Lead Designer

Reporting into the Director (Cy Kelly) and working alongside the rest of the Creative Design team, you’ll lead our growing design team and creative discipline. In this role you will be responsible for leading the creative concepting and executional design of live brand experiences. You will be overseeing the creative response to all pitches, leading and selling in ideas to clients, structuring narratives for presentations, and pushing our wide range of clients in new and innovative ways. This role would suit a hands-on designer who wants to step up into leadership of a team. You will be responsible for leading and growing the design and creative projects team, monitoring progress, providing helpful critique, and infusing big ideas into our work, and consistently delivering inspired creative work that meets or exceeds client expectations.

Key areas of knowledge to be considered for this role are:

• A high level of technical experience with Adobe Creative Suite 3D, InDesign, Vectorworks/Sketchup or any other CAD or similar modelling software, Powerpoint and Keynote.
• Understanding how to build a consumer journey within a live activation space.
• This role is hands-on in design work and not a delegation position; you will need to be designing and delivering the work and supporting different departments for delivery across the business.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the creative design function and department of Made Up Ltd.
• Working hand in hand with the Head of Projects and Project Management team, our Production Dept and Fabricators to ensure all ideas are feasible given client goals and objectives, budgets and timelines.
• Ensure creative excellence is maintained across all creative work, projects and communications that leave the building.
• Build effective storytelling narratives, selling in our creative ideas to clients in pitch and tender situations.
• Take responsibility for the timeliness, flow and quality of work from the creative department.
• Handle multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Be mindful of and contribute towards Made Up’s sustainability goals and drive for change. Be aware of sustainable approaches in the events industry and be willing to continue to learn. Design with sustainability and sustainable practices in mind.
• Build a collaborative, positive and cohesive creative design team at Made Up. Care about the discipline and those around you.
• Stay close to brand and cultural trends, share these amongst your peers and drive for innovative and culturally relevant work.

Key objectives:

• Develop and implement innovative design concepts that align with client objectives and push the boundaries of experiential events, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of industry trends.
• Lead design teams to consistently deliver high-quality, on-brand creative solutions that exceed client expectations and strengthen long-term relationships with key accounts.
• Identify opportunities to introduce new design capabilities, services, or technologies that enhance the company’s offerings and provide added value to clients.
• Foster a collaborative environment between design, production, project management, and other departments to ensure seamless execution from concept to completion.
• Sharpen strategic thinking abilities to make informed design decisions that balance creative vision with client needs, budget constraints, and project timelines.

Key Requirements:

• Proactive, hands-on and independent creative thinker / crafts person.
• Collaborate effectively with heads of departments and project leads.
• Strong communication skills that allow you to sell in ideas in an effective way.
• Obsessed with great design and idea generation.
• Excellent understanding of brand guidelines and graphic design principles.
• Familiarity with a range of channels and formats across digital, large format print, social media and content.
• Oversee multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring efficient allocation of resources, meeting deadlines, and staying within budget constraints without compromising on quality.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of live event production and physical space, with knowledge of experiential design, scenic design and architectural design as is dictated by the variety of projects we manage.
• Demonstrate a high level of technical experience with Adobe Creative Suite 3D, Indesign, Vectorworks/Sketchup or any other CAD or similar modelling software, Powerpoint and Keynote.
• Keen sense of personal responsibility, for the quality control, presentation and accuracy of all work.
• Conduct regular research and analysis of market trends, competitor activities, and emerging cultural movements to inform and inspire creative concepts that are fresh, relevant, and competitive.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop design team members, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and creativity within the department.

WHAT WE OFFER:

• Competitive Salary based on experience.
• Private Healthcare.
• Bring your dog to work.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• 32 days holiday pro rata (including bank holidays) - Closed over Christmas and New Year.
• Paid overtime & TOIL.
• Supportive and friendly work environment.
• Opportunity to work with some of the world's leading brands on exciting activations, pop-ups and events.

HOW TO APPLY:

If you’d like to apply, please send your CV and portfolio to careers@madeupltd.com. Please include your availability (potential start date) and salary expectations.