At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects, develop visual concepts, and inspire a talented design team.
- Company: Join Sorores, a leader in luxury real estate and hospitality branding.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, creative environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on creativity and innovation.
- Why this job: Shape the future of luxury brands and create impactful visual experiences.
- Qualifications: 9+ years in branding and design, strong leadership and art direction skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Design Lead
At Sorores, we create brands, destinations and experiences for some of the world's most ambitious luxury real estate and hospitality projects.
We're looking for an exceptional
Design Lead to join our growing creative team, someone who is equally passionate about big ideas and flawless execution.
This is a leadership role for a highly conceptual designer who can translate strategy into compelling visual experiences, inspire others to produce their best work, and own the creative direction of projects from concept through to delivery.
This isn't a project management role. It's a creative leadership role.
You'll work alongside our Head of Marketing & Creative to define the visual vision for brands, campaigns and experiences, while leading a talented team of designers to bring that vision to life across every touchpoint.
About the Role
As Design Lead, you'll be the creative owner of your projects.
You'll establish the creative direction, develop distinctive visual concepts, and ensure every piece of work reflects the highest creative standards.
From luxury hospitality brands and residential developments to marketing campaigns, digital experiences and printed collateral, you'll oversee the creative process from the first idea to final production.
You'll remain hands-on where it matters most, developing concepts, refining key deliverables and art directing creative output while mentoring the wider design team and raising the quality of work across the studio.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys leading creatively without stepping away from design.
What You'll Do
- Creative Leadership
- Define the creative vision and visual direction for multiple projects.
- Translate brand strategy into distinctive creative concepts and visual systems.
- Develop creative territories, moodboards and visual narratives.
- Ensure consistency and excellence across every project touchpoint.
- Champion outstanding creative thinking throughout the studio.
- Art Direction
- Lead the creative direction of photography, film, CGI and digital content.
- Guide visual storytelling, styling, composition and image selection.
- Collaborate closely with strategists and copywriters to create integrated brand experiences.
- Review and elevate creative work to ensure it meets the highest standards.
- Understanding of brand
- Extensive experience working with brands, not just designing assets, but developing and applying visual identity systems.
You understand how brands are built, how design decisions reinforce positioning, and how to maintain consistency across every touchpoint while allowing brands to evolve.
- Design & Production
- Stay actively involved in concept development and key design stages.
- Oversee creative production across print, digital, websites, presentations, campaigns, sales collateral and environmental graphics.
- Work with external partners including photographers, filmmakers, developers, printers and specialist suppliers.
- Ensure creative quality is maintained throughout production without compromising commercial objectives.
- Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor and inspire a multidisciplinary design team.
- Provide clear creative direction, feedback and coaching.
- Support resource planning alongside project managers.
- Foster a collaborative, ambitious and creatively curious studio culture.
- Help shape and elevate the agency's overall creative output.
- Client Leadership
- Present creative concepts and rationale with confidence.
- Lead creative workshops and design presentations.
- Build trusted relationships with clients through strategic thinking and creative expertise.
- Represent the Sorores creative standard at every stage of a project.
Skills & Knowledge
- Creative Leadership
- Exceptional conceptual thinking.
- Ability to develop original creative ideas from strategic briefs.
- Strong visual storytelling and narrative development.
- Excellent creative judgement and decision-making.
- Ability to define and communicate a compelling creative vision.
- Art Direction
- Photography direction.
- Film and video direction.
- Styling and composition.
- Typography systems.
- Colour theory and palette development.
- Layout systems and visual hierarchy.
- Image selection and visual curation.
- Technical Expertise
- Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
- Advanced understanding of print production and fabrication.
- Strong knowledge of website design and digital user experience principles.
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary creative production.
- Leadership Skills
- Creative mentoring and coaching.
- Team leadership.
- Resource awareness.
- Decision-making.
- Problem solving.
- Constructive feedback.
- Cross-functional collaboration.
- Professional Skills
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Excellent organisation and project management.
- Supplier and stakeholder management.
- Ability to balance creativity with budgets, timelines and commercial objectives.
What We're Looking For
- A minimum of 9 years' professional experience in branding and design for luxury hospitality and/or real estate. Preferably in a creative agency environment.
- A portfolio demonstrating exceptional brand identity, campaign and editorial work.
- Outstanding conceptual thinking and the ability to develop original creative ideas from strategic briefs.
- Strong art direction experience across photography, film and digital content.
- Strong understanding of print production, digital design and multi-channel creative delivery.
- Experience leading designers, mentoring teams and providing creative direction.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills.
- Commercial awareness and confidence balancing creative ambition with project objectives.
- A genuine passion for craft, storytelling and creating world-class work.
- Please send your CV and a portfolio to
Design Lead in London employer: Sorores London
At Sorores, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and collaborative work culture, perfect for creative minds looking to make a significant impact in luxury real estate and hospitality design. Our Design Lead role offers not only the opportunity to lead and inspire a talented team but also to engage in hands-on creative work, ensuring personal growth and professional development in a supportive environment. With a commitment to excellence and innovation, we provide our employees with the resources and freedom to explore their creativity while working on prestigious projects in a dynamic setting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Lead in London
✨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 Sorores London.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Sorores London, 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 Lead in London
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 Sorores London 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 Sorores London.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Sorores London. 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 Sorores London.
How to prepare for a job interview at Sorores London
✨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 Sorores London. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.
