Founding Product Designer

Job Description

52 Limited is partnering with an innovative, venture-backed hospitality technology startup to find a Founding Designer to join its growing team in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

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Our client is building an AI-native software platform that helps independent hotels, resorts, and boutique properties grow revenue, streamline operations, and deliver exceptional guest experiences. Backed by leading venture capital investors and founded by experienced entrepreneurs, the company is bringing modern technology and digital marketing capabilities to an underserved segment of the hospitality industry.

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We're looking for a highly creative, hands-on designer with exceptional visual taste, strong product judgment, and the ability to bring ideas to life.

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As a Founding Designer, you'll shape both the software hotel operators use and the digital experiences their guests see. Your work will span complex product interfaces, consumer-facing websites, reusable website and email templates, and scalable design systems.

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This is an opportunity to work directly with founders, engineers, and customers while having significant ownership over the design direction of an early-stage company.

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What You'll Do

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• Own end-to-end product design, from discovery and research through information architecture, interaction design, prototyping, implementation, and iteration.
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• Simplify complex hospitality workflows involving revenue, marketing, guest management, and operations into intuitive user experiences.
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• Design thoughtful AI-native interfaces that help users delegate tasks, review outputs, and maintain control over automated workflows.
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• Design and build compelling, responsive websites that communicate a brand's story and drive engagement and conversion.
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• Develop reusable website templates and components that can be customized across different hotel brands, properties, and content.
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• Create visually engaging email templates for marketing campaigns and guest communications.
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• Establish scalable design systems across software interfaces, websites, and email experiences.
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• Collaborate directly with founders, engineers, and customers to translate business needs into polished, functional experiences.
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• Stay involved through development and implementation to ensure design quality carries through to the finished product.
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• Use customer feedback and performance data to continually improve usability, engagement, and conversion.
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What We're Looking For

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• Strong product design fundamentals, including UX/UI design, information architecture, interaction design, visual design, prototyping, and design systems.
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• Exceptional visual design skills, with a strong understanding of typography, layout, hierarchy, composition, imagery, and interaction.
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• Demonstrated experience designing both complex software products and polished consumer-facing websites.
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• Hands-on experience building and launching responsive websites using code or modern website-building platforms.
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• A portfolio demonstrating shipped product experiences and compelling web design, with clear examples of your individual contributions.
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• Experience owning design projects from initial problem definition through launch and iteration.
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• Ability to simplify complex workflows while maintaining functionality and usability.
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• Strong technical collaboration skills and an understanding of front-end development constraints.
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• Experience designing responsive experiences, including navigation, accessibility, loading states, and error handling.
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• Excellent communication skills and the ability to articulate design decisions and incorporate feedback.
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• Comfort working independently in a fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.
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Nice to Have

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• Experience in hospitality, travel, ecommerce, marketplaces, or consumer technology.
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• Experience designing B2B SaaS platforms, operational software, or workflow tools.
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• Experience creating configurable website templates, themes, or multi-brand design systems.
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• Experience designing and developing responsive HTML email templates.
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• Front-end development experience with HTML, CSS, React, or TypeScript.
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• Experience with AI-native products, agentic workflows, or AI-assisted design tools.
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• Previous startup, founding team, agency, or independent consulting experience.
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What Makes You Successful

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• Creative judgment: You have exceptional visual taste and care about the details that distinguish good design from great design.
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• Ownership: You take initiative, work through ambiguity, and move projects forward without extensive direction.
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• Versatility: You're equally comfortable designing sophisticated product interfaces and beautiful consumer experiences.
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• Execution: You don't stop at mockups. You enjoy building, collaborating with engineers, and seeing your work ship.
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• Collaboration: You communicate clearly, welcome feedback, and prioritize the best outcome over personal preference.
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• Adaptability: You thrive in a small, ambitious team where priorities evolve and your work has an immediate impact.
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What's in It for You

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• Competitive compensation and meaningful equity participation.
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• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
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• Lunch and fitness stipends.
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• Beautiful waterfront office in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
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• Direct collaboration with experienced founders and a highly engaged engineering team.
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• Significant creative ownership and the opportunity to establish design foundations from the ground up.
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• The chance to help shape an AI-native technology platform and the digital experiences of independent hospitality businesses.
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Location & Requirements

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This is a full-time, onsite opportunity based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, with an expectation of working in the office 4–5 days per week.

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Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States.

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Portfolio Required

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A portfolio link must be included on your resume or provided with your application to be considered.

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Your portfolio must demonstrate both product UI/UX design and consumer-facing website design , ideally including examples of shipped work.

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Please clearly identify your individual contributions, including what you designed, what you built, and what ultimately launched.

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We welcome designers from B2B, B2C, agency, startup, and independent backgrounds. Formal credentials are not required. We're most interested in the quality of your work, your design judgment, and your ability to turn ideas into exceptional digital experiences.

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About 52 Limited

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52 Limited is a creative and technology staffing agency connecting exceptional talent with innovative companies nationwide. We specialize in opportunities across design, technology, marketing, and creative disciplines.