Senior Marketing Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Marketing Designer

Company: Axon

Location: Seattle, Washington, United States | Boston, MA | Scottsdale, AZ

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-10-01

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5-10 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office required)

🚀 Role Summary

• Shape and execute Axon's brand identity across critical marketing touchpoints, including campaign creative, event environments, and digital content.

• Drive visual storytelling for sales enablement materials, executive presentations, and social media campaigns to influence key stakeholders in government and public safety sectors.

• Develop and oversee visual systems and design languages that ensure brand consistency and impact across diverse formats and channels.

• Leverage cutting-edge AI creative tools to accelerate conceptualization, iteration, and execution, while maintaining high standards of craft and brand integrity.

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Creative Director and cross-functional teams to translate strategic objectives into compelling and effective design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a Marketing Operations framework, focusing on the strategic application of design to achieve business and brand objectives within the public safety technology sector. The emphasis on AI tools and hybrid work model are key differentiators.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute design for brand campaigns, product launches, sales enablement collateral, executive presentations, and social media content.

• Develop scalable visual systems, style frames, and design languages that can be applied across multiple formats and channels, ensuring brand consistency.

• Translate strategic marketing briefs into compelling creative executions that are on-brand, on-message, and visually distinctive, driving engagement and brand perception.

• Bring original creative angles and innovative design solutions to projects, proactively identifying opportunities to enhance brand impact and storytelling.

• Design visual identity and environmental graphics for trade shows, conferences, and live brand activations, including major events like Axon's Accelerate conference and IACP.

• Create booth concepts, signage systems, stage graphics, display materials, and event collateral that deliver a cohesive and impactful brand experience at scale.

• Develop clear and precise design frameworks for fabrication vendors and production partners, ensuring accurate execution of experiential designs.

• Collaborate with internal video and event teams to ensure visual alignment and cohesive brand experience across all touchpoints, from static design to motion and environment.

• Design static elements, style frames, and visual systems to establish creative direction for motion graphics, video, and animation projects.

• Art direct motion designers and video editors to ensure final multimedia outputs reflect the intended design vision and strategic intent.

• Create design assets that translate effectively and clearly across print, digital, and motion formats, maintaining visual integrity.

• Work fluently with AI creative tools such as Adobe Firefly, Higgsfield, and similar platforms as an integral part of the design workflow.

• Utilize AI tools to accelerate concepting, visualization, and iteration cycles, enhancing creative output without compromising design quality or brand standards.

• Stay abreast of advancements in the AI design landscape, proactively identifying and integrating new capabilities and workflows into the creative team's processes.

• Collaborate closely with the Executive Creative Director on creative development, articulate ideas clearly, and incorporate feedback constructively.

• Partner with marketing, product, sales, and communications stakeholders to understand project objectives and deliver design work that supports both brand and business goals.

• Contribute to the development and governance of Axon's visual identity standards, ensuring consistent application across the creative team and broader organization.

• Provide direction to the design team on projects, actively contributing to the skill development and growth of junior designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of traditional graphic design, experiential design, and emerging AI-driven creative processes, emphasizing the strategic contribution of design to marketing and sales objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent experience and expertise is paramount. A Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is often preferred.

Experience: 5 to 7 years of progressive experience as an Art Director or Senior Designer within a brand, agency, or in-house creative environment. This experience should encompass a proven track record in developing and executing integrated marketing campaigns.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with a deep command of Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign for creating high-fidelity assets and complex layouts.

• Deep working knowledge and practical application of AI creative tools, including Adobe Firefly and other AI image and video generation platforms, for concepting and asset creation.

• Strong understanding of environmental and experiential design principles, with the ability to translate 2D designs into impactful 3D physical spaces and event experiences.

• Proven ability to develop comprehensive visual systems and style frames that effectively direct motion graphics, video, and multimedia executions.

• Entrepreneurial creative instincts, characterized by the proactive generation of original ideas and strategic design angles, rather than just executing assigned tasks.

• Demonstrated comfort operating autonomously and taking ownership of projects, as well as working collaboratively under direction, adapting to varying project needs.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to articulate creative rationale clearly, persuasively, and confidently to diverse stakeholders.

• Alignment with Axon's core values: ownership, candor, curiosity, and a commitment to building trust in service of the mission to Protect Life. Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for B2B, government, public safety, or technology brands, understanding the nuances of these sectors.

• Background in large-scale event or trade show design, with a portfolio showcasing successful implementations.

• Familiarity with Figma for collaborative design workflows, prototyping, and efficient design handoff processes.

• Experience art directing photo and video shoots, guiding creative execution from concept to final production.

• Working knowledge of motion design principles and foundational proficiency in After Effects for conceptualizing or guiding motion graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools and environmental/experiential design signifies a forward-thinking approach to marketing design, requiring candidates to be adaptable and skilled in emerging technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a wide range of work, including campaign creative, brand identity development, event and experiential design executions, and digital content.

• Demonstrations of successful application of visual systems and style frames across multiple platforms and formats.

• Case studies detailing the creative process from brief to execution, highlighting problem-solving skills and strategic thinking.

• Examples of environmental design concepts and their translation into physical spaces, illustrating an understanding of scale and impact.

• Evidence of AI tool integration in the design workflow, showcasing efficiency gains or novel creative outcomes. Process Documentation:

• Detailed case studies outlining the strategic brief, design approach, execution process, and measurable outcomes for key projects.

• Documentation of workflow optimization, particularly in relation to the integration of AI tools and cross-functional collaboration.

• Examples of how design systems and brand guidelines were developed and applied to ensure consistency and efficiency across projects.

• Evidence of collaboration with stakeholders, illustrating how feedback was incorporated and how design decisions aligned with business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is crucial for this role, serving as the primary evidence of creative capability, strategic thinking, and proficiency in both traditional and AI-augmented design processes.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $132,566 - $212,106 USD per year. This range reflects the Senior Designer/Art Director level, considering the experience requirements, location, and the specialized skills in AI and experiential design.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary package including base pay, bonus, and stock awards.

• Comprehensive 401k with employer match to support long-term financial planning.

• Discretionary paid time off, offering flexibility for work-life balance.

• Paid parental leave for all new parents, supporting family needs.

• Robust medical, dental, and vision plans to ensure employee health and well-being.

• Fitness Programs and Emotional and Mental Wellness support resources.

• Dedicated Learning and Development programs to foster continuous professional growth.

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to promote a sense of community and belonging.

• On-site office amenities such as snacks, contributing to a positive work environment.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours (estimated 40 hours per week), with a hybrid work model requiring 4 days in-office per week. Mondays are designated as remote workdays, offering some flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is based on the provided pay transparency data for Seattle, WA, and is adjusted for a senior-level, specialized design role. The benefits package is comprehensive, emphasizing employee well-being and professional development.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Technology, Public Safety, Software as a Service (SaaS), Hardware Manufacturing. Axon operates at the intersection of advanced technology and public safety, developing innovative solutions for law enforcement, security, and emergency services. This unique industry context shapes the brand's messaging and design requirements, emphasizing trust, reliability, and societal impact.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (Axon's employee count falls into this category, indicating a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for significant impact). For operations professionals, this size suggests access to resources, cross-functional collaboration opportunities, and clear career progression paths, while also requiring adaptability within a larger corporate structure.

Founded: Axon was founded in 1993. This history provides a foundation of experience and market presence, allowing the company to build upon a legacy while innovating for the future. The longevity suggests stability and a deep understanding of their market.

Team Structure:

• The Senior Marketing Designer will report to the Executive Creative Director, indicating a senior leadership role within the creative department.

• The role involves close collaboration with marketing, product, sales, and communications teams, highlighting a matrixed organizational structure common in large tech companies.

• The creative studio is described as high-output, suggesting a dynamic and fast-paced team environment where planned campaigns and reactive projects coexist. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on measurable business goals implies that design decisions are informed by data and aimed at achieving specific marketing and sales outcomes.

• Agile Creative Process: The mention of "planned campaigns and reactive projects exist side by side" suggests an agile approach to creative production, requiring speed, flexibility, and efficient workflow management.

• Brand Governance: The responsibility to "contribute to the development and governance of Axon's visual identity standards" indicates a structured approach to brand management and consistency.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Axon's mission to "Protect Life" is central to its culture and brand identity. This mission-driven approach influences the type of work, the expected impact, and the values that guide employees, including designers.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a Senior/Art Director level within the marketing design function. It requires a high degree of creative autonomy, strategic input, and the ability to guide junior team members. The scope extends beyond execution to conceptualization and direction, particularly in motion graphics and environmental design.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Marketing Designer reports directly to the Executive Creative Director, placing them in a key position within the creative leadership hierarchy. This reporting line suggests significant mentorship opportunities and direct exposure to high-level creative strategy.

Operations Impact: The design work directly influences brand perception, campaign effectiveness, sales enablement, and customer engagement across B2B, government, and public safety sectors. Strong design contributes to trust, credibility, and the overall success of Axon's mission-driven initiatives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Potential to move into an Art Director or Creative Lead role, managing projects and potentially teams, with opportunities to direct junior designers.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in emerging areas like AI-augmented design, environmental/experiential design, or motion graphics direction.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain deeper understanding of marketing, product development, and sales strategies through close collaboration with these departments.

• Brand Strategy Contribution: Influence the evolution of Axon's visual identity and brand narrative on a larger scale.

• Industry Recognition: Contribute to award-winning campaigns and designs within the public safety technology sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear path for career advancement within creative leadership and specialization, particularly in areas like AI-driven design and large-scale experiential marketing, aligning with industry trends.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. The role requires 4 days per week in the office (Seattle, Boston, or Scottsdale locations) with Mondays designated as remote workdays. This setup is designed to foster in-person collaboration, mentorship, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): Seattle, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Scottsdale, Arizona. These are major metropolitan areas offering diverse cultural and professional environments.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The emphasis on in-office days suggests a culture that values face-to-face interaction, spontaneous brainstorming, and mentorship.

• Tools & Technology: Access to the full Adobe Creative Suite, AI creative tools (Firefly, etc.), and potentially Figma for collaborative workflows. The environment is expected to be equipped with the necessary technology for high-output creative work.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the Executive Creative Director, other designers, and stakeholders from marketing, product, sales, and communications departments.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule (approximately 40 hours per week) is expected, with the hybrid model providing some flexibility on Mondays. The dynamic nature of marketing campaigns and events may occasionally require flexibility outside of standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model emphasizes the value Axon places on in-person collaboration for creative synergy and team development, while still offering a degree of flexibility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Creative Assessment/Portfolio Review: A deep dive into the candidate's portfolio with the Executive Creative Director and potentially other creative leads. This will involve discussing past projects, design rationale, problem-solving approaches, and the candidate's experience with AI tools and experiential design.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with stakeholders from marketing, product, or sales to assess collaboration skills, understanding of business objectives, and ability to translate strategic briefs into design.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level executive or HR, focusing on cultural fit, alignment with Axon's mission and values, and overall suitability for the senior role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 strong projects that best represent your capabilities in campaign creative, brand identity, experiential design, and AI integration. Prioritize quality over quantity.

• Showcase Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the strategic thinking behind your design decisions, the challenges faced, and the outcomes achieved. Use visuals to illustrate your process (sketches, mood boards, wireframes, style frames).

• Highlight AI Integration: Explicitly demonstrate how you've used AI tools in your workflow, explaining the benefits (e.g., faster ideation, unique visual styles, iterative efficiency) and how you maintained creative control and brand integrity.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs in achieving business objectives (e.g., increased engagement, lead generation, brand recall).

• Tailor to Axon: Research Axon's current branding, recent campaigns, and target audience. Consider how your portfolio demonstrates an understanding of their mission and industry.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design challenge that may involve conceptualizing a campaign element, developing a visual system for an event, or demonstrating your approach to using AI tools for a specific marketing need. Focus on strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and clear communication of your process.

• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your portfolio and any potential challenge work concisely and persuasively. Be ready to answer questions about your design choices, your collaboration style, and your understanding of brand strategy.

• AI Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with AI design tools, their limitations, and your vision for their future role in creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process heavily emphasizes portfolio evaluation and practical application of design skills, particularly in cutting-edge areas like AI and experiential design.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign. These are foundational for creating high-quality marketing collateral, campaign assets, and brand materials.

• AI Creative Tools: Deep working knowledge of Adobe Firefly, Higgsfield, and similar AI platforms is essential. These tools are integral to the role for concepting, visualization, and iteration.

• Figma: Preferred for collaborative design, prototyping, and efficient handoff workflows, indicating a move towards more integrated design systems and team collaboration tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, an understanding of how design impacts marketing analytics (e.g., A/B testing results for ad creatives, engagement metrics for social content) is beneficial. Familiarity with tools that track campaign performance may be an advantage. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are listed, but an understanding of how design assets are used within marketing automation platforms or sales enablement tools (e.g., for email campaigns, presentations) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI creative tools and Figma indicates a modern and forward-thinking technology stack, requiring candidates to be proficient in emerging design software and collaborative platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for projects from concept to completion, driving initiatives forward with a proactive mindset.

• Candor: Open and honest communication, providing constructive feedback and transparently sharing ideas and concerns.

• Curiosity: A drive to explore new ideas, technologies (like AI), and approaches to design challenges, fostering innovation.

• Protect Life: A deep commitment to Axon's mission, understanding how design contributes to building trust and supporting public safety. This value permeates decision-making and project prioritization.

• Building Trust: Creating designs that are credible, reliable, and resonate with the target audience, reinforcing Axon's reputation.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Working closely with marketing, product, sales, and communications teams to ensure design aligns with broader business and brand objectives.

• Mentorship & Guidance: Directing and developing junior designers, fostering a collaborative learning environment within the creative team.

• Feedback-Driven: Openness to receiving and incorporating feedback from the Executive Creative Director and stakeholders to refine creative output.

• Shared Success: A collective approach to achieving project goals and contributing to the company's overall mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: Axon's core values are deeply integrated into its culture, emphasizing a mission-driven, collaborative, and accountable work environment where design plays a strategic role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Speed and Craft: Working in a high-output studio environment requires delivering quality creative work quickly, necessitating efficient workflows and strong prioritization skills.

• Integrating AI Seamlessly: Effectively incorporating AI tools into the design process without compromising creative integrity or brand standards, and staying ahead of rapid AI advancements.

• Directing Complex Projects: Guiding motion graphics and environmental design executions requires strong conceptual skills and the ability to articulate vision clearly to specialized teams or vendors.

• Navigating Diverse Stakeholders: Collaborating effectively with various departments (marketing, sales, product) to meet diverse project objectives while maintaining brand consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Design Mastery: Opportunities to become a leading expert in AI-augmented design within the public safety technology sector.

• Experiential Design Expertise: Developing deeper skills in designing for large-scale events and physical environments.

• Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a more formal leadership role, managing projects and mentoring junior talent.

• Industry Insights: Gaining a deep understanding of the public safety and government technology markets through design exposure.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Exposure to product development, marketing strategy, and sales enablement processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to tackle complex creative challenges at the intersection of technology, design, and mission, with significant potential for professional growth in emerging creative fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a tight deadline with maintaining high creative quality. How did you approach it?" (Focus on prioritization, efficiency, and workflow management.)

• "How do you see AI tools like Adobe Firefly evolving the role of a Senior Marketing Designer? Can you provide an example of how you've used AI to solve a creative problem?" (Highlight your practical experience with AI, your strategic thinking about its application, and your ability to maintain craft.)

• "Walk us through a complex brand campaign or event design project from your portfolio. What was the brief, your strategic approach, and the outcome?" (Prepare a concise, compelling narrative that showcases your process, creative rationale, and impact.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to Axon's mission to 'Protect Life,' and how do you see design contributing to that mission?" (Demonstrate research into Axon's values and mission, and connect your design philosophy to it.)

• "How would you approach collaborating with our sales team to create compelling enablement materials?" (Showcase your understanding of B2B/government sales cycles and how design supports them.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment. What are the benefits and challenges, and how do you ensure productivity and collaboration?" (Align with Axon's hybrid model and emphasize your ability to thrive in such an environment.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each portfolio piece, clearly state the problem, your solution (design), and the result (impact). Use strong visuals and minimal text.

• Emphasize Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially if it was a team project.

• Showcase AI Integration: Dedicate a section or specific examples to demonstrating your proficiency and strategic use of AI creative tools, detailing the benefits and outcomes.

• Articulate Design Rationale: Be prepared to defend your design choices with strategic reasoning, connecting them back to the brief and business objectives.

• Practice Presentation Flow: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's within the allotted time, engaging, and flows logically. Be ready for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic design thinking, practical application of AI tools, and strong communication skills, all within the context of Axon's mission and industry.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in campaign creative, brand identity, experiential design, and AI-augmented workflows. Ensure each project clearly articulates the brief, your strategic approach, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 5-7 years of relevant experience as an Art Director or Senior Designer. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Adobe Creative Suite," "AI creative tools," "environmental design," and "campaign creative." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with the Executive Creative Director and other stakeholders in mind. Be ready to articulate your design rationale, discuss your process, and showcase your experience with AI tools and their impact.

• Research Axon: Thoroughly research Axon's mission, values, recent campaigns, and target audience. Understand their position in the public safety technology market and how your design skills can contribute to their goals.

⚠️ 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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