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

✨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 Taxi Studio.

✨Tailor Your Applications

When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like Taxi Studio, 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 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 🫡

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 Taxi Studio 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 Taxi Studio.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at Taxi Studio. 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 Taxi Studio.

How to prepare for a job interview at Taxi Studio

✨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 Taxi Studio. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.