Design Director

Artisan Talent; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Artisan Talent in New York City seeks a Design Director to lead a multidisciplinary team in experiential marketing, translating concepts into brand experiences and physical spaces.

You will mentor designers, manage workflows, review budgets, and ensure high-quality execution while collaborating with clients and internal teams on live projects and installations.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional design experience in experiential, environmental, or spatial design.
• 3+ years of experience leading designers in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating experiential and spatial design translating brand identity into physical spaces.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D modeling/rendering tools.
• Knowledge of fabrication methods, materials, and installation processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of designers.
• Manage daily workflow, briefs, resources, milestones, and deadlines.
• Review scopes, objectives, budgets, and deliverables to set design direction.
• Monitor capacity and arrange freelance support or hiring as needed.
• Collaborate with production teams to ensure feasible design solutions.
• Lead client presentations and translate feedback into actionable design.
• Review floor plans and technical docs for production readiness.
• Support new business and maintain the agency's visual identity.
• Lead hiring and professional development for the design team.

Skills

Team leadership

Client communication

Design critique

Project management

Hands-on design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

SketchUp

Rhino

Enscape

V-Ray

Job description

Design Director Full time New York - NY Ref #: 49975 Industry: Marketing and Advertising

Our client is seeking a hands‑on Design Director to lead a multidisciplinary design team at an experiential marketing agency. This individual will guide the development of brand experiences, environmental graphics, and physical spaces while managing the department’s workflow, resources, and design quality. The ideal candidate combines strong visual craft with an understanding of fabrication and installation, confidently leads designers and client conversations, and enjoys staying closely involved in the work. This is an opportunity to shape a collaborative design department and help translate ambitious concepts into thoughtfully executed experiences.

You Will:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of graphic and spatial designers.
• Manage the design department’s daily workflow, including brief intake, assignments, resources, milestones, and deadlines.
• Review project scopes, client objectives, budgets, and deliverables to establish clear design direction and realistic timelines.
• Monitor team capacity and identify needs for freelance support, hiring, reprioritization, or schedule adjustments.
• Work hands‑on with designers to explore concepts, refine layouts, review models and renderings, and elevate design solutions.
• Maintain high standards across typography, composition, branding, environmental graphics, spatial planning, materials, and presentation.
• Partner with account and production teams to keep design decisions aligned with client goals, scope, budget, and execution requirements.
• Lead design‑focused client presentations, explain design rationale, and translate feedback into actionable direction.
• Collaborate with print production, engineering, fabrication, and installation partners to ensure designs can be successfully produced.
• Review floor plans, technical drawings, material samples, print proofs, and production documentation as appropriate.
• Identify fabrication and installation challenges early and develop solutions that preserve design quality.
• Participate in site visits, fabrication reviews, and installations as needed to maintain design oversight through completion.
• Support new business presentations and maintain the agency’s visual identity across credentials, case studies, website content, and other materials.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and professional development for the design team.

You Have:

• 8+ years of professional design experience, including meaningful experience in experiential, environmental, event, retail, hospitality, or spatial design.
• 3+ years of experience leading and managing designers in a multidisciplinary creative environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating experiential and spatial design, including how brand identity and graphic systems translate into physical environments.
• Strong design judgment and the ability to provide clear, specific feedback across graphic and spatial design.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and relevant 3D modeling or rendering platforms such as SketchUp, Rhino, Enscape, V‑Ray, or comparable tools.
• Strong knowledge of physical production, including fabrication methods, materials, finishes, print production, installation, costs, and lead times.
• Ability to read and critically review floor plans, elevations, renderings, technical drawings, and shop drawings.
• Experience balancing creative ambition with budgets, project scope, schedules, and production requirements.
• Confidence moving between high‑level design direction and detailed, hands‑on problem‑solving.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain design decisions to clients and internal partners.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• A collaborative, proactive approach with the ability to take ownership and keep work moving.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and support extended hours and onsite work during major installations and live events.

Logistics:

• Start Date/Duration: Starting ASAP, direct hire
• Hours/Week: Full‑Time
• Onsite/Offsite: Hybrid in New York City, 3 days in‑office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Travel: Occasional travel and onsite support for installations and live events

Our client is seeking a hands‑on Design Director to lead a multidisciplinary design team at an experiential marketing agency. This individual will guide the development of brand experiences, environmental graphics, and physical spaces while managing the department’s workflow, resources, and design quality. The ideal candidate combines strong visual craft with an understanding of fabrication and installation, confidently leads designers and client conversations, and enjoys staying closely involved in the work. This is an opportunity to shape a collaborative design department and help translate ambitious concepts into thoughtfully executed experiences.

You Will:

• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team of graphic and spatial designers.
• Manage the design department’s daily workflow, including brief intake, assignments, resources, milestones, and deadlines.
• Review project scopes, client objectives, budgets, and deliverables to establish clear design direction and realistic timelines.
• Monitor team capacity and identify needs for freelance support, hiring, reprioritization, or schedule adjustments.
• Work hands‑on with designers to explore concepts, refine layouts, review models and renderings, and elevate design solutions.
• Maintain high standards across typography, composition, branding, environmental graphics, spatial planning, materials, and presentation.
• Partner with account and production teams to keep design decisions aligned with client goals, scope, budget, and execution requirements.
• Lead design‑focused client presentations, explain design rationale, and translate feedback into actionable direction.
• Collaborate with print production, engineering, fabrication, and installation partners to ensure designs can be successfully produced.
• Review floor plans, technical drawings, material samples, print proofs, and production documentation as appropriate.
• Identify fabrication and installation challenges early and develop solutions that preserve design quality.
• Participate in site visits, fabrication reviews, and installations as needed to maintain design oversight through completion.
• Support new business presentations and maintain the agency’s visual identity across credentials, case studies, website content, and other materials.
• Lead hiring, onboarding, performance reviews, and professional development for the design team.

You Have:

• 8+ years of professional design experience, including meaningful experience in experiential, environmental, event, retail, hospitality, or spatial design.
• 3+ years of experience leading and managing designers in a multidisciplinary creative environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating experiential and spatial design, including how brand identity and graphic systems translate into physical environments.
• Strong design judgment and the ability to provide clear, specific feedback across graphic and spatial design.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and relevant 3D modeling or rendering platforms such as SketchUp, Rhino, Enscape, V‑Ray, or comparable tools.
• Strong knowledge of physical production, including fabrication methods, materials, finishes, print production, installation, costs, and lead times.
• Ability to read and critically review floor plans, elevations, renderings, technical drawings, and shop drawings.
• Experience balancing creative ambition with budgets, project scope, schedules, and production requirements.
• Confidence moving between high‑level design direction and detailed, hands‑on problem‑solving.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain design decisions to clients and internal partners.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to lead multiple projects with competing deadlines.
• A collaborative, proactive approach with the ability to take ownership and keep work moving.
• Willingness to travel occasionally and support extended hours and onsite work during major installations and live events.

Logistics:

• Start Date/Duration: Starting ASAP, direct hire
• Hours/Week: Full‑Time
• Onsite/Offsite: Hybrid in New York City, 3 days in‑office on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday
• Travel: Occasional travel and onsite support for installations and live events
• Salary: $130K-$140K+ DOE