Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: UPSTARS

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine / Remote

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: July 29, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Senior (3-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote Eligible

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the development and execution of visual brand identities for new and existing brands, ensuring compelling and cohesive brand experiences.

• Translate complex brand strategies and business objectives into scalable, impactful visual design systems.

• Drive innovation in design by leveraging AI tools and exploring new creative methodologies to enhance brand expression.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with brand strategists, marketing, and product teams to ensure brand consistency and effectiveness across all touchpoints.

• Champion design excellence and maintain high standards for creative output within a dynamic, product-focused IT company.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a "Senior Brand Designer," the description emphasizes "creative operations" aspects such as documentation, system scalability, and cross-functional collaboration, suggesting a role that bridges pure design with operational execution of brand strategy. The company's focus on technology and B2B services in the iGaming sector implies a need for sophisticated, data-informed design solutions.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive visual brand identities, including logos, color palettes, typography, graphic elements, iconography, and photo/illustration styles.

• Create and meticulously document brand books and style guides, ensuring clear, actionable guidelines for all internal and external stakeholders.

• Design and implement brand identities as scalable, interconnected systems that can adapt across diverse applications and markets.

• Visualize and demonstrate how brand identities manifest across various real-world applications and marketing materials.

• Present design solutions to stakeholders, articulating the strategic rationale, business alignment, and creative vision, and effectively addressing feedback.

• Prepare and deliver design assets and files to other teams in accordance with established team standards and operational processes.

• Partner closely with brand strategists to translate strategic briefs and documents into compelling visual concepts that resonate with target audiences.

• Manage a multi-brand portfolio, ensuring distinct visual identities for each brand while maintaining overarching systemic integrity and quality standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on documentation, scalability, and system thinking, which are core to operationalizing brand strategy. The need to work within a "multi-brand portfolio" suggests a complex operational environment requiring careful asset management and strategic differentiation.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is preferred.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of dedicated experience in brand design and identity development, with a proven track record of successful projects.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in creating visual brand identities, including logos, corporate styles, brand books, and design systems.

• Advanced proficiency in Figma, serving as the primary tool for design and collaboration.

• Strong command of Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for detailed graphic creation and manipulation.

• Experience integrating AI tools into the design process for concept generation, mood boards, and visual asset creation.

• Deep understanding of fundamental design principles: typography, composition, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Ability to design robust, scalable, and systematic design solutions.

• Proven ability to understand business needs, translate them into visual concepts, and effectively present and defend design decisions to stakeholders.

• Capacity for autonomous work with minimal supervision, demonstrating initiative and self-management.

• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high-quality, polished final products. Preferred Skills:

• Skill in font modification, customization, or lettering for logos and unique brand marks.

• Foundational understanding of brand strategy, enabling the interpretation of strategic documents and briefs beyond a technical brief.

• Prior experience within the iGaming or technology sectors.

• Experience working within a multi-brand operational environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Figma as the "primary working tool" indicates a modern, collaborative design workflow. The preference for AI tool integration suggests the company is forward-thinking and values efficiency in creative processes. Experience in iGaming or multi-brand environments is a strong plus, pointing to the specific operational context of the role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio showcasing a range of brand identity projects, including logos, comprehensive brand books, and well-developed design systems.

• Clear demonstrations of how brand identities are applied across various real-world mediums and marketing materials.

• Evidence of systematic design thinking – how your solutions are scalable and maintain coherence across different brand applications.

• Documentation of your design process, illustrating problem-solving, strategic thinking, and iterative refinement. Process Documentation:

• Examples of meticulously created brand books and style guides that serve as clear, actionable operational documents for other teams.

• Case studies illustrating the translation of brand strategy into visual concepts, detailing the rationale and decision-making process.

• Demonstrations of how design assets are prepared and handed off to development or marketing teams, adhering to established standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Brand Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only showcase aesthetic skill but also the ability to operationalize brand strategy through structured documentation and scalable systems. Demonstrating a clear process for asset handoff and adherence to standards is crucial for this role's operational impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry standards for a Senior Brand Designer in Kyiv, Ukraine, with remote eligibility, a competitive salary range is estimated between ₴45,000 - ₴75,000 per month (approximately $1,100 - $1,850 USD at current exchange rates). This range can vary based on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation.

Benefits:

• Official employment and registration in Ukraine or Poland.

• 20 paid vacation days annually, plus public holidays and paid sick leave.

• Medical insurance with coverage at top clinics and reimbursement for psychological support services via the Pleso platform.

• Monthly "Benefit cafe" allowance for personal preferences, hobbies, and sports.

• Active participation in company events, including masterclasses, team-building activities, and corporate parties.

• Individual budget for professional development, including courses, corporate English classes, workshops, and access to an extensive online library.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility to accommodate remote work and maintain work-life balance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on Ukrainian IT market data for senior design roles, adjusted for remote work and the specific company profile. The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing work-life balance, professional growth, and employee well-being, which are attractive to operations-minded professionals seeking stability and development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Product IT company specializing in technological solutions and B2B services, with a strong focus on the iGaming sector. UPSTARS is committed to legal and transparent market operations and holds a B2B license for gambling services in Ukraine.

Company Size: The provided data doesn't explicitly state company size, but the active scaling and "dream team" hiring suggest a growing mid-sized company, likely between 50-250 employees.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the company's description and active scaling indicate an established entity with a forward-looking approach.

Team Structure:

• The Design department, referred to as "Design Human-Centered," likely comprises various design specialists, including brand strategists, UI/UX designers, and brand designers.

• This Senior Brand Designer role reports to a Design Lead or Head of Design, with close collaboration expected with Brand Strategists and potentially Marketing or Product Managers.

• Cross-functional collaboration is key, involving seamless integration with strategy, development, and marketing teams to ensure brand consistency and effective execution. Methodology:

• Data-informed decision-making is implied through the company's focus on technological solutions and B2B services.

• Workflow planning and optimization are evident in the emphasis on automation of routine tasks and efficient processes.

• Automation and efficiency practices are a core value, aiming to free up employee time for professional growth and strategic development.

Company Website: https://career.upstars.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on iGaming and B2B tech services suggests a fast-paced, results-oriented environment. The "Design Human-Centered" department framing emphasizes the importance of user experience and strategic design. The company's stated values of "teamwork, positivity, opportunities, boldness, and openness" shape the operational culture.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Brand Designer, indicating a level of expertise and autonomy beyond a mid-level position. It requires not only creative execution but also strategic thinking, process ownership, and the ability to mentor or guide junior designers implicitly.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer will likely report to a Head of Design or a Design Director, working closely with Brand Strategists. This structure allows for strategic alignment while maintaining a degree of creative independence.

Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer has a significant impact on the company's brand perception, market differentiation, and client acquisition by establishing and maintaining strong, consistent visual identities across multiple brands. Effective brand design directly supports sales enablement and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Advancement: Opportunities to refine skills in managing multi-brand portfolios, developing scalable design systems, and optimizing design workflows for efficiency.

• Leadership Development: Potential to mentor junior designers, lead specific brand identity projects, and contribute to the strategic direction of the design department's operational processes.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of brand design, such as typography, illustration, or AI-driven design, or expand into brand strategy consulting within the company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "opportunities" value and specific mention of "clear career plan with Performance Review, trainings, mentoring programs" directly address growth. For a Senior role, growth often involves taking on more strategic responsibilities, leading projects, and influencing operational processes within the design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers flexible work arrangements, allowing employees to work from their offices or remotely. This suggests a hybrid or distributed work model, prioritizing employee comfort and safety.

Office Location(s): While Kyiv, Ukraine is mentioned as a primary location, the company also offers official employment in Poland, indicating a presence or operational capability in both regions, supporting remote work.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment is fostered through shared values ("teamwork," "positivity," "openness") and organized events like team-building and masterclasses.

• The company likely provides access to necessary design tools and technologies, with a specific emphasis on Figma and Adobe Creative Suite.

• Opportunities for interaction with the design team and cross-functional colleagues are facilitated through regular meetings, collaborative platforms, and company events.

Work Schedule: Full-time employment with a focus on work-life balance, suggesting a standard work week (approx. 40 hours) but with flexibility for remote employees to manage their schedules effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "work where it's comfortable and safe" and the option for remote work are key aspects of the operational environment, catering to modern workforce expectations. The "Benefit cafe" and other perks contribute to a positive and supportive workspace context.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of resumes and portfolios against the stated requirements, focusing on relevant experience and design quality.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, detailing 2-3 key brand identity projects. This stage will assess strategic thinking, process, and problem-solving abilities. Prepare to discuss the "why" behind your design choices and their connection to business objectives.

• Skills Assessment (Potential): A practical design exercise or a case study focused on brand identity development or problem-solving within a given brief might be administered.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with hiring managers, brand strategists, and potentially other senior designers or department heads to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and strategic alignment.

• Final Offer: Based on overall assessment of skills, experience, portfolio, and cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your ability to create scalable, systemic brand identities and your understanding of brand strategy. Include examples of brand books and how identities are applied across various mediums.

• Process Over Polish: While aesthetics matter, prioritize showcasing your design process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving approach. Explain the challenges, your solutions, and the results.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or outcomes that demonstrate the effectiveness of your brand designs (e.g., increased brand recognition, successful product launches).

• Tailor to UPSTARS: Highlight any experience with iGaming, B2B tech, or multi-brand environments. Show how your skills align with UPSTARS' values and operational needs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach building a brand identity from scratch for a new tech product or service.

• Practice articulating the connection between brand strategy and visual execution.

• Prepare to explain your experience with AI tools in design and how you see them enhancing the brand design process.

• Understand UPSTARS' business in the iGaming/B2B tech space to inform your approach to design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is likely structured to evaluate not just design skill but also strategic thinking, operational execution (process, documentation), and collaborative ability. The portfolio is the primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating design systems. Expect to use it extensively for day-to-day design work and asset management.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for vector-based logo design, icon creation, and complex graphic elements.

• Adobe Photoshop: Used for image editing, mockups, and creating raster-based visual assets.

Analytics & Reporting (Indirect):

• While not a direct design tool, understanding how brand performance is measured (e.g., brand perception surveys, website analytics related to brand engagement) can inform design decisions. CRM & Automation (Indirect):

• Familiarity with how brand assets are managed and distributed within marketing automation platforms or digital asset management (DAM) systems can be beneficial for ensuring consistent application across campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma, Illustrator, and Photoshop defines the core technical requirements. The indirect mention of analytics and CRM suggests an awareness of how design integrates into broader business operations and performance tracking.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Teamwork: A collaborative spirit where individuals work together to achieve common goals, evident in shared projects and events.

• Positivity: Approach to work and challenges with an optimistic and driven mindset, fueled by successful outcomes and positive feedback.

• Opportunities: Commitment to employee growth through clear career paths, performance reviews, training, and mentorship.

• Boldness: Willingness to take on ambitious projects and challenges, driving innovation and pushing boundaries in the industry.

• Openness: Encouraging direct communication, valuing proactive feedback, and being receptive to new ideas and diverse perspectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Design is integrated with strategy, marketing, and product development to ensure brand consistency and alignment across all company initiatives.

• Process-Oriented Feedback: A culture that values constructive feedback on processes and designs, facilitating continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing best practices, insights, and new techniques within the design team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's explicitly stated values (teamwork, positivity, opportunities, boldness, openness) are crucial for understanding the operational culture. They indicate a dynamic, supportive, and growth-focused environment where collaboration and proactive contribution are highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Multi-Brand Complexity: Managing distinct visual identities for multiple brands simultaneously while ensuring overall brand coherence and operational efficiency.

• Scalability of Systems: Designing brand identities that are not only visually appealing but also highly scalable and adaptable across a wide range of applications and platforms.

• Balancing Creativity with Business Needs: Effectively translating strategic briefs and business objectives into visually compelling designs that meet market demands and company goals.

• Evolving Design Landscape: Staying ahead of design trends, incorporating new technologies like AI effectively, and adapting to industry shifts, particularly in the fast-paced iGaming sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Brand System Design: Deepen expertise in creating and managing complex, scalable design systems for multiple brands.

• Strategic Brand Consulting: Develop skills in advising on brand strategy and its visual manifestation, moving beyond execution to strategic partnership.

• AI in Design Leadership: Explore and lead initiatives for integrating AI tools and methodologies into the design workflow for enhanced efficiency and creativity.

• Mentorship and Team Development: Opportunity to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth and operational excellence of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexities of managing multiple brands and scalable systems. The growth opportunities focus on advancing within the design field, taking on strategic roles, and embracing new technologies, aligning with the company's progressive values.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a visual identity for a new brand from scratch, starting with a strategic brief." (Focus on your systematic approach, research, concept development, and stakeholder engagement.)

• "How would you ensure visual consistency across multiple brands within UPSTARS' portfolio while maintaining their distinct identities?" (Highlight your experience with brand systems, documentation, and collaboration.)

• "Walk us through a challenging brand identity project in your portfolio. What were the key strategic objectives, the design challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Prepare a specific case study emphasizing problem-solving and strategic rationale.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on what you know about UPSTARS and the iGaming/B2B tech industry, how would you approach designing a brand identity that resonates with your target audience?" (Show your research and understanding of the market.)

• "Our company values include boldness and openness. How do these values influence your approach to design and collaboration?" (Connect your working style to UPSTARS' stated values.)

• "How do you measure the success of your brand design work? What KPIs or metrics do you consider?" (Demonstrate your results-oriented mindset and understanding of brand impact.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure with Narrative: Organize your portfolio presentation around 2-3 key projects. For each, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, the design process, key decisions, and the final outcome/impact.

• Highlight Systems & Documentation: Emphasize your ability to create scalable design systems and comprehensive brand guidelines. Show examples of these documents.

• Demonstrate Collaboration: Be prepared to discuss how you collaborated with strategists, developers, or other stakeholders.

• Focus on Rationale: For every design choice, be ready to explain the strategic reasoning behind it and how it supports the business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative skill but also strategic thinking, operational execution (process, documentation), and an understanding of UPSTARS' business context. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase these abilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the UPSTARS career portal [https://career.upstars.com/jobs/8142157-senior-brand-designer].

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features projects that demonstrate your expertise in brand identity development, brand books, and scalable design systems. Tailor your selection to highlight experience relevant to technology or iGaming if possible.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3+ years of experience in brand design, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience with AI design tools or multi-brand management. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your selected portfolio projects, focusing on the strategic rationale, process, and outcome. Prepare answers to common interview questions related to brand strategy, design systems, and stakeholder collaboration.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research UPSTARS, its mission, values, and the iGaming/B2B tech industry. Understand their current brands and market position to demonstrate genuine interest and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.