At a Glance
- Tasks: Create bold and imaginative set designs for retail installations and windows.
- Company: Join Selfridges, a leader in innovative retail experiences.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and creative excellence.
- Why this job: Shape memorable customer experiences with your creative vision and design skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in spatial or installation design and strong visualisation skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
The following content displays a map of the job's location - London, England, United Kingdom. Please review the responsibilities and requirements carefully to ensure you have the skills and experience for this role. Unfortunately, if you do not have the relevant experience, your application will not be able to be progressed to interview stage.
The Set Design Manager - Creative Installations plays a key role in shaping and delivering bold, imaginative and culturally relevant visual experiences across Selfridges’ physical environments. Working across windows, atriums, seasonal moments and bespoke retail installations, this role is responsible for translating creative concepts into impactful and world-class design experiences that bring the Selfridges brand to life.
Working closely with the Senior Lead Windows and wider Creative team, this role combines creative concept development with strong visualisation and rendering capability; taking projects from initial idea and moodboarding through to rendered visualisation, presentation and installation delivery. The role requires a strong creative eye, spatial awareness and visual storytelling ability, alongside a practical understanding of how ideas are realised within complex retail environments.
This role will contribute to the ongoing evolution of Selfridges’ creative expression through highly original and visually compelling installations that surprise, inspire and create memorable customer experiences. Whether developing iconic window schemes, immersive atrium moments or creative concepts for seasonal retail environments such as the Christmas Shop, the Design Manager – Creative Installations will help deliver work that is distinctive, innovative and aligned to the wider creative vision of the brand.
Operating across multiple projects and creative workstreams, this role requires a highly collaborative and culturally connected individual who is confident working across concept creation, visualisation, stakeholder presentation and cross-functional delivery. They will collaborate closely with Creative Direction, Production, Styling, VM, Graphics and external creative partners to ensure all installations are delivered to an exceptional creative standard, on time and within budget.
The role will also support the development of creative ways of working across the wider Creative function — contributing to a culture of innovation, collaboration and creative excellence while helping ensure Selfridges continues to set the benchmark for imaginative retail experiences.
CREATIVE CONCEPT & DESIGN DEVELOPMENT- Develop bold and innovative creative concepts for windows, installations, atrium activations and seasonal retail experiences.
- Translate wider creative themes and brand narratives into visually impactful spatial and installation design.
- Create sketches, moodboards, layouts and visual presentations to communicate concepts clearly and effectively.
- Create detailed visual renders and spatial visualisations that communicate creative concepts clearly for stakeholder approval, production and installation.
- Produce high-quality rendered visuals and technical design presentations that can be translated directly into production and build.
- Develop accurate spatial visualisations that communicate scale, materials, finishes and installation intent.
- Contribute to the ongoing evolution of Selfridges’ visual identity and creative expression across physical touchpoints.
- Maintain strong awareness of cultural, retail, fashion and creative trends to inform future-facing design ideas.
- Develop high-quality visual presentations and design narratives for internal reviews, steering meetings and sign-off sessions.
- Clearly communicate creative ideas and installation intent to stakeholders across the business.
- Translate conceptual thinking into practical and visually compelling installation proposals.
- Support the creation of graphics and artwork in collaboration with Graphics and wider creative teams where required.
- Ensure all creative work is presented to a high professional and visual standard.
- Work closely with Production teams to ensure visual renders are feasible, actionable and aligned to installation requirements.
- Work closely with Production, Styling, VM and wider Creative teams to ensure installations are delivered smoothly and effectively.
- Provide clear creative briefs and detailed design direction to support production and installation planning.
- Collaborate with external partners, artists and brands on creative installation projects where required.
- Support installation planning and timelines, ensuring projects are delivered on brief, on time and within budget.
- Help identify and proactively resolve creative or operational challenges throughout project delivery.
- Maintain strong collaborative relationships across creative and business teams.
- Contribute to a culture of creative excellence, innovation and collaboration within the team.
- Stay connected to contemporary culture, design, art, fashion and experiential trends to inform creative thinking.
- Research competitor activity, emerging retail experiences and installation design trends to ensure Selfridges remains industry-leading.
- Share ideas, inspiration and best practice across the wider team.
- Support and inspire junior team members where appropriate.
- Experience within spatial design, window design, visual merchandising, installation design, experiential design or related creative disciplines.
- Strong creative and conceptual thinking with the ability to translate ideas into impactful physical experiences.
- Strong visualisation and rendering skills with the ability to create production-ready spatial and installation visuals.
- Experience creating rendered visualisations, sketches, moodboards and presentation materials for creative projects.
- Experience using 3D visualisation and rendering software to communicate spatial concepts and installation design.
- Ability to translate conceptual ideas into technically accurate visuals for production and build teams.
- Understanding of production processes and installation delivery within retail or experiential environments.
- Strong visual storytelling, composition and spatial awareness skills.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate creative ideas.
- Highly collaborative with the ability to work effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Culturally connected with a strong interest in contemporary design, fashion, art and creative trends.
- Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
- Knowledge of CAD, 3D visualisation or rendering software would be advantageous.
- Proactive, solutions-focused and confident working within a fast-paced creative environment.
Set Design Manager employer: Selfridges & Co.
Selfridges is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and innovative work culture, particularly for the Set Design Manager role in London. With a strong emphasis on collaboration and creative excellence, employees are encouraged to develop bold concepts and contribute to visually stunning installations that enhance the brand's identity. The company offers ample opportunities for professional growth, exposure to contemporary design trends, and the chance to work within a dynamic team that values creativity and cultural awareness.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Set Design Manager
✨Get Your Portfolio Game On Point
As an aspiring architect, your portfolio is your golden ticket. Make sure it's not just a collection of your best work, but tells a story about your design process and creative thought. Showcase a range of projects, from conceptual sketches to final renderings—think of it as a visual CV!
✨Slide into Networking Events
Architecture thrives on community connections, so keep an eye out for local architecture meetups, exhibitions, and lectures. These events are gold for meeting industry professionals, and who knows? You might just bump into someone from Selfridges & Co. who can give you the insider scoop on their hiring process!
✨Learn the Software Inside Out
Make sure you're up to speed with design software like AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp. Being able to discuss your proficiency during interviews can really set you apart. Plus, if you can mention particular projects where you’ve used them, you’ll demonstrate both skill and practical experience.
✨Refine Your Interview Skills
Interviews for architecture roles can get quite technical, so practice answering questions about your design process and decision-making strategies. Prepare for potential design challenges they might put forward in interviews—show them you can think on your feet and come up with innovative solutions!
We think you need these skills to ace Set Design Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Design Skills:Architecture is all about creativity and technical skills, so make sure your portfolio is front and centre! Include a range of your best projects, showcasing different styles and techniques. Don't forget to explain your design process and the challenges you overcame for each project – it gives hiring managers a glimpse into your thought process!
Tailor Your CV to Architecture:When putting together your CV, highlight relevant experience in architectural design software, like AutoCAD or Revit. Plus, if you have any internships or coursework that involved real-world projects, be sure to mention them. We want to see not just what you've done, but how it relates directly to this role at Selfridges & Co.!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to express your passion for architecture and what drew you to Selfridges & Co.. Talk about specific projects or values of theirs you admire, and how you see yourself contributing to their team. We want to feel your enthusiasm – let it shine through your words!
Use Professional Terminology:Don't shy away from using industry-specific jargon that demonstrates your expertise! Terms like 'sustainability', 'scale', and 'aesthetics' can not only show your knowledge but also help you connect with the hiring team. Just ensure it's done in a way that's relatable and not overly technical, so we can see your passion clearly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Selfridges & Co.
✨Master the Technical Questions
In an architecture interview, be ready to tackle some technical questions about building codes, design principles, and software like AutoCAD or Revit. Brush up on your knowledge of materials and components, as you might even face scenarios to solve during the interview that showcase your problem-solving skills in real-time.
✨Bring Your Portfolio to Life
Your portfolio is your golden ticket! Make sure it not only showcases your best work but also highlights your design thinking process, from sketches to final outputs. During the interview, be prepared to discuss the projects in detail—what challenges you faced, how you overcame them, and what you learnt.
✨Demonstrate Your Passion for Sustainability
In today's architecture landscape, sustainability is key. Be sure to highlight any projects that involved eco-friendly designs or your understanding of sustainable practices. This will show that you’re not just familiar with the trends but are genuinely passionate about creating a better future through your designs.
✨Engage with Your Interviewers
Architecture is a collaborative field, so showing that you're a team player is essential. When conversing with the interviewers, actively listen and respond to their ideas. This isn’t just about you showing off your skills, but also about connecting and demonstrating how well you’d fit into their team at Selfridges & Co..
