Creative Lead

SavageOne Pty Ltd; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

SavageOne Pty Ltd in Durban seeks a Creative Lead to drive strategy and hands-on design across graphic design, marketing, and retail branding. You will oversee the creative process, lead projects, and partner with marketing, merchandising, and digital teams to deliver campaigns that resonate.

The role requires 7+ years in graphic design with leadership experience, expert Adobe Creative Suite skills, and familiarity with Figma or Sketch.

Qualifications

• Education: Degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, or related field.
• Experience: 7+ years in graphic design with at least 3 years in leadership or creative lead roles in marketing/retail.
• Software: Expert in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign); familiarity with Figma or Sketch.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the creative direction for all marketing and retail design projects, ensuring brand consistency across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Develop and execute innovative designs for campaigns, in-store displays, packaging, signage, social media, websites, and promotional materials.
• Work closely with marketing, product, and merchandising teams to align creative strategies with business objectives and seasonal campaigns.
• Oversee a team of designers, providing mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to enhance creative output.
• Ensure all visual content aligns with brand guidelines, audience insights, and retail trends.
• Collaborate with external agencies, photographers, videographers, and printers to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitor branding to bring fresh, impactful ideas to the team.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced retail marketing environment.

Skills

Leadership

Brand strategy

Conceptual thinking

Team management

Retail branding

Campaign design

Visual storytelling

Education

Degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, or a related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Photoshop

Illustrator

InDesign

Figma

Sketch

Job description

We are looking for a highly skilled and visionary Creative Lead with expertise in graphic design, marketing, and retail branding to drive our creative direction and execution. This role requires a strong strategic mindset, leadership capabilities, and hands-on design skills to elevate our brand presence across multiple platforms. You will oversee the creative process, lead design projects, and collaborate with marketing, merchandising, and digital teams to develop compelling campaigns that resonate with our audience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the creative direction for all marketing and retail design projects, ensuring brand consistency across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Develop and execute innovative designs for campaigns, in-store displays, packaging, signage, social media, websites, and promotional materials.
• Work closely with marketing, product, and merchandising teams to align creative strategies with business objectives and seasonal campaigns.
• Oversee a team of designers, providing mentorship, guidance, and constructive feedback to enhance creative output.
• Ensure all visual content aligns with brand guidelines, audience insights, and retail trends.
• Collaborate with external agencies, photographers, videographers, and printers to ensure high-quality deliverables.
• Stay ahead of industry trends, consumer behavior, and competitor branding to bring fresh, impactful ideas to the team.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting deadlines in a fast-paced retail marketing environment.

Requirements

• Education: Degree or diploma in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Marketing, or a related field.
• Experience: 7+ years in graphic design, with at least 3 years in a leadership or creative lead role within the marketing and retail industry.
• Software Proficiency: Expert-level skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with Figma or Sketch.

Skills

• Strong conceptual and strategic thinking with the ability to translate ideas into compelling visual campaigns.
• Excellent leadership and team management skills.
• Strong understanding of retail branding, visual merchandising, and shopper behavior.
• Experience working with large-scale marketing campaigns, digital assets, and print production.
• Motion graphics, video editing, or animation experience (a plus).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the retail, FMCG, or e-commerce space.
• Knowledge of UX/UI principles and experience designing for web and mobile platforms.
• Understanding of retail consumer trends and shopper marketing strategies.