Social Graphic Designer

Ancient + Brave
Full-timeLewes, United Kingdom

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Social Graphic Designer

Company: Ancient + Brave

Location: Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: July 29, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

  • Design high-volume, performance-driven static and motion graphic assets specifically for paid social media channels, with an initial focus on Meta and future expansion to TikTok.

  • Collaborate closely with the Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor to create iterative creative variants based on performance data and A/B testing insights.

  • Maintain and elevate the Ancient + Brave brand identity across all creative outputs, ensuring visual consistency and integrity even within a high-paced performance marketing environment.

  • Leverage AI tools to enhance creative speed and quality, while partnering with Art Directors to uphold brand standards and meticulous craftsmanship.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a "performance motivated" framework, indicating a strong emphasis on measurable results and data-driven creative decisions. While the title is "Social Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and context strongly align with a specialized role within Marketing Operations or Creative Operations, focusing on the execution and optimization of paid media creative. The high volume requirement suggests a need for efficient workflows and strong templating skills.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Design for Performance Channels: Conceptualize and execute static graphics, carousels, stories, and motion assets tailored for paid social platforms (Meta, TikTok), ensuring platform-specific best practices are applied.

  • Creative Iteration & Testing: Develop multiple creative routes for single concepts and build out structured variants for testing plans, focusing on hooks, offers, aspect ratios, and audience segmentation.

  • Data-Informed Design: Analyze winning creative elements to inform the design of subsequent iterations, actively contributing to the optimization of paid social campaigns based on performance metrics.

  • Asset Refresh & Maintenance: Quickly rework and refresh live creative assets to adapt to evolving performance trends and market dynamics.

  • Brand Consistency at Scale: Ensure all creative output is recognizably Ancient + Brave while pushing the boundaries of brand expression within a performance context.

  • Template & Library Development: Build and maintain design templates, master files, and component libraries to maximize efficiency and ensure speed compounds over time.

  • AI Tool Integration: Strategically utilize AI tools to accelerate creative processes and enhance output quality, maintaining brand integrity under guidance.

  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with the Performance Creative Strategist for briefing and review, work in tandem with the Social Video Editor to ensure cohesive static and motion content, and take direction from the Creative Director and Art Director on craft and brand.

  • Market Adaptation: Develop creative assets for various Ancient + Brave markets, adapting core brand elements for different seasons, buying occasions, and cultural needs as required by briefs.

  • Support Wider Design Team: Assist the broader design team with brand assets, packaging, and campaign work when capacity allows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a dual focus on creative execution and performance optimization. The emphasis on "designing with the numbers in mind" and "reworking and refreshing live assets quickly" highlights the dynamic nature of paid social creative and the expectation for rapid, data-informed adjustments. The "work as a pod" aspect underscores the collaborative environment and the importance of seamless integration with strategy and video editing functions.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Marketing, or a related field is expected.

Experience: Proven experience designing for paid social at volume, either in-house or agency-side, is essential. A minimum of 2-5 years of relevant professional experience is anticipated.

Required Skills:

  • Paid Social Design Expertise: Demonstrated success in creating high-volume static and motion assets for paid social channels (Meta, TikTok).

  • Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

  • Motion Graphics Skills: Strong proficiency in Adobe After Effects for creating dynamic motion assets.

  • Figma Expertise: Comfortable and skilled in using Figma for design and collaboration.

  • Performance Marketing Acumen: Deep understanding of what drives creative performance on social platforms, including hooks, hierarchy, branding, and audience targeting.

  • AI Tool Familiarity: Enthusiastic and adept at leveraging AI tools for creative enhancement and efficiency.

  • Testing Plan Execution: Experience and comfort working with structured testing plans and producing creative variants.

  • DTC Brand Experience: Prior experience with Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands, ideally within the wellness, beauty, supplements, or food and drink sectors.

  • High Standards & Precision: Ability to maintain high standards and meticulousness despite high volume and fast-paced work.

  • Results-Oriented Mindset: Motivation to understand asset performance and use insights to improve future work.

  • Channel Focus: Expertise and dedication to mastering social media design channels.

  • Teamwork & Collaboration: A true team player with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

  • Organizational Skills: Meticulous attention to detail in file naming, structure, and project organization.

Preferred Skills:

  • Video Editing Ability: Basic video editing skills are beneficial for cross-functional collaboration.

  • Art Direction Partnership: Experience working closely with Art Directors to maintain brand integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "performance motivated designer" and understanding "what makes creative perform on Meta" indicates that candidates will be evaluated not just on aesthetic quality but on their ability to translate creative concepts into measurable marketing results. The requirement for AI tool familiarity is a forward-looking aspect, signaling the company's embrace of emerging technologies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Paid Social Focus: A strong portfolio showcasing a significant volume of static and motion assets specifically designed for paid social media campaigns.

  • Performance-Driven Examples: Case studies or examples demonstrating how your designs have contributed to campaign performance, ideally with quantifiable results.

  • Variant Design: Examples of how you have taken a single concept and developed multiple variations for A/B testing or audience segmentation.

  • Brand Adaptability: Demonstrations of your ability to maintain brand consistency while adapting creative for performance contexts.

  • Tool Proficiency: Visual evidence or descriptions of your work created using Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects) and Figma.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Design: Ability to articulate your design process from brief to final asset, highlighting efficiency and collaboration steps.

  • Templating & File Management: Evidence of organized file structures, template creation, and component library development that supports high-volume output.

  • Performance Analysis Integration: Examples of how you incorporate performance feedback into your design iterations and workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just showcasing aesthetic talent; it must prove the candidate's ability to design for performance, work at scale, and integrate with a data-driven marketing strategy. Demonstrating an understanding of A/B testing and iterative design within the portfolio will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Mid-Level Graphic Designer with specialized paid social experience in the UK, particularly in the East Sussex region, a competitive salary range is estimated to be between £30,000 - £45,000 per annum. This estimate considers the company's rapid growth, B Corp status, and the specialized nature of performance-driven creative.

Benefits:

  • Discretionary Bonus: Performance-based bonus tied to company and individual contributions.

  • Private Medical Insurance: Comprehensive coverage for swift access to high-quality healthcare.

  • Medicash Plan: Includes specialist consultations, 24/7 Virtual GP, health screenings, dental, optical, complementary therapies, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

  • Generous Holiday Allowance: 25 days annual holiday plus bank holidays.

  • Wellbeing Day: An additional day off for personal wellbeing.

  • ESG Pension Contributions: Ethical investment options for pension funds.

  • Mintago Platform: Access to financial wellbeing advice, retail discounts, and salary sacrifice schemes (childcare, cycle to work, gym, groceries, EV, tech).

  • Continuous Training & Professional Development: Opportunities for skill advancement and learning.

  • Wellness Sessions: Complimentary nutrition and meditation sessions in the office.

  • Product Perks: Limitless supply of Ancient + Brave products in the office kitchen and a 50% discount on personal purchases.

  • Social Events: Two company-wide social events per year.

  • Workstation Equipment: Provision of suitable laptop computers, headphones, monitors, ergonomic chairs, and sitting/standing desks.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with an expectation of on-site presence at the Lewes HQ. While the company is open to discussing part-time arrangements where appropriate for certain roles, this specific position is advertised as full-time and requires in-office attendance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is derived from general UK market data for graphic designers, adjusted for location and the specialized skills required. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the focus on wellbeing, financial health, and sustainability (ESG pension), reflects Ancient + Brave's commitment to its employees and aligns with its mission-driven ethos. The mention of "discretionary bonus" and "annual salary review" indicates opportunities for financial growth beyond base pay.


🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Wellness, Supplements, Health & Nutrition. Ancient + Brave is a fast-growing, mission-driven brand operating in a competitive direct-to-consumer (DTC) market. Their success is built on a foundation of "ancient wisdom and validated by science."

Company Size: A rapidly scaling company, indicated by its consistent recognition in "The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies" and the "Oresa Retail Growth Index." This suggests a dynamic, evolving environment with opportunities for impact but also a need for agility and adaptability.

Founded: The founding date is not explicitly stated, but its rapid growth suggests a relatively established yet still agile operation. The company is female-founded, highlighting a commitment to diverse leadership.

Team Structure:

  • Performance Pod: The role is part of a "pod" structure, specifically working with the Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor. This indicates a highly collaborative, integrated team focused on driving measurable results.

  • Creative Leadership: The designer will report to and take direction from the Creative Director and Art Director, ensuring alignment with overarching brand and craft standards.

  • Cross-Functional Integration: The role involves close collaboration with marketing, strategy, and potentially wider design teams, requiring strong communication and partnership skills.

Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decisions: A core tenet is designing "with the numbers in mind," implying a strong reliance on analytics and performance metrics to guide creative strategy and iteration.

  • Agile Creative Development: The emphasis on high volume, rapid turnarounds, and continuous asset refreshing points to an agile approach to creative production, akin to a lean marketing operation.

  • Brand Integrity: Despite the performance focus, maintaining "meticulously crafted brand" integrity is paramount, suggesting a balance between commercial objectives and brand stewardship.

Company Website: https://careers.ancientandbrave.earth/

📝 Enhancement Note: Ancient + Brave's commitment to being a certified B Corp, a member of 1% for the Planet, and through its Made By Brave Foundation underscores its strong social and environmental ethos. This "mission-driven" aspect is a key cultural differentiator and likely appeals to candidates who value purpose beyond profit. The JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion) statement further reinforces this.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer with a specialization in performance-driven paid social creative. It offers a direct path to becoming a crucial executioner within the marketing operations and creative strategy functions.

Reporting Structure: The Social Graphic Designer will report to the Creative Director and Art Director for craft and brand guidance, while working in a highly collaborative "pod" with the Performance Creative Strategist and Social Video Editor. This structure allows for both artistic oversight and direct contribution to marketing performance.

Operations Impact: The role has a direct and measurable impact on revenue through the creation of assets that drive engagement, conversion, and sales for paid social campaigns. The designer's ability to iterate based on performance data directly influences campaign ROI and overall marketing effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Specialization in Performance Creative: Deepen expertise in designing for paid social, understanding platform algorithms, and mastering data-driven creative strategies.

  • AI & Emerging Tech Integration: Become an early adopter and expert in leveraging AI and new creative technologies within a marketing context.

  • Brand Stewardship: Grow into a role with more responsibility for maintaining and evolving the brand's visual identity across diverse marketing channels.

  • Cross-Functional Leadership: Develop skills in leading creative aspects of marketing pods and potentially mentoring junior designers as the team expands.

  • Broader Design Experience: Gain exposure to packaging, campaign work, and other brand asset creation as capacity allows, broadening the design skill set.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between pure graphic design and performance marketing, a highly sought-after skill set. The emphasis on growth within a fast-scaling DTC brand suggests that individuals who excel can expect increased responsibility and potentially leadership opportunities as the company continues its expansion.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates from beautiful head offices overlooking the river Ouse in Lewes, East Sussex. This suggests a modern, well-equipped, and potentially inspiring workspace.

Office Location(s): Lewes, East Sussex, United Kingdom. The role requires full-time commuting to this HQ.

Workspace Context:

  • Collaborative Hub: The office is described as "inviting and genuinely enjoyable," fostering collaboration. The "pod" structure implies a close working relationship with immediate team members.

  • Equipped Workspace: The office is equipped with monitors, ergonomic chairs, and sitting/standing desks, with all team members provided with suitable laptop computers and headphones.

  • Team Interaction: The "small but mighty squad" environment encourages daily feedback and shared work, fostering a close-knit team dynamic.

Work Schedule: Full-time employment is expected, with the company being open to discussing part-time setups where appropriate, though this specific role requires on-site presence. The fast-paced nature of paid social creative implies a need for efficient time management within standard working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "being together in person makes a real difference to how we collaborate and move the business forward" strongly indicates a preference for an in-office culture. This is a critical factor for candidates to consider, as remote work is not an option for this position. The description of the office as a positive and well-equipped space aims to attract candidates who value a good working environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Application review with a focus on portfolio relevance and alignment with the role's requirements.

  • Creative Assessment: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific examples of paid social creative, their design process, and how they approach performance-driven work.

  • Practical Exercise/Case Study: A potential exercise could involve designing a set of creative variants for a given brief, demonstrating speed, brand understanding, and strategic thinking.

  • Team & Culture Fit: Interviews with the Performance Creative Strategist, Social Video Editor, Art Director, and potentially HR to assess collaboration style, cultural alignment with Ancient + Brave's values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention), and overall fit within the team.

  • Final Interview: Likely with a senior leader to discuss career aspirations and final alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Highlight Paid Social: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work specifically created for paid social campaigns, showcasing your understanding of platform nuances.

  • Demonstrate Performance Impact: Wherever possible, include metrics or insights into how your creative work performed. If specific numbers aren't available, articulate the strategic thinking behind your designs that aimed for performance.

  • Showcase Iteration: Include examples of how you've developed variations of a single concept for testing, demonstrating your ability to work within a structured testing plan.

  • Explain Your Process: Be ready to walk interviewers through your design process, from brief interpretation and ideation to execution, collaboration, and iteration based on feedback or data.

  • Brand Awareness: Show how you maintain brand integrity while pushing creative boundaries for performance marketing.

  • Tool Proficiency: Clearly indicate the tools used for each project (Adobe CC, Figma, After Effects).

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Ancient + Brave's products, mission, values, and current marketing efforts.

  • Familiarize with Performance Creative: Study successful paid social ads in the wellness/DTC space. Understand common hooks, call-to-actions, and visual trends.

  • AI Tool Familiarity: Be prepared to discuss your experience and ideas for using AI in graphic design for speed and innovation.

  • Practice Design Challenges: Work through hypothetical briefs for paid social assets, focusing on speed, variation, and brand alignment.

  • Articulate Your "Why": Be ready to explain the strategic reasoning behind your creative choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "performance-motivated designer" and "design with the numbers in mind" means candidates should prepare to discuss not just their creative process but also their understanding of marketing objectives and how design contributes to them. The portfolio review will be critical, so candidates should curate their best, most relevant work and be prepared to articulate the strategic rationale behind each piece.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating core graphic assets.

  • Adobe After Effects: Essential for producing motion graphics, animations, and dynamic video elements for social ads.

  • Figma: Crucial for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially building design systems or templates.

Analytics & Reporting:

  • While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, understanding and interpreting data from analytics platforms (e.g., Meta Ads Manager, Google Analytics) will be necessary to inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to the core design tasks, but awareness of how creative assets are deployed and tracked within marketing automation or CRM systems might be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack for this role is heavily design-focused, with a strong emphasis on industry-standard Adobe products and Figma for collaborative workflows. The explicit mention of After Effects highlights the growing importance of motion graphics in paid social. Familiarity with AI tools is also a key requirement, indicating the company's forward-thinking approach to creative production.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values: Ancient + Brave operates on four core beliefs that are integral to its culture and expected of its employees:

  • WE BELIEVE IN BRAVERY: Employees are encouraged to be Courageous, Bold, and Experimental in their work.

  • WE BELIEVE IN INTEGRITY: Honesty, Accountability, and Ethical conduct are fundamental.

  • WE BELIEVE IN CONNECTION: Collaboration, Inclusivity, and Openness are key to teamwork.

  • WE BELIEVE IN INTENTION: Purposefulness, Proactiveness, and Focus drive the company's actions.

Collaboration Style:

  • Close-Knit Pods: Working within a "pod" (Performance Creative Strategist, Social Video Editor) fosters tight, daily collaboration and shared ownership of creative output.

  • Cross-Functional Partnership: Strong relationships with Creative Directors, Art Directors, and the wider design team are essential for maintaining brand consistency and receiving constructive feedback.

  • Daily Feedback Culture: The "small but mighty squad" environment implies a culture where feedback is exchanged frequently and openly, promoting continuous improvement.

  • Brand-Centric Approach: All collaboration aims to serve both the performance goals of marketing and the long-term integrity and vision of the Ancient + Brave brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit articulation of company values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention) provides a clear framework for understanding the expected behaviors and mindset of employees. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work and interactions. The "pod" structure emphasizes a highly integrated and communicative team environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • High Volume, High Standard: Balancing the need for rapid asset production for paid social with maintaining the high aesthetic and brand standards of a premium wellness company.

  • Performance vs. Brand: Navigating the tension between creating commercially effective, performance-driven creative and upholding the sophisticated, science-backed brand identity of Ancient + Brave.

  • Rapid Iteration: The fast-paced nature of paid social requires quick adaptation to performance data and market shifts, demanding agility and resilience.

  • AI Integration Management: Effectively integrating AI tools without compromising brand integrity or creative quality, requiring a discerning and strategic approach.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Performance Creative Mastery: Gaining deep expertise in the nuances of paid social advertising creative, learning what drives engagement and conversion across platforms like Meta and TikTok.

  • Data-Driven Design Skills: Developing a strong understanding of marketing analytics and how to translate performance data into actionable design improvements.

  • AI & Creative Technology: Staying at the forefront of AI applications in graphic design and creative production.

  • Brand Evolution: Contributing to the visual development of a rapidly growing, mission-driven brand.

  • Cross-functional Skill Development: Working closely with strategists and video editors offers opportunities to learn about broader marketing campaign execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge lies in the inherent tension between the speed and data-driven nature of paid social marketing and the meticulous, brand-conscious approach of a premium wellness company. Success in this role hinges on an individual's ability to balance these often-competing demands effectively. The growth opportunities are significant for those who excel in this specialized area.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Describe your process for taking a performance brief and generating multiple creative routes for paid social."

  • "How do you balance brand integrity with the need for eye-catching, performance-driven creative on platforms like Meta?"

  • "Walk us through a time you used performance data to significantly alter a creative asset or campaign direction. What was the outcome?"

  • "How do you see AI tools impacting the future of social graphic design, and what is your experience using them?"

  • "Describe your experience working within a 'pod' structure or closely with performance strategists and video editors." Company & Culture Questions:

  • "What excites you about Ancient + Brave's mission and products?"

  • "How do you embody our core values of Bravery, Integrity, Connection, and Intention in your work?"

  • "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a collaborative culture."

  • "What are your thoughts on our brand's visual identity, and how would you approach evolving it for performance channels?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structure Your Narrative: Organize your portfolio around key projects, clearly stating the objective, your role, the challenge, your solution (design choices and rationale), and the results/impact.

  • Highlight Performance Work: Dedicate a significant portion of your presentation to paid social examples, detailing the platform, target audience, and any performance insights.

  • Showcase Iteration & Variants: Present examples where you've created multiple versions of an asset for testing and explain the strategic differences.

  • Explain Your Process: Be ready to articulate your workflow, including how you collaborate, incorporate feedback, and use tools like Adobe CC, Figma, and After Effects.

  • Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Show how you've applied brand guidelines effectively, or how you would adapt them for specific campaign needs.

  • Be Concise and Engaging: Aim for clarity and impact, focusing on the most relevant aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily emphasize the "performance motivated" aspect of the role. Candidates must be ready to speak intelligently about metrics, A/B testing, and the strategic purpose behind their design choices, not just the aesthetic execution. Demonstrating an understanding of the DTC and wellness industry will also be beneficial.


📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Social Graphic Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the Ancient + Brave careers portal.

  • Portfolio Customization: Curate your online portfolio to prominently feature your strongest paid social graphic design work, including static, carousel, story, and motion assets. Prioritize examples that demonstrate your ability to work at volume and drive performance.

  • Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, such as "paid social," "performance creative," "Adobe Creative Suite," "After Effects," "Figma," "DTC," and "brand integrity." Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio, articulating your design process, explaining how you incorporate performance data, and detailing your experience with AI tools. Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Ancient + Brave brand and its values.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research Ancient + Brave's mission, products, target audience, and recent marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to sustainability and their core values (Bravery, Integrity, Connection, Intention).

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Requires proven experience in paid social design and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, and Figma. Candidates must be able to work on-site in Lewes and demonstrate a strong portfolio of performance-driven creative work.