Design Director

We are champions of positive dissatisfaction.
Dissatisfied with the way it’s always been,
with handcuffs and limits and rules,
with insights that aren’t insightful,
and with creative that doesn’t make you feel.
We believe dissatisfaction is the mother of reinvention.
That’s why our mascot is the octopus.
It’s the only organism on the planet that routinely edits its own genetic material
to adapt, innovate, and thrive.
It outsmarts the competition by constantly changing.
It reinvents, repeats, reinvents, repeats.
And so do we. 
In a world where the most innovative brands grow faster than the competition,
we are, pound for pound, the most effective agency in the world. Eleven years running.
MullenLowe: Always Be a Challenger.

 

At MullenLowe, we believe great minds don’t think alike. They challenge, disrupt, and push boundaries to create work that delivers real impact. We champion those who defy expectations and think beyond conventions to shape our clients’ brands and drive their business forward. Our expertise and perspectives are varied, but we’re united in our mission to use creativity to solve tomorrow’s problems in new ways.

Position Overview:

Design Directors at MullenLowe are masters of their craft, strategists in their thinking, and leaders in their approach. They thrive in multidisciplinary design, seamlessly blending brand, digital, motion, and experiential work to drive impactful creative solutions. They draw inspiration from greats like Paula Scher, Tibor Kalman, and Charles & Ray Eames while embracing the modern chaos of David Carson and the clarity of Edward Tufte.

More than accomplished designers, Design Directors are autonomous leaders who own projects from conception to execution—always guided by the Heads of Design. They lead client relationships with confidence, aligning expectations, navigating challenging conversations, and championing the creative vision. They collaborate with third-party vendors, ensuring quality, efficiency, and seamless integration. They are also dedicated mentors, developing the next generation of design talent, fostering a culture of curiosity, and pushing teams to elevate the work.

This is both a strategic and hands-on role. Design Directors are just as comfortable defining high-level creative direction as they are rolling up their sleeves and refining the details.

 

Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership & Execution

• Lead and oversee the creative vision and execution across multiple projects, ensuring work is innovative, strategic, and aligned with client goals.
• Maintain high design standards, fostering fresh thinking and breakthrough creative solutions.
• Stay at the forefront of design trends, tools, and emerging technologies to push the agency’s creative output forward.
• Ensure design work is on strategy, on time, and on budget, while managing expectations with internal and external stakeholders.

Client & Vendor Engagement

• Serve as a trusted advisor to clients, leading presentations and discussions with confidence and clarity.
• Navigate challenging conversations, setting expectations while advocating for the integrity of the work.
• Manage relationships with third-party vendors and partners, ensuring smooth collaboration, production quality, and cost efficiency.
• Contribute to new business development, shaping pitch strategies and creative approaches.

Team Leadership & Mentorship

• Supervise and mentor junior to mid-level designers, providing feedback, career guidance, and professional development.
• Foster a culture of collaboration and continuous learning, ensuring that all team members feel supported and challenged.
• Conduct regular check-ins, performance reviews, and growth planning with direct reports.
• Collaborate closely with other department leads to align talent with the right projects and optimize team performance.

Strategic & Operational Contributions

• Drive department-wide initiatives, setting quality standards and identifying long-term opportunities for innovation.
• Provide operational insights that enhance workflow efficiency, department productivity, and profitability.
• Part