At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative vision and mentor a design team to deliver impactful visual solutions.
- Company: Join a leading visual communications agency with 20+ years of experience.
- Benefits: Hybrid or remote work options, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on emerging technologies and scalable design systems.
- Why this job: Shape innovative projects using AI and inspire a talented design team.
- 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 does, 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) Midjourney, Vero, Claude, Firefly, Runway etc.
Please send CV and portfolio stating your salary expectations.
Locations
Design Director in Hampshire, Portsmouth employer: Creative Recruitment
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 working arrangements, alongside a culture that prioritises professional growth and fosters a collaborative spirit.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in Hampshire, 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.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects that demonstrate your ability to translate complex briefs into stunning visuals. Make sure it’s easy to navigate and visually appealing.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising your storytelling skills. Be ready to discuss how you’ve tackled challenges in past projects and how you can bring innovative solutions to the table, especially with AI tools.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in Hampshire, 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 translate complex ideas into compelling visuals, so don’t hold back on showcasing your best work in your portfolio!
Tailor Your CV:Make your CV stand out by tailoring it specifically for the Design Director role. Focus on your experience with enterprise clients and any innovative projects you've led, especially those involving AI tools. We love seeing how you’ve tackled challenges creatively!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for design and how you’ve mentored teams in the past. We’re looking for someone who can inspire others, so let that shine through!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step!
How to prepare for a job interview at Creative Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the agency's work and their approach to design. Familiarise yourself with their past projects, especially those involving AI and visual storytelling. This will not only show your genuine interest but also help you speak their language during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Creative Process
Prepare to discuss your creative process in detail. Be ready to share examples of how you've translated complex briefs into compelling visuals. Highlight any experience you have with AI tools and how they’ve enhanced your design workflow, as this aligns perfectly with what they're looking for.
✨Engage with Their Vision
During the interview, engage with their creative vision by asking insightful questions. This could be about their approach to client engagement or how they see AI shaping the future of design. It shows that you're not just a candidate but someone who wants to contribute to their mission.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
As a Design Director, you'll need to inspire and mentor a team. Prepare examples of how you've led teams in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations. Discuss how you foster creativity and accountability within your team, as this will resonate well with their expectations.
