Design Director

Responsibilities

• ● This is not a sit-back, review-the-work-and-nod-at-decks kind of role.
• ● We're working with an ambitious, award-winning independent brand and creative agency looking for a Design Director, or an exceptional emerging Creative Director of Brand, to lead its design team and help push the agency's creative output to the next level.
• ● They need someone with serious brand credentials, a portfolio that still feels fresh and a genuine desire to stay close to the work. What you'll be walking into The agency is entering an exciting phase, with several major national rebrands and Tier 1 projects moving through the studio.
• ● You'll lead a team of three designers and take ownership of the agency's brand and design discipline. The team has been through some change, so this person will play an important role in bringing stability, consistency and plenty of creative energy.
• ● You'll work closely with the founder and leadership team, with the potential to join the broader management team depending on your experience and how much agency-wide responsibility you want to take on. The work The main focus is brand identity, brand refresh and rebranding work, but they don't want someone sitting in a neat little "brand only" box.
• ● If you've helped create a brand and the agency then develops a major OOH campaign for it, you'll have a creative voice in that too. The same goes for campaigns, pitches, digital experiences and the wider creative conversation across the agency. You'll be:
• ● Leading major national brand projects from concept through to design systems and rollout.
• ● Setting the creative bar across brand and design.
• ● Staying hands-on and personally helping elevate the work.
• ● Leading and mentoring a team of three designers.
• ● Working closely with junior creatives to develop their craft and confidence.
• ● Presenting and selling ideas to clients and senior stakeholders.
• ● Running Brand Expression workshops.
• ● Contributing to pitches and new business opportunities.
• ● Improving design systems, processes and ways of working.
• ● Managing multiple projects across deadlines and budgets.
• ● Exploring AI tools that can make creative workflows smarter and faster without making the work feel generic.
• ● Bringing ideas and opinions to campaigns, OOH and other creative outputs beyond branding. You'll probably be someone who...
• ● Has around eight or more years of experience in a strong brand, design or creative agency.
• ● Has led major rebrands or brand identity projects for recognized or national brands.