Design Director

Idean UK; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

frog Netherlands seeks a Design Director to lead and elevate its multidisciplinary design practice. You will set the vision for design, shape the studio strategy, and ensure excellence across projects and pitches.

Sitting in the Leadership Team, you will inspire designers, clients, and executives alike, translating design value into measurable business outcomes. You will drive growth through new engagements, partnerships, and innovative design methodologies, including AI-enabled experiences,

Qualifications

• 10+ years in design and digital innovation with leadership experience.
• Proven ability to inspire clients, teams and executives.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating strategic impact across complex programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary design team in the Netherlands.
• Set the creative direction and ensure design excellence across projects.
• Shape studio strategy and contribute to frog Netherlands growth.
• Drive business development and win strategic engagements.

Skills

Design leadership

Stakeholder management

Business development

Portfolio management

Strategic design

AI design

Job description

Are you a visionary design leader ready to shape the future of design at frog Netherlands? Do you combine deep craft excellence with strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to inspire designers, clients, and executives alike? If you are driven by bold ideas, emerging technologies, and the desire to lead a high‑performing design team, then we would love to meet you!

We are frog, part of Capgemini Invent, and the reinvention and experience partner for the eco‑digital era. We help organizations reimagine their future through bold design and meaningful experiences. Our work blends deep user insight, design craft, and cutting‑edge technology to create products and services that matter.

As Design Director, you will lead, grow, and elevate our multidisciplinary design team; design strategists, UX/UI designers, and service designers, while also shaping the broader frog strategy in the Netherlands and beyond.

Your Role

As Design Director, you are the creative and strategic leader of the frog Netherlands design practice. You set the bar for design quality, shape our vision for the future of design, and ensure that frog remains at the forefront of digital innovation.

In this role, you will sit in the frog Leadership Team and play a critical part in shaping our studio strategy, culture, and long‑term growth. You bring strong presence, clear communication, and the ability to represent frog, both internally and in the market.

You combine deep design expertise with excellent business acumen: you know how to inspire clients, win work, shape strategic engagements, and build trusted long‑term relationships. You are comfortable operating at C-level and can translate design value into business outcomes.

You Will

Lead & Inspire

• Lead and mentor a diverse design team, fostering growth, craft excellence, and a strong design culture.
• Set the creative direction and ensure design excellence across projects, pitches, and strategic initiatives.
• Act as a role model and ambassador for frog, with strong personal presence and the ability to inspire others.

Shape Vision & Strategy

• Develop and articulate a compelling vision for how design, and frog, should evolve in an era of AI, adaptive experiences, and data‑driven personalization.
• Contribute to and co‑determine the overall frog Netherlands strategy as part of the Leadership Team.
• Drive innovation across the studio, from new design methodologies to the creative use of emerging technologies (e.g., AI agents, generative interfaces).

Drive Client Impact

• Lead high‑impact engagements for digital products, platforms, and services that combine beauty, usability, and measurable value.
• Partner with clients to define design visions, shape strategic design roadmaps, and elevate design maturity within their organizations.
• Guide multidisciplinary teams through the full innovation and design lifecycle.

Grow the Business

• Play a central role in business development: build relationships, shape proposals, craft compelling narratives, and win strategic pursuits.
• Identify opportunities to grow frog’s footprint with new and existing clients.
• Ensure commercial ownership: define scopes, structure engagements, and safeguard margin while maximizing client and user impact.

You Bring

• 10+ years of experience in design and digital innovation, including leadership roles.
• A compelling design vision and point of view on where design is heading in an AI‑driven world.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams in consultancy, agency, or product environments.
• Strong business development skills and proven success in shaping and winning strategic engagements.
• The ability to inspire clients, teams, and executives through storytelling, presence, and thought leadership.
• A portfolio demonstrating design excellence, strategic impact, and leadership across complex digital programs.

Why frog

At frog, you’ll join a global community of world‑class designers, strategists, and technologists who believe in designing for impact. You’ll shape the future of our studio, elevate our craft, and help deliver meaningful experiences that improve people’s lives.