Design Director

StudioXAG builds immersive brand experiences that surprise, delight and connect with audiences emotionally. We're a team of conceptual thinkers, dreamers and makers. We're hiring a senior creative leader to help shape our Creative Studio, define bold ideas and raise creative standards across our projects, teams and clients.

This senior role is about defining, directing and elevating design across the studio. The Design Director reports to the Associate Creative Director, leads ambitious projects, mentors Lead Designers and owns an area of creative innovation or capability. The role is based at our East London studio (E10) three days a week, with two flexible days; standard hours are 9am–6pm with some flexibility.

What you'll be doing

Creative / design direction

• Lead concept-led design across multiple projects, turning briefs into clear, compelling creative direction

• Own and direct high-profile, creatively ambitious work, setting the benchmark for quality and craft

• Raise creative standards across the studio, guiding teams towards fewer, stronger and more impactful ideas

• Lead reviews with clarity and decisiveness, balancing creative ambition with commercial reality

• Drive innovation and creative elevation within an area of specialist interest or strength

Leadership

• Mentor and develop Lead Designers, supporting their growth through feedback, coaching and development

• Strengthen capability across the Creative Studio through exceptional creative direction and input

• Help build a high-performing creative culture through talent development, recruitment and raising standards

• Lead with confidence, accountability and clarity

Communication and collaboration

• Translate briefs into clear creative direction and aligned outputs across teams

• Collaborate closely with Design Project Management to balance ambition with delivery

• Build trusted relationships with clients and internal stakeholders, guiding projects from briefing through to production

• Protect creative intent through every stage of delivery

What we're looking for

• A highly creative and experienced design leader with exceptional creative judgement and the ability to define strong ideas across multiple projects and teams

• Experience in luxury brand, retail, experiential or agency environments, with a track record of mentoring creatives and raising team capability

• A confident communicator, presenter and storyteller who can sell ideas and build trust with senior stakeholders

• Someone who balances bold ideas with commercial awareness and understands how to deliver impactful work at scale

• Deeply connected to culture, design and innovation, with curiosity about how our industry is evolving

• Technically confident across industry-standard tools (SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, rendering software etc.)

Bonus points for

• Experience shaping new capabilities, services or ways of working

• Interest in emerging tools, AI or evolving creative processes

• Strength in a particular area that could help evolve our Creative Studio over time

What's on offer

• £70,000 – £95,000

• Gross profit-related annual bonus scheme

• Workplace pension

• 22 days' holiday + Christmas closure + birthday off + bank holidays

• 0.5 paid days a month to get inspired

• International research budgets and trips

• YCN creative learning membership

• Spill mental health support

• Cycle to work scheme

• Fitness discounts

How to apply

Apply online through StudioXAG's careers page. The closing date is 26 November 2026 (no date given).

Apply on the StudioXAG website