Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Icon Illustrator

💰 $65,000 - $110,000

DesignCreativeUI/UXIllustrationDigital Product

🎯 Role Definition

We are on the hunt for a meticulous and creative Icon Illustrator to join our dynamic design team. In this pivotal role, you will be the primary owner of our product's iconography, responsible for translating complex ideas and functionalities into universally understandable visual symbols. You will work at the intersection of illustration, UI/UX, and brand identity, creating beautiful, scalable, and intuitive icons that form the backbone of our user interface. This isn't just about drawing pictures; it's about visual communication that guides, informs, and delights our users at every touchpoint. If you have a passion for pixel-perfect details and a deep understanding of how small visuals make a big impact, we want to see your portfolio.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Junior Graphic Designer / Graphic Designer
  • UI Designer with a focus on visual assets
  • Freelance Illustrator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Icon Illustrator / Lead Illustrator
  • Art Director, Visual Design
  • Design Systems Manager

Lateral Moves:

  • UI/UX Designer
  • Brand Designer
  • Motion Graphics Designer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Design, develop, and maintain a comprehensive and cohesive icon library that aligns with our brand identity and serves the needs of multiple product lines.
  • Translate abstract concepts, user stories, and product features into clear, simple, and elegant icons that enhance usability and user comprehension.
  • Collaborate closely with Product Managers, UX Designers, and Engineers to understand requirements and ensure icons are implemented accurately and effectively.
  • Create pixel-perfect, scalable vector icons in various styles (e.g., line, filled, duo-tone) and sizes, ensuring consistency across all platforms (web, iOS, Android).
  • Own the entire icon design lifecycle, from initial concept sketching and brainstorming to final asset production, refinement, and documentation.
  • Act as the primary contributor and guardian of the iconography section of our global design system, establishing clear usage guidelines and principles.
  • Iterate on icon designs based on user feedback, A/B testing results, and usability studies to continuously improve the user experience.
  • Prepare and export optimized icon assets in required formats (SVG, PNG, font files) for development teams, ensuring performance and quality.
  • Manage and prioritize the icon request backlog, effectively communicating timelines and progress to stakeholders and the wider design team.
  • Conduct regular audits of existing icons within the product to identify inconsistencies and opportunities for improvement and unification.
  • Stay at the forefront of iconography and UI design trends, bringing fresh ideas and innovative approaches to the team.
  • Create supporting spot illustrations and other small graphical elements that complement the UI and enhance the overall visual narrative.
  • Animate icons for micro-interactions and transitions to create a more engaging and responsive user interface.
  • Participate actively in design critiques, providing and receiving constructive feedback to elevate the quality of our visual design output.
  • Develop and present conceptual icon directions to stakeholders, clearly articulating the design rationale and how it solves specific user and business problems.
  • Ensure all icons and visual assets meet accessibility standards (e.g., contrast ratios, clear meaning) to provide an inclusive experience for all users.
  • Maintain meticulously organized source files and contribute to our digital asset management (DAM) strategy for illustrations.
  • Work within an agile development environment, participating in sprint planning, stand-ups, and retrospectives.
  • Document the meaning, usage, and naming conventions for every icon to ensure clarity and consistency for designers and developers.
  • Explore and champion new tools, plugins, and workflows to improve the efficiency and quality of our icon creation process.

Secondary Functions

  • Support the marketing and brand teams by creating illustrative assets for campaigns, social media, blog posts, and presentations.
  • Contribute to the evolution of our overall brand visual language, beyond just iconography.
  • Assist UI designers with visual design tasks and asset creation during high-demand periods.
  • Participate in user research and testing sessions to gain firsthand insights into how users interpret and interact with visual elements.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for vector illustration and asset creation.
  • Strong experience with UI design tools like Figma and/or Sketch for collaboration and integration into design systems.
  • A deep understanding of iconography principles, including scalability, clarity, recognition, and visual harmony.
  • Proven ability to create pixel-perfect vector graphics and work with grid systems.
  • Experience working with and contributing to established Design Systems.
  • Solid grasp of color theory, composition, and visual hierarchy as they apply to small-scale graphics.
  • Knowledge of asset optimization and exporting for various platforms, with a strong command of the SVG format.
  • Familiarity with icon animation using tools like Adobe After Effects, Lottie, or similar.
  • Understanding of basic UI/UX principles and how iconography impacts the user journey.
  • Ability to create and maintain icon font files.
  • Strong portfolio showcasing a range of icon styles and a systematic approach to iconography.

Soft Skills

  • Meticulous Attention to Detail: A passion for precision and the ability to spot and correct the smallest inconsistencies.
  • Creative & Conceptual Thinking: The ability to distill complex ideas into simple, effective visual metaphors.
  • Excellent Communication: Can clearly articulate design decisions and rationale to non-designers.
  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Thrives in a team environment, actively partnering with different disciplines.
  • Time Management & Organization: Ability to juggle multiple projects and prioritize tasks effectively in a fast-paced environment.
  • Receptiveness to Feedback: Eager to receive, process, and apply constructive criticism to improve work.
  • Adaptability: Can switch between different visual styles and project requirements with ease.
  • Proactive Problem-Solving: Identifies potential issues and brings solutions to the table.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

A strong portfolio is paramount and can substitute for a formal degree.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree (BA/BFA) or equivalent college diploma.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Visual Communication
  • Digital Arts

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-5+ years of professional experience as an illustrator or visual designer, with a significant focus on iconography for digital products.

Preferred:

Demonstrable experience creating and managing a comprehensive icon library for a SaaS product, mobile app, or large-scale website. A portfolio link is required for consideration.

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