Temporary Design Director, ELLE

Hearst; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

ELLE, part of Hearst Magazines, seeks a visionary Design Director to shape ELLE’s visual identity across print, digital, social, video, events, and emerging formats. In this temporary leadership role, you’ll lead a talented design team and set the creative direction for high-profile editorial work.

Based in New York with a hybrid schedule, you’ll collaborate with photography, fashion, editorial, market, and digital teams to develop cohesive storytelling, establish visual systems, and oversee

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional editorial design experience across print and digital.
• Proven experience shaping the visual identity of a consumer editorial brand.
• Experience leading and mentoring a creative team with a collaborative approach.
• Strong understanding of fashion, luxury, and editorial storytelling with a distinctive design sensibility.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, and marketing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator; experience with WoodWing and Figma.
• Exceptional production skills, attention to detail, organization, and ability to meet deadlines.
• Collaborative, open-minded leadership style with confidence to advocate for creative expertise.

Responsibilities

• Shape ELLE’s visual identity and creative direction across print, digital, social, photography, video, events, and emerging formats.
• Lead a team of three designers, providing mentorship, feedback, and support while fostering a collaborative culture.
• Direct the design of the print magazine, including covers and editorial pages.
• Partner with photography, editorial, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, etc. to develop cohesive work.
• Develop visually ambitious stories using photography, illustration, infographics, motion, and video.
• Conceptualize and execute creative direction for fashion shoots and special projects.
• Establish and maintain visual systems, style guides, and templates for consistency across platforms.
• Manage projects from concept through production, balancing strategy with hands-on design and deadlines.

Skills

Editorial design

Team leadership

Adobe InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

WoodWing

Figma

Cross-functional collaboration

Brand storytelling

Tools

Adobe InDesign

Photoshop

Illustrator

WoodWing

Figma

Job description

Be Part of What’s Next

ELLE is looking for a visionary Design Director to shape how one of the world’s most influential fashion brands looks, feels, and connects with audiences across every platform. In this temporary leadership role, you’ll set the creative direction for print, digital, social, video, events, and emerging formats while leading a talented team of designers.

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?)

Hearst Magazines is home to 30 iconic brands, creating content and experiences that inspire, inform, and connect audiences across fashion, beauty, lifestyle, entertainment, food, and more. With a portfolio that spans print, digital, social, video, and experiential platforms, Hearst Magazines brings together some of the most influential voices and creative talent in media.

Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)

• Shape ELLE’s visual identity and creative direction across print, digital, social, photography, video, events, and emerging formats.

• Lead a team of three designers, providing creative direction, mentorship, feedback, and support while fostering a collaborative and ambitious creative culture.

• Direct the design of the print magazine, including covers, editorial pages, and other high-profile visual executions.

• Partner with photography, art, editorial, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, branded content, and contributor teams to develop cohesive and compelling work.

• Develop visually ambitious stories and packages incorporating photography, illustration, infographics, motion, video, and other storytelling formats.

• Conceptualize and execute creative direction for fashion shoots, editorial initiatives, and special projects that elevate ELLE’s visual point of view.

• Establish and maintain visual systems, style guides, and design templates that create consistency while allowing for innovation across platforms.

• Manage projects from concept through production, balancing long-term creative strategy with hands-on design and execution while meeting demanding deadlines.

Qualifications (What We’re Looking For)

• 10+ years of professional editorial design experience across print and digital, ideally within a consumer fashion, luxury, media, or lifestyle brand, or equivalent experience.

• Proven experience shaping the visual identity of a consumer editorial brand, including magazine cover design and high-profile editorial work.

• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing a creative team, with a thoughtful and collaborative approach to people management.

• Strong understanding of fashion, luxury, editorial storytelling, and contemporary visual culture, with a sophisticated and distinctive design sensibility.

• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, and other cross-functional teams.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, with experience using WoodWing and Figma.

• Exceptional production skills, attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

• A collaborative, open-minded leadership style, with the confidence to advocate for creative expertise while empowering others to do their best work.

• This position is based in New York and operates on a hybrid schedule.

Compensation

The base salary range below is the Company’s good-faith estimate for this position in the posted work location at the time of posting. Final starting salary will be based on permissible, non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to skills, experience, training, certifications, education, location and market considerations.

Base Salary Range:

$105—$105 USD