At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire the graphic design team to create stunning visuals for a luxury handbag brand.
- Company: Join a purpose-driven brand that empowers women and champions sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and a fab employee discount on stylish bags.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while crafting beautiful designs in a creative environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in graphic design with strong leadership and digital expertise.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values creativity, collaboration, and social responsibility.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We are a modern affordable luxury handbag brand, crafting timeless and elegant styles that are made to last. Founded with a vision to do things differently, we create handbags that empower women, are sustainably sourced and ethically made, and give back to those who need it most. These principles guide everything we do. We are committed to driving change, championing equality, and celebrating women. Through our permanent charity initiative, ‘A Bag, A Life’, every purchase funds lifesaving vaccines and medical treatments for children in need, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages. To date, we have funded over 2,000,000 vaccines. Join us and be part of an award‑winning, purpose‑driven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.
The Head of Graphic Design will lead and grow the graphic design team, setting the creative vision and ensuring high‑quality, consistent output across all brand and business needs. This role is responsible for both strategic direction and hands‑on leadership, day‑to‑day execution, quality, and consistency of the brand’s graphic design output across all platforms. Reporting to the Commercial Director, you will lead and mentor the Graphic Design team, partnering closely with the Head of Creative as well as Motion, Marketing, E‑commerce, and other key stakeholders across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
- Act as the guardian of the brand’s visual identity, ensuring consistent and elevated application across all channels, including email, web, social, print, wholesale, and ad hoc materials.
- Own the day‑to‑day creative review process for all graphic design and retouch output, acting as the primary design approver.
- Ensure consistency, quality, and luxury‑level craft across all visual communications.
- Provide clear, constructive creative feedback to Graphic Designers and internal and external retouchers.
- Uphold and evolve standards for typography, layout, image treatment, and overall visual execution.
- Translate brand and creative direction into clear, scalable design guidelines, systems, and frameworks.
- Maintain and evolve layout structures, typographic standards, and visual consistency as the brand grows.
- Safeguard brand quality across all platforms and touchpoints.
- Support seasonal creative rollouts and campaign executions.
- Establish and refine design processes, workflows, and best practices to ensure scalability and efficiency.
WEB & DIGITAL DESIGN SYSTEMS
- Own and lead the visual design and ongoing evolution of the website and digital experience, including landing pages, navigation, templates, and on‑site brand expression.
- Develop and maintain scalable web and digital design systems to ensure consistency, usability, and brand integrity across all touchpoints, in close partnership with E‑commerce and external Development teams, and using insights from testing and performance learnings to inform ongoing design improvements.
TEAM MANAGEMENT & MENTORSHIP
- Lead, mentor, and develop the Graphic Design team, fostering a culture of collaboration, detail‑driven and continuous improvement.
- Provide clear creative direction and feedback.
- Delegate work effectively based on strengths and capacity.
- Support skill development, growth, and performance within the team.
EXECUTION & DELIVERY
- Oversee and support the design of assets across: Email marketing, Website & digital assets, Organic and paid social media content, Campaign rollouts, Marketing and wholesale materials including seasonal lookbooks and press releases, Print and brand collateral.
- Manage multiple work‑streams while maintaining high creative standards and meeting deadlines.
- Ensure files are production‑ready and meet technical requirements.
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of brand guidelines and design systems.
The Ideal candidate:
- 8+ years’ experience in graphic design, ideally within luxury fashion or premium brands, gained in‑house and/or agency‑side, with significant experience in a design leadership role.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating high‑quality brand and marketing work.
- Proven experience leading, reviewing, and elevating the work of other designers.
- Strong experience in web and digital design, including ownership of design systems and a solid understanding of UX/UI principles to deliver brand‑led, scalable digital experiences.
- Excellent visual, conceptual, and strategic thinking skills, with a strong eye for typography, composition, and craft.
- Deep understanding of both digital and print design standards, with high attention to detail.
- Social‑first thinker with up‑to‑date knowledge of platform best practices (including TikTok), and the ability to adapt creative per channel and objective.
- Confident, clear creative reviewer able to make decisions, give constructive feedback, and uphold quality under deadlines.
- Collaborative, pragmatic leader who balances creative ambition with business needs and can operate at both strategic and hands‑on levels.
- Strong communicator with the ability to inspire, align, and guide teams and stakeholders.
- Passionate about luxury branding, craft, and storytelling.
- Excellent proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) and Figma, with familiarity using AI‑powered creative tools such as Midjourney.
The interview process will include:
- Portfolio review.
- A concise, discussion‑based task focused on design leadership, review, and systems thinking. The task will be clearly briefed, time‑limited, and used solely for evaluation purposes.
Benefits:
- Hybrid‑working policy (1‑2 days in the office).
- Annual Leave package increasing the longer you stay with us.
- Enhanced company maternity policy.
- Time given yearly to volunteer for a charity of your choice.
- Employee Discount: 50% off Stock and up to 90% off Seasonal Sample Sales.
- Free gift DeMellier bag on successful probation.
Additional Information:
- Full‑time, permanent role, starting as soon as possible.
- Candidates must have the right to work in the UK.
- Please submit a CV and portfolio as part of your application.
Head of Graphic Design employer: DeMellier
Contact Detail:
DeMellier Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Graphic Design
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in tip-top shape! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially projects that align with luxury branding and storytelling. We want to see your creativity shine through, so pick pieces that really highlight your design leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your pitch! When you land that interview, be ready to talk about your design process and how you've led teams in the past. We love a good story, so share how you've tackled challenges and driven change in your previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Research the brand inside out! Understand their mission, values, and recent campaigns. This will help you tailor your responses and show us that you're genuinely passionate about what we do at our handbag brand.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up! After your interview, shoot us a quick thank-you email. It’s a great way to reiterate your interest in the role and remind us why you’d be a perfect fit for leading our graphic design team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Graphic Design
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio: Your portfolio is your chance to shine! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially projects that align with our luxury branding and design ethos. We want to see your creativity and how you’ve elevated brands in the past.
Tailor Your CV: Don’t just send a generic CV! Tailor it to highlight your experience in graphic design, especially in luxury fashion or premium brands. We’re looking for specific skills and achievements that match what we do here at StudySmarter.
Be Authentic: Let your personality come through in your application. We value authenticity and want to know what drives you, especially your passion for empowering women and sustainability. Share your story and why you want to join us!
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed! It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of applications and ensures you’re considered for this exciting role.
How to prepare for a job interview at DeMellier
✨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-curated portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to luxury branding and digital design. Tailor your selection to demonstrate your understanding of the brand's aesthetic and values.
✨Prepare for Design Leadership Questions
Expect questions about your leadership style and how you mentor your team. Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've elevated the work of other designers and fostered a collaborative environment.
✨Understand Their Brand Values
Research the company’s commitment to sustainability and social impact. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their mission, particularly around empowering women and ethical practices.
✨Demonstrate Your Digital Savvy
Since the role involves web and digital design systems, brush up on your UX/UI principles. Be ready to talk about how you've used insights from testing to improve digital experiences in past roles.