Design Director
New York
A Design Director at DesignStudio is a key leadership role that is crucial to teams, client relationships and design outcomes. You will lead multi-disciplinary teams to deliver incredible work throughout all stages of the creative process; immersion, strategy, expression and implementation.
You know how to work with people to get the best out of them and how maintain a good working environment.
You are a compelling storyteller and a brilliant designer. You are flexible and willing to direct the development of concepts across strategy, copy and design, inspiring others to think laterally to evolve big ideas. You encourage cutting edge creativity, and inspire teams to go beyond current trends.
You enjoy interacting, presenting and workshopping with clients. You’re confident and able to develop positive client relationships.
Key Qualities
- Visionary, inspiring and full of ideas
- Relentlessly optimistic
- Dedicated and passionate about design
- Energetic and proactive
- Constructive and challenging
- Highly flexible and adaptable to challenges
- Collaborative and great with people
- Curiosity and a deep interest in the world
- Open to new viewpoints, ideas and ways of working
- Confident and self-motivated
- High level of professionalism
- Good time management and organisation
- Love of design
- Collaborative team player
- Friendly and welcoming
- Experimental
- Connected to culture, with an awareness of trends both old and new
- Full of ideas
- Willing to work on anything
Responsibilities
Lead creative teams across multiple projects
to deliver outstanding work; from immersion, to strategy, to creative expression and implementation.
Take ownership of project deliveries
ensuring work gets delivered to a high standard, on time, with a consciousness of commercial obligations. Assess and engage with appropriate partners/suppliers to maintain quality control.
Maintain a high level of design craft
and execute the creative vision of projects alongside CDs.
Create and build strong client relationships
working with client services and CDs to ensure the successful running of projects and ongoing relationships.
Build the creative culture within DS
looking for new ways to improve the way we work and develop as a studio.
Develop talent
Hiring, training, reviewing and managing the ongoing development of our creative team.
Develop new business
informing proposals and project planning.
Direct the marketing of work
and case studies of projects.
Key skills and requirements
Proven experience
Experience delivering incredible and effective creative work. Experience in directing design teams to deliver brand projects for international clients. Most likely you’ll have at least 8+ years of industry experience.
Inspiring portfolio
Full of high quality work that demonstrates conceptual, crafted and unique work. Work should inspire and show versatility, experimentation, system-thinking and energy. Work should include significant brand and digital projects that have been recognised within the industry. Awards are a bonus.
Experienced leader
You’re a natural collaborator and a proven leader. You are at ease leading multidisciplinary teams, and can bring energy and enthusiasm to all stages of the creative process.
Outstanding facilitator
Confident running interviews, workshops and interactions with senior clients (c-suite), enabling creative leaps and break-through political impasses.
Transformation experience
Able to guide clients through stakeholder engagement and/or cultural change.
Master storyteller
Excellent presenter, writer and communicator who is able to construct a strong and persuasive argument with logic and imagination.
Commercial savvy
Able to design and build a vision for a project with a view to growing long-term client relationships.
Efficiency
Able to juggle several tasks with ease, prioritise work-streams, and delegate tasks effectively with strong organisational skill.
Flexibility
Able to flex and be confident working within any industry, with any type of person, anywhere in the world.
Large toolkit
Proficient with the tools of the trade and confident going beyond, discovering new ones and developing your own.
How you'll split your time
As a Design Director your time will be split:
80% project responsibilities | 20% culture, team and studio growth.
Design Director
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