Associate Creative Director

dentsu; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,500,000 - 6,500,000; Full time

Job summary

dentsu in Bengaluru seeks an experienced Associate Director / Associate Creative Director for Experience Design (XD) to lead and deliver end-to-end digital experiences across UX, UI, and Visual Design. You will translate business needs into engaging product experiences, drive design quality, and mentor junior designers within a fast-paced global environment.

The role reports to the Director of Design and collaborates with Strategy, Product, Technology, and Client stakeholders across markets.

Qualifications

• Strong expertise across UX, UI, and Visual Design.
• Excellent interaction design and problem-solving capability.
• Strong understanding of design systems and scalable experience frameworks.
• Ability to independently lead projects and manage stakeholders.
• Strong storytelling, presentation, and communication skills.
• Comfortable working within agile and cross-functional environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end experience design engagements across UX, UI, and Visual Design.
• Translate business and user needs into compelling digital experiences.
• Drive delivery quality, consistency, and execution excellence across projects.
• Mentor and support junior designers and contribute to team capability.

Skills

UX/UI/Visual Design

Interaction Design

Design Systems

Lead Projects

Storytelling & Presentation

Agile Environment

Job description

Job Description: Associate Director / Associate Creative Director — Experience Design (DCF 40)

Role Overview We are looking for an experienced and well-rounded design leader to join our Experience Design (XD) team as an Associate Director / Associate Creative Director (DCF 40). This role requires a strong blend of UX, UI, and Visual Design capabilities, with the ability to independently lead projects from discovery through delivery. The ideal candidate should be capable of driving design quality, collaborating with cross-functional teams, influencing stakeholders, and mentoring designers while operating within a fast-paced global environment. The role reports into the Director of Design and will work closely with Strategy, Product, Technology, and Client stakeholders across markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Project & Delivery Leadership
• Lead end-to-end experience design engagements independently across UX, UI, and Visual Design
• Translate business and user needs into compelling digital experiences
• Drive delivery quality, consistency, and execution excellence across projects
• Manage project workflows, timelines, dependencies, and stakeholder alignment
• Collaborate closely with Product, Engineering, Strategy, and Client teams
• UX, UI & Visual Design Excellence
• Create strong user-centered experiences across web, mobile, and platform ecosystems
• Drive interaction design, information architecture, user journeys, and flows
• Contribute to high-quality visual systems, UI patterns, and scalable design components
• Ensure craft quality across usability, accessibility, responsiveness, and visual consistency
• Guide designers in applying design systems and structured methodologies
• Communication & Stakeholder Management
• Present design concepts, rationale, and recommendations clearly to stakeholders and clients
• Facilitate discussions, workshops, and collaborative working sessions
• Translate complex ideas into structured narratives and actionable outcomes
• Build confidence with clients through strong communication and delivery ownership
• Team & Practice Contribution
• Mentor and support junior and mid-level designers
• Contribute to building design capability, culture, and best practices within the XD team
• Participate in hiring, reviews, and capability development initiatives
• Help strengthen collaboration across UX, Visual Design, Motion, Content, and Strategy teams
• Innovation & Emerging Practices
• Stay updated with evolving trends in UX, UI, AI-enabled workflows, and digital experiences
• Explore opportunities to integrate AI tools and emerging technologies into design workflows
• Advocate for accessibility, inclusive design, and responsible design practices

Required Skills & Experience

Core Skills

• Strong expertise across UX, UI, and Visual Design
• Excellent interaction design and problem-solving capability
• Strong understanding of design systems and scalable experience frameworks
• Ability to independently lead projects and manage stakeholders
• Strong storytelling, presentation, and communication skills
• Comfortable working within agile and cross-functional environments

• Experience 8–12 years of relevant experience in Experience Design / Product Design / Digital Design
• Experience working in agencies, consulting firms, product companies, or global delivery environments
• Proven experience leading digital product or platform design initiatives
• Experience working with distributed or cross-market teams is preferred

Preferred Attributes

• Balanced design thinker with both strategic and execution capabilities
• Strong collaboration and interpersonal skills
• High ownership and accountability
• Structured and detail-oriented approach to delivery
• Growth mindset and willingness to learn
• Ability to operate independently while collaborating effectively within larger teams

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Director of Design
• Works closely with: UX, Visual Design, Strategy, Product, Engineering, and Client stakeholders

Level Expectations (DCF 40)

• Independently lead medium-to-large design engagements
• Influence project direction and delivery quality
• Mentor designers and contribute to team capability
• Operate with minimal supervision
• Contribute meaningfully to practice growth and stakeholder confidence

The role is not expected to fully own organizational strategy, large-scale business growth, or global practice leadership, which remain Director-level expectations (DCF 45).

Location: DGS India - Bengaluru - Manyata H2 block (inactive)

Brand: Merkle

Time Type: Full time Contract Type: Permanent

About dentsu

For over 120 years, innovation has been a core tenet of our offering – exploring new ways to reach, engage and nurture relationships with audiences. Together we drive a multiplier effect for clients at a global scale, through the development of Integrated Growth Solutions that are underpinned by our promise to clients: innovating to impact. Be a force for good. Sustainability is a vital part of our business and an important area of focus for our clients. We’re leading the way – helping to build a more sustainable planet. Dream loud. In this moment of transformation, we need our people to be fearless, embracing change and ambiguity, driven by the love for their work and excitement for the future. Team without limits. We create opportunities for connection and collaboration between our colleagues and clients, building a sense of belonging and having some fun along the way.