Design Director

Gmr Marketing; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

GMR Marketing is seeking a design leader to drive vision and strategic design direction across campaigns and experiences. You will partner with Creative Directors to shape narratives, build bold design systems, and lead diverse teams in delivering exceptional work.

You will mentor designers, collaborate with production and tech teams, and push innovative thinking while balancing budgets and timelines to ensure meaningful, market-ready outcomes.

Qualifications

• Shape the design vision in partnership with Creative Directors to develop concepts and overarching narratives.
• Develop distinctive visual strategies and systems across typography, color, materiality, and spatial design.
• Lead designers, art directors, and specialists, setting a clear creative vision and nurturing bold thinking.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Creative Directors to develop concepts and establish overarching design narratives.
• Create design systems translating across digital, print, experiential, and emerging formats.
• Lead teams across multiple projects and accounts, ensuring craft is high and on-brief.

Skills

Shape the design vision

Design systems

Lead teams

Present with authority

Mentor emerging designers

Push design innovation

Cross-functional collaboration

Budget & timelines

Adobe Creative Suite & Figma

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Job description

ABOUT GMR MARKETING

We are the Experience Agency Making Unforgettable Stories Born of Humanity

EXPERIENCE.

ABOUT GMR MARKETING

We are the Experience Agency Making Unforgettable Stories Born of Humanity

NOT JUST EXPERIENTIAL. EXPERIENCE.

The lines have blurred. People live in the physical, digital, and social worlds all at once, and your brand experiences should do the same.

NOT JUST TELLING. MAKING.

The best stories are lived, not heard. Make an immersive world for people to explore so they can experience something they’ll never forget.

NOT JUST CONSUMERS. HUMANS.

It all starts with the human. If you want to make a lasting impact, look beyond the wallet to understand what motivates and inspires people.

You are a design leader, not just a designer. Your eye is razor-sharp. Your understanding of design theory, materiality, color, and spatial narrative is exceptional. You partner closely with Creative Directors as an equal—asking strategic questions about design, suggesting design-led solutions, iterating to make the work stronger. You lead diverse teams of designers and art directors across multiple projects and accounts. You translate creative concepts into visual strategies that are on-brief and genuinely distinctive. You present design direction with authority and conviction. You mentor emerging talent. You sit in strategic conversations where design shapes the entire direction of a campaign. You understand that great design isn't decoration—it's the language through which ideas live and breathe.

Why GMR?

Because we’re not here to do what’s already been done. We’re inventors. Curators of the future. We root for each other. We fight for the best ideas over politics. We trade credit for momentum and status for impact. We’ve got more business momentum than ever, which means your creative vision actually shapes what comes next. If you want to build a legacy—both through the work that breaks new ground and through the people you elevate—this is the place to do it.

A portfolio or work samples are required to be considered for the role.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Shape the design vision. You’ll partner with Creative Directors to develop concepts, challenge creative thinking, and establish overarching design narratives that connect strategy to execution. You know how to ask the right questions, identify design-led opportunities, and make the work stronger both strategically and visually.
• Build design systems that move ideas forward. You’ll develop distinctive visual strategies across typography, color, materiality, and spatial design, creating systems that translate seamlessly across digital, print, experiential, and emerging formats. You make design decisions that set the tone for execution.
• Lead teams and elevate the craft. You’ll lead designers, Art Directors, and specialists across multiple projects and accounts, setting a clear creative vision while creating an environment where bold thinking thrives and exceptional craft is non-negotiable. You know how to challenge, inspire, and bring out the best in every team member.
• Present with authority. You’ll pitch design concepts to clients and senior stakeholders, articulating the thinking behind your decisions and connecting visual direction to the bigger picture. You communicate with clarity, defend your point of view with conviction, and know how to bring a room along with you.
• You’ll mentor emerging designers, identify future leaders, and create opportunities for your team to grow. You lead through thoughtful feedback, collaboration, and a genuine investment in helping others reach their potential.
• Push design innovation. You’re relentlessly curious about what’s next in typography, color theory, materials, spatial experiences, and emerging design movements. You bring fresh perspectives, explore new tools, and find meaningful ways to push the work beyond the expected.
• You’ll work closely with Creative Directors, Strategists, Production, and technical teams to ensure design thinking inform every stage of a project. You know how to bring different perspectives together, navigate competing priorities, and turn ambitious ideas into cohesive creative solutions.
• Balance ambition with reality. You understand budgets, timelines, production requirements, and the realities of bringing ideas to life. You know where to push, where to adapt, and how to make smart tradeoffs without compromising the the work that matters.
• Leadership and system proficiency. You bring deep expertise in design principles, typography, color theory, materiality, and spatial design, along with a proven track record of leading teams and directing comprehensive design systems across multiple applications. You’re fluent in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and emerging design tools, with the strategic thinking, business acumen, and presentation skills to connect design decisions to meaningful outcomes. Above all, you’re a collaborative leader who knows how to build strong partnerships, develop talent, and turn a shared vision into exceptional work.

Why This Role Will Define Your Career:

You’ll move from being a great designer to being a true design leader. You’ll shape campaigns that matter and set the visual standard for an entire agency. You’ll build teams people want to be part of. You’ll mentor the next generation of design directors. You’ll partner with Creative Directors as an equal, making work that's strategically brilliant AND visually unforgettable. You’ll prove that design isn't decoration—it's strategy made visible.

The annual range for this role varies between $110,000 and $140,000 annually and may vary depending on the candidate’s experience. Benefits for this role include health/vision/dental insurance, 401k, employee stock purchase plan, vacation, personal days and paid holiday time. You are also eligible to participate in disability, life insurance, FSA/HSA plans subject to the terms and conditions of such benefit plans.

IMPACT & INCLUSION

Our workplace is for ALL. We foster a culture where every background and perspective is valued so we can create meaningful memories that resonate with everyone. We aim to cultivate belonging by meeting people where they are, removing obstacles, and building on their strengths to unlock their fullest contributions. We are committed to recognizing, nurturing, and unleashing the potential in every individual on our team. Together, we're creating something powerful with purpose and impact.

Our guiding principles can be found here.

To view our compliance policies, please go to the main menu on our site GMR Marketing: Experience Marketing Agency.