Freelance Creative Director- Experience Design

VML; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 190,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading creative agency is seeking a Freelance Creative Director specializing in Experience Design to lead a talented team. The ideal candidate will have over 8 years of experience in UX/UI design, a strong portfolio, and exceptional leadership skills. This role involves defining and executing user-centered design strategies across various digital platforms. Join a dynamic environment that values innovation and collaboration.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in UX/UI design with proven leadership.
• Strong portfolio showcasing diverse digital experiences.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Deep understanding of user research methodologies and interaction design.
• Experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of UX/UI designers.
• Drive experience strategies delivering measurable business results.
• Ensure user needs are at the heart of every project.
• Oversee creation of engaging digital experiences.
• Establish high standards for design excellence.
• Identify new business opportunities and expand client relationships.
• Contribute to new business pitches and opportunities to expand client relationships.
• Continuously explore and experiment with new design trends and methodologies.

Skills

Mentorship

UX/UI Design

Communication

User-Centered Design

Innovation

Collaboration

Visual design

Design systems

Job description

Freelance Creative Director- Experience Design

This range is provided by VML. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Overview

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

The Role

Freelance Creative Director- Experience Design is sought to lead conceptual UX/UI design and mentor a talented team of UX designers, UI designers, and content strategists. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of experience design at a globally recognized agency, working across several of the world's most exciting brands. Ideally located in Atlanta, GA; New York City, NY; or Chicago, IL.

What you'll do

• Lead and inspire: Provide mentorship, guidance, and career development to a team of talented UX/UI designers, fostering a collaborative and innovative environment.
• Drive strategic vision: Partner with client leadership and internal strategy teams to define and execute experience strategies that deliver measurable business results.
• Champion user-centered design: Ensure that user needs and insights are at the heart of every project, advocating for best practices in UX research, UX/UI design thinking, and accessibility.
• Craft exceptional experiences: Oversee the creation of innovative and engaging digital experiences across web, mobile, and emerging technologies.
• Elevate design quality: Establish and maintain high standards for design excellence, ensuring consistency and quality across all projects.
• Foster collaboration: Partner effectively with cross-functional teams, including technology, strategy, creative, and account management, to deliver seamless and integrated solutions.
• Grow the business: Contribute to new business pitches and identify opportunities to expand existing client relationships.
• Stay ahead of the curve: Continuously explore and experiment with new design trends, technologies, and methodologies.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in UX/UI design, with a proven track record of leading and mentoring design teams.
• A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of digital experiences, demonstrating expertise in user-centered design principles and a passion for innovation.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to articulate complex design concepts to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• A deep understanding of user research methodologies, information architecture, interaction design, and visual design.
• Experience working in an agency environment, managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• A passion for emerging technologies and a desire to push the boundaries of digital experience.
• Experience with design systems and component libraries is a plus.

Inclusion and Equal Opportunity

VML is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, military/veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, or other protected class status. We value diversity and strive to recruit a diverse slate of candidates.

About VML

VML is a WPP Agency. For more information, visit our website and follow VML on social channels: Instagram, LinkedIn, and X. For additional context about our culture and initiatives, we also highlight our Inclusion, Equity & Belonging initiatives and the VML Foundation. Our people are the heartbeat of our organization—creators, doers, innovators, makers, and thinkers—who drive not just marketing, but meaningful experiences that resonate in every action and interaction.