Group Design Director

Critical Playground LLC; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AKQA, part of WPP, invites a Group Design Director to shape the future of digital craft across brand and product experiences. Based in London, you will lead vision, elevate talent, and set the benchmark for storytelling and launch campaigns while embedding in a client studio team.

This six-to-nine month rolling contract blends hands-on craft with strategic leadership, mentoring a multidisciplinary group, and driving modern workflows, motion design, and AI-assisted tools to deliver thoughtful,

Qualifications

• Mastery of digital design craft including layout, typography, and detail.
• Proven track record leading digital product launches and storytelling for premium brands.
• Experience building and scaling digital brand systems and ecosystems.
• Experience collaborating within embedded or client-side teams with strong communication.
• Mentor and develop talent, fostering a high-performing team environment.
• Ability to present and defend design work to senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Define and uphold the creative vision across digital brand, product, and launches.
• Lead end-to-end creative process for global product launches from concept to execution.
• Be hands-on with UI, interaction design, and visual craft when needed.
• Collaborate with cross-functional AKQA and client teams of designers, UX writers, and technologists.
• Translate product strategies and technical inputs into clear, compelling digital narratives.
• Present and defend ambitious design work to senior internal stakeholders.
• Mentor and cultivate talent to foster a high-performing, inclusive team.
• Champion and implement modern design workflows including motion design, spaces, rapid prototyping, and AI-assisted tools.
• Ensure visual consistency through tight feedback loops and design reviews.
• Balance ambition with rigour to meet high-stakes launch schedules.

Skills

Master of Craft

Launch-Experienced

Systemic Thinker

Diplomatic & Adaptable

Natural Mentor

Compelling Storyteller

Strategic & Practical

Technically Curious

Job description

At AKQA (part of WPP), we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create ideas, products, and services that move the world forward. We exist at the intersection of design, technology, and culture — creating work that is as meaningful as it is beautiful.

The Opportunity

As Group Design Director, your opportunity is to define what comes next.

You will lead the vision, shape the work, and set the benchmark for digital craft across brand and product experiences. This role guides ideas from first thought to final execution, ensuring that every digital interaction is intelligent, innovative, and unforgettable.

You are a creative leader and a maker at heart, balancing bold, systemic thinking with meticulous craft. You know how to build teams, elevate talent, and cultivate an environment where great ideas thrive. Under your leadership, global product storytelling and launch experiences will sit at the core — moments where every detail matters, and every interaction carries meaning.

This role is embedded within a client team in London and requires onsite collaboration in the client studio three days per week.

This is a 6–9 month rolling fixed-term contract, offered on a hybrid basis

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Uphold Design Excellence: Define and uphold the creative vision and standard across all digital brand, product, and interactive launch experiences.
• Lead Product Storytelling: Drive the end-to-end creative process for global product launches — from early-stage narrative concept through to final digital execution and delivery.
• Be Hands-On with Craft: Maintain an active, hands-on approach where needed, sitting alongside designers to guide UI, interaction design, and visual craft at key execution moments.
• Navigate Embedded Dynamics: Collaborate within a joint, cross-functional team of both AKQA and client-side designers, UX specialists, writers, and technologists.
• Solve Complex Challenges: Translate sophisticated product strategies and technical inputs into simple, compelling, and elegant digital narratives.
• Act as a Trusted Partner: Act as a confident creative partner, presenting and defending ambitious design work to senior internal stakeholders.
• Mentor and Cultivate Talent: Mentor and develop creative talent, fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and inclusive team environment.
• Pioneer Modern Workflows: Champion and implement modern design technologies and workflows — including motion design, spatial interfaces, rapid prototyping, and AI-assisted design tools.
• Ensure Visual Consistency: Establish tight creative feedback loops and design reviews to ensure absolute consistency across complex digital ecosystems.
• Balance Ambition with Rigour: Drive creative ambition while maintaining the discipline and focus required to deliver on high-stakes, time-sensitive launch schedules.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• A Master of Craft: A visionary creative leader with a relentless, uncompromising commitment to digital design craft, layout, typography, and detail.
• Launch-Experienced: Deep, proven expertise in leading digital product launches, connected-experience storytelling, and interactive campaigns for global premium brands.
• Systemic Thinker: Strong expertise in building and scaling digital brand systems, interactive ecosystems, and responsive web platforms.
• Diplomatic and Adaptable: Experienced working within embedded or client-side team structures, with the communication skills and diplomacy to lead within an integrated creative model.
• Natural Mentor: A supportive, inspiring leader who is genuinely invested in the growth of their team members.
• Compelling Storyteller: A brilliant communicator and presenter, able to articulate the "why" behind design decisions and inspire stakeholders.
• Strategic & Practical: Both a high-level conceptual thinker and a pragmatic problem-solver who can roll up their sleeves and design.
• Technically Curious: Forward-thinking and curious about emerging technology and how it translates into the future of human-device interaction.

Explore our extensive range of benefitshere.