Graphic Designer

A skilful dreamer, designer, and doer – you’ll work across major brand activations and experiential events for high-profile clients. We’re looking for a playful graphic designer with a strong conceptual mind, solid art direction, typography, layout and print knowledge. You’ll lead the graphics touchpoints on projects from concept to install and support on large scale activations. You’ll play an active and collaborative part in contributing to the company’s creative output, working with producers, creatives, and suppliers to deliver work that goes beyond the expected and experiences that stop people in their tracks. We’re looking for passion, energy, and a sharp design eye – a graphic designer who is excited to push their skillset and grow within a thriving business.

ABOUT US: We are a culturally connected experience agency with heaps of creative energy and stacks of strategic thinking and production expertise. We’re not afraid to be bold. We fuse big ideas, cultural insight, and a playful approach to design experiences that mould what’s next. We do not believe in “one size fits all.” Instead, we come at every brief with a fresh perspective, underpinned by a deep understanding of trends and consumer behaviour. This ensures our solutions are authentic and land ROI, legacy, and fame. We don’t just create—we collaborate. Our house-style is grounded in long-term partnerships, where we co-create with our clients, taking on their challenges and delivering seamless experiences that resonate.

We work with commercial brands to produce moments which crescendo their marketing calendars. We love what we do, and that passion shows right through the design process and into all physical touchpoints. We join the dots between an array of talented people to create immersive experiences—whether that’s a brand trip, a VIP party, or an all-singing, all-dancing store launch! Our clients include big names such as Nike, Estée Lauder, Longchamp, and Selfridges.

Heaps + Stacks is an equal opportunity employer, committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment, where all applicants will receive equal consideration regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, or disabilities.

At the core of our agency are our guiding values:

• Imagination – We think beyond the ordinary, inspiring each other to dream big and challenge the status quo.
• Joy – We understand that play and wonder are powerful tools for creating authentic emotional connections with today’s audiences.
• Energy – Shooting for the moon – we thrive in the moment where big ideas are realised. We push the boundaries in search of innovation.
• Care – We are thoughtful stewards of the brands we partner with, fostering kindness within our team and taking a mindful approach to every project we undertake.

WHO YOU’LL BE WORKING WITH:

• Internal: Design Director (line manager) – you’ll work closely with them and report to them on day-to-day successes, developments, as well as any challenges along the way.
• Producers: you’ll work in tandem with the producers to deliver projects.
• Creatives: you’ll work closely with them to realise ideas.
• External: suppliers such as printers and graphic installers.

WHAT’S EXPECTED:

• Able to use supplied brand assets and follow guidelines accurately ensuring the output is reflective of the brand.
• Dream up original and distinctive event brand identities that are relevant to the brand.
• Able to translate the brand identities across a suite of assets consistently.
• Able to answer a brief accurately.
• Contribute to team thought showers, regularly bringing fresh ideas and trends to the table.
• Contribute to pitch decks and the creation of pitch presents.
• Confident at creating design decks, conveying a concept and designs clearly and accurately using mood boards, mock-ups and engaging copywriting.
• Solid client communication – able to convey ideas and collaborate with clients to get the best result.
• Have a good knowledge of materials and print processes and keen to learn more.
• Happy to play and experiment with designs to get to the best solution.
• Create schemes that are sustainable and consider the complete life cycle of all items.
• Able to suggest, design and specify items which are in budget and the right solution (logistical constraints).
• Manage graphic spend for projects and deliver within an allocated budget.
• Able to produce accurate artwork and print ready files.
• Able to create accurate print specifications.
• Keep all files organised and named correctly.
• Able to collaborate with suppliers to ensure the highest quality output.
• Gather, prep and pack graphic items ready for the live event.
• Getting hands on and helping craft/vinyl/test print in the office.
• Guide graphic installers onsite.
• On-site event delivery – UK and overseas, sometimes working weekends and evenings as required.

Internal:

• Regularly share current trends and cultural insights.
• Contribute on company processes so that we are always levelling up.
• Accurately update timesheets.
• Use Asana across all jobs.
• Making sure all finance processes are followed.

Marketing:

• Update company credentials and presentations.
• Develop and design graphic assets for internal activations.
• Update H+S website with new case studies.
• Create graphic assets to be used across marketing platforms.
• Making sure all projects are wrapped properly and marketing content is captured and shared.

Approach to work:

• Critique own work and welcome constructive criticism from others.
• Be flexible and excited for company change and growth.
• Have a collaborative approach to work.
• Communicate in a clear, positive, and constructive manner.
• Bring optimism to your day-to-day tasks.
• Actively engage in company culture.

EXPERIENCE: To be considered for this position we are looking for people with a minimum of 3 years’ experience working within a design, event, or experiential agency and have a BA in Graphic Design.

SKILLS:

• Proficient in Adobe Suite.
• Able to use Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel.
• Able to use Google Slides and Sheets.

SALARY & TIME COMMITMENT: This role is predominantly office based (we imagine at least 3 days of your time would be in the office) and we are ideally looking for someone to work full time. Please note we review salary regularly to make sure the team moves in line with the business as well as their individual efforts!

WORKING WITH US: To enjoy your role and to succeed here, you need to be able to work at a fast pace and love a busy, ever-changing environment. The industry is non-stop and our goals as a company are big – which we love! Change is a certainty – you’ll need to be comfortable and happy to adapt and be agile. We want you to challenge the status quo, innovate and be open to trying new things. We’re always pushing boundaries. We empower our people, giving them freedom and autonomy to learn and grow in their roles. We’re a passionate, agile and creative team.

WHY JOIN US?

• Collaboration: As pretty much all of our projects include site visits, handling of physical items, deliveries and face to face brainstorms, we recommend 2-3 days in the office per week for collaboration, to get the best results. Tuesdays are days we ask people to come in, and we’ve realised that 2-3 days per week in the office is the average that people come in and that works well.
• Flexi Working Times: The team can work their 7.5 hours with a start and finish that suits them. This is completely up to the teammate to decide on their own accord, but of course altered working hours must not disrupt the wider team or the paying client.
• Meeting Free Fridays: This is to give the team time to wrap up their work as well as a good amount of time, uninterrupted, to get stuck into deep work.
• Training: We are proud to offer training to all teammates including group training days with varying themes and topics, as well as offering teammates further training to upskill for the maximum value of £500 per year.
• Duvet Days: Our team have 2 duvet days per year. A duvet day can be taken whenever a teammate needs a day off at random and they haven’t already requested annual leave.
• Volunteering Day: We offer teammates up to 2 days per year of volunteering on company time – which is up to the teammate to use how they wish.
• Holiday: We offer 28 days annual leave per year. With 3 days of this holiday entitlement to cover the period of the Company shutdown between Christmas and New Year. After a teammate has completed two years working at Heaps + Stacks, they are entitled to 1 day extra holiday per year for each additional year of service, capped at a maximum of 33 days holiday per year (excluding Bank Holiday and National Holidays).
• After three years of service: Team members are entitled to a one-off, £1000 bonus.
• After five years of service: We offer team members the opportunity to take a one month fully paid sabbatical.
• Mobile Phone Allowance: Each month we will pay £20 towards the team members mobile phone bill.
• Maternity / Paternity: We will pay enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption pay if the team member meets the relevant criteria.
• Expensed Gallery Trips: We offer each team member £25.00 to expense for a visit to a gallery or exhibition every month.
• Good Egg: At the end of the month the team votes who has gone above and beyond that month, and whoever receives the most votes is rewarded with a Selfridges voucher.
• Work Abroad: Up to one week per year to work abroad, as long as it doesn’t cause stress to the team!
• You Move, We move: We want our team to feel settled. So, if they are moving house, they can book one van per year on us!
• Quarterly Celebration: Every quarter, we will be celebrating our successes together as a team.
• Bonus & Profit Share: We also offer a range of bonuses to employees including introduction, business performance and new business bonus.
• H + S Library: Buy a book on the gold card (this can be audio or hard copy) for the value of up to £20.
• Cycle to Work: The cycle-to-work scheme allows teammates to obtain commuter bikes and cycling accessories through Heaps + Stacks.
• Health Care: Once the teammate has completed 1 year with us, they can access the healthcare policy provided by Bupa!
• Eye Test: Get a free annual eye test (up to £25)! Visit any optician and claim the cost back on expenses—glasses not included.

If this role isn’t quite right for you and you know someone who might be a good fit, all successful introductions that end in employment will benefit from an introduction bonus of £1000 for initial successful placement and £500 when they pass their probation.