At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead bold design projects and elevate creative standards across the studio.
- Company: Join StudioXAG, a creative powerhouse crafting immersive experiences for top brands.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, hybrid work, generous holiday, and wellness support.
- Other info: Be part of an inclusive culture that values diverse perspectives and creativity.
- Why this job: Shape the future of design while mentoring talented creatives in a dynamic environment.
- Qualifications: Proven design leadership experience with a strong creative vision and communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 95000 € per year.
StudioXAG creates bold spaces that tell big stories. We create WOW moments for some of the world’s best-known brands, crafting immersive experiences that spark surprise, delight, awe and emotional connection. Our team is made up of conceptual thinkers, creative dreamers and inquisitive makers who bring these moments to life.
We’re looking for a Design Director to help shape the future of our Creative Studio — someone who can define bold ideas, raise creative standards and lead exceptional work across projects, teams and clients. This is a role for a senior creative leader; someone confident directing ambitious work, elevating those around them, and balancing creative excellence with commercial reality.
The Role
As a Design Director, you’ll define, direct and elevate design across the Creative Studio. Reporting into our Associate Creative Director, you’ll lead some of our most ambitious and strategically important projects while helping raise the creative bar across the wider studio. Alongside your own work, you’ll mentor and develop Lead Designers, strengthen team capability and influence the evolution of our creative output through your standards, leadership and taste. You’ll also take ownership of a key area of creative innovation or capability, helping shape how our Creative Studio grows in the future.
Requirements
Responsibilities
- Creative / Design Direction
- Lead concept-led design across multiple projects, turning briefs into clear, compelling creative direction
- Own and direct high-profile, creatively ambitious work, setting the benchmark for quality and craft
- Raise creative standards across the studio, guiding teams toward fewer, stronger and more impactful ideas
- Lead reviews with clarity and decisiveness, balancing creative ambition with commercial reality
- Drive innovation and creative elevation within an area of specialist interest or strength
- Leadership
- Mentor and develop Lead Designers, supporting growth through feedback, coaching and development
- Strengthen capability across the Creative Studio through exceptional creative direction and input
- Help build a high-performing creative culture through talent development, recruitment and raising standards
- Lead with confidence, accountability and clarity
- Communication & Collaboration
- Translate briefs into clear creative direction and aligned outputs across teams
- Collaborate closely with Design Project Management to balance ambition with delivery
- Build trusted relationships with clients and internal stakeholders, guiding projects from briefing through to production
- Protect creative intent through every stage of delivery
What We’re Looking For
We’d love to hear from you if you are:
- A highly creative and experienced design leader with exceptional creative judgement and the ability to define strong ideas across multiple projects and teams
- Experienced within luxury brand, retail, experiential or agency environments, with a track record of mentoring creatives and elevating team capability
- A confident communicator, presenter and storyteller who can sell ideas and build trust with senior stakeholders
- Someone who balances bold ideas with commercial awareness and understands how to deliver impactful work at scale
- Deeply connected to culture, design and innovation, with curiosity about how our industry is evolving
- Technically confident across industry-standard tools (SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, rendering software etc.)
Bonus points for:
- Experience shaping new capabilities, services or ways of working
- Interest in emerging tools, AI or evolving creative processes
- Strength in a particular area that could help evolve our Creative Studio over time
Benefits
Location: We work hybrid: 3 days/week in our East London studio (E10) and 2 flexible days. Standard hours are 9am–6pm, with flexibility available.
Some of our benefits include:
- Gross profit-related annual bonus scheme
- Workplace pension
- 22 days holiday + Christmas closure + birthday off + bank holidays
- 0.5 paid days/month to get inspired
- International research budgets and trips
- YCN creative learning membership
- Spill mental health support
- Cycle to work scheme
- Fitness discounts
Salary: £70,000- £95,000
Belonging & Inclusivity at StudioXAG
StudioXAG is a business that strives for equality for all its people. Known for our storytelling, our different perspectives make us more creative than ever. No matter who you are, you are welcome at StudioXAG.
Design Director in London employer: Studioxag
At StudioXAG, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture in our East London studio. As a Design Director, you'll not only lead ambitious projects but also have the opportunity to mentor and develop talent within a creative environment that values innovation and collaboration. With benefits like a gross profit-related bonus scheme, generous holiday allowance, and a commitment to employee well-being, we ensure that our team members thrive both personally and professionally.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design Director in London
✨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 a Design Director or who can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! Make sure it’s up-to-date and highlights your best work. When you’re chatting with potential employers, use your portfolio to tell a story about your creative journey and how you’ve elevated teams in the past.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their projects, values, and what makes them tick. This way, you can tailor your answers to show how you can help shape their Creative Studio and raise the creative bar.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at StudioXAG.
We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Creative Spark:When you're writing your application, let your creativity shine through! Use engaging language and showcase your unique design perspective. We want to see how you can turn a brief into something compelling.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the Design Director role. Highlight your experience in leading ambitious projects and mentoring teams. We love seeing how your background aligns with our vision at StudioXAG!
Be Clear and Concise:While we appreciate creativity, clarity is key! Make sure your application is easy to read and gets straight to the point. We want to understand your ideas and experiences without sifting through too much fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Studioxag
✨Know Your Creative Vision
Before the interview, take some time to reflect on your own creative philosophy and vision. Be ready to discuss how you can elevate design standards and lead ambitious projects. Think about specific examples from your past work that showcase your ability to turn briefs into compelling creative direction.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Design Director, you'll be expected to mentor and develop others. Prepare to share stories of how you've successfully guided teams in the past. Highlight your approach to feedback and coaching, and be ready to discuss how you foster a high-performing creative culture.
✨Balance Creativity with Commercial Awareness
StudioXAG values bold ideas that also make commercial sense. Be prepared to discuss how you've balanced creative ambition with practical delivery in previous roles. Think of examples where your innovative ideas led to successful outcomes for clients or projects.
✨Connect with Their Culture
Research StudioXAG's recent projects and their approach to storytelling. During the interview, reference specific works that resonate with you and explain why. This shows your genuine interest in their brand and how you can contribute to their creative evolution.
