Design Director

Ogilvy South Africa; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 800,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the digital domain is searching for a Design Director to enhance design thinking and digital aesthetics across client ecosystems. The role demands over 8 years of experience in UI design, leadership in design craft, and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

Local and Global client portfolio

Attractive package and benefits

Career conversations and growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years experience in digital design / UI.
• Portfolio demonstrating world-class design across web and mobile.
• Proven ability to scale design across systems and teams.

Responsibilities

• Own and elevate design craft across deliverables.
• Lead design outputs from idea to delivery.
• Mentor the next generation of designers.

Skills

Leadership

Collaboration

Human-centered design

Presentation

Education

Degree in Design, Digital Media, Interaction Design

Tools

Figma

Adobe CC

Principle

Framer

After Effects

Job description

Ogilvy One is the Digital arm of Ogilvy South Africa.

We are focused on creating impactful relationships by design between our clients and their customers. We help companies drive sustainable growth and customer value through an unmatched understanding of brand and human behaviour while harnessing the power of innovation, design, data, and technology.

We are looking for a:

Design Director

We are looking for a Design Director with a sharp eye for interface, product, and service design. This role demands the strategic fluency of a CD, the craft leadership of a heavyweight designer, and the operational control to ship at scale. You will be a key creative lead within Ogilvy One, responsible for elevating design thinking, experience design systems, and digital aesthetics across client ecosystems.

Responsibilities:

• Craft Excellence: Own and elevate the standard of design craft across all deliverables. Ensure meticulous attention to detail in typography, layout, spacing, colour, and motion. Set the benchmark for polish, precision, and creative integrity - regardless of timeline or platform.
• Design Leadership: Set and uphold high standards for visual, interaction, and service design across digital products, platforms, and CRM programs. Champion design craft and fidelity across all phases of work.
• Creative Direction: Partner with CDs, UX Leads, and Copy Leads to translate digital strategies into compelling, effective creative solutions. Lead design outputs from idea to delivery.
• System Thinking: Build and evolve design systems, component libraries, and digital style guides for complex brand ecosystems. Ensure scalable, modular thinking in all outputs.
• Experience Design Oversight: Drive the fusion of interface design, motion, and micro-interactions to deliver fluid, intuitive, and emotionally resonant customer experiences.
• Mentorship & Team Building: Nurture the next generation of designers (Seniors, Mids, Juniors and Grads) through hands-on mentorship, coaching, and craft development.
• Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration: Work with strategists, technologists, data scientists, and CRM experts to align visual expression with behavioural insight and technical feasibility.
• Client Stewardship: Present confidently to senior clients. Explain and defend design decisions with clarity. Translate feedback into actionable improvements without compromising the integrity of the work.
• Innovation & Exploration: Push into new interaction models, platforms, and modalities (AI, voice, immersive tech). Set the benchmark for future-forward design craft within the agency.

Requirements:

• Minimum 8+ years experience in digital design / UI, with at least 2 years in a leadership or director-level role.
• Portfolio demonstrating world-class interaction, interface, and visual design ideally across web, mobile, and omnichannel CRM.
• Mastery of Figma, Adobe CC, prototyping tools (Principle, Framer, After Effects), and working knowledge of motion and responsive design.
• Deep fluency in human-centered design principles, accessibility standards, responsive frameworks, and platform guidelines.
• Proven ability to scale design across systems and teams, including sprint-based delivery.
• Understanding of CRM systems, personalization frameworks, and data-driven design approaches.
• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills.
• Degree in Design, Digital Media, Interaction Design, or equivalent.

Offer

• Local and Global client portfolio
• Attractive package and benefits
• Career conversations and growth opportunities