At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative design projects and shape the agency's creative direction.
- Company: Dynamic brand-led growth consultancy with a focus on strategic impact.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid work model, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and influence the future of branding.
- Why this job: Be a key player in transforming a well-established studio into a bold creative powerhouse.
- Qualifications: Experience in multidisciplinary design and strong strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 51000 - 119000 £ per year.
This is a unique opportunity to join a well established studio in the middle of a period of major transformation, and help shape it. This hire is one of the most important they have ever made—a partner in shaping the agency’s future. The goal is to build a studio defined by strategic, ideas-led work, not just visual polish.
Our client is a brand-led growth consultancy. They combine top‑tier strategic rigour with the disruptive soul of a venture studio. They don’t just deliver beautiful execution; they deliver commercial impact driven by strategic insight and big ideas. This isn’t code for performance marketing—it’s about brand-led growth that pushes clients to execute bold, category‑challenging work.
Key Areas
- Growth Strategy: Identifying untapped “white space” and market opportunities.
- Innovation: Rapidly prototyping and launching next-gen products and services.
- Brand Experience: Crafting every touchpoint to ensure brands are different, special, and better.
- Venturing: Putting skin in the game by investing creative capital and cash into a £250m+ portfolio.
- Agile & Punchy: They punch far above its perceived weight. By eschewing rigid structures, the core team tailors every project team and approach to the specific brief, challenge, and creative vision of the client. It’s a model built for agility and high-level results.
The Next Chapter
With an enviable client list, they are now entering a pivotal period of transformation. As the studio evolves its proposition, they are scaling design leadership to spearhead a new-look vision that will define the next era of the agency. The work is driven by strategic insight and big ideas, not just beautiful execution. Everything is done with the intention of making a commercial impact for clients, but that’s not code for performance marketing. Driven by difference they’re pushing clients to do bold, category-challenging work that helps them grow. The core team adapts the approach and project teams in a way which is tailored to each brief, challenge, and creative vision.
The Role
This is a critical, high-impact hire—effectively the number two to the Head of Creative and Partner. You’ll help shape the creative direction of the agency, define how we work, and influence the type of studio we become. The role is hands‑on. Direction from the tools. Driving work through big, creative, transformational ideas. Helping manage a small permanent team and a dynamic pool of freelancers while continuing to drive day to day craft from within the weeds. You’ll be expected to bring energy, confidence, and strategic thinking to both the studio and client relationships.
Responsibilities
- Lead multidisciplinary design projects from concept to delivery, ensuring strategic ideas drive creative output—not just executional craft.
- Collaborate closely with the Head of Creative to define and execute the agency’s vision.
- Act as a client‑facing leader, building trust and excitement in every interaction.
- Lead and build a wider network of freelancers.
- Bring a strong point of view on brand, motion, and new technologies.
- Contribute to business development, pitching, and shaping new opportunities.
- Help evolve the agency’s structure, processes, and creative culture.
- Take ownership of external communications, and how we show up to the world inside the creative community and beyond.
The Ideal Candidate
- Either an experienced Senior Designer ready to step up, or a seasoned Design Director looking to make their mark.
- Multidisciplinary: strong in brand, visual, and digital design, ideally with motion and creative‑tech curiosity.
- Strategist in disguise: comfortable supporting strategy, developing brand propositions, finding white space, and selling big ideas, not just delivering beautiful work.
- A 360 brand thinker: thinking beyond the immediate scope of a brief, and helping the client see the potential the impact of those ideas across the entirety of a brand experience and beyond.
- Confident, energetic, and able to inspire both clients and teams.
- Comfortable with a lean, entrepreneurial environment and able to work autonomously when required.
- Experience managing freelancers and small teams.
- London‑based, hybrid (ideally three days a week in the studio).
Salary up to £85k, depending on experience. To apply, please send your CV and folio to Josef: josef@path.london
Design Director (Branding) employer: Pathdesignrecruitment
Join a dynamic and transformative studio in London, where your role as Design Director will not only shape the agency's creative direction but also foster a culture of innovation and strategic thinking. With a focus on brand-led growth and a commitment to impactful work, you'll benefit from a collaborative environment that encourages personal and professional development, alongside the opportunity to lead multidisciplinary projects and build a network of talented freelancers. This is more than just a job; it's a chance to be a pivotal part of an agency that values bold ideas and commercial success.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director (Branding)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend design events, workshops, or even casual meet-ups. You never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your personality! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, let your passion for design shine through. Share your ideas and how you can contribute to their vision—it's all about making that personal connection.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! If you see a company you love, don’t wait for them to post a job. Reach out directly and express your interest. A well-timed email can make all the difference and show you're genuinely keen on being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep your portfolio fresh and relevant! Tailor it to showcase projects that align with the agency's goals. Highlight your strategic thinking and innovative designs—this is your chance to demonstrate how you can help shape their future!
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director (Branding)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Spark:When you’re crafting your application, let your creativity shine through! We want to see how you think outside the box and bring big ideas to life. Don’t just list your skills; show us how you’ve used them to create impactful work.
Tailor Your CV and Portfolio:Make sure your CV and portfolio are tailored to the role of Design Director. Highlight your experience in brand-led growth and strategic design. We love seeing how you’ve tackled challenges and delivered results that go beyond just beautiful execution.
Be Authentic:We’re looking for someone who can inspire both clients and teams, so don’t be afraid to let your personality come through in your application. Share your passion for design and how you envision contributing to our agency’s transformation.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Pathdesignrecruitment
✨Show Your Strategic Thinking
Make sure to highlight your ability to identify market opportunities and untapped 'white space'. Prepare examples of how you've previously driven strategic ideas that led to impactful brand growth. This will resonate well with the agency's focus on strategic, ideas-led work.
✨Demonstrate Your Multidisciplinary Skills
As a Design Director, you'll need to showcase your expertise across various design disciplines. Bring a portfolio that reflects your work in brand, visual, and digital design, and be ready to discuss how you’ve integrated motion and technology into your projects.
✨Be Client-Facing Ready
Since this role involves building trust with clients, practice articulating your vision confidently. Prepare to discuss how you've successfully managed client relationships in the past and how you can inspire excitement in every interaction.
✨Embrace the Agency's Culture
Familiarise yourself with the agency's agile and entrepreneurial environment. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to evolving their creative culture and processes. Show them you're not just about beautiful execution but also about making a commercial impact.
