Performance Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Performance Graphic Designer

Company: Ancient + Brave

Location: Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing / Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: 2026-07-29T14:33:51

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design high-volume, performance-driven static and motion graphic assets specifically for paid social media channels, with an initial focus on Meta platforms and a near-term expansion to TikTok.

• Collaborate closely with the Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor to ideate, develop, and iterate on creative concepts that align with campaign objectives and brand guidelines.

• Utilize data insights from creative performance to inform design decisions, create structured variants for testing plans, and refresh live assets to optimize ongoing campaign effectiveness.

• Maintain a meticulous brand standard and integrity across all creative output, ensuring all assets are recognizably Ancient + Brave while pushing creative boundaries within a performance context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly for a "performance motivated designer" with a focus on "paid social" and a clear understanding of "Meta" and "TikTok" platforms. The emphasis on "high volume" and "keeping the bar high" indicates a need for efficiency without sacrificing quality, a hallmark of successful GTM operations. The mention of "testing plan" and "design with the numbers in mind" strongly suggests a data-driven approach to creative development within a marketing operations framework.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design a high volume of static assets (e.g., single images, carousels) and motion graphics (e.g., stories, short videos) tailored for paid social media platforms, ensuring platform-specific best practices are applied.

• Develop multiple creative variants for a single concept based on a defined testing plan, iterating on elements such as format, aspect ratio, hook, offer, and audience segmentation.

• Analyze winning creative performance data to identify key drivers of success and use these insights to inform the design of subsequent creative rounds and refresh existing assets.

• Actively participate in briefing and review sessions with the Performance Creative Strategist, providing design input and contributing to the strategic development of creative work.

• Collaborate with the Social Video Editor to ensure synergy between static and motion creative efforts, creating a cohesive and impactful campaign narrative.

• Build and maintain a library of reusable templates, master files, and component libraries to enhance design efficiency and ensure brand consistency across high-volume output.

• Work under the guidance of the Creative Director and Art Director to uphold brand craft and integrity, proactively seeking input on design direction.

• Adapt core brand elements and creative executions to suit different market needs, seasons, buying occasions, and cultural nuances as dictated by campaign briefs.

• Provide support to the broader design team on brand assets, packaging, and campaign visuals when required and capacity allows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a "pod" working model, emphasizing close collaboration within a small, agile team focused on performance marketing. The requirement to "design with the numbers in mind" and "work out which part of it won" underscores a data-driven operational approach to creative asset production. The emphasis on "templates, master files and component libraries" points towards a need for structured workflow and asset management principles common in scaled operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in graphic design principles, visual communication, and digital media is expected. Experience:

• Proven experience designing for paid social media at volume, either in-house or agency-side, with a demonstrable track record of producing effective creative assets.

• Experience within a Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brand, ideally within the wellness, beauty, supplements, or food and drink sectors, is highly desirable. Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator).

• Motion Graphics: Strong working knowledge and practical application of Adobe After Effects for creating engaging motion assets.

• Digital Design Tools: Proficiency in Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and asset delivery.

• Paid Social Expertise: Deep understanding of what makes creative perform on platforms like Meta (Facebook, Instagram), including hooks, visual hierarchy, branding elements, and audience-specific design considerations.

• Performance-Driven Design: Ability to design with performance metrics in mind, create structured variants for testing plans, and iterate based on campaign data.

• Brand Management: Capacity to maintain brand integrity and recognizability across a high volume of creative output, while also being able to stretch brand boundaries creatively.

• AI Tool Integration: Enthusiasm and adeptness in utilizing AI tools to enhance creativity, speed up workflows, and generate standout assets at scale.

• Agile Workflow: Ability to work at pace, turning briefs around quickly (hours/days, not weeks) while maintaining high standards.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent team player with the ability to collaborate effectively within a small team (pod) and take direction from senior creative leads.

• Organizational Skills: Meticulous attention to detail in file naming, structure, and asset management to ensure efficiency and prevent time wastage.

Preferred Skills:

• Video Editing: Basic editing ability is beneficial for refining motion assets or complementing video content.

• TikTok Design: Experience or a strong understanding of design principles and best practices for TikTok.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "proven experience designing for paid social at volume" and "strong portfolio to show for it" signifies that practical, results-oriented experience is paramount. The explicit mention of "Adobe Creative Suite," "After Effects," and "Figma" are critical technical requirements. The understanding of "Meta" performance drivers and the "ability to talk about it in specifics" indicates a need for strategic thinking beyond pure aesthetics. The preference for "editing ability" suggests a cross-functional skill set that enhances operational efficiency within the creative pod.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Paid Social Case Studies: Showcase at least 2-3 detailed case studies demonstrating your experience designing for paid social campaigns. Each case study should highlight the brief, your design approach, the creative variants developed, and ideally, performance outcomes or key learnings.

• Volume & Variety: Include examples of high-volume asset production, demonstrating your ability to create multiple variations of a concept for A/B testing or audience segmentation. Showcase a range of asset types (statics, carousels, stories, motion graphics).

• Brand Consistency: Provide examples that clearly illustrate your ability to maintain brand integrity while adapting creative for performance-driven channels.

• Platform Adaptability: Demonstrate designs optimized for specific platforms, particularly Meta (Facebook/Instagram feeds, stories).

• Motion Graphics Examples: Include examples of motion assets created in After Effects that showcase dynamic storytelling and engagement techniques relevant to paid social.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Efficiency: Be prepared to discuss how you structure your design process to handle high volumes and tight turnarounds, including your approach to brief interpretation, ideation, iteration, and final asset delivery.

• Testing Plan Execution: Demonstrate understanding of how to design for a testing plan, providing examples of how you would create structured variants of a core concept.

• Performance-Driven Iteration: Be ready to explain how you use performance data to refine creative concepts and build upon winning designs.

• Template & Library Management: Discuss your experience in creating and managing design templates, master files, or component libraries to streamline future design work.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on "performance" and "high volume," the portfolio must clearly articulate not just aesthetic skill but also a strategic, data-informed, and efficient design process. Case studies that show how design decisions directly impacted campaign performance or how a structured approach led to efficiency gains will be highly valued. The ability to discuss process and systems for managing a high output is as crucial as the visual output itself.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the location (Lewes, East Sussex, UK), experience level (2-5 years), and the specialized nature of performance-driven graphic design for paid social, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £30,000 - £45,000 per annum. This range reflects the demand for designers who can balance creative excellence with measurable results in a fast-paced DTC environment. Benefits:

• Discretionary Bonus: Performance-based bonus tied to company and individual contributions.

• Private Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for swift access to high-quality healthcare.

• Medicash Plan: Includes access to specialist consultations, 24/7 Virtual GP, health screenings, dental, optical, complementary therapies, and an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).

• Annual Leave: 25 days of annual holiday plus bank holidays.

• Wellbeing Day: An additional day off to use as needed.

• ESG Invested Pension: Pension contributions are invested ethically, avoiding problematic sectors.

• Financial Wellbeing Platform (Mintago): Access to financial advice, retail discounts, and salary sacrifice schemes (childcare, cycle to work, gym, groceries, EVs, tech).

• Continuous Training & Professional Development: Opportunities for ongoing learning and skill enhancement.

• Wellness Sessions: Complimentary nutrition and meditation sessions in the office.

• Product Discount: 50% off all Ancient + Brave products.

• Office Amenities: Fully stocked kitchen with A+B products, laptop and headphones provided, office equipped with monitors, ergonomic chairs, and sit/stand desks.

Working Hours:

• Full-time, implying approximately 40 hours per week, with a strong emphasis on being present at the Lewes HQ. While full-time is standard, the company mentions openness to discussing part-time setups "where appropriate," though this role is primarily advertised as full-time on-site.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is a professional approximation based on industry benchmarks for mid-level graphic designers specializing in performance marketing in the UK, considering the cost of living in East Sussex and the specific demands of the role. The benefits package is extensive and emphasizes employee well-being and financial health, aligning with a progressive, mission-driven company. The "ESG invested pension" is a notable benefit that aligns with the company's ethical stance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wellness & Supplements (DTC) with a strong focus on sustainability and ethical practices. Ancient + Brave operates in a competitive but growing market, leveraging science and ancient wisdom to offer holistic health solutions. Their recognition in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies and the Oresa Retail Growth Index highlights their significant market traction and operational efficiency.

Company Size: Mid-sized scale-up, indicated by its rapid growth and certifications like B Corp, suggesting a structured but still agile operational environment. This size typically allows for impactful individual contributions while benefiting from established processes.

Founded: Ancient + Brave is a female-founded company, emphasizing its mission-driven approach and commitment to community health and ethical operations. Their rapid growth suggests a dynamic and evolving operational landscape.

Team Structure:

• Creative Pod: The designer will be part of a small, agile "pod" alongside a Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor, fostering close collaboration and rapid iteration.

• Reporting: The role reports into Creative Director and Art Director for craft and brand guidance, indicating a clear hierarchy within the creative function.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: While primarily embedded in the creative pod, the role also supports the wider design team and collaborates across various markets and campaign needs.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: A core methodology is designing with performance data at the forefront, using insights to drive creative decisions and optimize assets.

• Agile & Iterative: The emphasis on "high volume," "turn briefs around in hours and days," and "rework and refresh live assets" points to an agile, iterative approach to creative production.

• Brand Integrity: A foundational methodology is maintaining a "meticulously crafted brand" while exploring performance-oriented creative avenues, balancing commercial needs with brand values.

Company Website: https://careers.ancientandbrave.earth

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's commitment to being a "certified B Corp" and a member of "1% for the Planet" signals a strong ethical and sustainability focus that permeates their operations and influences decision-making. This is a key differentiator for potential employees who value purpose-driven work. The mention of "beautiful head offices overlooking the river Ouse in Lewes" suggests a positive and inspiring physical workspace, important for a full-time on-site role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Performance Graphic Designer. It requires established skills and a proven track record in specific areas (paid social, performance marketing creative) but also offers opportunities for growth within a scaling company. The emphasis is on contribution to immediate campaign performance and learning within a specialized team.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to the Creative Director and Art Director for creative output and brand adherence. They will work in a close-knit "pod" with a Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor, indicating a collaborative and integrated workflow. This structure allows for mentorship from senior creative leads while fostering autonomy within the pod.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and measurable impact on the company's growth through paid social advertising. By designing high-performing creative assets, the designer directly contributes to lead generation, customer acquisition, and ultimately, revenue. The data-driven nature of the role means that success is quantifiable, allowing for clear demonstration of impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in performance creative for paid social, becoming a go-to expert in this domain within the company.

• Skill Expansion: Develop proficiency in new platforms (e.g., TikTok) and leverage AI tools for advanced creative generation and efficiency.

• Creative Leadership: Potentially grow into a senior designer role, leading creative projects, mentoring junior designers, or taking on more strategic creative direction responsibilities as the company scales.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader experience by supporting the wider design team on brand assets, packaging, and campaign work, offering exposure to different facets of brand design.

• Brand & Strategy Acumen: Develop a stronger understanding of DTC marketing strategy, customer psychology, and brand building through close collaboration with the Performance Creative Strategist and Creative Director.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path is clearly defined by deepening specialization in performance creative and potentially moving into more senior or broader design roles as the company expands. The emphasis on "learning and development opportunities" and "complimentary nutrition and meditation sessions" suggests a company that invests in its employees' holistic growth, which is attractive for operations professionals looking for long-term career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates from "beautiful head offices overlooking the river Ouse in Lewes, East Sussex." This suggests a modern, well-appointed, and inspiring physical workspace conducive to creative and collaborative work. The emphasis on being "together in person" highlights a preference for a vibrant office culture.

Office Location(s): Lewes, East Sussex, UK (Railway Lane, BN7 2AQ). This is a specific, on-site location.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The office is designed to be "inviting and genuinely enjoyable," fostering collaboration. The "pod" structure necessitates close interaction with immediate team members.

• Tools & Technology: The company provides "suitable laptop computers & headphones" and the office is equipped with "monitors, ergonomic chairs and sitting and standing desks," ensuring a comfortable and productive work setup.

• Team Interaction: The "small but mighty squad" model implies frequent informal and formal interactions, with "feedback comes daily" suggesting an open communication culture within the team.

Work Schedule:

• Full-time, implying a standard ~40-hour work week. The role is strictly on-site, requiring a daily commute to Lewes. The company is "open to discussing part-time setup where appropriate" but the primary expectation is full-time attendance at the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strong emphasis on the "riverside office" and the requirement for full-time on-site presence indicates that the company values in-person collaboration and a shared office culture as essential for their operational effectiveness and team cohesion. This is a critical factor for candidates considering this role.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV and portfolio, clearly showcasing paid social design experience and performance-driven work.

• Screening Call: Likely with an HR representative or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and interest.

• Design Task/Challenge: A practical exercise, potentially involving creating variants for a given brief or analyzing existing creative performance, designed to simulate the day-to-day demands of the role. This will likely focus on speed, strategic thinking, and platform understanding.

• Portfolio Review & Interview: A more in-depth discussion with the Creative Director, Art Director, and potentially the Performance Creative Strategist. This will involve presenting portfolio case studies, discussing design rationale, explaining performance insights, and demonstrating comfort with AI tools.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations, company alignment, and final fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Performance Focus: Clearly articulate the "why" behind your design choices, linking them directly to campaign objectives and performance metrics. Use data and insights to back up your creative decisions.

• Process Demonstration: For each case study, briefly explain your design process, including how you interpreted briefs, ideated, iterated, and refined designs based on testing or feedback.

• Volume & Efficiency: Highlight examples that show your ability to produce multiple variants quickly and efficiently. Mention any use of templates or systems that aided this.

• Brand Nuance: Showcase your understanding of brand guidelines and how you maintained brand integrity while optimizing for performance.

• AI Integration: Be prepared to discuss how you've used AI tools in your workflow, demonstrating practical application and a forward-thinking approach.

• Conciseness: Present your strongest, most relevant work. Be ready to speak to each piece confidently but concisely.

Challenge Preparation:

• Platform Savvy: Refresh your knowledge of current best practices, ad formats, and emerging trends on Meta and TikTok.

• Data Interpretation: Practice analyzing basic performance data (e.g., CTR, conversion rates, engagement metrics) and translating it into actionable design recommendations.

• Speed & Agility: Be prepared for timed exercises. Practice generating multiple creative directions or variants quickly.

• Brand Alignment: Research Ancient + Brave’s current marketing efforts and brand aesthetic to ensure your approach aligns with their values and visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's ability to deliver results in a high-volume, performance-driven environment. A portfolio that clearly demonstrates this capability, supported by a strong understanding of the underlying operational processes, will be key. The "design task/challenge" is a critical evaluation point.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential. Expert proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator for static asset creation.

• Adobe After Effects: Required for motion graphics design, animation, and video editing for social assets.

• Figma: Required for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially for building component libraries and templates.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly stated as a requirement for the designer to manage these, a strong understanding of how to interpret data from these systems is crucial. Expect to work with data from:
  • Meta Ads Manager: For performance metrics of paid social campaigns.
  • Google Analytics (or similar): To understand broader website performance and conversion tracking.
  • Internal Dashboards: Likely custom dashboards or BI tools used by Ancient + Brave for campaign reporting.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding that these assets feed into marketing automation and CRM systems (e.g., for lead capture) provides context for the importance of their performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Adobe Creative Suite," "After Effects," and "Figma" are critical technical requirements. The role implies a need to understand and utilize data from ad platforms like Meta Ads Manager, underscoring the "performance" aspect of the job. The mention of "AI tools" suggests potential future integration with AI-powered creative or design assistance platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Bravery: Encourages being courageous, bold, and experimental in creative approaches, even within performance constraints. This means pushing creative boundaries while staying accountable for results.

• Integrity: Emphasizes honesty, accountability, and ethical practices in all work, including transparent reporting of performance and maintaining brand authenticity.

• Connection: Fosters a collaborative, inclusive, and open environment where feedback is shared daily, and team members support each other.

• Intention: Promotes purposeful, proactive, and focused work, ensuring that all creative efforts are aligned with strategic goals and drive measurable outcomes.

Collaboration Style:

• Pod-Based & Integrated: Works in a small, tightly-knit "pod" where static and motion creatives feed into each other, and feedback is immediate and daily. This is a highly collaborative and communicative style.

• Cross-Functional Support: Willingness to support the wider design team and engage with different markets, demonstrating flexibility and a team-first attitude.

• Receiving & Giving Feedback: The culture encourages early sharing of work and open feedback loops to ensure additive input and continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention) are integral to their operational philosophy. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work, particularly "Intention" (purposeful design for performance) and "Connection" (collaboration within the pod).

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Volume & Pace: The core challenge is to consistently produce high-quality, high-performing creative assets at a rapid pace without compromising brand integrity.

• Data Interpretation & Application: Translating complex performance data into actionable design improvements requires strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.

• Balancing Brand vs. Performance: Navigating the tension between maintaining a premium, aspirational brand image and creating direct-response, performance-driven ads can be challenging.

• Evolving Platforms & Tools: Staying current with rapidly changing social media platform algorithms, best practices, and emerging AI design tools requires continuous learning.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Performance Creative Specialization: Deepen expertise in what drives results on specific paid social platforms, becoming a subject matter expert.

• AI Tool Mastery: Explore and integrate advanced AI tools to enhance creative output and efficiency, positioning oneself at the forefront of digital design innovation.

• Brand Strategy Acumen: Gain a deeper understanding of how creative directly impacts broader marketing and business objectives through close work with the Performance Creative Strategist.

• Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Develop a better understanding of video editing and broader campaign design principles through collaboration and potential support tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a significant opportunity to hone skills in a critical area of modern marketing operations: performance creative. The challenges are inherent to a fast-paced, results-oriented environment, offering substantial learning and professional growth for the right candidate.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you designed creative for a paid social campaign that significantly outperformed expectations. What were the key design elements that contributed to its success?" (Focus on data, rationale, and impact)

• "How do you approach creating multiple variants of a creative concept for a testing plan? Walk us through your process." (Focus on structured iteration and efficiency)

• "How do you balance maintaining a premium brand aesthetic with the need for direct-response, performance-driven creative on platforms like Meta?" (Focus on strategic thinking and brand stewardship)

• "Describe your experience using AI tools in your design workflow. What are the benefits and limitations you've encountered?" (Focus on practical application and forward-thinking) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Ancient + Brave's mission and brand? How do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Focus on cultural alignment and brand passion)

• "Given our values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention), how would you apply them in your daily work as a Performance Graphic Designer?" (Focus on understanding and embodying company values)

• "Describe your ideal team environment. How do you contribute to a collaborative and feedback-driven culture?" (Focus on teamwork and communication style) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure by Case Study: Present 2-3 strong case studies, dedicating a few slides per case to outline the brief, your approach, key design decisions, variants created, and performance outcomes/learnings.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use numbers and metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs. If exact figures aren't available, discuss the insights gained and how they informed subsequent work.

• Showcase Process: Briefly explain your workflow for each project, highlighting efficiency gains or how you adapted to challenges.

• Brand vs. Performance: Clearly articulate how you navigated the balance between brand guidelines and performance objectives in your examples.

• AI in Action: If applicable, show examples where AI tools were used and explain the specific benefit they provided (e.g., speed, ideation, asset generation).

• Concise Storytelling: Be prepared to walk through your portfolio efficiently, highlighting the most relevant work for this specific role.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview questions will be heavily geared towards assessing practical skills, strategic thinking, and cultural fit. Candidates should prepare concrete examples that demonstrate their ability to deliver results, work efficiently, and collaborate effectively within a performance-focused marketing team.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Performance Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Ancient + Brave careers page.

• Tailor your CV: Highlight specific experience in paid social design, performance marketing, and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, and Figma. Use keywords from the job description such as "paid social," "performance creative," "high volume," "DTC," and "brand integrity."

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest paid social case studies. Ensure they clearly demonstrate your ability to design for performance, create variants, maintain brand consistency, and work at pace. Include examples of motion graphics.

• Prepare for a Design Challenge: Be ready to undertake a practical design exercise that simulates the role's demands, likely involving creating creative variants for a given brief. Practice ideating and designing quickly under timed conditions.

• Research Ancient + Brave: Familiarize yourself with their brand, products, mission, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to sustainability, wellness, and their company values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention). This will be crucial for demonstrating cultural fit and strategic understanding.

⚠️ 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.