Company Overview
Helsing isn’t just another tech company—it’s a mission-driven organization tackling some of the most important challenges of our time. As a defence AI company, Helsing is committed to protecting democratic societies through technological excellence. What really stands out to me is their focus on ethics and transparency. In a world where the use of AI in defence can be controversial, Helsing doesn’t shy away from the difficult questions—they embrace them.
This alignment with democratic values and a dedication to ethical responsibility make Helsing unique. It’s not every day you find a company that combines high-level innovation with a deeply principled mission. Their teams consist of AI specialists, engineers, and forward-thinking program managers all working toward one goal: ensuring that democracies remain sovereign and secure in an increasingly complex world.
Job Description
The Graphic Designer role at Helsing goes far beyond basic visual work. It’s about shaping how the world sees Helsing—from the branding and aesthetic of marketing materials to the nuanced presentation of highly technical products. The position is located in Berlin and offers the opportunity to become the creative backbone behind a pioneering defence AI brand.
What excites me most is that this isn’t just about making things look good—it’s about storytelling, clarity, and authenticity. The Graphic Designer will play a key role in aligning the brand’s visual identity with its mission and values. This means creating everything from digital and print collateral to compelling presentations and immersive experiences that communicate the complexity and impact of Helsing’s work.
Key Responsibilities
The day-to-day duties for this role are well-defined and stimulating:
- End-to-End Ownership: Taking charge of design projects from the initial brief through to production.
- Visual Consistency: Ensuring the Helsing brand maintains a high standard of visual coherence across all platforms.
- Business Support: Designing sleek and impactful presentation materials to support customer communications.
- Creative Storytelling: Collaborating with product, communications, and program teams to visualize complex ideas.
- Versatile Design Work: Producing content for a wide range of environments—digital, print, and experiential.
It’s clear that this role offers a lot of creative freedom, but also demands a high level of discipline and a detail-oriented mindset.
Qualifications and Skills
Helsing is looking for someone with a comprehensive and versatile design portfolio. I appreciate that they’re open-minded about backgrounds—the focus is on demonstrated skill, not ticking every box. Here’s what they’re ideally looking for:
- A strong portfolio across different design styles and media (PDFs, websites, videos).
- Expertise in typography, layout, and color theory.
- Experience designing for complex, possibly abstract products.
- An eye for detail and the ability to deliver pixel-perfect work.
- Proficiency in tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
- Strong presentation-building skills.
- Intellectual curiosity—willingness to explore new tech and concepts, from radar systems to ethical AI.
Nice-to-Have Skills:
- Bonus points for skills like copywriting, photography, videography.
- Experience with After Effects or Premiere is also a plus.
Even if an applicant doesn’t hit every mark, Helsing encourages candidates to apply if they resonate with the mission and have the creative drive to grow into the role.
Application Process & Deadlines
While Helsing hasn’t specified a hard application deadline, it’s clear that this is a competitive role (39 applicants already in the first few hours), so applying as early as possible is crucial.
To apply, candidates need to:
- Submit a resume and a portfolio (PDF or online link).
- Include relevant examples of digital, print, or video work.
- Highlight specific contributions to previous projects—clarity and intentionality matter.
Application Tips & Strategy
As someone genuinely interested in this position, here’s how I’d approach the application:
- Tailor the Portfolio: Showcase pieces that align with Helsing’s brand values—think clean, modern, thoughtful design. Include work that shows your ability to tell stories visually, not just make things look pretty.
- Emphasize Mission Fit: This is a company that values ethical awareness and curiosity. In your cover letter or email, briefly express how you align with Helsing’s mission to protect democracies using technology.
- Demonstrate Versatility: Since the role involves presentations, marketing, and possibly motion graphics, I’d include a variety of work types to show range.
- Stay Curious: Be prepared to discuss how you’d communicate complex tech ideas in a simple, elegant way. Mention any self-driven learning or experimentation, such as with AI image generation tools.
Why This Role Matters
What draws me most to Helsing is the impact. This isn’t about marketing consumer goods—it’s about supporting initiatives that shape global stability and ethics in defence. The design work here helps build trust, facilitate understanding, and communicate advanced technology to varied stakeholders.
At Helsing, design is not an afterthought—it’s central to the mission. It bridges the technical with the human, the complex with the clear. That’s exactly the kind of design I want to be part of.