Design Director in London

The Design Director ensured all design work met the highest creative standards while managing and inspiring design teams across multiple studios. Led design critiques, collaborated closely with creative leadership, and presented work to clients and agency partners. Oversaw the seamless transition of art files to production and evolved visual identity systems to maintain consistency across deliverables.

Design Director Duties

• Strategic Planning: Prepare, develop, and implement mid & long term plans for the division to ensure the completion of goals.
• Action Plan Development: Prepare, develop, and execute the annual design action plan.
• Progress Monitoring: Manage, monitor, and evaluate the progress of the division's plan.
• System Development: Develop an integrated system including design policies, rules, procedures, and project advisory to enhance productivity and ensure legal compliance.
• Data Analysis: Develop an internal system to collect, analyze, and evaluate input data to provide optimum solutions and mitigate arising issues in project master-plan design.
• Budget Management: Develop and control the annual capital plan, budget plan, and cost plan of projects to ensure maximum cost-effectiveness.
• Cross-functional Coordination: Support and coordinate with Legal, R&D, Construction, Project Management, and Sales & Marketing divisions to ensure approval of project documentation, profit margin, and customer satisfaction.
• Stakeholder Relations: Build connections with local authorities and partners in design management, architecture, and the tendering process.
• Design Strategy: Work closely with the Creative Director to establish a design strategy that successfully executes the creative vision.
• Craft Excellence: Champion the best practical craft delivery of the creative vision, hitting the highest quality bar.
• Team Management: Directly manage design leads and establish high-performing teams in craft excellence.
• Design Documentation: Produce easily digestible design briefs, pitches, guides, and documentation to align team understanding and direction.
• Upward Communication: Concisely and clearly communicate upward to EP, Senior Directors, VPs, and Executives.
• Best Practices: Define best practices and pipelines with the team in all areas of design, including outsourcing.
• Team Growth: Create team growth plans and collaborate with recruitment partners to deliver on them.
• Mentorship: Level up the design team through mentoring, training, and personal development plans.
• Team Motivation: Inspire, motivate, and unleash potential in individuals and teams to deliver beyond expectations.
• Technology Advancement: Keep informed of the latest advancements in technology and techniques specific to design.
• Studio Initiatives: Contribute toward studio initiatives and act as a team and studio ambassador, personifying company values.
• Leadership Strategy: Participate in studio design leadership, shaping the strategy of the department.

Design Director Responsibilities

• Brand Leadership: Lead the brand vision and execution for the company, ensuring consistency across all channels.
• UX Design: Deliver code-ready UX design sketches for front-end/engineering teams.
• Stakeholder Feedback: Take feedback from stakeholders and implement it in a timely manner.
• Workflow Management: Manage workflow from initial brainstorming to execution, delegating as necessary.
• Ad Design: Design marketing/brand ads as needed, including emails, banners, social media, video assets, print ads, and merchandise.
• Coding Assistance: Occasionally step in and help with front-end coding.
• User Testing: Conduct user testing and A/B tests to continually optimize site performance and conversion.
• Performance Improvement: Stay up to date on UX and code standards and initiate ideas to improve site performance.
• Process Coordination: Coordinate processes and workflow to deliver excellent, efficient products.

Design Director Job Summary

• Brand Refresh: Drive a visual brand refresh, evolving Brand & Style Guidelines and championing them across the organization.
• Content Oversight: Oversee all visual content across the organization, ensuring the master brand narrative is delivered with impact.
• Team Management: Manage a team of graphic designers, illustrators, and production artists.
• Creative Execution: Lead the concept, design, and execution of all branded visual materials.
• Collaboration: Partner closely with the consumer product design team to create a cohesive experience.
• Mentorship: Provide mentorship, feedback, and education to the full design team.
• External Collaboration: Collaborate with external design, creative, social, and video agencies.
• Product Design Vision: Be a driving contributor to the Growth Opportunities team.
• User-Centered Design: Shape the data-informed product design vision for user experience.
• User Listening: Prioritize listening to users, letting their needs guide the best solutions.
• Team Development: Build, develop, and lead a best-in-class team, prioritizing diversity and inclusion.

Design Process Management:

• Manage design process from site assessment to grand opening, including site layout, design concept, construction document creation & review, permitting, construction administration, and quality control.
• Establish an entirely new external team of architects, engineers, and design professionals.
• Provide input into the creation and control of the development budgets and schedules.
• Provide mentoring and leadership to a team of design managers and designers.
• Work with Chief Development Officer on new concept design and strategic brand initiatives.
• Help manage and lead special projects from initial idea to final implementation.
• Create high-quality pre-visualizations of forest design & development concepts.

Creative Excellence:

• Ensure that all design work meets standards of creative excellence.
• Create and contribute to multiple viable concepts.
• Clearly present work to clients and agency partners.
• Mentor, manage, and inspire all designers.
• Support product and lifestyle shoots.
• Lead design critiques and collaborate internally.
• Oversee seamless transition of art files to the Production team.
• Help define and continuously evolve visual identity systems and guidelines.
• Maintain a library of resources for world-class vendors.
• Be aware of budgets and timing for client deliverables.

Creative Strategy:

• Conceptualize design ideas, develop strategic plans for creative projects.
• Manage, mentor, and inspire designers while providing art direction.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and support VP and Creative Director.
• Partner closely with copywriters on content needs.
• Direct photoshoots and external agencies.
• Analyze market research and customer insights.
• Craft proposals for new and existing clients.
• Iteratively bring ideas to life, from user research to prototyping.

Interior Design Director Overview

• Handle a job from beginning to end including schematic design, design development, ordering, installation, and follow-up.
• Emphasize and incorporate sustainable design principles into client solutions.
• Lead the pursuit of new client relationships and projects.
• Create sales proposals, pitch, and meet sales quotas.
• Ensure that clients and team members are adequately briefed on projects.
• Continue to build a substantial portfolio of award-winning projects.
• Develop overall project targets and monitor performance.
• Work with designers to translate concepts into comprehensible terms.
• Maintain the highest standard of image and develop skillful client interaction.
• Lead project meetings and presentations.
• Mentor and develop interior designers' skill sets.
• Manage and assist with overall project budgets and schedules.
• Communicate proactively with internal and external teams.
• Develop time management skills for team members.

Design Director Details and Accountabilities

• Ensure the design group is in alignment with strategic goals, vision and brand.
• Work relentlessly to position at the leading edge of product design.
• Provide creative leadership and long-term brand level vision.
• Lead, manage and mentor Apparel Product Design staff.
• Perform general administration of the Product Design Staff.
• Coordinate and manage design resources to integrate market needs.
• Work alongside color coordinator to ensure color palette and application.
• Lead, manage, and coordinate apparel fit standards.
• Coordinate with Sourcing and Director of Development to evolve product Design and Development calendars.

Design Director Tasks

• Work with the Director of Apparel to assign design resources to new projects.
• Analyze resources needed for new and ongoing product design issues.
• Communicate product design development decisions in seasonal reviews.
• Create, adhere to, and track the annual budget for design staff.
• Collaborate closely with Director of Apparel to communicate progress.
• Assist in field evaluation and product testing of new products.
• Schedule concept/design/development reviews according to the Calendar.
• Ensure the design group is appropriately staffed.
• Work with all counterparts globally to ensure effective communication and collaboration.