Head of Design

As the Head of Design at withco, you'll have the responsibility of launching our first digital app and guiding the innovation pace by rapidly creating designs that resonate with our customers. This role involves shaping every new product feature's details, from concept to pixel, and defining our design roadmap in conjunction with the executive team, ensuring that design is not only visually appealing but also aligns with our mission to empower small businesses.

For the Head of Design role at withco, we expect you to have a solid background in design, showcasing a portfolio that reflects your exceptional skills. You should possess an insatiable curiosity and a willingness to understand user needs deeply, solve problems, and create impactful experiences. Furthermore, we value a strong sense of ownership and the ability to work autonomously without waiting for permission to drive projects forward.

The culture at withco is driven by a strong emphasis on accountability, clarity, and curiosity. It's a unique environment suited for those who value craftsmanship and are passionate about making a difference. As our Head of Design, you'll find yourself amongst a team of former founders, scientists, and athletes who share a common goal: to uplift small businesses and make an impact in their communities.

The Head of Design at withco can expect top decile compensation, eligibility for carried interest in our real estate ventures, and comprehensive health insurance that covers medical, dental, and vision. We also offer unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, a 401(k) plan, and regular team lunches, ensuring a supportive work environment that values work-life balance and team bonding.

At withco, design transcends mere aesthetics; it is seen as a strategic and holistic process that influences how small business owners engage with their assets. For our Head of Design, this means crafting experiences that empower entrepreneurs, creating interfaces that facilitate these transactions, and developing a brand narrative that resonates with their mission to reclaim spaces and build generational wealth within their communities.

When answering this question, focus on your approach to creating user-centered designs that prioritize functionality, accessibility, and engagement. Discuss how your design principles reflect the mission of empowering small businesses, emphasizing holistic design strategies that create lasting impressions and positive experiences.

Share examples of successful collaborations in your previous roles as a Head of Design. Highlight your communication skills, ability to incorporate feedback, and your experience in leading discussions that bridge design with product management and engineering, ensuring that everyone is aligned towards a common goal.

Discuss specific tools and processes you rely on for rapid prototyping, like Sketch or Figma, and how you leverage user feedback to iterate quickly. Explain how this approach allows you to fine-tune designs to meet customer needs while staying aligned with company objectives.

Talk about your strategies for integrating brand values into your design work. This may include reviewing brand guidelines, collaborating closely with leadership, or establishing a clear design process that includes brand narrative as a key component in your projects.

Share a specific project that showcases your leadership in design. Discuss the challenges faced, the strategies you implemented, and how your ownership resulted in a successful outcome for the product or brand, reflecting your commitment to making an impact.

Outline your understanding of user-centered design principles and how you've implemented them in your work. Mention any methodologies you've applied such as user research or usability testing to ensure your designs truly meet the needs of the target audience.

Explain how you go about establishing key performance indicators (KPIs) for design initiatives, using metrics to evaluate user engagement, satisfaction, and conversion rates. This demonstrates your ability to tie design work directly to business outcomes.

Describe your openness to feedback and how you view it as an opportunity for growth. Discuss how you’ve successfully integrated feedback into your design iterations, and how this approach ultimately led to stronger results.

Talk about fostering a positive culture of creativity and collaboration within your team. Mention initiatives like design workshops, brainstorming sessions, or team-building activities that you have implemented to inspire innovation and maintain enthusiasm for projects.

Stay informed about current design trends and discuss how they can influence designs at withco. Be prepared to offer insights on trends that align with the company’s vision for supporting small businesses, such as sustainable design or inclusive design practices.