Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer

Company: Sanabil Studio

Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Visual Arts

Date Posted: 2026-06-23

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and own the visual identity and creative output for Sanabil Studio, encompassing graphics, photography, motion, and the physical space experience.

• Drive brand consistency and visual communication across both Sanabil's venture-building initiatives and its early-stage community engagement efforts.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive bilingual (Arabic/Latin) design system to ensure cohesive and high-quality visual assets.

• Execute end-to-end creative projects, from conceptualization to final delivery, including event collateral, social media content, and video production.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a central creative function, functioning as a "one-person creative studio" with a high degree of autonomy and ownership over Sanabil Studio's visual presence. The emphasis on bilingual design and end-to-end execution suggests a need for a versatile and self-sufficient designer.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the integrated creative function across graphics, photography, motion, and physical space design for both studio ventures and the early-stage community.

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive bilingual (Arabic/Latin) design system, including typography, color palettes, grid systems, motion principles, and component libraries.

• Design and produce all visual assets for community events, such as invitations, posters, signage, name badges, programs, social posts, and recap content.

• Capture high-quality photography of community events, including speakers, founders, and the overall atmosphere, and deliver edited sets promptly.

• Build and maintain a library of founder portraits and environmental photography of the Sanabil Studio space.

• Produce short-form vertical video content for platforms like LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok, as well as event aftermovies and long-form content for significant moments.

• Direct on-site shooting for photography and video, including setup of lighting and ensuring founders are comfortable on camera.

• Oversee the in-space visual experience, including signage, wayfinding, event installations, seasonal displays, and founder welcome kits.

• Brief and manage external vendors such as printers, fabricators, and AV contractors, ensuring adherence to quality standards.

• Create templated assets in Figma and Canva libraries to enable internal teams to self-serve while maintaining brand integrity.

• Provide design support for Studio ventures, including brand development, launch assets, and pitch decks for newly built companies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic design system development and hands-on execution across multiple creative disciplines, emphasizing the need for a designer who can operate at both levels and manage external relationships.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: No specific degree mentioned, but a strong portfolio is paramount.

Experience: 3-5 years of professional design experience, with demonstrated expertise across at least three of the following: graphics, motion, video, and photography.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design: Proficiency in creating visually compelling graphics for digital and print media.

• Motion Graphics & Video Production: Experience with creating short-form vertical video, event aftermovies, and motion graphics using tools like Adobe After Effects and Premiere.

• Photography: Strong skills in event photography, portraiture, and environmental photography, including basic lighting principles and post-production in Adobe Lightroom.

• Design Software Proficiency: Fluent in the modern design stack, including Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, and Lightroom.

• Bilingual Design Sensibility: Ability to maintain high design standards equally in both Arabic and Latin scripts.

• Art Direction & Execution: Capacity to take a brief, pitch creative directions, and execute projects end-to-end with minimal supervision.

• Vendor Management: Experience briefing and managing external vendors (printers, fabricators, AV) and holding them to quality standards.

• Communication: Fluent in both Arabic and English, comfortable briefing vendors, directing on set, and presenting work to leadership.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience designing for early-stage companies, venture capital firms, or premium consumer brands.

• Chops in 3D design, exhibition design, or long-form video production.

• An active side creative practice that demonstrates ongoing skill development and passion.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "modern stack" and specific Adobe Creative Suite applications, alongside Figma, points to a need for up-to-date technical skills. The requirement for bilingual design and fluency in both languages is critical for this role in Saudi Arabia.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a wide range of work, including print design, digital graphics, motion graphics, and ideally environmental or spatial design projects.

• Demonstrations of end-to-end project execution, from initial brief to final delivery, highlighting problem-solving and creative direction.

• Examples of bilingual (Arabic/Latin) design applications and the ability to maintain visual consistency across both scripts.

• Case studies illustrating the development and application of a design system or brand guidelines.

• Visuals of photography and/or video work, showcasing event coverage, portraiture, or environmental shots. Process Documentation:

• Evidence of creating and maintaining design systems, including documentation of typography, color, grid, and motion principles.

• Examples of process for managing external vendors, including briefing, feedback, and quality control.

• Documentation of workflow for producing event collateral and content, from concept to distribution.

• Case studies demonstrating how templated assets were built for internal self-service.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is expected to be the primary evidence of the candidate's capabilities, especially demonstrating breadth across multiple creative disciplines and the ability to manage complex projects independently.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the mid-level experience (3-5 years), the location in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the "competitive pay" mentioned, an estimated annual salary range for a Visual Designer with this profile in Riyadh would typically fall between SAR 150,000 - SAR 250,000. This range is based on general market data for creative professionals in major Saudi cities, considering the specialized skill set and the high-impact nature of the role.

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay: Salary package commensurate with seniority and market standards.

• Meaningful Upside: Long-term incentives tied to the value created across the Sanabil Studio ecosystem.

• Premium Gear: Provision of a full creative stack, including workstation, camera equipment (lenses, audio, lighting), from day one.

• Mentorship: Direct access to Sanabil Studio founders, marketers, and creative leaders for guidance and development.

• Accelerated Career Growth: Opportunities for broad experience and rapid skill development within 12 months.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with potential for flexibility required to meet event schedules and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on aggregated data for similar roles in Riyadh. The benefits package emphasizes high-quality equipment and significant growth opportunities, aligning with a premium employer branding strategy.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Venture Studio / Venture Capital / Technology Ecosystem Building. Sanabil Studio operates within Saudi Arabia's burgeoning tech and startup scene, focusing on building and backing next-generation companies. This industry context means a fast-paced, innovative environment with a strong emphasis on growth and market disruption.

Company Size: Sanabil Studio is part of Sanabil, suggesting a well-resourced entity. The Studio itself likely operates as a focused unit within this larger organization, aiming for agility and impact. The role of Visual Designer implies a small, dedicated creative function.

Founded: While the founding date of Sanabil Studio isn't specified, its parent entity, Sanabil, is a significant player in the Saudi investment landscape, indicating a stable and well-backed organization.

Team Structure:

• The Visual Designer will likely be a key member of a lean, agile team within Sanabil Studio, potentially reporting to a Head of Marketing, Head of Studio, or a senior operations lead.

• Collaboration will be extensive with venture founders, internal studio operators (product, marketing, strategy), and the broader Sanabil early-stage community.

• The role is designed for high autonomy, functioning as a central creative resource for multiple projects and initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While visual design is inherently creative, the role will involve understanding target audiences and venture goals to inform design decisions.

• Systems Thinking: Emphasis on building and maintaining a design system, indicating a methodical approach to visual consistency and scalability.

• Agile Execution: The fast-paced nature of venture building and community events requires flexibility and rapid iteration.

Company Website: https://careers.sanabil.studio

📝 Enhancement Note: Sanabil Studio's mission to build and back category-defining companies in Saudi Arabia suggests a culture of innovation, ambition, and high performance. The Visual Designer's role is critical in shaping the perception and brand of these new ventures and the studio itself.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Visual Designer with significant ownership and Art Director-like responsibilities. It's a step beyond a junior designer, requiring independent project management and strategic creative thinking, but not yet a senior leadership role.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a senior member of the Sanabil Studio team, such as a Head of Marketing, Head of Studio Operations, or a Venture Partner. This structure provides mentorship while allowing for significant creative freedom.

Operations Impact: The Visual Designer's impact is crucial for the perception and marketability of Sanabil Studio's ventures and its community. High-quality visual assets, a strong brand identity, and compelling creative content directly influence investor perception, founder attraction, and overall ecosystem engagement.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization & Leadership: Develop deep expertise in specific areas like brand systems, motion design, or event design, potentially leading to a Senior Visual Designer or Art Director role within the Studio or its portfolio companies.

• Skill Expansion: Gain broad experience across photography, videography, environmental design, and digital marketing collateral, accelerating learning beyond a typical design role.

• Venture Building Exposure: Work closely with founding teams of new ventures, offering opportunities to shape their visual strategies and potentially transition into in-house creative roles for successful startups.

• Ecosystem Influence: Become a recognized creative force within the Saudi startup ecosystem through impactful work and community engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "accelerated curve" mentioned in the benefits highlights the rapid learning and development potential in this role, offering significant growth beyond typical design positions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based at the "Sanabil Hub" in Riyadh, indicating a physical workspace designed for collaboration and innovation. The description of "in-space experience" suggests a thoughtfully designed office environment.

Office Location(s): Sanabil Hub, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Postal Code: 13315). This location is central to the Saudi capital, offering accessibility.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The Sanabil Hub likely fosters a dynamic and collaborative atmosphere, essential for venture building and community activation.

• Creative Resources: The provision of "Premium gear, day one" (workstation, camera, lenses, lighting) indicates a well-equipped creative workspace tailored to the designer's needs.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with founders, studio team members, and community participants, facilitating cross-pollination of ideas and feedback.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week) are expected, but the nature of event-driven work and venture building may require flexibility and occasional work outside traditional hours to meet deadlines and support events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the "physical experience inside the space" and the provision of premium equipment suggests Sanabil Studio invests in creating an optimal and inspiring environment for its creative talent.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative range.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, detailing key projects, their process, and the impact of their work. Be prepared to discuss specific examples of graphics, motion, video, and photography projects.

• Skills Assessment: Potential for a practical design exercise or a deep dive into technical proficiency with specific software.

• Cultural Fit & Collaboration: Interviews with Sanabil Studio leadership to assess problem-solving skills, communication style, ability to take feedback, and alignment with the studio's culture of quality and innovation.

• Vendor/On-Set Simulation: Discussion about how you would handle vendor briefs or direct a photo/video shoot.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Showcase your strongest work across all required disciplines (graphics, motion, video, photography). Prioritize projects demonstrating bilingual design capabilities and end-to-end execution.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your creative process, the challenges faced, your solutions, and the measurable impact or outcome. Focus on your role and contribution.

• Highlight Systems Thinking: Include examples of design systems, brand guidelines, or templated asset libraries you've developed. Explain the principles behind them.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio reflects mastery of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere, After Effects, Lightroom), and any other relevant tools.

• Demonstrate Bilingual Fluency: Explicitly show instances where you've applied design principles effectively in both Arabic and Latin scripts.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Brief Response: Be ready to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical creative brief for a new venture or community event.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle challenges such as managing difficult vendors, tight deadlines, or conflicting creative feedback.

• Art Direction Scenarios: Think about how you would direct a photographer or videographer on-site to capture specific moments or moods at an event.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the portfolio as tangible proof of skill. Candidates should be prepared to go deep into their work, demonstrating not just aesthetic talent but also strategic thinking, process management, and client/stakeholder interaction skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for collaborative design, UI/UX elements, and templated asset creation.

• Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.

• Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.

• Adobe InDesign: For print design, layout, and collateral production (invites, posters, programs).

• Adobe Premiere Pro: For video editing, including event aftermovies and short-form content.

• Adobe After Effects: For motion graphics, animations, and visual effects.

• Adobe Lightroom: For professional photo editing, color correction, and management.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a primary focus for a visual designer, understanding how visual assets perform on digital platforms (e.g., social media engagement, website click-through rates) would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this role, but familiarity with how visual assets are deployed within marketing automation platforms or CRMs could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency across the entire Adobe Creative Suite, coupled with Figma, is non-negotiable. The role demands a broad technical skill set to execute diverse creative tasks.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality Without Compromise: A core value that emphasizes holding high standards for all visual output, even under pressure. This means being meticulous and advocating for the best possible execution.

• Creative Ownership & Autonomy: This role is about leading a creative function, requiring initiative, self-direction, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Integration & Collaboration: The ability to seamlessly integrate visual design across different facets of the studio (ventures, community, physical space) and collaborate effectively with various stakeholders.

• Efficiency & Scalability: Developing systems and templates that allow for efficient content creation and brand scaling across multiple projects and ventures.

• Bilingual Excellence: A commitment to delivering equally high-quality design and communication in both Arabic and English.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive Partner: Actively engage with founders, marketing teams, and studio leadership to understand needs and propose creative solutions.

• Constructive Feedback Provider/Receiver: Be open to feedback on creative work and provide constructive input to others, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

• Vendor Management: Professional and clear communication with external suppliers to ensure project success and adherence to standards.

• Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share design best practices and contribute to the visual literacy of the broader team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Quality Without Compromise" and "Creative Ownership" suggests a culture that values high standards and empowers individuals to take responsibility for their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Demands: Juggling diverse creative projects for both new ventures and community events simultaneously, requiring strong prioritization and time management skills.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive visual identity across a wide range of applications and stakeholders, from pitch decks to event signage.

• Managing External Vendors: Effectively briefing, managing, and holding external partners accountable to the studio's high standards.

• Rapid Iteration: The fast-paced nature of venture building may require quick turnarounds and the ability to adapt designs rapidly.

• Setting the Visual Bar: Establishing and maintaining a high visual standard for a new entity that aims to define the market.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Broad Creative Skillset: Rapidly expand expertise across graphic design, motion graphics, video production, and photography within a real-world, high-stakes environment.

• Venture Studio Acumen: Gain deep insights into the process of building and launching new companies from the ground up.

• Ecosystem Networking: Build connections within the Saudi startup and venture capital ecosystem through community engagement.

• Art Direction & Brand Strategy: Develop strategic thinking and leadership skills by shaping the visual narrative of multiple brands.

• Mentorship: Receive guidance from experienced founders and creative leaders within Sanabil Studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents a significant challenge due to its breadth and autonomy but offers equally substantial growth opportunities, particularly for a designer looking to gain diverse experience rapidly.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a comprehensive design system, including how you would incorporate bilingual standards." (Focus on methodology, tools, and practical application).

• "How would you approach creating visual assets for a high-profile community event, from initial concept to final execution?" (Highlight event design experience, vendor management, and attention to detail).

• "Walk us through a project where you had to balance multiple creative demands or tight deadlines. How did you prioritize and ensure quality?" (Demonstrate prioritization, time management, and quality control).

• "Imagine you need to direct a photographer at a founder event. What key shots would you prioritize, and how would you ensure you capture the right atmosphere and key moments?" (Showcase understanding of photography, event dynamics, and art direction). Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for a venture studio like Sanabil, specifically in Saudi Arabia?" (Research Sanabil's mission, Saudi's tech landscape, and align your motivations).

• "How do you approach maintaining quality standards when working under pressure or with external vendors?" (Emphasize your "Quality Without Compromise" approach and vendor management skills).

• "Describe a time you had to push back on a creative decision or a vendor. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Showcase assertiveness, diplomacy, and a focus on results). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your portfolio by discipline (Graphics, Motion, Video, Photography, Environmental) or by project type (Studio Ventures, Community Events).

• Storytelling is Key: For each project, clearly define the problem, your unique contribution, your creative process, the tools used, and the resulting impact or success metrics.

• Highlight Bilingual Work: Dedicate specific slides or sections to showcase your Arabic/Latin design capabilities.

• Showcase Process: Include behind-the-scenes glimpses of your workflow, mood boards, initial sketches, or design system components.

• Concise & Engaging: Aim for clarity and conciseness. Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss your creative philosophy, your approach to building brand identities, and your ability to execute across a wide spectrum of visual media. Demonstrating an understanding of the venture ecosystem and the Saudi market will be a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Sanabil Studio careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that best demonstrate your skills in graphics, motion, video, and photography, with a strong emphasis on bilingual design and end-to-end project execution.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your 3-5 years of experience, proficiency with the required design tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite), and any experience relevant to venture studios or early-stage companies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on storytelling, your process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your approach to quality, collaboration, and vendor management.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Sanabil Studio's mission, its portfolio companies (if publicly available), and the broader Saudi tech ecosystem. Understand the importance of visual identity in this context.

⚠️ 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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