At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects, ensuring high-quality design and brand consistency across various platforms.
- Company: Join a vibrant consumer experience agency with a fun and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid work environment and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on well-known brands while nurturing your creative talents.
- Qualifications: Solid experience in packaging design and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 59400 - 72600 £ per year.
Marks, part of the Propelis Group, is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum—from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. We are a collaborative global network of 1,900+ team members across 25+ studios and 20+ countries, partnering with some of the world’s most recognized brands to solve complex business challenges through design, strategy, and craft.
Our Culture
Marks is a genuinely friendly, fun and engaging place to work. Whilst we are serious about the work we do, we are emphatic that our employees should have the most rewarding experience at work we can possibly give them in a business environment, as well as a great place for all to nurture their talents. We’re bringing together a diverse team of creative people with perspectives from all over the world to create a vibrant environment full of ideas, opinions and experience.
The Role
We are looking for an experienced Design Director who is comfortable with a high degree of ownership and accountability. This is a great opportunity for an inspiring team leader with a can-do attitude who excels working in a fast-paced and reactive environment. This is a hybrid working role that will be based out of our York based studio. Our ideal candidate is a natural brand builder and systems thinker who understands brand strategy and creative branding principles. You have a background working on FMCG brands and have a deep understanding of how they operate and are developed across printed packaging, POS and other shopper facing communications. You are grounded in brand pack design, both creatively and in its expansion and translation across wide reaching portfolios. You’ll be able to work with and understand brand positioning documents and guidelines to help create exciting new concepts for new ranges and brand expansions. Critical to this role is the ability to flex beyond pack, seamlessly adapting a visual brand language across other touchpoints including POS, Digital and e-commerce, maintaining the brand personality throughout.
What you’ll do
- Be responsible for the day-to-day quality of output
- Lead multiple projects from brief through adaptation and rollout
- Provide inspirational direction and be prepared to share knowledge with less technical members of the team
- Work efficiently, balancing tight deadlines and frequently shifting priorities
- Work alongside the Creative Director on conceptual projects where a more creative skillset is required
What you’ll need
- Solid experience in packaging design with an ability to understand brands' individual personalities, tiering and target markets
- A portfolio that represents a diverse range of industry expertise, showing systems thinking in the world of FMCG
- The ability to be the brand guardian, ensuring its development and executional consistency
- The ability to change perspectives: a keen eye for detail but being able to shift to ‘helicopter view’ when needed
- You’ll need to be an excellent written and verbal communicator
- Ability to manage clients and projects independently
- Good understanding of print and production processes and ability to explain print limitations to those without technical knowledge
- Excellent presentation skills, articulating ideas with conviction in client facing situations
- Organisational skills. You can effectively manage your time, prioritise your work and handle multiple projects simultaneously
- Drive creative quality and technical execution excellence
- A passion for visual culture, creativity, innovation and tech, beyond the world of graphic design
- An expert working knowledge of the Adobe Creative suite and keynote
Design Director in Salford employer: Makemarks
Marks, part of the Propelis Group, is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture, making it a fantastic place for creative professionals to thrive. With a commitment to employee growth and a focus on nurturing talent, Marks offers a supportive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and innovative ideas can flourish. Located in York, this hybrid role allows for flexibility while being part of a global network dedicated to solving complex business challenges through design and strategy.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in Salford
✨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 Makemarks.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Makemarks, 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 in Salford
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 Makemarks 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 Makemarks.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Makemarks. 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 Makemarks.
How to prepare for a job interview at Makemarks
✨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 Makemarks. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
