Lead Experience Designer

AKQA; Auckland; Hybrid; NZD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

AKQA in Auckland, part of WPP, seeks a Lead Experience Designer to imagine and deliver pioneering digital experiences for ambitious brands. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, mentor designers, and craft intuitive experiences across platforms.

You will shape online platforms, design systems, and emerging digital experiences, collaborating with strategists, technologists, and delivery teams. The role emphasizes creative excellence, culture of innovation, and a balanced hybrid work model.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio showing experience design across digital products.
• Experience leading designers and delivering complex projects.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Figma and collaborative design tools.
• Ability to work in agile, cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead and guide a team of Experience Designers to deliver impactful digital experiences.
• Maintain a high standard of design craft across all work.
• Translate brand strategy and user insight into clear design solutions.
• Develop and evolve design systems, component libraries, and guidelines.
• Collaborate with strategists, technologists, and delivery teams to ensure practical, well-executed ideas.
• Provide mentorship and feedback to support design talent growth.
• Present design thinking clearly to clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Portfolio quality

Lead design teams

Communication skills

Visual design

Agile methodologies

Client presentations

Mentorship

Tools

Figma

Collaborative design tools

Job description

Overview

At AKQA (part of WPP), our Experience Design discipline sets the standard for innovation, creativity, and craft. As a Lead Experience Designer, you’ll imagine what’s next and help make what matters. You will lead innovative work for ambitious brands, creating pioneering digital experiences that feel intuitive, engaging, and emotionally resonant for audiences around the world.

In this role, you will conceive and deliver digital experiences that combine imagination, cultural intelligence, and technology to create meaningful products and services. Working alongside a multidisciplinary team of strategists, visual designers, UX architects, and researchers, you will shape online platforms, design systems, mobile applications, and emerging digital experiences. You will lead by example, mentoring designers, inspiring clients, and delivering visionary work.

As part of AKQA, you’ll work in an innovative and inclusive culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields. You’ll have the opportunity to learn and grow within a creative and technically advanced team, with access to ongoing personal and professional development. Our hybrid in-studio/WFH model supports balance and flexibility, and we’re committed to your career growth as well as your work/life balance.

Role Requirements

• Lead and guide a team of Experience Designers to deliver impactful and engaging digital experiences.
• Maintain a high standard of design craft, ensuring quality and attention to detail across all work.
• Translate brand strategy and user insight into clear, effective design solutions across digital platforms.
• Develop and evolve design systems, component libraries, and guidelines that support scalable experiences.
• Collaborate closely with strategists, technologists, and delivery teams to ensure ideas are practical, effective, and well executed.
• Provide mentorship and constructive feedback to support the growth and development of design talent.
• Present design thinking clearly and confidently to clients and internal stakeholders.

Qualities and Characteristics

• A strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality experience design across digital products and platforms.
• Solid product design experience, from UX architecture through to refined visual interface design.
• Experience leading designers and contributing to the delivery of complex digital projects.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.
• Excellent visual design sensibility across layout, hierarchy, colour, motion, and typography.
• Proficiency in modern design tools such as Figma and other collaborative design platforms.
• Experience working within agile, cross-functional teams in agency or product environments.
• A genuine passion for design culture, creativity, and continuous innovation.

We believe great work happens when we\'re together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That\'s why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.