Graphic Designer

Graphic Designer NextStep AI · Auburn, WA · On-site · Full-time

About the Role

We're looking for an entry-level graphic designer who can own the visual identity of NextStep across our brand, marketing, web presence, and product interfaces. You'll work directly with the founding team to shape how the world sees NextStep, from logos and style guides to landing pages, pitch decks, and social content.

This is a full-time, on-site role with real ownership from day one. You won't be filling in templates. You'll be defining the visual language for an AI-native learning platform that's already live and growing. You'll use modern agentic coding tools like Claude Code and Figma Make to move fast and ship real work, not just mockups.

No industry experience required. We care about taste, work ethic, and whether you can build. If you're a self-learner with a sharp eye who wants to own something real, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Own and evolve NextStep's brand identity: logos, style guides, visual language
• Create marketing collateral: social media assets, pitch decks, one-pagers, and investor materials
• Design and iterate on our marketing site, landing pages, and product interfaces
• Use Figma and Figma Make to design, prototype, and hand off production-ready assets
• Leverage agentic coding tools (Claude Code) to ship front-end designs directly into code
• Define and maintain a cohesive design system across web and mobile

What You'll Get

• $40k-$70k/yr base salary with equity ($80k-$150k total comp)
• Full creative ownership: you're not inheriting someone else's design system, you're building it
• Direct collaboration with the founders on product and brand decisions
• Real impact: your work reaches students and teachers across two continents
• A front-row seat to building a startup from the ground up

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating graphic design, brand design, web design, or visual identity work
• Proficiency in Figma and Figma Make
• Experience with or willingness to master agentic coding tools (Claude Code, Cursor, etc.)
• Front-end web design sensibility: you understand how designs translate to HTML/CSS
• A sharp eye for typography, layout, spacing, and color
• Builder mentality: high agency, self-directed, and relentlessly resourceful
• Strong work ethic and comfort working in a fast-paced, unstructured startup environment
• Good taste: you know what great design looks like and you won't settle for less

Nice to Have

• Experience with HTML/CSS, Tailwind, or front-end development
• Motion design or animation skills (Framer Motion, CSS animations, After Effects)
• Experience designing for SaaS, edtech, or developer-facing products
• Prior startup, freelance, or side-project experience