Senior Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Visual Designer

Company: Skyscanner

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: August 11, 2026

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive the visual identity and creative execution for a global travel brand, influencing how Skyscanner appears across diverse digital and physical touchpoints.

• Conceptualize and craft distinctive, engaging creative assets for campaigns, social media, OOH, and experiential marketing, ensuring brand consistency and impact.

• Collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary Brand Studio team, translating high-level concepts into beautifully executed final work.

• Contribute to the evolution of Skyscanner's global visual expression, balancing established design principles with emerging trends in design, technology, and culture.

• Utilize a combination of exceptional visual craft, conceptual thinking, and hands-on design skills to elevate brand presence and user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Senior Visual Designer," the responsibilities and required experience (7+ years) suggest a role that blends hands-on design execution with strategic brand input, often seen in senior-level design positions within a Brand Studio. The emphasis on "shaping our visual expression" and "concepting campaigns" points to a role with significant creative ownership and influence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and craft distinctive, engaging creative assets across digital, social media (TikTok, Instagram), YouTube, Out-of-Home (OOH), and experiential channels, ensuring Skyscanner stands out.

• Translate initial concepts and scribbles into meticulously executed final designs, leveraging and evolving the existing Visual Design System.

• Actively contribute to the refinement and global evolution of Skyscanner's visual identity, balancing timeless design principles with contemporary creative trends.

• Collaborate with the Brand Studio team and cross-functional partners to develop global campaigns and projects that resonate across diverse markets and platforms.

• Maintain an exceptional eye for detail in all aspects of design execution, including art direction, typography, layout, and final polish, recognizing the impact of nuanced details.

• Mentor and guide junior designers and team members, fostering a collaborative environment focused on continuous improvement and shared learning.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and cultural shifts to inform creative strategies and ensure Skyscanner's visual expression remains relevant and innovative.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description highlights a blend of strategic contribution ("shaping our visual expression," "concepting campaigns") and hands-on execution ("getting stuck into the design yourself," "sweating the right details"). This implies a need for a designer who can not only ideate but also execute at a high level, demonstrating a strong command of design craft.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio demonstrating equivalent practical experience and mastery of design principles is paramount.

Experience: A minimum of 7 years of client-side or agency experience in visual design, with a proven track record of delivering original and impactful creative work.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional visual craft and a sophisticated eye for detail.

• Strong conceptual thinking and the ability to translate abstract ideas into compelling visual narratives.

• Proven ability to art direct, manage typography, and excel in layout design.

• Proficiency in core design software: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Figma.

• Experience with or a strong understanding of current AI tools in the creative process.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within a creative team environment.

• Strong organizational and prioritization skills, managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to problem-solving and task completion. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with After Effects for motion graphics and animation.

• Familiarity with or experience in evolving a Visual Design System.

• Experience in developing global marketing campaigns.

• A deep curiosity for culture, emerging trends, and the future of visual creativity.

• Prior experience in the travel industry or a related consumer-facing sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 7 years of experience, combined with the blend of conceptual and hands-on responsibilities, indicates a need for a designer who can operate independently and lead creative output on significant projects, potentially taking on informal leadership or mentorship roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a breadth of work demonstrating conceptual strength and exceptional visual execution across various media (digital, social, OOH).

• Highlight projects where you've contributed to or evolved a brand's visual identity and expression.

• Include case studies that detail your process from initial concept through to final execution, emphasizing problem-solving and strategic thinking.

• Present examples of collaboration and how you've worked with teams to bring ideas to fruition.

• Demonstrate mastery of design tools such as Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma. Process Documentation:

• Articulate your approach to conceptualizing and developing creative campaigns, detailing the steps from brief to final delivery.

• Explain how you integrate and adapt existing Visual Design Systems while also knowing when to push creative boundaries.

• Showcase your methods for ensuring meticulous attention to detail in layout, typography, and art direction.

• Describe your process for collaborating with stakeholders and incorporating feedback to refine creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the emphasis on "bringing big ideas to life" and "shaping our visual expression," a portfolio that clearly illustrates the candidate's end-to-end creative process, from ideation to execution and iteration, will be crucial. Highlighting how they've applied or evolved design systems will also be a key differentiator.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Senior Visual Designers with 7+ years of experience in London, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £55,000 - £75,000 per annum. This range accounts for the hybrid work model, the seniority of the role, and the dynamic nature of the creative industry in a major metropolitan hub.

Benefits:

• Hybrid working policy: Offering flexibility with a balance of in-office collaboration and remote work (office attendance twice a week).

• Generous Parental Leave policies (e.g., a minimum of 24 weeks maternity/birth parent leave globally).

• Opportunities for professional development and continuous learning.

• Access to a global brand with significant reach and impact in the travel industry.

• Collaborative and creative work environment within a world-class Brand Studio.

• Potential for international travel and exposure to different markets.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours are expected, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility often accommodated within the hybrid model. Specific daily hours can be discussed.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on data from reputable UK job boards and salary comparison sites for similar Senior Visual Designer roles in London, factoring in the specified experience level and the company's standing. Benefits are directly extracted from the job description, with additional standard benefits for such roles inferred.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Online Travel Agency (OTA) and Technology. Skyscanner operates in a highly competitive global travel market, leveraging technology to simplify travel planning for millions of users. This context means the Brand Studio must create compelling narratives that cut through the noise and resonate with a diverse, global audience planning significant life events (travel).

Company Size: Skyscanner is a well-established global brand, employing a significant number of people across various functions. This size implies structured processes, cross-functional departments, and opportunities for impact on a large scale, while still retaining a human-centric culture.

Founded: Founded in 2003, Skyscanner has a long history in the travel tech space, evolving from a flight comparison tool to a comprehensive travel planning platform. This longevity suggests a company that values innovation, adaptability, and sustained growth, likely fostering a culture that supports creative problem-solving and forward-thinking initiatives.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the Brand Studio, described as a "merry band of Creative Directors, Designers, Copywriters, Motion Designers and Design Ops specialists." This indicates a collaborative, integrated creative function.

• The team is likely structured around creative disciplines and project needs, with opportunities to work closely with leadership (Creative Directors) and specialized roles (Design Ops).

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, working with partners "across the business" to develop global campaigns. Methodology:

• Emphasis on "big-picture conceptual thinking" combined with "exceptional visual craft."

• A commitment to creating work that is "distinctive, engaging, and original."

• Use of a "Visual Design System" while encouraging innovation and pushing boundaries.

• A focus on data-informed creativity, implied by the need to understand user behavior and market trends.

• A strong belief in the power of travel to "make the world better" and a commitment to diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Company Website: https://www.skyscanner.net/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's mission and values, particularly around making travel easier and more accessible, should inform the visual design approach. The Brand Studio's composition suggests a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment where visual designers work in concert with other creative professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Visual Designer role, indicating a position of significant experience and capability. Professionals at this level are expected to lead creative execution, contribute to strategic brand direction, and potentially mentor junior team members. They are seen as key contributors who can independently drive high-quality creative output.

Reporting Structure: The Senior Visual Designer will report into the Brand Studio, likely within a creative leadership structure led by Creative Directors. They will collaborate with peers in copywriting, motion design, and design operations, as well as external partners.

Operations Impact: The visual design output directly influences brand perception, customer engagement, and campaign effectiveness across all Skyscanner touchpoints. This role is critical in shaping how millions of travelers interact with and perceive the Skyscanner brand, directly impacting user acquisition, retention, and overall brand equity.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas like art direction for digital campaigns, social media creative strategy, or OOH design.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Progress towards Art Director or Creative Director roles, taking on more strategic leadership and team management responsibilities.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Gain experience working on broader marketing initiatives or collaborating with product design teams, understanding the full customer journey.

• Continuous Learning: Stay at the forefront of design trends, AI tools, and creative technologies through company-supported training and industry engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Senior" title and the emphasis on shaping brand expression suggest a pathway towards more strategic creative leadership. The role's position within a dedicated Brand Studio also provides opportunities to learn from and collaborate with senior creative talent.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is hybrid, requiring 2 days per week in the office. This suggests a modern office environment designed to foster collaboration, ideation, and team cohesion.

Office Location(s): London (alongside Barcelona and Edinburgh). The London office likely offers a dynamic urban workspace, providing easy access for employees and opportunities for networking and inspiration within the city's creative landscape.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is expected to facilitate in-person brainstorming sessions, critiques, and team meetings, enhancing creative synergy.

• Access to Tools: Employees will have access to the necessary hardware, software, and potentially specialized equipment required for high-level visual design work.

• Inspiration & Culture: The London office will be a hub for connecting with colleagues, experiencing the company culture firsthand, and drawing inspiration from the surrounding creative ecosystem.

Work Schedule: While full-time, the hybrid model allows for flexibility in managing personal schedules, balancing in-office collaboration with remote focus work. This setup supports work-life integration, a key aspect for creative professionals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model is a significant aspect of the work environment, suggesting that the company values both focused individual work and collaborative team interaction. Candidates should consider how they best thrive in such a blended setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A session where candidates present their portfolio, discussing their creative process, strategic thinking, and execution for key projects. Expect questions about their role in each project, challenges faced, and how they achieved specific outcomes.

• Creative Challenge/Task: Potentially a short, timed creative exercise or a take-home brief designed to assess conceptual thinking, visual execution, and problem-solving skills relevant to Skyscanner's brand.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with Creative Directors, fellow designers, and potentially marketing or product stakeholders to evaluate collaboration style, cultural fit, and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase conceptual thinking, visual craft, and campaign development. Prioritize work that aligns with the travel industry or consumer-facing brands.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly articulate your specific contributions, especially in collaborative projects. Use "I" statements for your individual work and "We" for team efforts, clarifying ownership.

• Showcase Process: For each project, walk through your thought process, from understanding the brief and initial ideation to research, concept development, execution, and refinement. Demonstrate how you solved problems and made creative decisions.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., engagement rates, brand recognition improvements, campaign success).

• Tool Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your expertise with Photoshop, Illustrator, Figma, and any AI tools used.

• Brand Alignment: Show an understanding of brand consistency and how your work contributes to a larger visual identity, referencing Skyscanner's existing brand where appropriate.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Skyscanner: Research Skyscanner's current brand, marketing campaigns, social media presence, and target audience. Identify their brand voice and visual style.

• Practice Conceptualization: Be ready to brainstorm ideas quickly for hypothetical Skyscanner campaigns or design challenges. Focus on originality and relevance.

• Articulate Strategy: Be prepared to explain the "why" behind your creative choices, linking them back to objectives and brand strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio packed with "beautifully crafted, original work" suggests that the review will be highly focused on quality of execution and creative innovation. Candidates should be prepared to defend their creative decisions and demonstrate a deep understanding of visual communication principles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency in Photoshop and Illustrator is essential for image manipulation, vector graphics, and illustration.

• Figma: A critical tool for UI/UX design, prototyping, and collaborative design workflows, especially for digital assets and campaign mockups.

• AI Tools: Familiarity and comfort with leveraging the latest AI tools in the creative process (e.g., for ideation, asset generation, enhancement) is a requirement.

Analytics & Reporting: While not primary design tools, an understanding of how visual assets perform based on analytics (e.g., A/B testing results, engagement metrics on social media) will inform design decisions. Familiarity with tools that provide such insights is beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this role, but an awareness of how visual assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems might be helpful for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma, along with "latest AI tools," highlights the core technical requirements. Experience with After Effects is a strong plus, indicating a potential need for motion graphics capabilities within the team's output.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Curiosity: A genuine interest in exploring new creative avenues, understanding user behavior, and staying ahead of design trends.

• Care: A human-centric approach to design, aiming to create work that is accessible, inclusive, and genuinely helpful to travelers.

• Collaboration: A strong belief in teamwork, open communication, and leveraging the collective intelligence of the Brand Studio and wider business.

• Craftsmanship: A commitment to excellence, meticulous attention to detail, and a drive to produce high-quality, impactful creative work.

• Innovation: A willingness to experiment, push boundaries, and find novel ways to express the Skyscanner brand.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: Working closely with Creative Directors, Copywriters, Motion Designers, and Design Ops specialists within the Brand Studio.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Collaborating effectively with marketing, product, and other business units to ensure campaigns are aligned with broader company objectives.

• Feedback-Driven: An open and constructive approach to giving and receiving feedback, fostering continuous improvement and creative evolution.

• Knowledge Sharing: Actively participating in sharing insights, techniques, and best practices within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Skyscanner emphasizes being the "real deal" with "no corporate gloss," suggesting a culture that values authenticity, transparency, and genuine human connection. The commitment to diversity and inclusion is also a core value that should permeate the design approach.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Brand Evolution: Balancing the need to maintain a consistent and recognizable global brand identity with the imperative to innovate and adapt to evolving design trends and cultural shifts.

• Global Consistency vs. Local Relevance: Creating campaigns and assets that are globally cohesive yet adaptable to resonate effectively across diverse international markets and platforms.

• Rapid Pace of Digital: Keeping pace with the ever-changing landscape of digital platforms, social media trends, and emerging creative technologies (like AI).

• High Volume & Ambition: Meeting the demands of ambitious briefs and healthy budgets for a global brand, requiring efficient workflow and high-quality output.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Skill Enhancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like advanced digital art direction, motion graphics, or AI-driven creative workflows.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend industry conferences, workshops, or events to stay current with creative best practices and network with peers.

• Mentorship: Benefit from guidance from experienced Creative Directors and senior team members within the Brand Studio, fostering career progression.

• Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Gain exposure to different creative disciplines within the Brand Studio, broadening understanding of integrated marketing communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an opportunity to work on high-impact projects for a globally recognized brand, tackling the challenge of maintaining creative relevance in a fast-paced digital environment. The company's commitment to innovation and growth suggests ample avenues for professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a global brand's visual identity with the need to adapt creative for a specific market or platform. How did you approach it?" (Focus on strategic adaptation, research, and execution).

• "How do you approach conceptualizing a new campaign for a brand like Skyscanner? Walk us through your process from brief to initial concepts." (Highlight ideation techniques, research methods, and creative strategy).

• "How do you ensure your visual designs are not only aesthetically compelling but also achieve specific business or user engagement objectives?" (Emphasize data awareness, user-centricity, and impact measurement). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Skyscanner's mission and how do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Connect your passion for travel/simplifying planning with the company's purpose).

• "How do you typically collaborate with copywriters, motion designers, or other creative professionals? Describe a successful collaborative project." (Showcase teamwork, communication, and integration skills).

• "Skyscanner values curiosity and care. How do these values manifest in your design process?" (Provide specific examples of how you explore new ideas and consider the user experience). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your presentation logically, guiding the interviewer through your journey on each project. Start with the challenge, move to your solution and process, and conclude with the outcome.

• Visual Emphasis: Let your work speak for itself, but be prepared to articulate the strategic and creative rationale behind key design decisions. Use visuals to support your points.

• Tool Demonstration: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator, and any AI tools used, perhaps even showing snippets of your working files if appropriate.

• Conciseness: Respect the interviewer's time. Aim for a clear, impactful presentation that covers your strongest work without excessive detail. Focus on quality over quantity.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of creative talent, strategic thinking, and collaborative spirit. Be prepared to discuss not just what you designed, but why and how, and how your work aligns with Skyscanner's brand and user focus.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Skyscanner careers portal via the provided link.

• Curate and tailor your portfolio: Select projects that best demonstrate your conceptual abilities, visual craft, and experience with digital and campaign design. Ensure it highlights your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and Figma, and ideally includes examples of AI tool application.

• Optimize your resume: Highlight your 7+ years of relevant experience, specific skills (art direction, typography, layout, conceptual thinking), and any experience in the travel industry or with global brands. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through 3-5 key projects, articulating your process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your role in team efforts and your approach to collaboration.

• Research Skyscanner: Understand their brand, mission, target audience, and recent marketing activities. Familiarize yourself with their current visual identity and consider how you can contribute to its evolution.

⚠️ 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.