Senior Brand Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Brand Designer

Company: Runway

Location: Remote (North America)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Technology / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-01-10

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the evolution and execution of Runway’s brand identity and comprehensive design systems across all internal and external communications.

• Drive creative output for marketing websites, print collateral, promotional materials, and diverse creative projects, utilizing a blend of traditional design expertise and cutting-edge AI tools.

• Collaborate closely with developers to translate innovative concepts into tangible, high-impact online presences, ensuring Runway remains at the forefront of design and technological integration.

• Actively contribute to the development of bespoke design systems for sub-brand initiatives, demonstrating an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to manage multiple creative streams concurrently.

• Leverage proficiency in a range of AI tools to generate creative assets, from art-directed imagery to video content, integrating these novel capabilities into the brand's visual narrative.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Senior Brand Designer, the emphasis on AI tools, world models, and simulation suggests a strong need for an operations mindset in how design systems are built, scaled, and maintained. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the operational aspects of managing a complex design system in a fast-paced tech environment.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute and iterate on existing brand design systems, ensuring consistency and relevance across all brand touchpoints.

• Maintain and update a variety of marketing materials, including websites, print collateral, and video graphic overlays, to reflect current brand standards and campaign objectives.

• Develop and implement bespoke design systems for distinct sub-brand projects, ensuring unique visual identities that align with the overarching company brand strategy.

• Utilize Runway's suite of AI tools to generate creative assets, including art-directed images and content for video edits, integrating AI-generated elements seamlessly into brand narratives.

• Partner with engineering and development teams to bring design concepts to life, ensuring a high-fidelity translation of creative vision into functional digital experiences and pushing the boundaries of Runway’s online presence.

• Proactively identify opportunities to enhance the brand's visual communication through innovative design solutions and the strategic application of AI technologies.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, balancing high-end, polished executions with rapid prototyping and iteration cycles to meet evolving project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for operational efficiency in design execution. Candidates should be able to articulate how they manage project pipelines, prioritize tasks, and ensure timely delivery of high-quality design assets in a dynamic environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong foundation in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is expected, demonstrated through a robust portfolio.

Experience: 5-10 years of professional experience in brand design, with a proven track record of developing and executing comprehensive brand identities and design systems. Experience in a fast-paced, technology-driven environment is highly advantageous.

Required Skills:

• Strong conceptual and aesthetic design skills, with a deep understanding of branding principles and visual identity design.

• Proficiency in a range of design software, including Figma, Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

• Demonstrated experience and comfort working with various AI tools for creative generation and asset creation.

• Excellent art direction capabilities, with a keen eye for detail and visual storytelling.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.

• Robust organizational and project management skills, essential for managing multiple projects and deadlines.

• Ability to work effectively both collaboratively and autonomously in a remote setting.

• Experience designing for both digital platforms (websites, UI) and physical media (print).

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with motion graphics and video editing software such as After Effects, Premiere Pro, or DaVinci Resolve.

• Experience in UI design, complementing brand design expertise.

• A portfolio that showcases creative executions, strong conceptual design, and adept use of typography and layout across digital and physical mediums.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Proficient with a range of AI tools" and "Ability to design finished high-end results as well as fast prototyping, moving quickly between the two" suggests a need for operational agility in design. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they manage their workflow to accommodate both detailed execution and rapid iteration, especially with AI-assisted workflows.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong understanding of brand strategy and visual identity development.

• Case studies showcasing the evolution and execution of design systems, highlighting process, problem-solving, and final outcomes.

• Examples of high-end design executions for both digital and print mediums, illustrating mastery of typography, layout, and visual hierarchy.

• Demonstrations of how AI tools were integrated into the design process to achieve unique creative results or improve efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Detailed explanations of your design process, from initial brief interpretation and concept development to final execution and implementation.

• Documentation of how you have managed and iterated on existing design systems, including any process improvements or system expansions you've implemented.

• Examples of how you have collaborated with developers to bring designs to life, highlighting communication protocols and feedback loops.

• Case studies that quantify the impact of your design work, where possible, on brand perception, user engagement, or campaign success.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Brand Designer role involving AI and design systems, the portfolio should not only showcase aesthetic quality but also demonstrate process rigor. This includes how they conceptualize, build, and maintain systems, and how they operationalize the use of new technologies like AI within their workflow.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $180,000 - $230,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary and equity package.

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.

• Generous paid time off (PTO) and holidays.

• Remote work stipend for home office setup.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning in AI and design.

• Access to cutting-edge AI tools and technologies.

• Collaborative and innovative work environment.

• Potential for involvement in groundbreaking AI research and product development.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, with flexibility for remote work across North America. Emphasis is placed on results and project completion rather than strict adherence to traditional office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for candidates in the U.S. For candidates outside the U.S., the range may differ and will be communicated during the application process. The company emphasizes pay equity and considers various factors for salary determination, including experience, skill level, and internal equity.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Creative Tools, Simulation. Runway is at the forefront of developing AI for world simulation, merging art and science to create models that experience and learn from the world. This innovative space demands a culture that embraces rapid advancement and cross-disciplinary thinking.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, Runway is a growing technology company with offices in NYC, San Francisco, and Seattle, and a significant remote workforce. This suggests a dynamic, potentially fast-paced environment where processes and communication are critical for scalability.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but Runway is known for its cutting-edge research and product releases, indicating a relatively young but rapidly evolving company.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within a creative department, reporting to a Head of Creative.

• Collaboration is expected across various departments, including engineering, product, marketing, and research, given the nature of developing AI world models.

Methodology:

• Embraces a "build impossible things" mentality, pushing the boundaries of AI and simulation.

• Integrates AI tools directly into creative workflows, reflecting a forward-thinking and experimental approach to design.

• Values a blend of scientific rigor and artistic expression in its product development.

• Operates with a focus on continuous learning and adaptation to the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Company Website: https://runwayml.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission to "simulate the world through merging art and science" implies a culture that values both technical innovation and creative expression. For a Senior Brand Designer, understanding how to translate this complex mission into accessible and compelling visual narratives will be key. The operational aspect lies in how this unique culture is maintained and communicated through design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Brand Designer, indicating a mid-to-senior level position with significant autonomy and responsibility. It requires not only execution but also the ability to evolve and shape design systems and strategies.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Brand Designer will work alongside the Head of Creative, suggesting a direct reporting relationship or close collaboration within the creative leadership.

Operations Impact: The Senior Brand Designer's work will directly impact how Runway's brand is perceived by a global audience, including potential users, investors, and talent. This involves translating complex AI concepts into clear, compelling visual communications that drive brand recognition, user adoption, and market positioning. The operational efficiency of their design output will also influence the speed and effectiveness of marketing campaigns and product launches.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in AI-driven creative tools and their application in branding, potentially becoming a thought leader in this emerging space.

• Leadership Potential: Grow into a Design Lead or Art Director role, managing a team of designers and shaping the strategic direction of Runway's brand.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain exposure to cutting-edge AI research and product development, enabling a unique understanding of technology that can inform future design strategies.

• System Ownership: Take ownership of evolving and scaling design systems, contributing to the long-term operational framework of the brand's visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title implies expectations for strategic thinking and process ownership. Candidates should highlight instances where they have improved design workflows, implemented scalable systems, or mentored junior designers, showcasing their operational readiness for this level of responsibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While Runway has physical offices in NYC, San Francisco, and Seattle, this role is fully remote, offering flexibility and autonomy. The company culture emphasizes collaboration and ambition, suggesting that remote interactions are designed to be engaging and productive.

Office Location(s): NYC, San Francisco, Seattle. Remote hiring is open across North America.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: The environment is built for effective remote collaboration, likely utilizing a suite of digital tools for communication, project management, and design sharing.

• Technology Integration: A core aspect of the work environment is the integration of advanced AI tools into daily creative processes, providing designers with powerful new capabilities.

• Cross-functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with engineers, researchers, and product managers, fostering a dynamic and intellectually stimulating exchange of ideas.

Work Schedule: Full-time with flexibility. The focus is on achieving project goals and maintaining high creative standards, allowing for adaptable work schedules within the North American remote framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a remote role, demonstrating an understanding of effective remote collaboration tools and practices is crucial. Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they maintain productivity, communicate effectively, and integrate into a remote team culture.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of application materials, focusing on resume and portfolio alignment with the role requirements, particularly experience with brand design, AI tools, and system development.

• Portfolio Review: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio with the Head of Creative or a senior design lead. Expect to discuss specific projects, your design process, conceptual thinking, and how you've managed design systems and AI integrations.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: Potentially a practical exercise or case study to assess design skills, conceptual thinking, and problem-solving abilities, possibly incorporating AI tool usage or design system considerations.

• Cross-functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders (e.g., engineering, marketing) to assess collaboration, communication, and cultural fit within the broader team.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to confirm overall fit and alignment with Runway's mission and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience with brand identity, design systems, AI integration, and your ability to execute both high-end and rapid designs.

• Narrate Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools and AI used, your decision-making rationale, and the outcomes. Emphasize operational aspects like how you managed complexity or scaled solutions.

• Showcase AI Integration: Highlight specific examples where you've effectively used AI tools to enhance creative output, develop concepts, or improve workflow efficiency.

• Demonstrate System Thinking: Include examples of how you've built, maintained, or evolved design systems, explaining their structure and impact.

• Tailor to Runway: Research Runway's current brand and products. Consider how your work aligns with their mission of merging art and science through AI.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Runway's Vision: Be ready to discuss how design can support Runway's mission of building AI for world simulation.

• AI Tool Fluency: Be prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools and how you foresee their role in future brand design.

• System Design Thinking: Practice articulating how you would approach building or evolving a design system for a company like Runway, considering scalability and integration with AI.

• Remote Collaboration: Think about how you would communicate and collaborate effectively on design projects in a remote setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely probe for operational discipline in design. Candidates should be ready to discuss how they manage their time, prioritize tasks, document their work, and ensure consistency and scalability of their design outputs, especially when leveraging new technologies like AI.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Figma, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator (high proficiency required).

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing (Preferred): After Effects, Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve.

• AI Creative Tools: Proficiency with a range of AI tools is essential; specific tools may vary but expect to discuss experience with AI image generators, text-to-video tools, or other AI-powered creative applications relevant to visual design.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly stated for this role, understanding how design impacts metrics (e.g., website engagement, conversion rates) is beneficial. Familiarity with web analytics tools could be a plus.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of a Senior Brand Designer, but an understanding of how marketing automation tools integrate with design assets might be advantageous.

Collaboration & Project Management:

• Tools for remote collaboration and project management are implicitly crucial. Candidates should be comfortable with platforms like Slack, Zoom, Google Workspace, and potentially project management software like Asana, Trello, or Jira.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Proficient with a range of AI tools" and the preferred motion graphics software indicates a modern, technology-forward design stack. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their specific experience and comfort level with these tools, and how they leverage them operationally to achieve design goals.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Ambition: A drive to "build impossible things" and push the frontiers of AI and creative technology. This translates to a proactive approach to problem-solving and a willingness to experiment.

• Collaboration & Open-mindedness: Valuing diverse perspectives and fostering an environment where ideas can be freely exchanged across disciplines.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While creative execution is paramount, there's an underlying need to understand how design impacts business objectives and user behavior, suggesting a data-aware approach.

• Efficiency & Scalability: As a growing tech company, there's an implicit value placed on building systems and processes that can scale, ensuring consistency and effectiveness as the company grows.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with engineering, product, and marketing teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate design concepts for diverse audiences.

• Feedback Loops: A culture that likely embraces constructive feedback to refine creative work and improve processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, new techniques (especially with AI), and insights across the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on innovation and ambition suggests a culture that rewards initiative and creative problem-solving. For operations professionals, this means being ready to propose and implement process improvements, not just follow existing ones.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Staying abreast of the latest advancements in AI and creatively integrating them into brand design while maintaining brand integrity.

• Balancing Innovation with Consistency: Effectively using novel AI tools and techniques while ensuring brand consistency and high-quality execution across all touchpoints.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Maintaining strong team cohesion and effective communication in a fully remote setting.

• Translating Complex Concepts: Communicating Runway's sophisticated AI research and world simulation concepts through accessible and compelling visual design.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Gaining deep expertise in cutting-edge AI creative tools and their strategic application in branding.

• Design System Evolution: Contributing to and leading the development of scalable and robust design systems for a rapidly growing tech company.

• Industry Exposure: Working at the intersection of AI, art, and science, providing unique insights and learning opportunities in a groundbreaking field.

• Mentorship: Potential to mentor junior designers and contribute to the growth of the design team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for adaptability and continuous learning, key operational traits. Candidates should demonstrate how they approach challenges with a proactive and learning-oriented mindset.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving Runway's brand identity using AI-generated assets while maintaining a cohesive and premium feel?" (Focus on process, tool selection, and quality control).

• "Describe a time you developed or significantly contributed to a design system. What were the key operational considerations, and how did you ensure its scalability and adoption?" (Highlight system architecture, documentation, and collaboration for adoption).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see the role of AI evolving in brand design over the next 5 years, and how might Runway leverage these changes?" (Demonstrate forward-thinking and alignment with Runway's mission).

• "Describe your experience working in a remote, collaborative environment. What strategies do you employ to ensure effective communication and team synergy?" (Showcase remote work best practices).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: Organize your portfolio around key themes: Brand Identity, Design Systems, AI Integration, and Digital/Print Execution.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the success of your design projects (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, successful system adoption).

• Showcase the Process: For each key project, clearly outline your design process, highlighting problem-solving, decision-making, and the operational steps you took.

• Articulate AI Usage: Be ready to explain precisely how you used AI tools, the benefits derived, and any challenges encountered and overcome.

• Emphasize System Thinking: Clearly present your contributions to design systems, explaining their structure, components, and how they facilitate efficient and consistent design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for candidates who not only possess strong design skills but also demonstrate operational maturity, process discipline, and a strategic approach to design execution, especially in the context of AI and remote work.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Brand Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Greenhouse link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects showcasing brand identity development, design system creation, and the innovative use of AI tools. Ensure case studies clearly articulate your process, problem-solving, and outcomes.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your experience with Figma, Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, AI tools, and any relevant motion graphics software. Quantify achievements where possible, and highlight experience in remote collaboration and design system management.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to building and maintaining design systems, and your experience with AI creative tools. Prepare specific examples of how you've managed projects and collaborated effectively in a remote setting.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Runway's mission, products, and recent work. Understand their position at the intersection of AI, art, and science, and consider how your design philosophy aligns with their innovative culture.

⚠️ 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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