Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for an Icon Painter

💰 $75,000 - $130,000

DesignUI/UXGraphic DesignVisual Design

🎯 Role Definition

As our dedicated Icon Painter, you will be the primary artist and strategist behind our product's micro-visuals. You are not just creating graphics; you are crafting a universal language that guides users, communicates complex actions simply, and brings a touch of delight to every interaction. You will own our icon library, collaborate deeply with product and engineering teams, and ensure every pixel aligns with our design system and brand vision. This is a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the look, feel, and usability of a product used by millions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Graphic Designer
  • UI Designer
  • Illustrator

Advancement To:

  • Senior Product Designer
  • Lead Visual Designer
  • Art Director

Lateral Moves:

  • UI/UX Designer
  • Motion Graphics Designer

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conceptualize, design, and execute a comprehensive suite of high-quality, pixel-perfect icons for our mobile, web, and desktop applications.
  • Develop and maintain a robust, scalable icon library within our established design system, ensuring consistency and ease of use for the entire product team.
  • Collaborate closely with UX/UI designers and product managers to understand user needs and functional requirements, translating them into clear and effective iconography.
  • Create multiple stylistic variations of icons (e.g., line, filled, two-tone) that align with our brand guidelines and adapt to different UI contexts and themes.
  • Ensure all icons are visually balanced, legible at various sizes, and optimized for performance across different platforms and screen resolutions.
  • Iterate on icon designs based on user feedback, A/B testing results, and design critiques to continuously improve clarity and user comprehension.
  • Articulate and present your design decisions and rationale to stakeholders, grounding your choices in design principles, user-centered thinking, and brand strategy.
  • Work directly with front-end and mobile engineers to ensure accurate implementation, providing perfectly exported assets in required formats (SVG, PNG, etc.).
  • Research and stay ahead of emerging trends, techniques, and best practices in icon design, visual design, and user interface technology.
  • Develop clear and comprehensive documentation and usage guidelines for the icon library to empower designers and developers.
  • Manage the entire icon creation lifecycle, from initial request and conceptualization through to final delivery and implementation in the product.
  • Create occasional spot illustrations and other small graphical elements that complement the iconography and enhance the overall visual experience.
  • Ensure all visual assets, including icons, meet accessibility standards (WCAG) for contrast, size, and comprehensibility.
  • Explore and create simple animations for icons (e.g., using Lottie) to provide feedback and add a layer of interactivity and delight to the user experience.
  • Conduct audits of existing product UIs to identify inconsistencies in iconography and propose a roadmap for unification and improvement.
  • Partner with the brand team to ensure the icon style is a cohesive and integral part of the company's broader visual identity system.
  • Manage a backlog of icon requests from various product teams, prioritizing work based on project timelines and overall business impact.
  • Participate in and contribute to design team rituals, including workshops, brainstorming sessions, and peer reviews, fostering a culture of creative excellence.
  • Refine icons and other vector assets to ensure they are constructed with clean, logical paths for easy editing and scalability.
  • Provide creative direction and mentorship to junior designers or interns on the principles of effective iconography and visual system design.
  • Create and prepare assets for marketing materials and presentations, ensuring brand consistency beyond the core product interface.

Secondary Functions

  • Support marketing and content teams with custom iconography and spot illustrations for campaigns, blog posts, and social media.
  • Contribute to the evolution of our organization's overall visual design language and brand identity guidelines.
  • Collaborate with Product Managers and UX Designers to translate user stories and functional requirements into clear, effective visual solutions.
  • Actively participate in agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and design critiques, to ensure timely delivery of visual assets.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert proficiency in vector design software, particularly Adobe Illustrator and Figma.
  • A deep understanding of the principles of icon design, including grid systems, optical balancing, scalability, and form.
  • Strong knowledge of UI/UX design principles and how iconography impacts usability and user flows.
  • Proven experience creating and managing icon libraries within a comprehensive Design System.
  • Mastery of vector illustration techniques and the ability to execute in various visual styles.
  • Expertise in exporting and optimizing assets (especially SVG) for web and mobile development.
  • A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional icon design work for digital products.
  • Familiarity with icon animation principles and tools like After Effects and Lottie is a major plus.
  • Knowledge of accessibility (WCAG) guidelines as they apply to visual elements and iconography.
  • Ability to create clear documentation and usage guidelines for design assets.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to delivering flawless, pixel-perfect work.
  • Strong visual and verbal communication skills to articulate design concepts and rationale.
  • Excellent collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively in a cross-functional team environment.
  • A highly organized approach to managing multiple projects and competing priorities.
  • Creative problem-solving skills with the ability to translate abstract concepts into simple, visual forms.
  • Receptiveness to feedback and a desire for continuous iteration and improvement.
  • Self-motivated and able to work autonomously, managing your own time and deliverables effectively.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience in a related field.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Illustration, or a related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Visual Communication
  • Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 3-7 years of professional experience in icon design, UI design, or a similar visual design role.

Preferred: A strong, curated online portfolio showcasing a deep understanding of iconography, vector illustration, and its application in live digital products is essential for consideration.

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