At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects and collaborate with a talented team to bring brands to life.
- Company: &Smith, a renowned creative agency with a passion for branding.
- Benefits: Remote work, flexitime, wellness afternoons, and personal development budget.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with high-profile global brands and travel for projects.
- Why this job: Join a respected agency and make an impact in the travel and hospitality sectors.
- Qualifications: Minimum 8 years of design experience and strong portfolio showcasing creativity.
The predicted salary is between 40500 - 49500 £ per year.
Hi. We’re &Smith and we’re on the look out for a super talented designer to join our team. The role is for a 12-month maternity cover. At the moment we’re a creative team of 8, working remotely full-time, but with regular in-person meet-ups in London.
Location: London (Remote)
Salary: Depending on experience
Experience Level: Upper mid / Senior (min 8 years)
Job Type: 12-month maternity cover
Application Ends: 4th September
&Smith... Every day we eat, drink and sleep with brands all over the world. Whether they’re a brand that needs creating, or a brand that needs more creativity, we’re always asking ourselves – ‘What if?’ What if there’s a stone unturned? What if there’s more magic and less logic? What if the ordinary could be extra-ordinary? What if we could work with you?
Some detail…
Eating. Drinking. Sleeping. Branding. That’s our thing. We need you to have a good amount of experience in our specialist areas and love them as much as we do. As you’ll be covering a senior member of our team, we’re looking for someone with at least 8 years experience in the industry. The role sits in between our Creative Partner's (Owners) and our Middleweight/Junior designers. This means you'll be happy working collaboratively under a Partner’s direction, but also at times need to lead projects and direct the junior members of the team. Creativity and ideas are a big part of what we do and needs to be a big part of your portfolio too. We want to see how you can bring brands and experiences to life, then make people fall in love with them.
You’ll need to show you have a high level of experience across all our day-to-day activities. That's usually a mix of branding concepts and strategy, visual identity, packaging, experience ideas, print and digital design implementation, web design, photoshoots and brand film. On the practical side, it’s important that you have experience in managing clients and projects from start to finish. You’ll be used to working on and managing multiple projects at the same time, be able to present confidently, and structure/write design presentations. You’ll also be organised enough to support the team in project admin and be used to day-to-day client contact.
You’ll need to know Adobe InDesign, Illustrator, XD and Photoshop to a very high level. Although we don’t code in-house it’s important to have a good understanding of how the developers bring our web designs to life too. We’d also love you to know how to make things move (animation or motion design), but it is not essential. As a big part of our work is in travel and hospitality, we have a lot of clients dotted across the UK, Europe and further afield. With work varying from discovery trips to photoshoots, we’d need you to be up for travelling and the occasional night away.
A few perks…
- Remote working
- Flexitime hours
- Wellness afternoons
- Birthdays off
- New business bonus
- Personal development budget
- 1% of our working days in a year to nonprofits, social enterprises and small businesses
Some more about &Smith…
&Smith are a creative agency where ideas – really good ideas – are available to all. Since forming in 2007, &Smith have earned their stripes as hotel, food and drink specialists. Led by Creative Partners and owners Rachel Smith and Dan Bernstein they’ve a reputation of pushing the creative boundaries within the sector and have quickly become one of the most highly respected and awarded agencies in the UK. From their studio in London, they have been fortunate to work across a number of high profile global brands. Notable names include Liberty London, Dishoom, Kimpton Restaurants & Hotels, Rick Stein, Marks & Spencer, Shake Shack, Carlton Cannes, InterContinental Hotel Group, Four Seasons, Rosa’s Thai, Dorchester Collection, Wagamama and Manchester City Football Club. &Smith’s work has been widely published in books and the international design press. They have received awards from D&AD, European Design Awards, The Brand Impact Awards, ADC Annual Awards, Restaurant and Bar Design Awards, Food and Beverage Design Awards, Transform Awards, Creative Review, Pentawards, The Dieline and Communication Arts to name but a few.
Good Ideas... We take every chance we can get to use our creative chops for good. We’re B-Corp certified, so whether we’re helping a restaurant highlight its sustainable sourcing, or a hotel celebrate its local community, we make sure it’s done in a way where the impact hits home (and heart). And when we say good ideas are available to all – we mean it. Every year we work pro bono with a charity or social enterprise who could benefit from great creative.
Upper Middleweight / Senior Designer (Maternity Cover) employer: Critical Playground LLC
Critical Playground LLC is an exceptional employer located in Wellingborough, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters creativity and collaboration. With a commitment to employee growth, the company provides ample opportunities for professional development alongside competitive benefits such as 25 days of holiday and a matched pension scheme. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our creative projects and client relationships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Upper Middleweight / Senior Designer (Maternity Cover)
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like Critical Playground LLC.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Critical Playground LLC, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Upper Middleweight / Senior Designer (Maternity Cover)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work Critical Playground LLC does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at Critical Playground LLC.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Critical Playground LLC. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at Critical Playground LLC.
How to prepare for a job interview at Critical Playground LLC
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to Critical Playground LLC. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.