Design Director
Spirit of the role
A Design Director at DesignStudio is a key leadership role that is crucial to teams, client relationships and design outcomes. As a Design Director you lead multidisciplinary 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 maintain a good working vibe.
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 your teams to go beyond current trends. You enjoy interacting, presenting and workshopping with clients. You’re confident and can develop positive and natural client relationships.
Your responsibilities
Leading creative teams across multiple projects through every stage of projects to efficiently deliver outstanding work; from immersion to strategy to creative expression and through to implementation
Taking ownership of project delivery ensuring work gets delivered to a high standard, on time and conscious of commercial obligations. Assessing and engaging with appropriate partners/suppliers to maintain quality control.
Maintaining a high level of design craft and executing the creative vision of projects along with the CDs
Create and build strong client relationships, working with the client services team and CDs to ensure successful running of projects and ongoing relationships.
Building the creative culture within DS, always looking for new ways to improve the way we work and develop as a studio.
Developing talent. Hiring, training, reviewing and managing the ongoing development of the creative team. Provide direction and insight to Creative Directors with regards to staff performance and needs. Identifying and escalating issues within the team to CDs as appropriate.
Line managing creative team, giving them guidance, energy and direction • Developing new business, informing proposals and project planning.
Directing the marketing of work and case studies for projects.
How you'll split your time
As a Design Director, your line manager and the studio team will be working with you towards realising the ideal balance of your time as you take on more responsibilities beyond project delivery:
80% Project responsibilities (Leading creative teams)
20% Culture, team and studio growth (Line managing, marketing, culture building etc.)
Key skills and qualifications
Proven experience You’ve consistently delivered incredible, 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 High quality portfolio of work, that demonstrates conceptual, crafted and unique work. Work should inspire and show versatility, experimentation, system thinking and energy. Has significant brand and digital projects that have been recognised as excellent within the industry. Awards are a bonus.
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
Experienced leader You’re a natural collaborator and a proven leader. You are at ease with multidisciplinary teams and can bring energy and enthusiasm to all stages of the creative process.
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, prioritize work-streams, delegate effectively with strong organizational skills
Flexibility Able to flex and be confident working within any kind of industry, with any type of person, anywhere in the world (from startups to corporations to schools and beyond). Able to jump on the tools when necessary to support the team.
Large toolkit Proficient with the tools of the trade and confident to go beyond, discovering new ones and developing your own (making films, prototypes, animating, coding etc.)
Qualities of a DS Design Director
• 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 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 awareness of trends of both old and new. • Full of ideas • Willing to work on anything
How to apply
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