive conversion.

• Contribute to the user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design of Venn’s web and mobile products, ensuring intuitive and aesthetically pleasing interfaces.

• Design and maintain a robust design system, ensuring brand consistency and scalability across all product and marketing touchpoints.

• Collaborate with Growth and Marketing teams to design and optimize landing pages, A/B test campaign creatives, and analyze performance metrics to drive measurable improvements.

• Create engaging visuals and assets for various channels, including events, social media, and content distribution, as required.

• Manage design priorities effectively, balancing product and marketing design needs to meet evolving business objectives and timelines.

• Translate business requirements and user needs into effective visual designs that align with Venn's brand identity and strategic goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "driving results" and "measurable performance" for marketing assets indicates a strong focus on design's impact on key business metrics such as lead generation, conversion rates, and customer acquisition cost (CAC).

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Interaction Design, HCI, or a related field is often preferred and can be demonstrated through a strong portfolio.

Experience: 6+ years of professional design experience with a proven track record in both product design and marketing design.

Required Skills:

• Product Design: Strong UI, UX, and interaction design skills for web and mobile applications. Ability to translate complex requirements into intuitive user flows and interfaces.

• Marketing Design: Proven experience designing high-performance landing pages, campaign creatives, paid ad assets, and GTM collateral that drive measurable results.

• Design Systems: Experience creating, maintaining, and scaling design systems to ensure brand consistency and efficient design workflows.

• Hybrid Role Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to seamlessly transition between product and marketing design responsibilities.

• Tool Proficiency: Expert-level proficiency in modern design tools such as Figma, Webflow, and the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects).

• Visual Craft & Communication: Excellent visual design skills, a keen eye for detail, and strong communication abilities to articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively.

• Startup Acumen: Comfort working in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment with the ability to execute quickly without sacrificing quality.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in a fintech environment.

• Experience in an early-stage or fast-growing startup.

• Familiarity with animation and motion design principles for enhanced user experiences.

• Basic understanding of HTML/CSS for web design implementation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 6+ years of experience, coupled with the hybrid nature of the role and the emphasis on measurable marketing impact, suggests this role is for a senior-level designer capable of independent work and strategic contribution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 6 years of professional design work.

• Demonstrated examples of both product design (UI/UX flows, interactive prototypes) and marketing design (campaign creative, landing pages, GTM collateral).

• Case studies that clearly articulate the problem, your design process, your specific contributions, and the measurable impact/results achieved.

• Evidence of working with and contributing to design systems.

• Examples of designs that have driven specific business outcomes (e.g., increased conversion rates, improved user engagement, successful campaign performance). Process Documentation:

• Ability to document design processes and workflows clearly.

• Examples of how you have contributed to or developed processes for design system implementation and maintenance.

• Showcasing how you collaborate with cross-functional teams (Product, Marketing, Sales) to gather requirements and iterate on designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to present a portfolio that not only showcases aesthetic quality but also demonstrates a strategic, results-oriented approach to design, particularly in marketing contexts. Quantitative results and clear process articulation will be key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a Lead Brand Designer with 6+ years of experience in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the estimated salary range is CAD $90,000 - $130,000 annually. This range accounts for the seniority of the role, the specialized hybrid skill set (product + marketing design), and the cost of living in Toronto.

Benefits:

• Healthy Equity Ownership: Among the most generous in the market, aligning your success directly with the company's growth trajectory.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Full medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

• Growth Opportunity: The chance to significantly impact the future of business banking in Canada and contribute to a rapidly scaling fintech company.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week. While the role is on-site, Venn's fast-paced startup culture may occasionally require flexibility to meet project deadlines, though this is balanced by the opportunity for significant impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The equity ownership is highlighted as a significant perk, suggesting Venn aims to attract and retain top talent by offering substantial financial upside tied to company performance, a common practice in high-growth startups. The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for similar roles in Toronto, considering the specific requirements and benefits.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: B2B Fintech. Venn is disrupting traditional banking by offering a modern, digital-first banking platform for Canadian entrepreneurs. This positions them at the intersection of finance and technology, requiring innovation and agility.

Company Size: Venn is a fast-growing startup, scaling rapidly to support over 15,000 Canadian businesses in under two years. This implies a dynamic, agile environment with opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Founded less than two years ago, Venn is a relatively young company but has already achieved significant traction and funding, indicating a strong product-market fit and ambitious growth plans.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within a matrixed structure, collaborating closely with Product Management, Engineering, Growth Marketing, and Sales.

• As a "Lead" designer, this role may involve guiding projects and potentially mentoring junior designers, though the primary focus is on execution and strategic design contribution.

• Cross-functional collaboration is critical, with designers expected to integrate seamlessly with teams driving product development and customer acquisition. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on designing for measurable performance, particularly in marketing, suggests a data-informed approach where A/B testing and analytics are used to refine creative and user experiences.

• Agile Development: As a fast-growing tech company, Venn likely employs agile methodologies for product development and marketing initiatives, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive.

• Design System Centricity: Maintaining and expanding a design system points to a focus on efficiency, consistency, and scalable design solutions.

Company Website: https://www.venn.ca/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's rapid growth and B2B fintech focus suggest a culture that values innovation, speed, data-driven decision-making, and strong cross-functional collaboration. The "disrupting traditional banking" mission likely attracts individuals passionate about challenging the status quo.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Lead Brand Designer, indicating a senior individual contributor role. It requires significant experience and the ability to operate autonomously while also contributing to team strategy and potentially mentoring. The hybrid nature of the role (product + marketing) offers broad exposure to different facets of design within a growing company.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Head of Design, a Creative Director, or a Marketing Lead, depending on the current organizational structure. They will collaborate closely with leads from Product, Growth, and Sales.

Operations Impact: This role has a direct impact on Venn's brand perception, customer acquisition, and product user experience. Successful execution will contribute to lead generation, conversion rates, customer retention, and overall brand equity – all critical for a fast-growing fintech.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization & Expansion: Opportunity to deepen expertise in both product and marketing design, potentially leading to specialization or a broader leadership role in either area.

• Leadership Development: As a lead role, there's potential to grow into managing design projects, mentoring junior designers, or eventually leading a design team as the company scales.

• Fintech Industry Expertise: Gaining deep experience in the rapidly evolving fintech sector, a high-demand industry.

• Strategic Influence: Contributing to the core brand identity and product experience of a successful Canadian fintech.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role offers a unique growth path, allowing the designer to build a robust and versatile skill set that is highly valuable in the startup and tech landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "On-site," indicating a preference for in-office collaboration and engagement. This suggests Venn values in-person interaction for brainstorming, team cohesion, and efficient workflow.

Office Location(s): Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Specific details about the office environment (e.g., modern workspace, amenities) are not provided but can be inferred to be conducive to a fast-paced tech startup.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a dynamic workspace designed to foster collaboration between design, product, marketing, and sales teams.

• Tools & Technology: Access to modern design software and hardware necessary for high-quality product and marketing design.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities to engage with cross-functional teams, participate in brainstorming sessions, and present design work.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical for full-time roles. However, startup environments often require flexibility to meet project demands and launch timelines. The on-site nature facilitates spontaneous collaboration and quick problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests Venn prioritizes the benefits of in-person collaboration for innovation and team synergy, which is common for early-stage companies looking to build a strong company culture and accelerate development.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where you present your portfolio, discussing key projects, your design process, challenges faced, and outcomes achieved. Expect questions on both product and marketing design examples.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with stakeholders from Product, Marketing, and potentially Sales to assess collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of business objectives.

• Design Challenge (Potential): A practical design exercise, either take-home or in-session, to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design approach, and ability to execute within given constraints.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting with senior leadership to discuss cultural fit, long-term vision, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your hybrid skills (product and marketing design), your process, and your impact. Aim for 3-5 strong case studies.

• Quantify Impact: For each project, clearly state the problem, your role, your process, and the measurable results (e.g., increased conversion by X%, improved user satisfaction by Y%, successful campaign ROI).

• Highlight Hybridity: Ensure your portfolio explicitly demonstrates your ability to excel in both product UI/UX and marketing campaign design.

• Showcase Design System Work: Include examples of your contributions to design systems and how they ensure consistency.

• Tell a Story: Structure your case studies to tell a compelling narrative about how you solved a problem and delivered value.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Venn, its mission, its target audience (Canadian entrepreneurs), and its competitive landscape in B2B fintech.

• Anticipate Design Brief: Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve creating a marketing asset or refining a product interface based on a hypothetical brief.

• Focus on Process: Emphasize your thought process, problem-solving approach, and how you'd arrive at a solution, not just the final deliverable.

• Articulate Trade-offs: Be ready to discuss potential design trade-offs and how you would prioritize based on business goals and user needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio with both product and marketing examples, along with the need to quantify results, suggests Venn is looking for a designer who is not only creative but also business-minded and performance-driven.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency is critical.

• Webflow: Likely used for designing and building marketing websites and landing pages. Experience here is a significant advantage.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Including Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects for image editing, vector graphics, and motion design assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a designer's tool, familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Mixpanel) is beneficial for understanding campaign performance and user behavior to inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• Awareness of how designs integrate into marketing automation platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Marketo) and CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) can be advantageous for understanding the broader GTM context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma and a strong understanding of Webflow are key technical requirements for this role, reflecting Venn's modern approach to web presence and product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Disruption: A core value driven by Venn's mission to transform traditional banking. Designers are expected to bring fresh ideas and challenge existing norms.

• Performance & Results: Emphasis on measurable impact, particularly in marketing design, means a focus on data-driven outcomes and ROI.

• Collaboration & Agility: Working in a fast-paced startup requires strong teamwork, adaptability, and the ability to pivot quickly based on business needs.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: While speed is important, there's an expectation of high visual quality and a strong design aesthetic across all outputs.

• Customer Centricity: Designing with the end-user (Canadian entrepreneurs) in mind, ensuring intuitive product experiences and effective marketing communications.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are integral to multiple teams (Product, Growth, Marketing, Sales), requiring proactive communication and a partnership approach.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture for giving and receiving constructive feedback is likely encouraged to foster continuous improvement.

• Shared Ownership: In a startup, there's often a sense of shared ownership of goals, meaning designers contribute beyond just their direct tasks to help the company succeed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values reflect a typical high-growth startup culture that balances ambitious goals with a collaborative and results-oriented approach, emphasizing both creativity and business impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Product and Marketing Demands: Effectively managing competing priorities and design needs between product development and marketing campaigns will be a key challenge.

• Rapid Scaling: Adapting designs and processes to support Venn's accelerated growth and evolving product offerings.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand experience across a rapidly expanding set of touchpoints and initiatives.

• Data Interpretation: Translating performance data into actionable design insights for both product optimization and marketing creative.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Fintech Design Expertise: Deepen understanding of design challenges and opportunities specific to the financial technology sector.

• Leadership Skills: Develop project leadership, mentorship, and strategic design planning skills within a high-growth environment.

• Broad Design Exposure: Gain comprehensive experience across UI/UX, marketing, brand, and potentially motion design within a single role.

• Industry Networking: Engage with a network of investors and B2B clients as Venn continues to grow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to a fast-growing startup, offering significant opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement by tackling complex, real-world design problems.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully designed a marketing campaign that drove significant measurable results. What was your process, and what were the key metrics?" (Focus on quantifiable impact, campaign strategy, and your role.)

• "How do you approach balancing the design needs of a product team versus a marketing team when working in a hybrid role? Can you provide an example?" (Highlight your prioritization skills, communication strategy, and ability to adapt.)

• "Walk us through your process for designing and evolving a design system. What are the key considerations for ensuring scalability and consistency across product and marketing?" (Emphasize your understanding of design systems' strategic importance and practical implementation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in Venn and our mission to transform business banking?" (Research Venn's mission, values, and recent news. Connect it to your passion.)

• "How do you see your design skills contributing to a fast-growing B2B fintech startup like Venn?" (Align your capabilities with Venn's growth stage and industry.)

• "Describe your experience working in a startup environment. What excites you about it, and what challenges do you anticipate?" (Demonstrate your adaptability, resilience, and enthusiasm for the startup pace.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, perhaps by project type (product vs. marketing) or by impact.

• Deep Dive on Process: For each case study, clearly explain the problem, your approach, your specific contributions, the tools used, and the outcomes. Use visuals to illustrate your journey.

• Quantify Everything Possible: Whenever you can, present data points, metrics, or evidence of success. This is crucial for the marketing design aspects.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, trade-offs, collaboration, and how you handle feedback.

• Showcase Hybridity: Explicitly point out examples that demonstrate your dual expertise in product and marketing design within your presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a designer who is not only creative and technically skilled but also strategic, business-minded, and capable of driving tangible results in a fast-paced environment.

📌 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+ years of experience with specific achievements in both product design (UI/UX, interaction) and marketing design (campaigns, landing pages, GTM collateral). Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features strong case studies demonstrating both product and marketing design work, with a clear emphasis on quantifiable results and your design process.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your experience, design philosophy, and how your skills align with Venn's mission and the demands of a hybrid role in a fast-growing fintech.

• Research Venn: Understand their current brand, product offerings, and mission to articulate your specific interest and how you can contribute to their growth.

⚠️ 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.

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