Principal Designer

We’re Fostr, an IDHL company. As a premier Shopify Plus agency, we deliver strategic, design-forward digital and eCommerce solutions for luxury lifestyle, beauty & wellness, and fashion brands. With a global presence and a strong UK base, we work with some of the fastest-growing and most ambitious brands, helping them scale and evolve their digital channels with precision and creativity. We combine deep industry knowledge with Shopify Plus expertise to create exceptional, conversion-optimised eCommerce experiences that resonate with both our clients’ and their customers’ expectations. Our clients include leading global brands like LVMH, Victoria Beckham, Pucci, and RAD Global, among others.

But what’s in it for you? Aside from working with some of the best in the business (there are nearly 400 of us), we offer a variety of benefits all aimed at making your life that little bit sweeter:

• 26 days holiday plus bank holidays and a birthday lie-in
• Two additional days for wellbeing and a volunteering day
• Additional annual leave purchase scheme or trade leave you don’t use for extra salary
• Hybrid working (a mix of office and home-based for many of our roles)
• Financial support from Salary Finance and Bippit
• Company pension scheme and health care cash plan
• Private health care dependent on length of service
• Clear training and progression programme
• Free mortgage advice from experts
• Regular company events and awards
• Employee perks portal
• Plus many more, visit our careers page for more details

Invested in your growth. Personal and professional development are core to life at IDHL. Harnessing potential, we’ll endeavour to support your career aspirations with our training programmes and personalised development plans.

Inclusivity matters to us. We want our workplace to reflect the diversity of the world we live in. At IDHL, we foster an inclusive environment where every team member feels heard, supported, and valued. We aim to attract, develop, and retain the very best people irrespective of background, beliefs, or personal characteristics.

About The Role

We are seeking a highly skilled and concept-driven Principal Designer to support the Creative Director and lead visual design across all clients in the Fostr client portfolio. You will be responsible for overseeing and directing the design process, playing a key role in shaping the creative vision of client projects. Combining strategic thinking with stunning execution, you will deliver best-in-class experiences for some of the world’s most exciting luxury brands. The Principal Designer is responsible for driving positive change and championing design innovation throughout the business. This is a solutions-led role, responsible for owning the design process from conceptualization to creation, aligning with strategic project goals and meeting stakeholders' expectations. As part of our process, the Principal Designer is responsible for leading information gathering, facilitating discovery and is confident and skilled at presenting designs to clients and stakeholders. As another key part of the role, they will provide guidance and mentorship to other designers on the team, maintaining ongoing standards and ensuring best practice and smooth and efficient workflow. The role also involves regular cross-discipline collaboration with (but not exclusively) project management, development and account management teams to produce exceptional client experiences and best in class websites.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design direction and visual design of Shopify ecommerce websites and digital brand experiences within the Fostr portfolio
• Translate client goals, user insights, and brand strategy into sophisticated, elevated user-centric design solutions
• Present design work to clients and stakeholders with clarity and confidence and ability to work to high intensity deadlines
• Be highly proficient in Figma, with advanced experience in designing scalable UI systems and responsive layouts to demonstrate proof of concept
• Design and build intuitive, pixel perfect, interactive prototypes to demonstrate functionality, flows, and micro-interactions for client demos and direction for development post sign-off
• Create, manage and maintain shared design libraries and style guide components for both internal and external client use
• Have strong experience using Figma for team collaboration, developer handoff, and version control
• Collaborate closely with strategists, developers, UX/UI designers, and project and account managers to ensure cohesive delivery from start to finish
• Create and evolve visual identities and brand systems with consistency across digital touchpoints
• Guide and mentor junior and mid-weight designers, providing feedback and elevating the quality of all design output
• Stay ahead of trends in digital design, luxury branding and marketing, ecommerce, and UX

Role Requirements

• 5+ years of experience in digital design, ideally within an agency or boutique studio environment
• Strong portfolio showcasing stunning, polished design work in the fashion, beauty, lifestyle, and wellness space
• Proven experience designing for Shopify, with a deep understanding of ecommerce best practices and limitations
• As outlined with key responsibilities, have a mastery of tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and other prototyping platforms
• A refined aesthetic sensibility with attention to detail in typography, colour, composition, and motion
• Deep understanding of UX/UI principles, responsive design, and customer journeys in ecommerce
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• Passion and experience in the luxury space demonstrating an intuitive grasp of what makes an elevated brand experience

Nice to Have

• Experience working with developers or knowledge of front-end capabilities (HTML/CSS/JS)
• Branding or visual identity creation experience

Why Join Us?

To work with prestigious global luxury brands in an inspiring and design-forward environment is a highly satisfying and rewarding experience. You’ll collaborate with a talented, supportive, and creatively driven team. We offer flexible remote working options and opportunities for growth, leadership, and shaping the future of luxury ecommerce - this role can be anywhere in the UK with some travel to office locations and client visits expected.