Design Director in Bristol

Design Director in Bristol

Bristol Full-Time 48000 - 84000 £ / year (est.) On-site
Taxi Studio

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead design projects and teams, ensuring creative excellence and timely delivery.
  • Company: Taxi Studio is a B Corp certified agency focused on impactful design and creativity.
  • Benefits: Enjoy flexible working hours, health plans, personal development budgets, and duvet days for mental wellbeing.
  • Other info: Embrace our Code of Conduct: Live Fearless, Form Real Relationships, and Play Fair.
  • Why this job: Join a culture that values creativity, mentorship, and real relationships while making unforgettable work.
  • Qualifications: Experience in design leadership and proficiency in design tools are essential.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.

Design Teams’ Purpose: To create unforgettable work that drives seismic commercial results.
Design Director’s Purpose: To lead design excellence and team development across brand design.

As a Design Director at Taxi Studio, you’ll sit at the heart of the Design Team, playing (arguably) the most critical role in turning ideas into impact. You’ll help define the creative direction then lead the charge in bringing that vision to life, guiding the team day-to-day, bringing clarity and ambition to every project you touch. You’ll mentor designers, partner closely with Strategy, Project and Client Teams, and deliver work that’s bold, unforgettable, and commercially sharp — while always working in accordance with our Code of Conduct.

Master Crafter
You’ll set the standard for excellence, interrogating work through the lens of brand distinctiveness and craft precision. You’ll guide, challenge and elevate the Design Team while actively contributing to all design projects where needed. You’re fluent in emerging tools, including AI, and you’ll ensure our work is future-facing, commercially focused, unmistakably human and entirely unforgettable.

Excellence Evangeliser
You’ll lead the delivery of projects from brief to launch, challenging the work to be braver, sharper and more impactful. You’ll partner with the Strategy and Client Teams to align thinking and execution, ensuring ideas always connect to the client’s ambition, but exceed their expectations. You’ll bring taste, rigour and originality to every touchpoint, always aligned with our design philosophy.

Project Partner
You’re an operational anchor for design work. You’ll help scope and phase design delivery, help assign the right team to each project, and ensure quality control throughout. You’ll plan proactively, flag risks early, keep momentum high and ensure projects are run efficiently. You’ll involve our more senior Design Team leaders at critical stages throughout the project process and take ownership of delivery, including the creation, and timely delivery, of standout project case studies.

Persuasive Presenter
You’ll bring confidence, clarity and commercial acumen to internal reviews and client presentations. You’ll sell the idea, not the aesthetics, helping clients understand the value of unforgettable work. You’ll present with intent and welcome challenges with an open mind, turning feedback into fuel that improves the work.

Team Mentor
You’re a coach and champion to your team. You’ll provide feedback that builds people up and helps them grow. You’ll stretch your teams’ talent with intention, delegate to elevate, and create an environment where curiosity and confidence can thrive. You’ll therefore play a critical role in shaping both our work and our culture.

Five Important Things

1. Our Code of Conduct

Taxi Studio’s three founders founded three values; they’ve since become the bedrock of our culture.
So, on joining us, you’ll be asked to embrace (and sign) our Code of Conduct:

  • Live Fearless: We’ll encourage you to embrace the extraordinary, think bigger, seek to improve, step into the unknown, back yourself, and be true to yourself.
  • Form Real Relationships: We’ll expect you to do the right thing, treat others with respect, champion your colleagues, seek to assist not obstruct, give constructive feedback, and be kind
    to yourself.
  • Play Fair: We’ll need you to always seek first to understand, collaborate without ego, bring the joy, say ‘no’ when you need to, take responsibility for your actions, and be aware of your impact.

2. Your Benefits

You’ll be remunerated and rewarded based on your contribution to the business, and you’ll benefit from an array of benefits, too, including:

Health Cashback Plan/Private Healthcare, Enhanced Pension Contributions, Enhanced Maternity and Paternity, Life Assurance Plan, Hybrid Working and Flexible Working Hours, plus a Paid Volunteering Day — so you can do some good, on us.

And while it’s not a benefit, we operate a fair salary policy, which is reviewed every year and rigorously benchmarked against industry salary benchmarks.

3. Career Caretaking

We’ll regularly check in with you to see how things are going — celebrating wins, talking through challenges, and setting clear goals to review next time. You can choose to work with a mentor and will always have access to our in-house coach. We also offer plenty of training throughout the year, plus an annual personal budget to support your wellbeing. And if you need a break, you’re encouraged to take a ‘duvet day’ (or two) to look after your mental health.

4. Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

No matter who you are, where you’re from or what experience you may or may not have, you are very welcome to interview for a position at Taxi Studio. We uphold diversity of thought and support diversity in people. We seek divergent thinkers. And people that are smart and nice. It’s that simple.

5. Being an Independent B Corp Business

We believe how we work matters just as much as what we do. Being an independent B Corp helps us stay true to that — free from the corporate red tape and shareholder pressures you’ll find in network agencies, we answer only to our people, the planet, and the brief.

Design Director in Bristol employer: Taxi Studio

At Taxi Studio, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture. As a Traffic Manager, you'll enjoy flexible hybrid working arrangements, comprehensive health benefits, and a commitment to your professional growth through mentorship and training opportunities. Our independent B Corp status ensures that we prioritise our people and the planet, creating a supportive environment where you can thrive and make a meaningful impact.

Taxi Studio

Contact Details:

Taxi Studio Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Design Director in Bristol

✨Tip Number 1

Familiarise yourself with Taxi Studio's design philosophy and their Code of Conduct. Understanding their values, such as 'Live Fearless' and 'Form Real Relationships', will help you align your approach and demonstrate that you're a good cultural fit during interviews.

✨Tip Number 2

Showcase your leadership skills by discussing past experiences where you've successfully mentored teams or led projects. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you inspired creativity and drove commercial results, as this aligns closely with the role's expectations.

✨Tip Number 3

Stay updated on emerging design technologies and trends, particularly in AI and digital tools. Being able to discuss how these innovations can enhance creative processes will position you as a forward-thinking candidate who can lead the team effectively.

✨Tip Number 4

Prepare to discuss your approach to client relationships and project management. Highlight your ability to balance creative vision with practical execution, ensuring projects are delivered on time and within budget while maintaining high standards of quality.

We think you need these skills to ace Design Director in Bristol

Leadership Skills
Creative Vision
Design Software Proficiency (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Figma)
Project Management
Client Relationship Management
Strategic Thinking
Mentorship and Coaching

Some tips for your application 🫡

Understand the Role:Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and expectations of a Design Director at Taxi Studio. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with their needs.

Showcase Your Expertise:In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your mastery of design tools and your ability to lead teams. Provide specific examples of projects where you've demonstrated design excellence and commercial thinking.

Craft a Compelling Narrative:When writing your cover letter, create a narrative that connects your past experiences with the values and culture of Taxi Studio. Highlight how you embody their Code of Conduct and how you can contribute to their mission.

Prepare for Presentation:Since persuasive presentation skills are crucial for this role, consider including a portfolio of your work that showcases not only your design skills but also your ability to present ideas clearly and engagingly.

How to prepare for a job interview at Taxi Studio

✨Showcase Your Design Expertise

As a Design Director, your mastery of design tools is crucial. Be prepared to discuss your experience with various design software and how you've used them to achieve outstanding results in past projects.

✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills

Highlight your ability to lead and mentor design teams. Share specific examples of how you've inspired your team to excel and how you've navigated challenges while ensuring project success.

✨Prepare for Client Engagement Scenarios

Since you'll be liaising with clients, practice articulating your creative vision clearly and persuasively. Think of ways to build trust and rapport with clients, as well as how to handle difficult conversations.

✨Align with Company Values

Familiarise yourself with Taxi Studio's Code of Conduct and values. Be ready to discuss how you embody these principles in your work and how they influence your approach to design and teamwork.