Head of Design in London

I am currently supporting a leading UK workplace design, interiors, architecture and fit-out business on a confidential search for a Head of Design. The organisation has established an exceptional reputation for creating high-quality, engaging and highly considered workplace environments for a diverse portfolio of clients, ranging from ambitious start-ups and growing businesses to global enterprises and institutional landlords. With a substantial project portfolio and ambitious growth plans, the business is now looking for an outstanding design leader to shape the next chapter of its creative direction.

The Opportunity

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Head of Design will play a pivotal role in defining and elevating the company's design proposition. This is a senior, hands-on leadership position for someone who combines exceptional creative instinct with strong commercial awareness, client presence and the ability to inspire and develop a high-performing design team. You will be responsible for maintaining consistently high design standards across projects, whilst bringing a distinctive point of view and ensuring every scheme is tailored to the client, brief, budget and wider business objectives. A significant part of the role will involve leading the design response during the pre-pitch and client-winning stages, as well as providing creative leadership throughout project delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team of designers, creating a collaborative, ambitious and innovative design culture.
• Shape design strategies and narratives for major client pitches and opportunities.
• Lead client meetings, workplace consultations, site visits and briefing sessions.
• Translate client requirements and feedback into compelling, commercially viable design solutions.
• Develop distinctive concepts, spatial strategies, presentations and 2D/3D design outputs.
• Confidently present and defend creative concepts to senior clients in a competitive pitch environment.
• Ensure design solutions are both creatively ambitious and commercially aligned with project budgets.
• Oversee design development from initial concept through to project completion.
• Lead space planning, block planning, adjacency studies, detailed design and design coordination.
• Work closely with Technical Design, Commercial, Project Management, Creative and other internal teams.
• Oversee material, finishes, furniture and fixture selection and coordinate relevant schedules.
• Maintain design quality and consistency throughout project delivery.
• Support value engineering whilst protecting the integrity and intent of the design.
• Identify project and client risks early and provide clear solutions.
• Mentor and develop Junior, Mid-Weight and Senior Designers.
• Monitor team dynamics, development needs and resourcing requirements.
• Keep the business at the forefront of workplace design trends, materials, technology and best practice.

What We're Looking For

The ideal candidate will be an established workplace/interior design leader with a strong portfolio and a proven track record of winning and delivering complex, high-quality projects. You'll likely bring:

• Significant experience within workplace, commercial interiors, architecture, fit-out or a closely related environment.
• A strong creative point of view and the confidence to challenge conventional thinking.
• Proven experience leading successful client pitches and presentations.
• Excellent client-facing and communication skills.
• The ability to interpret and respond intelligently to client feedback.
• Strong commercial awareness and experience designing within budgets.
• Exceptional attention to detail and a commitment to design quality.
• Experience managing, mentoring and inspiring design teams.
• The ability to balance creativity with programme, commercial and delivery considerations.
• A collaborative leadership style, combined with the confidence to make decisions and take ownership.
• Excellent knowledge of contemporary workplace design, materials, finishes and emerging industry trends.

The Person

This opportunity would suit a Head of Design, Design Director, Senior Design Director or highly experienced Senior Designer who is ready to take genuine ownership of a design function and influence the wider direction of a growing business. We're looking for someone who is passionate about design, commercially astute and naturally credible with both clients and internal teams. Most importantly, you'll be someone who can lead by example, inspire others and consistently push for exceptional design outcomes.

Why This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to join a highly regarded business at an exciting stage of its growth and to have genuine influence over its future design direction. You will have the autonomy to shape design standards, develop talent, influence major client opportunities and help define what exceptional workplace design looks like across the organisation. This search is being conducted on a strictly confidential basis. Further information regarding the company, team structure, remuneration and specific project portfolio will be shared with suitably qualified candidates during the recruitment process. If you are interested in exploring the opportunity confidentially, please get in touch for an initial conversation.