Senior Designer- Retail [AQ-21562]

Aquent; Mountain View (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent Studios seeks a visionary design leader to redefine retail for innovative technology. You will drive strategic concepts, holistic visual expression, and flawless execution across physical environments and retail spaces, scaling 2D and 3D design systems for a global hardware portfolio.

You’ll collaborate with Spatial Designers, Experience Strategists, and Production Leads to ensure a unified customer journey from ideation to final proofing, mentoring teams and upholding pristine brand

Qualifications

• 7+ years of professional design experience with focus on retail, environmental, experiential, or physical space design.
• Portfolio demonstrating expertise in retail environments, visual merchandising, window displays, or branded physical experiences.
• Strong 2D graphic design and visual systems expertise.
• Proven experience developing creative concepts and providing art direction.
• Understanding of how graphic design translates to 3D/physical environments and architectural constraints.
• Hands-on experience with print production, fabrication, proofing, color management, and physical execution.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills to influence senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative vision by driving design concepts, mood boards, and alignment with global brand directives for large-scale retail initiatives.
• Establish scalable 2D design systems, typographic guidelines, and color frameworks across varied physical dimensions.
• Oversee visual strategy for flagship window displays and VM touchpoints balancing storytelling with commercial impact.
• Collaborate with Spatial Designers, Experience Strategists, and Production Leads to unify physical-to-digital customer journeys.
• Direct print production and proofing, setting standards for color and material execution.
• Present design strategies to senior leadership and regional stakeholders to secure buy-in.

Skills

Retail design

2D design

Art direction

Print production

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Brand stewardship

Job description

Are you a visionary designer ready to redefine the retail landscape for innovative technology? Aquent Studios is seeking a creative leader to drive the strategic conceptualization, holistic visual expression, and flawless design execution for high-impact physical environments and retail spaces. This is your chance to establish and scale compelling 2D and 3D visual design systems across a diverse hardware portfolio, directly impacting how consumers experience and connect with groundbreaking products. You’ll be the orchestrator of complex design frameworks, a guardian of pristine brand stewardship across diverse physical footprints, and a mentor to emerging talent, guiding projects from ideation to final physical proofing.

Your Impactful Contributions

• Lead the creative vision by driving overarching design concepts, vision decks, and comprehensive mood boards for large-scale retail initiatives, ensuring seamless alignment with global brand directives.
• Establish robust, scalable 2D design systems, typographic guidelines, and color frameworks that translate flawlessly across varied physical dimensions and architectural constraints.
• Oversee the visual strategy and creative direction for flagship window displays and key visual merchandising (VM) touchpoints, balancing compelling storytelling with commercial impact.
• Partner directly with Spatial Designers, Experience Strategists, and Production Leads to ensure a unified physical-to-digital customer journey within the retail footprint.
• Direct the print production and proofing process for complex materials, setting engineering and color standards to ensure impeccable physical execution.
• Confidently present design strategies and creative solutions to senior leadership and key regional stakeholders to secure crucial buy-in and champion your vision.

What You’ll Bring To The Team (Required Qualifications)

• 7+ years of professional design experience, with a strong focus on retail, environmental, experiential, or physical space design.
• A compelling portfolio demonstrating expertise in retail environments, visual merchandising, window displays, branded physical experiences, or similar work.
• Strong 2D graphic design and visual systems expertise.
• Proven experience developing creative concepts and providing art direction.
• A deep understanding of how graphic design translates to 3D/physical environments and architectural constraints.
• Hands-on experience with print production, fabrication, proofing, color management, and physical execution.
• Strong presentation and communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders effectively.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional creative, production, spatial, and marketing teams.

What Will Set You Apart (Preferred Qualifications)

• Experience designing for a global consumer or hardware brand.
• Experience with large-scale or flagship retail programs.
• Experience working with external production partners and fabricators.
• Experience mentoring or providing creative direction to other designers.

Client Description

Aquent Studios is a global creative studio that delivers scale, speed and efficiency to the world’s most recognized brands. We create the work that matters the most to them—work that has a real impact on their business. As an Aquent Studios team member, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with the largest and most influential companies in the world, solving design challenges and extending their brands across tactic types and platforms, including digital design, UI/UX, video, motion, content, print design, web development, and more. If you want to do work that matters in a collaborative setting that values ingenuity and personal growth, you have found the right place!

Other Requirements

The target hiring compensation range for this role is $120-200K. However, final compensation level will be determined based on experience and scope alignment.