Design Director

FutureBrand; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading branding agency in London seeks a visionary Design Director to lead creative excellence and inspire teams. This role involves developing exceptional design solutions, collaborating closely with the Creative Director, and fostering a culture of innovation. The ideal candidate will have strong communication skills, be proactive, and have a track record of producing award-winning work. The agency values diversity and inclusivity.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading creative projects and teams.
• Ability to craft presentation-ready proposals.
• Strong interpersonal skills for building client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of creative concepts into design solutions.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director on the creative vision.
• Manage projects from briefing to final delivery.
• Oversee project budgets and ensure financial efficiency.
• Champion creativity and collaboration throughout the process.
• Define project briefs and deliverables.
• Refine work into compelling proposals.
• Present work to clients with authority.
• Manage project timelines and resources.
• Brief and manage external suppliers.
• Contribute to brand strategy and creative development.
• Monitor project budgets for efficiency.
• Lead and mentor a small team.

Skills

Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation skills

Proactive, organised, and accountable

Strategic thinker with strong conceptual design skills

Collaborative team leader

Passionate about design

Open-minded and adaptable

Ambitious and driven

Able to balance creative vision with commercial awareness

Job description

Job Description

We’re FutureBrand, the flagship branding agency within the multi-award-winning global advertising agency network, McCann Worldgroup.

24 years young with a head full of big brand experience and a gaze fixed firmly on the future, our work over the last two decades has changed the brand landscape today. What we do next will change tomorrow. We’re based in some of the most exciting and vibrant cities on the planet, balancing global scale with cultural connection. That means we’re on the doorstep of many of the world’s biggest brands, and within reach of the very best talent around.

Together, we are a diverse brand, experience and design community who believe that brand is how a company’s people, products and services behave wherever and whenever they show up in the world. Our work focuses on measuring and maximizing brand behaviour by connecting corporate purpose with everyday lived experience.

It’s through this work that we deliver our purpose: To transform the future of businesses by changing how their brands behave today. And because we believe strongly that the future our brands create must be a future for us all, our shared values - Progressive, Adaptable, Collaborative and Empowering - put difference and diversity at our core.

We’re looking for a visionary Design Director to lead creative excellence across projects, inspire teams, and shape brand experiences that are both strategic and beautifully crafted. You’ll partner closely with the Creative Director, guide multidisciplinary teams, and play a pivotal role in delivering impactful design solutions for our clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of creative concepts into exceptional, insight-driven design solutions.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director to set the creative vision and uphold design standards across projects.
• Build strong relationships across the business and with clients, acting as a trusted advisor and creative leader.
• Direct and oversee projects from briefing to final delivery, making confident, strategic design decisions.
• Champion creativity and collaboration throughout the design process, fostering a culture of innovation.
• Define project briefs, deliverables, and timelines, ensuring clarity before engaging the design team.
• Craft and refine design work into compelling, presentation-ready proposals.
• Ensure all presentation materials are accurate, complete, and visually impactful.
• Present work to clients with authority, clarity, and enthusiasm.
• Manage project timelines and resources in partnership with Design Directors, client services, and studio management.
• Brief and manage external suppliers to ensure quality and consistency.
• Contribute to brand strategy and the broader creative development process.
• Monitor project budgets and ensure financial efficiency.
• Lead and mentor a small team, supporting their growth through coaching, feedback, and formal appraisals.
• Inspire and motivate designers throughout the creative journey, navigating both challenges and successes.

Skills & Competencies

• Clear, confident communicator with strong presentation skills.
• Proactive, organised, and accountable — with a sharp eye for detail and craft.
• Strategic thinker with strong conceptual design skills and a refined aesthetic sensibility.
• Collaborative team leader who thrives in a creative, solution-focused environment.
• Passionate about design and committed to nurturing creativity in others.
• Open-minded and adaptable, with a genuine desire to partner with colleagues and clients.
• Ambitious and driven, with a track record of producing award-winning work.
• Able to balance creative vision with commercial awareness and operational efficiency.

Equal Opportunities

We believe that ideas get better when they are inherently diverse and shared in highly inclusive ways and we want to hear from those who think differently from us. We truly believe in the strength of diversity and the richness it can bring. By bringing different people together great things happen.

FutureBrand is an equal opportunity employer (EEO). We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

FutureBrand is a disability-confident committed employer and will guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets the minimum criteria for the role. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications, we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you have a disability, we want everyone to feel at ease when going through our recruitment process. We are working to make our website and processes more accessible, if you encounter any issues and would like this information in an alternative format, or if you need further support with your application, please contact us at [e-mail] for any adjustments you may need to perform at your best.