Staff Creative Design Lead

Staff Creative Design Lead

Full-Time 49500 - 60500 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead creative design across campaigns, brand assets, and more while setting high standards.
  • Company: Join MrQ, an award-winning online casino known for tech, performance, and fun.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, extra leave days, wellness incentives, and flexible working.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values creativity and collaboration.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with opportunities for growth.
  • Qualifications: 8+ years in design, strong portfolio, and experience in building design systems.

The predicted salary is between 49500 - 60500 £ per year.

Mr Who?

Mr Q - we're an awesome, award winning online casino launched in 2018.

We're big on tech, big on performance and most of all - big on fun.

Over the years, we have experienced explosive growth - which means we need more rock stars to join our quest for total world domination.

The Head of Creative can't be in every room, in every brief, and on every deadline at once.

And a creative team only scales if craft is backed by discipline, otherwise quality lives in one person's head and falls over the moment they're busy.

This role fixes both.

You're the senior craft authority who owns the design language day to day, the deputy who can steer when the Head of Creative steps out, and the person who instils the practices that keep the whole team's output consistent, on-brand and fast.

You raise the ceiling by making the best work, and raise the floor by making great work repeatable.

What You Will Do

  • Concept and execute design across the brand; campaigns, brand assets, social, CRM, sponsorship activations, merch, the lot, at a level that defines what "good" means for the team.
  • Help own and steer the Mr Q design language: the type, layout, colour, illustration and codes that make us recognisable with the logo removed.

Evolve it deliberately; protect it fiercely.

  • Take the hardest, highest-stakes briefs yourself and set the benchmark others work to.
  • Stay genuinely hands-on. This is a maker's role, not a role that only reviews other people's making.

The discipline (holding the standard by building how the team works).

  • Establish and run the working practices that keep a fast team sharp: briefing standards, feedback loops, file and naming hygiene, version control, hand-off and archiving that survive real deadlines.
  • Own and maintain the design system; components, templates and guidelines the team actually uses because they're good, not because they're mandated.
  • Set the quality bar and hold it. Give feedback that's direct, useful and makes the work better, without crushing the person who made it.
  • Build the organisational discipline that lets craft scale, so quality lives in the system, not just in one person's instincts.

The deputy (leading when the Creative Director can't).

  • Represent the creative point of view in meetings, reviews and cross-team discussions when the Creative Director isn't there. Hold the line on quality and brand.
  • Spearhead key design initiatives end to end; brief, concept, delivery, and the people around it.
  • Mentor and steer the wider design team, leading from expertise rather than authority.
  • Be a trusted second pair of eyes and a sounding board; the person the Creative Director can hand something to and stop worrying about it.

What We're Looking For

You've spent years designing at a high level and your portfolio proves it.

Not just polished, but considered.

Strong ideas executed with real craft.

You can point at work and explain every decision behind it.

You're digital to your core.

You understand platform-native design, how work behaves across every touchpoint from paid social to product, and the difference between design that looks good in a deck and design that performs in the wild.

You're a systems thinker as much as a maker.

You've built or run a design system, or set up the working practices of a team, and you've seen first-hand how much faster good discipline makes everyone.

You know that "process" is only a dirty word when it's done badly.

You can lead without the title doing the work for you.

People follow your judgement because you're usually right and you show your reasoning.

You're comfortable being handed responsibility and comfortable handing it back up when something needs escalating.

You've got backbone and humility in equal measure. You'll challenge work that isn't good enough, and take it gracefully when someone challenges yours.

You care about casino, gaming or entertainment, or you're genuinely curious about it. You get why people play, and why doing it properly matters.

8+ years in hands-on design roles, with a portfolio that shows real craft… and teeth.

Considered, not just polished.

Work you can defend decision by decision, in a room full of people who know the difference.

  • Evidence you've built how a team works, not just what it makes.

Briefing standards, feedback loops, file and version hygiene and hand-off.

Working practices you personally set up, that survived real deadlines and were still in use a year later.

  • You've built or run a design system a team actually used. Components, templates and guidelines that stayed alive because they were good, not because they were mandated.
  • Proven mentorship.

Designers who are visibly better because you were in the room, and feedback that's direct, useful and makes the work stronger without crushing the person who made it.

  • Leadership that doesn't need the title to do the work.

You've deputised for a creative lead: held the line on quality and brand in rooms they weren't in, and known which calls were yours and which to hand back up.

  • Genuine curiosity about casino, gaming or entertainment. You don't need to be a player; you need to understand why people play.
  • Reporting to: Darren Suffolk
  • Level: 5

What We Offer

  • Enjoy a competitive salary package that recognizes your hard work and dedication.
  • Need some extra time off? We've got you covered with additional leave days.
  • and we believe in celebrating life's special moments, including your birthday, with dedicated birthday leave.
  • Family matters to us, too, which is why we offer a generous four-week parental leave.
  • Your well-being is our priority, supported by international health and life insurance.
  • Stay motivated with wellness incentives.
  • and seize opportunities for personal and professional growth with our growth allowance.
  • Embrace a flexible working environment that caters to your needs.
  • and join our friendly and multinational team, where collaboration and camaraderie flourish.
  • At Mr Q, we're committed to ensuring that your experience with us goes beyond just a job - it's a fulfilling journey with a supportive community.

We are committed to fostering a workplace that values and celebrates diversity.

We welcome individuals of all backgrounds and experiences, and we believe that a diverse and inclusive environment leads to innovation and success.

We actively promote equal opportunities for all employees and strive to create a space where everyone's voices are heard and respected.

Join us in our journey to build a truly inclusive workplace where every person can thrive and contribute to our collective success.

Mr Who?

Mr Q - we're an awesome, award winning online casino launched in 2018.

We're big on tech, big on performance and most of all - big on fun.

Over the years, we have experienced explosive growth - which means we need more rock stars to join our quest for total world domination.

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Staff Creative Design Lead employer: MrQ

At MrQ, we pride ourselves on being an award-winning online casino that champions creativity and innovation in a fun and dynamic environment. Our commitment to employee well-being is reflected in our competitive salary packages, generous leave policies, and a strong focus on personal and professional growth, all within a collaborative and diverse team. Join us in shaping the future of gaming while enjoying a flexible work culture that values your contributions and celebrates your successes.

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Contact Details:

MrQ Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Staff Creative Design Lead

✨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 MrQ.

✨Tailor Your Applications

When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like MrQ, 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 Staff Creative Design Lead

High-Level Design Skills
Concept Development
Brand Asset Creation
Design Language Ownership
Digital Design Expertise
Design System Management
Mentorship and Leadership

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 MrQ 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 MrQ.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at MrQ. 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 MrQ.

How to prepare for a job interview at MrQ

✨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 MrQ. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.