Senior Digital Designer

The Up&Up Group (affiliated to the global M&C Saatchi Group); Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

The Up&Up Group in Cape Town is seeking a Senior Digital Designer to lead digital-first campaigns across social, web, apps, and motion. You will transform concepts from a blank page into integrated campaigns, collaborating with directors, copywriters, and strategists to deliver ambitious design solutions.

Ideal candidates bring a strong, digital-heavy portfolio, expertise in Photoshop/Illustrator/After Effects, and a knack for mentoring junior team members while delivering under tight timelines.

Qualifications

• Proven senior digital designer in agency setting.
• Strong portfolio focusing on digital-first campaigns.
• Proficient in Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects.
• Experience with AI-powered tools in the creative process.
• Ability to lead and mentor junior designers.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Develop 360° campaign ideas with a strong digital focus.
• Translate concepts into digital-first campaign ecosystems across social, web, apps and other touchpoints.
• Create motion graphics and animation for campaign and digital work.
• Bring strong video editing skills to campaign development and content creation.
• Present and confidently sell creative ideas to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, Copywriters and Strategists to develop integrated campaigns.
• Stay current with emerging digital design, motion, AI, social and creative technology trends.
• Mentor and support junior designers where required.

Skills

Conceptual thinking

Digital design

Video editing

Motion design

AI tools

Presentation skills

Present to clients

Collaboration

Mentoring

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

After Effects

Job description

We are a highly entrepreneurial and opportunity focused company who want to be the most desired creative company on the African continent and beyond. To achieve this, we set out to inspire our people and define ourselves as a Group with one powerful orientation at our core: WE BOLDLY GO. These few words serve as both an invitation and challenge to all our people to always do the BOLD thing, together. The idea that, in the face of considerable challenges & change, we would be daring enough to do something audacious. Challenge yourself. Be bold. Join us.

We are looking for a Senior Digital Designer who is as passionate about big ideas as they are about exceptional design. This role is for a conceptual, digitally minded designer who can take an idea from a blank page and turn it into a compelling, integrated creative campaign. You will work across digital, social, web, apps, OOH, motion and other channels, developing visual worlds and campaign ecosystems that are both creatively ambitious and strategically relevant.

You’ll be great in this role if you:

• Develop 360° campaign ideas with a strong digital focus.
• Think conceptually and contribute big creative ideas, not just executions.
• Translate concepts into digital-first campaign ecosystems across social, web, apps, OOH and other touchpoints.
• Create motion graphics and animation for campaign and digital work.
• Bring strong video editing skills to campaign development and content creation.
• Use AI tools confidently for ideation, visual development, exploration and creative execution.
• Develop high-quality design concepts that can be adapted across multiple platforms and formats.
• Create sharp, compelling presentations that clearly communicate and bring creative ideas to life.
• Present and confidently sell creative ideas to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, Copywriters and Strategists to develop integrated campaigns.
• Work from concept through to execution while maintaining a consistently high creative standard.
• Stay current with emerging digital design, motion, AI, social and creative technology trends.
• Mentor and support junior designers where required, contributing to the overall creative standard of the team.

Experience Required:

• Proven experience as a Senior Digital Designer, Senior Designer or similar role, ideally within an advertising, creative or digital agency.
• A strong digital-first portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and integrated campaign work.
• Strong understanding of digital design, social platforms, web and mobile experiences.
• Demonstrated ability to develop big creative ideas, rather than simply execute existing concepts.
• Strong skills in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, Illustrator and After Effects.
• Strong motion design, animation and video editing capabilities.
• Experience using AI-powered creative tools as part of the design and creative development process.
• Strong understanding of art direction, typography, layout, visual storytelling and brand expression.
• Ability to work collaboratively with copywriters, strategists and creative directors.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the confidence to present creative work to clients.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced agency environment.
• A curious mindset and willingness to experiment with new technologies, tools and creative approaches.