Design Manager

Papier; London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Papier is seeking a Design Manager to lead its creative vision and mentor the design team. This role involves delivering high-quality stationery designs, conducting market research, and collaborating with various departments to shape the product offering. The ideal candidate will have strong leadership skills and a passion for design.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Private medical and rewards scheme

Cycle to work loan scheme

40% staff discount

Weekly team lunches

Qualifications

• Experience in design leadership and mentoring.
• Strong understanding of market trends and customer behavior.
• Ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design team to deliver high-quality stationery designs.
• Conduct market research and trend analysis to inform product development.
• Mentor and guide designers to elevate their work.

Skills

Leadership

Creativity

Trend Analysis

Collaboration

Job description

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At Papier, we believe in the power of the blank page. Since our inception in 2015, we've been crafting beautifully designed stationery—from journals and planners to wedding invitations—that inspire creativity and meaningful connections. With a growing presence in the UK and US, we're on a mission to make everyday moments noteworthy around the world.

As the Design Manager at Papier, you will play a key role in delivering Papier’s creative vision by balancing your own high-quality design work with leadership responsibilities. Sitting between the Design Team and Head of Design, this role requires both strong individual creative output and the ability to mentor others to elevate their work and ensure consistency across projects.

You will take ownership of trend-led and commercially viable stationery designs for key seasonal collections, partnerships, and category initiatives, while also coaching and guiding the design team to meet high creative standards. You will support the Head of Design & Chief Creative Officer in translating seasonal strategies into actionable creative briefs by contributing to range planning, leading on design delivery, and supporting product development to ensure timely execution, commercial relevance, and alignment with the brand’s design handwriting.

Working collaboratively with the wider business (including Sourcing, Commercial Planning and Wholesale) you will play an active role in shaping the future of Papier’s product offering, driving forward design quality & innovation.

Areas of Responsibility

Range Planning

• Support the Chief Creative Officer & Head of Design by contributing ideas and driving seasonal range plans that reflect strategy, brand handwriting and commercial opportunities.
• Conduct trend analysis & market research to stay up to date with market movements and customer behaviour. Leverage insights to inform new product opportunities with clearly defined USPs and commercial potential.
• Research and recommend design directions that feed into wider category and range development, helping to shape a balanced product mix across trend-led, core and innovation-driven designs.
• Collaborate with Wholesale, Commercial Planning & Sourcing on defining target RRPs, margin expectations & specs.

Design Ideation & Delivery

• Lead the creation of trend-setting, design-led stationery by delivering high-impact projects from concept to final artwork, ensuring exceptional quality, originality, and alignment with Papier’s brand handwriting.
• Conduct thorough and diverse research, moodboarding, and creative concepting that results in aspirational and forward-thinking designs across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Champion creativity by proactively making space for inspiration, experimentation and innovation—sharing trends, new techniques, and references with the team.
• Interpret the Annual Product and Design Strategy by generating ideas for new products and conceptual themes that reflect seasonal direction and commercial goals.
• Present ideas and design outcomes with clarity and confidence, articulating creative thinking in a way that engages stakeholders and inspires cross-functional teams.
• Offer constructive feedback and creative guidance to elevate the design output of others, and contribute to maintaining high standards through regular feedback sessions.
• Monitor progress across team projects, supporting workflow efficiency by stepping in to resolve bottlenecks and ensuring deadlines are met in partnership with the Head of Design Operations and Head of Design.
• Ensure smooth handovers and clear communication at each stage of the design process, from concept to launch.
• Support key meetings and design presentations by confidently communicating project updates and articulating creative decisions with cross-functional teams.

Product Development

• Stay informed of new materials, printing techniques, and technologies, and share this knowledge with the wider team to inform innovative product ideas.
• Collaborate with the Sourcing team and suppliers to ensure your designs - and those developed by your team - are commercially viable, production-ready, and creatively ambitious.
• Support the creation of technical specifications and artwork handovers, ensuring a smooth transition from design to production.
• Travel to factories and suppliers to support product development, sample reviews and production approvals

Quality

• Take the lead on working cross-functionally with Sourcing, Wholesale, Operations & Tech teams to understand product requirements & limitations, suggesting improvements and flagging any issues in order to ensure that our designs are executed & delivered to the best of our ability.
• Play a leading role in improvement initiatives by generating ideas and plans for how to improve the outcome of projects, even following success. Question how tasks could be done better and act upon opportunities to improve.
• Model excellent standards of quality and housekeeping, enabled by a thorough technical understanding of all of our products. Alongside our Senior Artworker, set and maintain standards for quality in the team, including correct uploading/filing, file naming, artwork set up and exporting.

Coaching & Development

• Provide day-to-day guidance and creative mentorship to designers, offering feedback and support to help them elevate their work and meet project goals.
• Foster a supportive, collaborative team culture where creativity, learning, and open communication are championed.
• Play an active role in the professional development of the team by identifying training needs, contributing to creative workshops and skill-sharing within the team.
• Model a proactive, solution-focused approach to challenges, maintaining flexibility and positivity through change or ambiguity.
• We recognise the need for a work-life balance and offer a hybrid working model of 3 days (Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays) in the office at Maison Papier, our lovely Camden office
• 25 days annual leave per year + buy an extra 5 days.
• 20 days per year to Work from Anywhere
• Private medical and rewards scheme with Vitality Health (including 50% off gym memberships with Virgin Active, Pure Gym and more)
• Enrolment into the Papier Pension scheme through the People Pension.
• Enhanced parental leave policies (20 weeks for birth-giving parent / 12 weeks for non birth-giving parent at full pay + phased return)
• Cycle to work loan scheme
• £45 monthly cultural allowance to spend on cinema, concert, gallery or exhibition tickets, cultural experiences + more
• £75 personal stationery allowance, and £150 to spend on our Occasion stationery for a lifetime special event
• 40% staff discount for personal use and 20% discount for family and friends
• 2 days paid per year to volunteer for a cause you care about or take part of internal Papier with Purpose opportunities
• Constant access to mental wellbeing resources and support from our in-house first aiders.
• Weekly team lunches (on Tuesday!)
• Regular ‘School Trips’ to different exhibitions and museums in London
• Our pooches are a part of the Papier team and you may see them from time to time in Maison Papier.
• Inclusive and friendly team who will make you feel welcome from day one!

At Papier, we believe that the diverse perspectives of all paper people deserve to be celebrated. A creative and curious community, we strive to be inclusive and equitable to all. We’re an equal-opportunity employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant on any grounds. From hiring processes to day-to-day business, we aim to create an environment that is accessible and safe for everyone. We’re always working towards building a balanced and supportive workplace, with policies and ways of working to ensure everyone can make the most of their time at Papier.

Seniority level

• Seniority level

  Mid-Senior level

Employment type

• Employment type

  Full-time

Job function

• Job function

  Design

• Industries

  Retail

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