Who We Are
Studio.init() is a team of Eng/UX/Product experts with backgrounds at Startups, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Coinbase. Although our studio is just over a year old, we’re a tight group that has worked together for over five years at Google. Our work at Google was frequently highlighted in Google’s blog, 9to5Google, and 9to5Mac. We’re super legit, as our studio was featured in both Wired and Business Insider last year.
We help early-stage startups build MVPs, establish a strong foundation, and scale software products to new heights. We offer product, design, and engineering services, and our user-centric approach and deep understanding of the latest technologies transform their product visions from concept to reality.
We also don’t offshore or nearshore our work as an agency. We are a local, USA-based (San Francisco and NYC Metro) team that does the work ourselves. Our Engineering team is located in Hoboken, NJ. Our Design team is located in San Francisco, CA. Both teams operate in an onsite office environment.
You can learn more about us here: https://www.studioinit.com.
NOTE: NO Recruiters, Agencies, C2C, or Staffing firms - No Exceptions!
Role Description
We seek an awesome Visual Designer who combines strong visual design skills with a keen eye for detail and a solid understanding of branding and visual storytelling.
If you’re passionate about creating stunning visual designs that tell a story and elevate brands, then read on!
You should be a mid-level to senior Visual Designer with at least three years of experience. Ideally, you’re earlier in your career - hungry to learn, perform, and improve.
You should have experience designing for both digital and print media. From crafting compelling graphics and layouts to creating cohesive visual identities, you’ll bring a startup’s vision to life in a way that’s so impressive that their jaws will drop (and their wallets).
You’ll work alongside our senior-staff team of doers who developed their careers at startups and big tech. It’s a great opportunity to become a more confident and stronger designer. We're growing fast, so there's insane upside.
You should be highly driven and self-motivated. You should be comfortable asking for help, but don’t expect us to do the work for you. You’ll be expected to manage your tasks (we SCRUM) and contribute meaningfully to projects. You’ll work sometimes on solo projects or be part of a small team (it varies).
We function like a startup and work with various startups, so the pace is energetic and fun. If you like producing, this is a perfect opportunity to excel. This might not be for you if you like to take slow, methodical, and deep thoughts about interface design and interactions.
We take on a variety of fun and challenging projects. We enjoy going outside our comfort zone to learn and improve. We strive for high-quality work, and our clients accept nothing but excellence.
You'll be expected to work on all aspects of visual design and whatever else comes up. Day-to-day tasks will include participating in design sprints, creating illustrations, collaborating with technical and design teams, designing compelling graphics and layouts, developing cohesive visual identities, and producing branding materials.
You’ll ensure every visual element is captivating, cohesive, and impactful. You’ll translate complex concepts into simple, elegant designs. You’ll make every visual experience engaging and enjoyable, balancing creative vision with business goals to create visuals that impress and perform.
This is an onsite, part-time role with the potential for full-time. We're growing fast. The role is located in San Francisco, California. We are NOT considering fully remote or hybrid. Frankly, we’ve tried that, and it just doesn’t work. We want to create a strong culture of collaboration, and in our experience, remote work doesn’t cut it. Expect to be reporting to our San Francisco office multiple times per week (based on your schedule).
Qualifications
- You must have existing experience — at least three years of Visual Design experience. We are not able to teach you design. But we can help you learn new techniques and sharpen your skills. Ideally, you're an L4 (on the way to L5) at a big tech company.
- Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills.
- Experience with agile development methodologies (we SCRUM).
- Experience with Illustrator, Figma, etc.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently and in a team environment.
- Bachelor's degree (or higher) in Graphic Design, Digital Media, BFA, or similar. Boot camps or a certificate do not count.
- Must be legally able to work in the USA.
- You must be able to travel to and work from our San Francisco, CA, office.
- We cannot sponsor an H1B Visa or similar. OPT for F1 students is OK.
Compensation
- $40-$65 per hour, based on experience. (We cannot go higher; there are no exceptions.)
- Approximately 20 to 30 hours per week (will vary based on project load).
- Opportunity for a performance bonus and full-time employment.
- Swag like stickers and t-shirts from time to time.
- Our SF Office sits in a cool space called Shack15, which you get access to.
- NOTE: You will be on a 90-day probationary period to ensure a good fit. The probationary period may be a contract-to-hire arrangement, depending on your interview performance.
Interview Expectations
As you can tell, we’re looking for a rockstar to grow with us - so we must be thorough. We will invest lots of time in you and your career, so we have high expectations of your ability to perform. Thus, there are a few steps to complete.
Note: Please include a portfolio, website, or any other relevant link to your work in your resume (providing a viewable link and/or access instructions).
- One Take-Home Design Challenge:
- -- You’ll be asked to design something, timeboxed at no more than two days.
- One 60-minute portfolio review & team fit:
- -- You will present one of your past projects.
- -- We’ll focus on your ability to work in a team, build products, and think creatively.
- -- We’ll also be determining if you’re a good culture fit.
- One 60-minute sketching session:
- -- You'll unleash your creativity with our team and show off your skills.
Questions? Email jobs@studioinit.com
NOTE: Direct hire only. Please do not book meetings to learn about this role. We'll reach out to pursue an interview. Thank you!