Associate Design Director, CDMX (Mexico City, Remote)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Associate Design Director, CDMX (Mexico City, Remote)

Company: MATTE PROJECTS

Location: Mexico City, Mexico

Job Type: Full-Time Contract

Category: Creative Direction / Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-27T22:03:54

Experience Level: 7+ Years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the visual development and execution of integrated creative projects from concept through delivery, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives and brand guidelines.

• Develop and oversee comprehensive design systems for brand identities, campaigns, digital experiences, content, and experiential activations, maintaining a high standard of visual craft.

• Translate creative concepts and strategic insights into clear, compelling visual directions, effectively communicating vision to internal teams and external clients.

• Provide hands-on design direction and mentorship to other designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing creative culture within the Mexico City team.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Design Director" but with an "Associate" title and a "Contract" employment type, indicating a senior individual contributor or a lead role that may not have direct reports but significant project leadership. The focus on "visual development and execution" and "design systems" points towards a strong emphasis on operationalizing creative strategy into tangible assets, aligning with GTM and Brand Operations principles. The mention of AI and emerging creative tools suggests a forward-thinking approach to design process optimization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end visual development and execution of integrated creative projects, from initial concept ideation and strategic translation through to final delivery across various channels.

• Develop and refine comprehensive brand identities, scalable design systems, impactful campaign toolkits, compelling presentations, engaging digital experiences, and innovative experiential applications.

• Effectively translate abstract creative concepts and strategic insights into clear, actionable, and visually compelling design directions that resonate with target audiences.

• Maintain hands-on involvement in the design process, actively contributing to creative output while simultaneously providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and mentorship to junior and peer designers.

• Oversee multiple concurrent projects and workstreams, ensuring consistent adherence to the highest standards of creative quality, craftsmanship, and brand integrity across all deliverables.

• Articulate and present design concepts, strategies, and solutions persuasively to internal teams, senior leadership, and external clients, building consensus and driving buy-in.

• Foster strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams, including creative directors, art directors, copywriters, strategists, producers, developers, and external partners, to ensure cohesive project execution.

• Ensure meticulous visual consistency across all brand touchpoints, encompassing digital platforms, social media channels, content marketing, environmental graphics, and physical brand applications.

• Actively contribute to strengthening the Mexico City (CDMX) design team’s operational processes, enhancing capabilities, and cultivating a vibrant, innovative, and collaborative creative culture.

• Proactively stay abreast of the latest developments in design trends, emerging technologies, cultural shifts, advancements in AI, and new creative tools to inform and elevate the studio's work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of strategic creative leadership and hands-on execution, characteristic of senior design roles in agencies or studios. The focus on "design systems," "campaign toolkits," and "visual consistency across touchpoints" highlights the operational aspect of design, crucial for GTM and brand alignment. The inclusion of AI and emerging tools points to an expectation of process innovation and efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this seniority. Applicants with equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio will also be considered.

Experience: Approximately 7+ years of progressive experience in design, branding, advertising, or a closely related creative field, with a demonstrated track record of leading and executing impactful visual projects.

Required Skills:

• A robust portfolio showcasing exceptional visual craft, sophisticated conceptual thinking, and proven experience in developing and implementing cohesive design systems across diverse projects.

• Demonstrated experience leading design initiatives across multiple channels, including brand identity development, campaign creative, digital experiences (web, mobile), social media content, and experiential design applications.

• Advanced proficiency in industry-standard design software, specifically Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Exceptional presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex creative decisions, strategic rationale, and project outcomes clearly and persuasively to both creative and non-creative stakeholders.

• Proven ability to direct and mentor other designers, providing constructive feedback and guidance while remaining actively hands-on in the execution of creative work.

• Strong organizational acumen and the capability to effectively manage multiple projects concurrently within a fast-paced, deadline-driven agency environment.

• Professional fluency in English is essential for communication with international teams and clients. Preferred Skills:

• Professional fluency in Spanish is strongly preferred, given the role's location in Mexico City and potential for local client interaction.

• Prior experience working with international teams or global brands, demonstrating an understanding of diverse markets and cross-cultural communication nuances.

• Familiarity with emerging design technologies, AI tools for creative workflows, and innovative digital platforms.

• Experience in art direction for photo or video shoots, or managing external production partners.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional visual craft, conceptual thinking, and experience building cohesive design systems" is critical. For operations professionals, this translates to showcasing how your design process drives efficiency, consistency, and measurable impact. Proficiency in Figma is increasingly important for collaborative design operations and system management. The preference for Spanish fluency highlights the localized aspect of this remote role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear process for translating strategic briefs into visual concepts and design systems, highlighting how you ensure brand consistency and scalability.

• Showcase case studies of integrated campaigns or brand identity projects, detailing your role in developing and executing visual assets across multiple touchpoints (digital, social, experiential, etc.).

• Include examples of design systems you've developed, emphasizing their structure, components, and how they facilitate efficient asset creation and brand governance.

• Present examples of how you've used design to solve specific business challenges or achieve measurable outcomes (e.g., improved engagement, clearer communication, enhanced brand perception). Process Documentation:

• Illustrate your approach to defining and documenting design workflows, from initial brief analysis and concept development through to final asset delivery and quality assurance.

• Provide examples of how you've implemented or optimized design processes to enhance efficiency, reduce errors, or improve collaboration within a creative team or with cross-functional partners.

• Showcase your methods for measuring the effectiveness of design solutions, including how you track performance, gather feedback, and iterate on designs based on data and insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: For an Associate Design Director role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not just display aesthetic quality but also the strategic thinking and process behind the work. The "process documentation" aspect is where operations thinking comes in—how do you systematize creativity for efficiency and impact? This is crucial for demonstrating an understanding of design operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $10,000 - $11,000 USD per month. This range reflects the seniority of the Associate Design Director role, the contract nature of the employment, the required experience level (7+ years), and the specialized skills in design direction, brand systems, and cross-functional collaboration. The compensation is benchmarked against similar senior creative contract roles in Mexico City and for global creative studios operating remotely.

Benefits: As a full-time contract position, benefits will be as per local Mexican labor laws for contractors or as defined in the services agreement. This typically includes:

• Statutory contributions as required for contract workers in Mexico.

• Potential for project-based bonuses or performance incentives.

• Access to company-provided software licenses (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma).

• Opportunities for professional development and training, including access to industry trends and emerging creative tools.

• Inclusion in a dynamic, international creative team environment with exposure to high-profile projects.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring approximately 40 hours per week. The contractor is expected to be available for collaboration during working hours that align with MATTE’s New York (EST) and Mexico City (CST) teams. This may require some flexibility to accommodate cross-time zone meetings and project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary is a monthly range in USD. For a contract role, this is common, and it's important for the candidate to understand their tax obligations in Mexico. The benefits are described as typical for a contractor, so clarity on what is included (or excluded) will be vital in the services agreement. The working hours note the need for cross-time zone collaboration, a common challenge in remote, international roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: MATTE PROJECTS operates at the intersection of creative services, branding, experiential marketing, and digital design. They serve forward-thinking brands and institutions, positioning themselves as a 360° full-service creative studio that blends "hype, storytelling and design." This suggests a culture that values innovation, cultural relevance, and high-impact creative execution.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, MATTE PROJECTS appears to be a mid-sized to large creative agency or studio, given their comprehensive service offerings, international presence (NYC and CDMX teams), and the nature of the projects they undertake. This size typically allows for specialized teams and a structured approach to project management and client services.

Founded: MATTE PROJECTS was founded in 2004. This longevity indicates a stable and experienced organization with a proven track record in the creative industry, capable of adapting to market changes and client demands over nearly two decades.

Team Structure:

• The CDMX design team is a specialized unit within MATTE PROJECTS, focused on delivering creative solutions for local and international clients. It likely comprises designers, art directors, and potentially project managers, working collaboratively.

• The reporting structure will see the Associate Design Director reporting to senior creative leadership (e.g., Creative Director, Head of Design) within the CDMX or a global creative hierarchy.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a core element, with designers working closely with strategists, producers, account managers, web developers, and copywriters to ensure integrated and cohesive project delivery. Methodology:

• MATTE PROJECTS likely employs a data-informed approach to strategic ideation and creative development, using insights to guide their work and measure impact.

• Workflow planning and optimization are crucial, particularly for a studio offering a wide range of services; they would focus on efficient project management and creative output.

• Automation and efficiency practices are probably integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, improve asset delivery, and leverage new technologies, aligning with the mention of AI and emerging tools.

Company Website: https://matteprojects.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company description highlights a blend of cutting-edge creativity and strategic business acumen. For an operations-focused role, understanding how this "hype" culture is operationalized into consistent, high-quality output is key. The mention of "strategic ideation and insights" and "full-scale production and execution" suggests a robust operational framework.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This Associate Design Director role sits at a senior individual contributor level, bridging the gap between senior design execution and creative leadership. It demands not only exceptional design skills but also the ability to strategically guide visual output, manage projects, mentor others, and contribute to the operational efficiency of the design team. It's a step towards potential Creative Director roles or specialized leadership positions within design operations.

Reporting Structure: The Associate Design Director will report to a Creative Director or a similar senior creative lead within MATTE PROJECTS, likely based in either the CDMX or NYC office, depending on the global team structure. They will also collaborate extensively with producers, account managers, and strategists.

Operations Impact: The role's operations impact is significant. By leading visual development and ensuring design systems are robust and consistently applied, the Associate Design Director directly influences brand perception, marketing effectiveness, and overall client satisfaction. They operationalize the company's creative strategy, ensuring that visual output is not only aesthetically strong but also strategically aligned and efficiently produced, contributing to revenue generation through successful client projects.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialized Leadership: Progression to a Creative Director role, leading larger teams or more complex accounts, with increased strategic responsibility and client-facing duties.

• Design Operations Specialization: Deeper involvement in refining design processes, implementing new technologies (like AI tools), and building scalable design systems, potentially leading to a dedicated Design Operations Manager or Director role.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Opportunities to expand knowledge in areas like digital strategy, experiential design, or content production, leading to more holistic project leadership.

• Client Relationship Management: Developing stronger client-facing skills, becoming a trusted advisor on creative and visual strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here is not just about becoming a "better designer" but about evolving into a leader who can manage creative processes and teams. The "operations impact" section is crucial for framing how design leadership contributes to business success, a key consideration for operations professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning the "office" is the candidate's home workspace. However, the company culture emphasizes collaboration, suggesting that the remote setup is designed to foster connection and teamwork despite physical distance.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, it is specifically for candidates based in Mexico City, Mexico. This implies a need for candidates to be in a specific time zone (America/Mexico_City) to facilitate collaboration with the MATTE PROJECTS New York and Mexico City teams.

Workspace Context:

• The remote environment requires self-discipline and effective communication. Collaboration is expected to be managed through digital tools, video conferencing, and project management platforms, aiming to replicate the synergy of an in-person team.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) is expected, with the company likely providing licenses for core software. Reliable internet connectivity is a prerequisite.

• Opportunities for team interaction will occur through scheduled virtual meetings, brainstorming sessions, and potentially informal virtual "hangouts" designed to build camaraderie and facilitate the exchange of ideas.

Work Schedule: A full-time schedule of approximately 40 hours per week is expected. Due to the remote nature and collaboration with teams in different time zones (NYC and CDMX), there's an emphasis on "availability to collaborate during working hours aligned with MATTE’s New York and Mexico City teams." This likely means core overlap hours will be necessary, potentially requiring flexibility outside of standard local business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature requires a focus on digital collaboration tools and time zone management, which are operational aspects of a distributed workforce. The specific mention of aligning with NYC and CDMX hours is a key operational constraint for remote candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and creative output. Be prepared to articulate your career trajectory and key achievements.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, focusing on 2-3 key projects that best demonstrate your skills in brand identity, design systems, and integrated campaign execution. Clearly articulate your role, process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work.

• Skills & Collaboration Interview: A discussion with senior creative leaders to assess your conceptual thinking, design direction capabilities, mentorship approach, and collaboration style. Be ready to discuss how you lead projects and guide junior designers.

• Cultural Fit & Logistics: A final conversation to discuss your understanding of MATTE's culture, your expectations for a contract role, and your ability to work effectively in a remote, cross-time zone environment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best align with MATTE's stated capabilities (branding, campaigns, digital, experiential) and showcase your ability to build cohesive design systems.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the brief, your strategic approach, the design process (including any challenges and how you overcame them), your specific contributions, and the resulting outcomes or impact.

• Showcase Systems: Dedicate a section or specific examples to your experience building and implementing design systems, illustrating their scalability and the efficiency they bring.

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples where you've led projects, provided direction to others, or influenced creative strategy. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Be Concise: Present your work clearly and efficiently, respecting the interviewer's time. Focus on quality over quantity.

Challenge Preparation:

• Expect potential design challenges or case study exercises that require you to think conceptually and strategically under a time constraint.

• Prepare to articulate your problem-solving process and how you would approach a given creative brief, drawing on your experience with strategy and visual systems.

• Be ready to discuss how you would manage project timelines, collaborate with a team, and ensure the final output meets high creative and strategic standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and articulating process is crucial for operations-minded candidates. Demonstrating how you operationalize creative strategy and manage the design lifecycle is key. The interview process suggests a strong focus on both creative craft and collaborative leadership.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, illustration, layout, and motion graphics. Proficiency expected in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign. After Effects is a strong asset for motion and campaign elements.

• Figma: Critical for collaborative design, prototyping, and building design systems. This tool is increasingly the standard for modern design workflows, especially in remote and team-based environments.

• Presentation Software: Tools like Keynote, PowerPoint, or Google Slides are necessary for creating and delivering client presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (e.g., engagement rates, conversion rates, brand recall) is beneficial. Familiarity with tools used for tracking digital performance (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics platforms) would be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are listed, as this is a design role. However, familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) used for tracking project progress and workflows is highly probable.

• Understanding how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CMS systems for digital deployment is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The listed tools are standard for a senior designer. The emphasis on Figma points to a modern, collaborative design workflow. While not directly an "operations" tool, proficiency in Figma and understanding how design integrates with other systems (CMS, marketing automation) reflects an operational awareness.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A core value driving high-quality, impactful design work that pushes boundaries and meets strategic objectives.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support across disciplines and time zones to achieve collective success.

• Innovation: A commitment to exploring new ideas, technologies (including AI), and creative approaches to stay ahead in the industry and deliver cutting-edge solutions.

• Client Focus: Dedication to understanding client needs, delivering exceptional value, and building strong, long-term partnerships through impactful creative work.

• Process & Efficiency: While focused on creativity, there's an underlying need for structured processes and efficient workflows to ensure timely and high-quality delivery, especially in a contract and remote setting.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with strategists, copywriters, producers, and account teams, contributing their visual expertise to holistic project development.

• Feedback Culture: An environment that encourages constructive critique and open dialogue, allowing for continuous improvement of creative work and team processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactive sharing of insights, trends, and best practices within the design team and across the wider studio to foster collective learning and elevate the overall creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values highlight a balance between creative freedom and operational discipline. For an operations professional, understanding how these values translate into daily work practices, decision-making, and team interactions is key to assessing cultural fit and operational alignment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration Complexity: Effectively leading and mentoring a design team remotely, ensuring consistent quality and strong team cohesion across different locations and time zones.

• Balancing Hands-on Work and Direction: Juggling personal design execution with the responsibilities of providing strategic direction, feedback, and mentorship to other designers.

• Maintaining Creative Edge: Staying at the forefront of design trends, technologies (e.g., AI in design), and cultural shifts while delivering on client briefs within agency timelines.

• Cross-Cultural Communication: Navigating potential nuances in communication and creative interpretation when working with diverse teams and international clients.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Systems: Deepening expertise in building and scaling complex design systems for global brands.

• Emerging Technology Integration: Exploring and implementing AI tools and other new technologies to enhance design workflows and creative output.

• Strategic Creative Leadership: Developing stronger skills in client consultation, creative strategy, and project leadership, preparing for more senior roles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Gaining insights into other areas of MATTE's services, such as experiential design, content strategy, or digital development, to foster a more holistic understanding of creative projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are framed to encourage proactive problem-solving and continuous learning, which are essential traits for operations professionals. Recognizing these challenges allows candidates to prepare for them and highlight their relevant experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you led the visual development of an integrated campaign from concept to execution. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your strategic thinking, process, and ability to manage complexity.)

• "How do you approach building and maintaining a design system? Walk us through a specific example and highlight its impact on efficiency or consistency." (Demonstrate your understanding of scalable design and operational efficiency.)

• "Imagine you're given a brief for a new brand identity for a tech startup. What are your first steps, and how would you ensure the design aligns with their business goals and target audience?" (Showcase your conceptualization, strategic approach, and client-centric thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about MATTE PROJECTS' work and our approach to creativity?" (Research their portfolio and recent projects; connect their style to your own.)

• "How do you foster collaboration and mentorship within a remote design team?" (Provide specific examples of how you build rapport, provide feedback, and encourage growth.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and emerging technologies like AI, and how have you incorporated them into your work?" (Highlight your proactive learning and innovation mindset.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each case study, clearly define the problem, your role and approach, the solution (visuals and systems), and the measurable impact or learnings.

• Emphasize Process: Detail your workflow, decision-making rationale, and how you overcame challenges. This is where you demonstrate your operational understanding.

• Showcase Systems Thinking: If you have projects involving design systems, dedicate time to explaining their structure, components, and benefits for scalability and efficiency.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data or metrics to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, improved brand perception, faster asset creation).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your creative choices, how you handle feedback, and your experience working under pressure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are designed to probe not just creative skill but also strategic thinking, process management, and leadership potential—all critical for operations roles. The portfolio presentation strategy emphasizes the operational aspects of design.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Associate Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse. Ensure your resume and portfolio are up-to-date and tailored to this role.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 2-3 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in brand identity, design systems, campaign development, and digital/experiential design. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your leadership and process.

• Optimize Your Resume: Highlight your 7+ years of experience, key responsibilities in design leadership and execution, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and any experience with international teams or AI tools. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your selected portfolio projects, focusing on articulating your strategic approach, design process, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your leadership style and collaborative approach.

• Research MATTE PROJECTS: Familiarize yourself with their work, clients, and company culture. Understand their unique blend of "hype, storytelling, and design" and how your skills can contribute to their mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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