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 luxury handbag brand that empowers women and champions sustainability.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, generous leave, and a 50% employee discount on stylish bags.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact while crafting beautiful designs in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in graphic design with strong leadership and digital design skills.
- Other info: Be part of a brand that gives back, funding vaccines for children in need.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
About us: 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 awardâwinning, purposeâdriven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.
The Role: The Head of Graphic Design will lead and grow the graphic design team, setting the creative vision and ensuring highâquality, consistent output across all brand and business needs. This role is responsible for both strategic direction and handsâon leadership, dayâtoâday 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, Eâcommerce, and other key stakeholders across the business.
Key Responsibilities:
- DESIGN LEADERSHIP & REVIEW: 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 dayâtoâday creative review process for all graphic design and retouch output, acting as the primary design approver. Ensure consistency, quality, and luxuryâlevel 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 onâsite 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 Eâcommerce 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, detailâdriven 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 workâstreams while maintaining high creative standards and meeting deadlines. Ensure files are productionâready 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 inâhouse and/or agencyâside, with significant experience in a design leadership role.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating highâquality 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 brandâled, 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.
- Socialâfirst thinker with upâtoâdate 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 handsâon 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 AIâpowered creative tools such as Midjourney.
The interview process will include:
- Portfolio review.
- A concise, discussionâbased task focused on design leadership, review, and systems thinking. The task will be clearly briefed, timeâlimited, and used solely for evaluation purposes.
Benefits:
- Hybridâworking policy (1â2 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:
- Fullâtime, 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 in London employer: DeMellier
Contact Detail:
DeMellier Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice đ¤Ť
We think this is how you could land Head of Graphic Design in London
â¨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend design events, and connect with fellow creatives on platforms like LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
â¨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure itâs up-to-date and highlights your best work, especially projects that align with luxury branding. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, be ready to discuss your creative process and how youâve tackled challenges.
â¨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the brand thoroughly. Understand their values, style, and recent campaigns. This will help you tailor your responses and show that youâre genuinely interested in being part of their mission.
â¨Tip Number 4
Donât forget to apply through our website! Itâs the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Graphic Design in London
Some tips for your application đŤĄ
Show Off Your Portfolio: Your portfolio is your chance to shine! Make sure it showcases your best work, especially projects that align with luxury branding and design. We want to see your creativity and how youâve elevated brands in the past.
Tailor Your CV: Donât just send a generic CV! Tailor it to highlight your experience in graphic design leadership, especially within the luxury sector. We love seeing how your skills match our needs, so make it personal!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid fluff and focus on what makes you the perfect fit for the Head of Graphic Design role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you donât miss any important updates from us. Plus, itâs super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at DeMellier
â¨Showcase Your Portfolio
Make sure to bring a well-organised 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.
â¨Prepare for Design Leadership Questions
Expect questions about your leadership style and how you mentor other designers. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've guided teams in the past, focusing on collaboration and quality control.
â¨Understand Their Brand Values
Familiarise yourself with the company's mission, especially their commitment to sustainability and social impact. Be prepared to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their principles and how you can contribute to their goals.
â¨Demonstrate Your Digital Savvy
Since the role involves web and digital design systems, brush up on your UX/UI knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented design systems in previous roles and how you can enhance the brand's digital presence.