Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: Grindr

Location: West Hollywood, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-08

Experience Level: 6-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (2 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the creative vision and execution for Grindr's brand presence across all external touchpoints, from campaigns to product launches.

• Serve as a key creative partner, translating strategic briefs into compelling visual narratives that resonate with a global audience.

• Evolve and maintain Grindr's visual identity, contributing to the development and adherence of robust design systems and guidelines.

• Develop and manage a library of reusable design assets, templates, and toolkits to empower lean studio operations and ensure brand consistency at scale.

• Produce high-impact presentation materials for critical internal and external stakeholders, showcasing strategic rationale and creative excellence.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "Brand Design Studio," implying a focus on GTM-adjacent creative operations, brand governance, and the operationalization of brand assets, rather than product design. The emphasis on "AI-native platform" and "AI Image Generation" suggests a forward-looking approach to creative tool utilization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute on-brand creative solutions for diverse initiatives including marketing campaigns, product launches, social media content, event branding, and cultural moments.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Growth, Product, Comms, Partnerships, Grindr for Equality) to translate complex briefs into clear, impactful, and visually engaging creative deliverables.

• Actively contribute to the evolution of Grindr's visual identity, influencing brand system decisions, setting creative direction, and rigorously upholding quality standards across all supported touchpoints.

• Design, implement, and maintain essential infrastructure for a lean studio, such as reusable templates, toolkits, component libraries, and comprehensive brand guidelines to facilitate rapid team execution while preserving brand integrity.

• Create compelling and persuasive presentation materials suitable for high-stakes audiences, effectively communicating creative strategies and outcomes.

• Demonstrate agility in managing multiple, diverse projects simultaneously, adapting quickly to shifting priorities and project demands.

• Apply design thinking methodologies and industry best practices throughout all stages of the design process, from ideation to final production.

• Provide mentorship and support to junior designers, fostering their talent development and contributing to the growth of the Brand Design Studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of hands-on design execution, strategic brand stewardship, and operational efficiency, typical of a Senior role within an in-house creative function. The mention of "Grindr for Equality" indicates a need to integrate social impact messaging into brand creative.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for a Senior level. Equivalent practical experience will be strongly considered.

Experience: 6-10 years of professional design experience, with a significant portion ideally encompassing both agency and in-house environments to demonstrate adaptability and broad perspective.

Required Skills:

• A strong portfolio showcasing strategic conceptual thinking and exceptional design craft across multiple touchpoints, demonstrating the ability to define and execute creative direction.

• Proven experience in building and evolving brand systems, not merely working within established ones.

• High proficiency in Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Illustrator and Photoshop, for asset creation and manipulation.

• Demonstrated ability to support multiple stakeholder teams concurrently, effectively prioritizing competing requests and maintaining quality across a broad surface area.

• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale to senior stakeholders, respond thoughtfully to feedback, and advocate for strong creative concepts.

• Capability to manage projects from initial concept through to final production-ready files.

• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies and best practices. Preferred Skills:

• Proficiency in video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects) for dynamic content creation.

• Experience or demonstrated interest in AI Image Generation tools and their application in creative workflows.

• Exceptional file organization skills, crucial for managing a large volume of assets and ensuring efficient studio operations.

• A proactive approach to concept generation, enjoying the process of creating multiple options and exploring diverse creative avenues.

• A passion for producing high-quality, award-winning creative work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "You May Thrive in this Role if You:" section provides strong indicators for preferred skills, particularly around AI image generation and organizational acumen. The experience requirement of 6-10 years aligns with a Senior Designer role, suggesting the need for strategic thinking and leadership potential.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive design portfolio that clearly articulates strategic thinking behind creative decisions, demonstrating how design solutions address business objectives and brand strategy.

• Evidence of building or significantly contributing to the evolution of brand systems, including examples of style guides, design toolkits, or component libraries.

• Case studies showcasing the end-to-end design process for significant campaigns or brand initiatives, from brief interpretation to final execution and impact.

• Examples of work that demonstrate adaptability across different media and platforms (digital, social, print, events).

• Visuals that highlight exceptional craft, attention to detail, and a strong understanding of typography, color theory, and layout. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate a structured approach to managing creative projects, including brief analysis, concept development, iteration, feedback incorporation, and final asset delivery.

• Showcase experience in creating and maintaining reusable design assets, templates, and guidelines that enable efficient workflow for both the design studio and cross-functional teams.

• Provide examples of how you have contributed to or managed design systems, ensuring consistency and scalability of the brand's visual language.

• Illustrate your ability to document and share design processes and best practices to foster knowledge within the team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "building brand systems, not just working within one" and the need for "reusable templates, toolkits, component libraries, and guidelines" strongly suggests that a portfolio demonstrating operational efficiency and system-building capabilities will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $97,523 - $130,030 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Health, Dental & Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for employees, with partial coverage for dependents.

• Family Formation Support: Up to $300,000 in support for fertility treatments, IVF, surrogacy, egg freezing, and adoption.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) plan with a generous 6% company match and immediate vesting.

• Compensation Structure: Industry-competitive salary, company bonus opportunities, and equity grants for all employees.

• Gender-Affirming Care: Leading offerings including up to 90% cost coverage, access to Included Health, and monthly stipends for Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

• Generous Time Off: Flexible vacation policy to encourage work-life balance.

• Company-Wide Rest: Two dedicated weeks per year for company-wide rest and rejuvenation.

• Monthly Stipends: Financial support for cell phone, internet, wellness, food, and commuting expenses.

• On-site Amenities: Access to breakfast and lunch.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week, with flexibility inherent in Grindr's "Grindr Mode" operating philosophy ("moderately hardcore day to day, truly hardcore when it counts"). The hybrid nature requires 2 days per week in the Los Angeles office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific. The benefits package is exceptionally comprehensive, with a strong emphasis on employee well-being, family support, and inclusivity, reflecting Grindr's mission and company culture. The "Grindr Mode" philosophy suggests a results-oriented environment that values efficiency and high performance.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology (Social Networking/Dating App Platform)

Company Size: Grindr operates with a lean team of fewer than 200 employees, indicating a fast-paced, agile, and highly collaborative environment where individual contributions have significant impact.

Founded: Grindr was founded with a vision to connect gay people globally, evolving into a significant AI-native platform powering global connections for millions of users.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Design Studio is an in-house team responsible for external brand representation, sitting at the intersection of brand, product, and communication design.

• This role involves close collaboration with cross-functional teams including Marketing, Growth, Product, Communications, Partnerships, and Grindr for Equality.

• The lean company structure suggests a flat hierarchy and direct access to leadership. Methodology:

• Grindr operates with a "Grindr Mode" philosophy: "moderately hardcore day to day, truly hardcore when it counts," emphasizing outcomes over outputs and smart, driven individuals.

• The company is "AI-native," integrating AI into its product and operations, moving with startup speed.

• A strong focus on impact for users and business outcomes, driven by excellence.

• Emphasis on data-driven decision-making and efficiency.

Company Website: https://www.grindr.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Grindr's positioning as an "AI-native" company and its "Grindr Mode" operating philosophy are key cultural differentiators. The company's mission to serve the LGBTQ+ community and its "Grindr for Equality" initiative are central to its brand identity and likely influence creative output.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Senior Brand Designer role represents a mid-to-senior level position within the creative function. It requires not only strong execution skills but also strategic thinking, the ability to influence brand direction, and mentorship capabilities. The role is crucial for operationalizing brand consistency and enabling other teams to move quickly and effectively.

Reporting Structure: While not explicitly stated, a Senior Designer typically reports to a Creative Director, Head of Brand Design, or a similar leadership role within the Brand Design Studio. They will work closely with various department leads in a collaborative, matrixed fashion.

Operations Impact: The Brand Design Studio's work directly impacts Grindr's external perception, user acquisition and retention through marketing campaigns, partnership activations, and overall brand health. This role is vital for ensuring that the brand's visual communication is consistent, expressive, and culturally relevant, directly supporting Go-To-Market strategies and brand equity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to grow into a Lead Brand Designer or Art Director role, taking on more strategic oversight and team leadership responsibilities.

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven creative, motion graphics, or campaign strategy through project work and professional development.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining deeper insights into product development, marketing strategy, and communications through close collaboration, potentially leading to broader GTM strategy understanding.

• Brand System Ownership: Taking a lead role in defining and expanding Grindr's core brand system and visual identity for future growth phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned for impact beyond just design execution, with responsibilities around brand system evolution and mentorship suggesting a pathway for career advancement within Grindr's growing creative operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Grindr operates with a hybrid work model, requiring employees to be in the Los Angeles office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This suggests a focus on in-person collaboration and team building during designated office days.

Office Location(s): The primary office location for this role is West Hollywood, California, with other offices in the Bay Area, Chicago, and New York. This indicates a distributed company presence but a central hub for this specific role.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model fosters a blend of focused remote work and collaborative in-office engagement.

• The emphasis on a "lean studio" and "startup speed" implies an environment that values efficiency, agility, and resourceful problem-solving.

• On-site, expect a dynamic workspace designed to facilitate collaboration, idea sharing, and team cohesion, especially during the mandated in-office days.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology is a given, supporting the creation of high-quality visual assets.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. However, Grindr's "Grindr Mode" philosophy suggests a culture that prioritizes achieving significant outcomes, potentially requiring focused bursts of intense work when critical deadlines or projects demand it, balanced with flexibility and personal time.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific in-office days is a key aspect of the work environment, designed to balance flexibility with the benefits of in-person collaboration and team building.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and alignment with the role's core requirements.

• Portfolio Review & Creative Discussion: A deep dive into your design portfolio with members of the Brand Design Studio and potentially cross-functional stakeholders. Expect to present specific case studies, discuss your design process, strategic rationale, and how you've built or evolved brand systems. Be prepared to defend your design choices.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: Potentially a small creative exercise or a more in-depth discussion about hypothetical scenarios related to brand challenges, system development, or campaign ideation.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, Product, or Comms to assess collaboration skills, ability to translate briefs, and understanding of business objectives.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and alignment with Grindr's mission and culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, conceptual abilities, craft, and experience in building brand systems.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the problem you solved, your process, key decisions, and the measurable impact or outcome. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Highlight System Building: Emphasize any experience you have in creating or evolving design systems, style guides, or reusable asset libraries. Showcase how these systems contribute to efficiency and consistency.

• Showcase AI Proficiency: If you have relevant examples, be prepared to discuss your experience with AI image generation tools and how you've integrated them into your workflow.

• Prepare for Defense: Be ready to articulate why you made specific design choices, not just what you did. Connect your decisions back to strategic goals and user needs.

• Tailor to Grindr: Research Grindr's current brand, mission, and recent campaigns. Consider how your work aligns with their values and target audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand System Thinking: Practice developing frameworks for extending a visual identity across various touchpoints.

• Creative Brief Interpretation: Prepare to dissect hypothetical briefs, identifying key objectives and potential creative avenues.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Think through how you would approach challenges related to brand consistency at scale, integrating AI into creative workflows, or supporting diverse stakeholder needs.

• Communication of Rationale: Rehearse explaining complex design concepts and strategic decisions clearly and concisely, anticipating potential questions from non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "defending why certain design choices are right" and the requirement for a portfolio demonstrating "strategic conceptual thinking and exceptional craft" are critical indicators for interview preparation. The inclusion of AI image generation as a preferred skill suggests candidates should highlight any relevant experience.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

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

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and complex illustrations.
  • Photoshop: For image manipulation, digital painting, and compositing.
  • Premiere Pro / After Effects (Strong Plus): For video editing and motion graphics, increasingly important for digital campaigns.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary tool for a designer, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (e.g., engagement, conversion rates) is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics platforms used by marketing and growth teams may be advantageous for understanding campaign performance.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how marketing campaigns and brand initiatives integrate with CRM and automation tools used by other departments would be helpful for cross-functional collaboration.

Emerging Technologies:

• AI Image Generation Tools: Proficiency or familiarity with tools like Midjourney, DALL-E, or Stable Diffusion is a strong plus, reflecting Grindr's AI-native strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core toolset is standard for a Senior Brand Designer, with a strong emphasis on Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. The explicit mention of AI image generation as a preferred skill highlights a forward-looking requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact through Excellence: A core value driving all work, emphasizing high-quality outcomes that serve both users and the business.

• Grindr Mode: A philosophy of being moderately hardcore day-to-day and truly hardcore when it counts, fostering a results-oriented, efficient, and dedicated work ethic.

• AI-Native Integration: Embracing AI as a fundamental tool for product and operations, driving innovation and efficiency.

• Agility and Speed: Operating with startup speed despite scaling, requiring adaptability and rapid iteration.

• Inclusivity and Equality: Deep commitment to the LGBTQ+ community, reflected in the company's mission and social impact initiatives (Grindr for Equality).

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Close collaboration with Marketing, Growth, Product, Comms, and Partnerships teams is essential for translating briefs into effective creative.

• Lean Studio Operations: Emphasis on efficiency, clear communication, and shared responsibility to enable a small team to achieve significant results.

• Feedback and Iteration: A culture that encourages constructive feedback and iterative design processes to achieve the best possible outcomes.

• Mentorship and Growth: A supportive environment for developing talent, particularly for junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: Grindr's culture is defined by its mission, its operating model ("Grindr Mode"), and its commitment to AI. These elements shape how teams collaborate and the expectations for individual performance and contribution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Rapid Iteration: Maintaining a strong, consistent brand identity across a vast array of touchpoints and campaigns while operating at "startup speed" and supporting multiple teams.

• Leveraging AI Effectively: Integrating new AI creative tools into established workflows in a way that enhances, rather than detracts from, brand quality and strategic goals.

• Scaling Creative Operations: Developing and maintaining efficient systems (templates, toolkits, guidelines) that allow a lean studio to support a growing company and diverse internal needs.

• Translating Diverse Briefs: Effectively interpreting and executing creative requests from various departments (Marketing, Product, Comms, Partnerships) each with potentially different objectives and audiences.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Tool Mastery: Deepening skills in motion graphics, video editing, and especially AI-driven creative tools.

• Brand Strategy and System Design: Opportunities to take a leading role in shaping and expanding Grindr's visual identity and design systems.

• Cross-Functional Strategic Exposure: Gaining a deeper understanding of Go-To-Market strategies, product roadmaps, and communication planning through close collaboration.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Developing leadership skills through guiding junior designers and potentially taking on project lead responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around operationalizing creativity at scale within a fast-moving, AI-focused environment, while growth opportunities lie in leadership, strategic brand development, and mastering cutting-edge creative technologies.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to build a brand system from scratch or significantly evolve an existing one. What was your process, and what were the key outcomes?" (Focus on strategic thinking, system architecture, and measurable impact.)

• "How would you approach translating a complex product launch brief into a creative campaign for a global, diverse audience like Grindr's?" (Demonstrate ability to understand objectives, target audience, and translate them into creative concepts.)

• "Discuss your experience with AI image generation. How have you used these tools, what are their limitations, and how do you ensure brand integrity when using them?" (Highlight practical application, critical evaluation, and brand-centric approach.)

• "How do you prioritize competing design requests from different departments (e.g., Marketing vs. Product) while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines?" (Showcase project management, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Grindr's mission and its role in the LGBTQ+ community?" (Research Grindr's impact and articulate genuine alignment.)

• "How do you interpret and apply the 'Grindr Mode' operating philosophy in your work?" (Demonstrate understanding of efficiency, outcomes-focus, and dedication.)

• "How would you contribute to a lean, fast-paced creative studio environment?" (Emphasize collaboration, proactivity, and resourcefulness.)

• "Describe your experience mentoring junior designers or contributing to team growth." (Highlight leadership potential and a collaborative spirit.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your experience and then diving into 3-5 key projects. For each project, use a consistent structure: brief/problem, your role, process/solutions, and results/impact.

• Narrative: Weave a story around each project. Explain the "why" behind your decisions, not just the "what." Connect your design choices to business objectives and user needs.

• Visuals: Use high-quality mockups and clear visuals. Don't overload slides with text. Let your designs speak, supported by your concise explanations.

• System Focus: If you have examples of building or evolving design systems, make them prominent. Explain how these systems create efficiency and maintain brand consistency.

• AI Integration: If you have AI-generated work, be ready to discuss your process, the prompt engineering involved, and how you refined the output to meet brand standards.

• Interaction: Be prepared for Q&A throughout or at the end. Engage with the interviewers, ask clarifying questions, and be open to feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation should focus heavily on demonstrating strategic thinking, operational efficiency in design, and a clear understanding of Grindr's unique mission and culture. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Carefully curate your portfolio to highlight projects that best showcase your strategic thinking, brand system development experience, and ability to execute high-quality creative across diverse touchpoints. Prioritize examples that demonstrate your problem-solving process and impact.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your 6-10 years of relevant design experience, proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, experience with brand systems, and any background in AI-driven creative tools. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, defending your creative choices, and discussing your experience with building and managing design systems. Prepare specific examples to answer behavioral and situational questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Grindr's mission, target audience, current brand campaigns, and the "Grindr Mode" operating philosophy. Understand their commitment to the LGBTQ+ community and their AI-native strategy.

⚠️ 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.