Senior Designer/Design Director

VDV Search; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A creative design consultancy in Amsterdam seeks a Senior Designer ready to step into a Design Director role with creative authority. The position requires leading projects from concept to execution, guiding a talented team, and presenting ideas to senior stakeholders. Candidates should demonstrate strong conceptual thinking, proven creative leadership, and a collaborative approach. A portfolio showcasing impactful design and complex problem-solving is essential for success in this transformative role.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and creative direction.
• Proven ability to lead and influence stakeholders in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Curiosity about emerging design tools and technologies, including AI.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept to execution with meaningful ideas.
• Translate complex challenges into clear creative solutions.
• Mentor and guide designers to elevate craft and thinking.

Skills

Conceptual Thinking

Problem Solving

Creative Leadership

Confidence presenting to stakeholders

Experience across branding, spatial, digital, and motion

Job description

VDV Search is partnering on an exclusive opportunity with a creative design studio in Amsterdam operating at the intersection of Brand, Innovation, and Technology.

This is not a traditional agency. It’s a Creative Consultancy built on the idea of Creative Intelligence — where strategic rigour meets bold, boundary-pushing design. The work is complex, meaningful, and built to last, shaping ideas for organisations at the forefront of technology and culture.

This role is ideal for a Senior or Lead Designer ready to step up into a Design Director position with real creative authority. You’ll lead projects from early concept through to execution — working across 2D, 3D, and interactive/innovation/experience — while mentoring a talented team and presenting ideas directly to senior stakeholders.

This is not about making things look good. It’s about making them mean something.

At the heart of this role

• Conceptual Thinking: You don’t just respond to briefs — you reframe them. You uncover new angles, shape clear directions, and bring strong ideas to life.
• Problem Solving: You’re energised by complexity. You connect design decisions to real-world impact, creating solutions that are both intelligent and elegant.
• Creative Leadership: You lead by elevating others — setting the standard, guiding thinking, and creating the conditions for great work to happen.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading projects from concept through to execution, shaping idea-led work
• Translating complex challenges into clear, compelling creative solutions
• Working across 2D, 3D, and interactive/innovation/experience, building cohesive systems and narratives
• Presenting and defending ideas with clarity, articulating the thinking behind the work
• Mentoring and guiding designers, raising the bar on both craft and thinking
• Collaborating across disciplines to ensure ideas are delivered with integrity and impact

What they’re looking for

• A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking — ideas first, not just execution
• Proven creative leadership, with the ability to guide and influence internal and external stakeholders while shaping clear and compelling creative direction
• Experience working across multiple dimensions (branding, spatial, digital, motion, etc.)
• Confidence presenting to and engaging with senior stakeholders
• Curiosity around emerging tools and technologies (AI, generative, interactive)
• A collaborative, grounded approach — someone who brings people with them

Why this role is different

This is a role for designers who want to go beyond output. It’s about:

• Thinking deeply before making
• Solving real, complex challenges
• Leading others to create meaningful, intelligent work
• Exploring how design evolves across new mediums and technologies