At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative vision and mentor a design team while driving innovative AI-powered solutions.
- Company: Join a leading visual communications agency with over 20 years of experience.
- Benefits: Flexible hybrid or remote work options, competitive salary, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with opportunities to innovate using cutting-edge AI tools.
- Why this job: Shape high-impact projects for global brands and elevate your creative career.
- Qualifications: Strong creative leadership experience and expertise in presentation design.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
We have a great opportunity for an AI focussed Design Director to join a leading visual communications agency with over 20 years’ experience partnering with some of the world’s most respected global technology and enterprise brands. This position can be hybrid if you are based near the Leicester/midlands area or remote based within the UK.
Presentations are central to what the agency do, their creative output also spans a broad range of formats, from digital documents and interactive sales assets to storyboards and motion-led video content. They combine strategic thinking with design craft, transforming complex information into compelling visuals that resonate across audiences and channels.
Role Purpose
As Design Director, you will support the Creative Director on leading the end-to-end creative vision across a key global enterprise client account, driving exceptional standards and shaping high-impact, enterprise-level work. You will operate as a strategic partner to the client, translating complex business challenges into compelling creative solutions. You will inspire a multidisciplinary design team, mentoring and elevating output while ensuring consistency, innovation, and alignment with brand and business objectives. Acting as the senior creative voice, you will influence client direction, guide storytelling, and champion new ways of working particularly through AI-enabled creative workflows and scalable design systems. This role blends hands-on creative mentoring with strategic thinking, requiring someone confident working with enterprise clients, navigating complexity, and delivering clear, effective visual solutions.
Key Responsibilities
- Creative Strategy
- Support the creative vision across all projects, ensuring work is strategically aligned, innovative, and best-in-class.
- Translate complex client briefs into clear creative direction and compelling visual storytelling.
- Lead the development of digital campaign concepts, presentation design, and storyboards for high-impact communications and event experiences.
- Maintain and evolve creative standards in line with client brand and enterprise positioning.
- Enterprise Client Engagement
- Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted creative partner.
- Lead client workshops, briefings, and presentations with clarity and authority.
- Navigate complex challenges with strong problem-solving skills, balancing creativity with commercial and technical requirements.
- Shape briefs collaboratively, ensuring outputs deliver measurable impact.
- AI & Creative Innovation
- Champion the use of AI-powered tools and workflows to enhance creativity, efficiency, and scalability.
- Identify opportunities to embed AI into creative processes beyond surface-level execution.
- Drive innovation across design systems, storytelling, and content production.
- Ensure the team remains up to date with emerging tools and creative technologies.
- Creative Delivery & Craft
- Oversee the creation of high-quality outputs across digital campaigns, events, presentations, and experience-led work.
- Maintain strong hands-on capability across design tools, with expertise in presentation design.
- Ensure all work meets brand, technical, and enterprise-level standards.
- Provide clear creative direction across storyboarding, layout, and visual storytelling.
- Team Mentorship
- Mentor and develop designers (in-house and freelance).
- Provide clear direction and guidance to elevate creative output and capability.
- Support ideation sessions and encourage innovative thinking.
- Foster ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Creative Operations & Enablement
- Oversee the development of scalable design systems, templates, and reusable assets.
- Embed structured workflows and best practices across the team.
- Partner with project management, content, and client services to ensure seamless delivery.
Skills & Experience
- Strong experience in creative leadership within a design or agency environment.
- Expertise in presentation design and digital communications.
- Proven ability to work with enterprise-level clients and complex projects.
- Excellent storytelling, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- High attention to detail with strong organisational and delivery capabilities.
Software Experience
- Strong knowledge of PowerPoint.
- Excellent experience across design tools (e.g. InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop).
- Experience with tools such as Figma, After Effects, and Premiere Pro is a bonus.
- Skilled across AI-powered creative/operational tools (e.g. generative design, automation, workflow, content adaptation tools) such as Midjourney, Vero, Claude, Firefly, Runway etc.
Please send CV and portfolio stating your salary expectations.
Design Director in Portsmouth employer: Creative Recruitment Limited - Creative, Digital, Marketing, Creative & Client Services Talent
Join a leading visual communications agency that champions creativity and innovation, offering a dynamic work environment where your expertise as a Design Director will thrive. With a strong focus on AI-driven design solutions, you'll have the opportunity to mentor a talented team while collaborating with prestigious global clients. Enjoy the flexibility of hybrid or remote work options, alongside a culture that prioritises professional growth and fosters a collaborative spirit.
Contact Detail:
Creative Recruitment Limited - Creative, Digital, Marketing, Creative & Client Services Talent Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in Portsmouth
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the design world, especially those who work with enterprise clients. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects that involve AI and complex storytelling. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing—just like your designs!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled complex briefs and led teams to success. Remember, they want to see your creative process as much as the final product!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in Portsmouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Vision:When you’re putting together your application, make sure to highlight your unique creative vision. We want to see how you can transform complex ideas into compelling visuals, so don’t hold back on showcasing your best work in your portfolio!
Tailor Your CV and Portfolio:Make your CV and portfolio specific to the Design Director role. We love seeing how your experience aligns with our needs, especially in presentation design and working with enterprise clients. Customising your application shows us you’re genuinely interested!
Be Clear About Your AI Experience:Since we’re keen on AI-driven creativity, be sure to mention any experience you have with AI tools in your application. Whether it’s generative design or workflow automation, we want to know how you’ve used these technologies to enhance your creative process.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Creative Recruitment Limited - Creative, Digital, Marketing, Creative & Client Services Talent
✨Know Your Creative Vision
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your creative vision and how it aligns with the agency's goals. Be ready to discuss specific projects where you've successfully translated complex briefs into compelling visuals, showcasing your strategic thinking and design craft.
✨Showcase Your AI Savvy
Since this role emphasises AI-enabled creative workflows, come prepared to discuss your experience with AI tools in design. Share examples of how you've integrated these technologies into your work to enhance creativity and efficiency, demonstrating your forward-thinking approach.
✨Engage with Storytelling
Storytelling is key in this role, so think about how you can articulate your design process as a narrative. Prepare to share how you've shaped briefs collaboratively and led presentations that resonate with clients, highlighting your ability to navigate complex challenges.
✨Prepare for Client Engagement Scenarios
Anticipate questions about building relationships with senior stakeholders and leading workshops. Think of specific instances where you've acted as a trusted creative partner, and be ready to discuss how you balance creativity with commercial and technical requirements.
