Design Directors are focused on creative excellence and inspirational direction across a broad portfolio of projects within the Studio. They have the ability to cause great design in the absence of the Creative Director. This role will have the capability to work both autonomously as the creative lead, and also work closely with the Creative Directors, to define a clear actionable creative vision on projects. They will lead, nurture and inspire a team of designers, responsible for effortlessly coordinating and guiding them to deliver against this vision. They will also have the ability to inspire and excite the client through articulate, passionate, compelling and succinct delivery of creative solutions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

— This role is accountable for ensuring the success and calibre of creative work produced by the studio across their projects.

— Work in partnership with the Strategic team to shape a captivating point of view and help define a compelling creative ‘white space’.

— Guide the success of projects overall by coordinating and directing a wider team, ensuring design, strategy and execution are seamlessly aligned in all work you are responsible for.

— Structure and direct compelling presentations, coaching Senior Designers and Design Leads to develop their own presentation skills.

— Understand how to prioritise resource needs on your client project teams and approve allocation of resources in all project plans and schedules.

— Build strong, personal client relationships, always in parallel and complimentary to colleague relationships, and nurture the project team to be accountable and build their own client relationships.

— Take ownership of the day-to-day running of the Studio through both planning and recruitment.

— Identify and understand development gaps within your team, and work closely with the HR Director / Creative Resource Manager to provide solutions to close these.

— Work with Senior Designers and Project Managers to oversee and approve the time allocation for projects in the Studio, ensuring design resource is identified, allocated and planned accordingly to satisfy the success of a project and its delivery, whilst also communicating associated solutions to Creative Director’s effectively.

— Provide sufficient day-to-day guidance to your team, retaining oversight of milestone deliverables, ensuring alignment on creative direction, clear feedback and effective decision making, to ensure projects run efficiently at every stage.

— Responsible for the pastoral care and development of your team, including growth reviews and regular feedback, ensuring a clear development path and assisting them achieving their full potential.

— Cultivate partnerships with the Project Management team, working closely with the Client Services Director to ensure transparency during the design process.

— Showcase commercial acumen when working in partnership with the Finance Team to ensure project budgets and timelines are maintained, securing the financial success of the business.

SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

— Be a confident and effective editor of both your own and other’s work, defining clear and articulative creative direction from the teams with depth and wider creative exploration.

— Utilise own experience and passion to cause intelligent, through-provoking and innovative creative solutions across a portfolio of projects.

— Act as an inspirational lead to the design team and lead through your own work.

— Showcase strong communication skills within creative discussions and client interactions, guiding the conversation and creative outputs.

— Have essential experience of protecting business interests when it comes to professionalism in delivery, relating to intellectual property, copywrite etc., ensuring all issues are dealt with in a professional and complaint manner.

— An exceptional understanding of the design landscape and design process.

— The ability to effectively multi-task, managing a broad portfolio of clients.

— A self-driven approach with exceptional time management skills, taking full ownership and accountability for delivery of both your own work and that of your team.

— A positive attitude, leading by example.

— Insight, opinion and a broad cultural perspective which positively affects the creative outcome.

EXPERTISE

— Adobe Creative Suite

— Keynote

— 3D programmes

— Typography and layout

— Art Direction

— Photography

— Creative writing

— Building presentation documents

— Presentation skills

— Art working skills –print management and digital

— Building design teams (new hires)