At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative design projects and push creative boundaries for top brands.
- Company: Join Dentsu Creative, a global agency driving transformative creativity.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, health perks, and a supportive environment.
- Other info: Embrace AI tools to elevate your design practice and grow your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact with your design skills in a dynamic team.
- Qualifications: Strong design experience with a flair for both B2B and B2C contexts.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The purpose of this role is to work closely with the Creative Directors and Strategy leads to help push the design boundaries of the agency output for existing clients and new business opportunities. Present innovative and differentiating ideas and designs to clients. They will be responsible for the design ownership, creative strategic development and overall concept development of the Client's brand.
Dentsu Creative is a global creative agency network built to unlock exponential growth for clients through Transformative Creativity - a unifying force that drives innovation across people, businesses, and society. Launched in June 2022, it operates in over 145 countries and is fully integrated with dentsu's Media and CXM capabilities to deliver seamless, end-to-end solutions worldwide. Guided by the philosophy of "Building Brands for What's Next," Dentsu Creative empowers brands to navigate current challenges and prepare for future opportunities, crafting resilient, forward-thinking strategies that thrive in an ever-evolving world.
Purpose of the Role:
- Leads and delivers design excellence within the agency squad, ensuring creative ideas are realised through high-quality, hands-on execution that is on-brand, scalable and approval-ready.
- AI tools are a core part of how this role works: embedded into daily design workflows, used to accelerate and elevate the quality of the work and continually explored for what they can make possible.
- Design output for this squad must serve two audiences with distinct visual expectations.
Key Partnerships:
- Adobe Studio Associate Creative Director: The Design Director's closest craft relationship on the Adobe side. This is a working partnership built around shared ownership of design quality, not a sign-off process.
- Owns Design leadership and craft excellence across all squad outputs.
- Application and stewardship of Adobe brand systems, guidelines and templates.
- Development of master files and modular design approaches to enable scale.
- Consistency, accessibility and production readiness across all design deliverables.
- Accountability for the quality of design work leaving the squad.
- Active development of designers within the squad, with genuine investment in their growth and progression.
- Embedding AI-native design practice across the squad.
Key Moments:
- Working hands-on with designers to create, refine and elevate the design output.
- Translating creative ideas into high-quality, scalable design executions.
- Leading agency-side design reviews and driving quality control within the squad.
- Ensuring master assets and templates are fit for multi-market use.
- Final design readiness prior to client review and sign-off, escalating issues where required.
What you'll bring:
- The strongest candidate will bring a dual design sensibility: the precision and restraint required for professional communications and the vitality required for consumer-facing creative.
- A strong command of design across B2B and B2C contexts.
- The ability to produce design that feels appropriately professional and credible for business audiences, whilst being genuinely vibrant and engaging in consumer contexts.
- Meticulous craft standards.
- Art direction capability.
- An AI-native approach to design.
- A portfolio with significant AI integration is expected.
- International fluency.
- A modular, scalable design approach that works across formats, markets and channels without losing quality or coherence.
What we offer:
This is a permanent role. The team is based from our London office on a hybrid working basis. At dentsu, we've built a benefits package that supports every chapter of your life.
About Dentsu:
Dentsu is an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organisations. Founded in 1901 in Tokyo, Japan, and now operating in approximately 120 countries and regions, we bring together the power of a global network of leadership brands to deliver impactful, end-to-end growth solutions.
Inclusion and Diversity:
At Dentsu, we embrace diversity and inclusion, valuing the unique perspectives and contributions of every individual.
Design Director employer: Dentsu
Dentsu Creative is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering a hybrid working model from our London office. With a comprehensive benefits package that prioritises employee wellbeing, including private medical insurance, flexible leave options, and professional development opportunities, we empower our team to thrive both personally and professionally. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking agency that values creativity, innovation, and diversity, while providing the tools and support needed for meaningful career growth.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director
✨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 Dentsu.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Dentsu, 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 Design Director
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 Dentsu 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 Dentsu.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Dentsu. 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 Dentsu.
How to prepare for a job interview at Dentsu
✨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 Dentsu. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
