Brand Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Design Director

Company: AT&T

Location: Dallas, Texas, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Brand Design & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-10

Experience Level: 12+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (5 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic development and execution of global brand assets, identity systems, and digital experiences to advance AT&T's brand presence.

• Drive the ongoing evolution and optimization of AT&T’s brand identity system across all channels and mediums, ensuring consistency, quality, and scalability.

• Translate complex business objectives, customer needs, and market insights into distinctive, high-impact creative solutions that strengthen brand equity.

• Serve as a trusted creative partner, building strong cross-functional relationships and championing design as a strategic business driver.

• Leverage emerging tools, including AI-enabled workflows, to enhance speed, scale, and efficiency while maintaining creative integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a senior leadership position within AT&T's Brand Design studio, focusing on the strategic direction and operational execution of brand expression for a Fortune 500 company. The emphasis on "operational discipline," "delivering exceptional work with speed, rigor, and accountability," and "managing scope, timelines, budgets, production, and business outcomes" highlights the critical need for strong operations management skills within a creative context.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the strategy, development, and execution of brand assets, identity systems, and digital experiences that align with and advance the global brand vision.

• Shape and activate the broader brand design vision through world-class creative work that strengthens and evolves the AT&T brand across all touchpoints.

• Translate business objectives, customer needs, and market insights into distinctive, high-impact creative solutions, ensuring alignment with strategic marketing and GTM initiatives.

• Drive the optimization and stewardship of the global brand identity system across channels, platforms, and touchpoints to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability.

• Set and uphold a high standard for design excellence through strong concepts, clear creative direction, and exceptional execution, managing creative workflows from ideation to final delivery.

• Lead projects from brief through delivery, managing scope, timelines, budgets, production processes, and business outcomes with a high degree of independence and operational rigor.

• Develop comprehensive creative briefs and brand guidelines that provide clarity, inspire adoption, and enable consistent, efficient execution across internal teams and external partners.

• Build trusted relationships across cross-functional teams (Marketing, Product, Technology, Legal) and serve as a strategic creative partner to stakeholders at all levels, including senior executives, facilitating clear communication and alignment.

• Present ideas and design solutions with clarity and confidence, contributing meaningfully to critiques, workshops, and team development through active mentorship and knowledge sharing.

• Leverage emerging tools and technologies, including AI-enabled workflows, to improve speed, scale, and efficiency in design production and asset management, while maintaining creative integrity and design quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for a leader who can manage complex creative projects akin to operations management. This includes overseeing project lifecycles, budget adherence, production timelines, and ensuring brand consistency at scale, which requires robust operational planning and execution capabilities. The mention of "AI-enabled workflows" suggests an expectation for innovation in operational efficiency within the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree (BS/BA) or advanced degree in Branding, Graphic Design, Communication Design, or a related field is desired.

Experience: 12+ years of experience in brand design, identity systems, and creative leadership, either in-house, at an agency, or both. Experience within a Fortune 500 environment is a significant plus.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated expertise in building and managing large consumer brands, including brand development, systems, and guidelines that drive adoption and consistency at scale.

• Technical mastery of industry-standard design tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).

• Proven ability to lead through influence, effectively communicating the value of design to non-design stakeholders and senior leadership.

• Strategic acumen to translate business objectives into compelling brand expression and creative solutions.

• Experience in managing project lifecycles, including scope, timelines, budgets, and production, with a focus on operational efficiency.

• Strong understanding of digital experiences and their integration with broader brand identity systems.

• Ability to work hands-on when needed, seamlessly moving between strategic direction and execution. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with collaborative design tools such as Figma.

• Experience with motion design tools like After Effects and prototyping tools like Adobe XD.

• Demonstrated experience with advanced AI tools and platforms for design, workflow optimization, or content generation.

• Experience in developing and implementing brand guidelines and toolkits for global adoption.

• Understanding of marketing and GTM strategies to ensure brand alignment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on technical mastery, AI tools, and managing projects with "rigor and accountability" suggests that candidates with a strong operational mindset and experience in process optimization within creative fields will be highly valued. The requirement for hands-on execution combined with strategic leadership points to a role that demands both creative vision and practical operational execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A required portfolio (link or attachment) demonstrating a high caliber of brand identity and design work, ideally for large-scale, consumer-facing brands.

• Showcase strategic thinking behind design decisions, illustrating how creative solutions addressed specific business objectives or customer needs.

• Include examples of developed brand identity systems, highlighting their scalability and consistency across various channels and touchpoints.

• Present case studies that detail project scope, challenges, solutions, and measurable outcomes, demonstrating project management and operational execution. Process Documentation:

• Examples of how you have developed and implemented brand guidelines or toolkits to ensure consistent brand application across an organization.

• Case studies illustrating the process of translating business requirements into creative briefs and design deliverables.

• Demonstrations of how you have managed creative workflows, including production timelines, budget oversight, and stakeholder approvals, to ensure timely and efficient delivery.

• Evidence of how you have leveraged technology or new methodologies (including AI) to optimize design processes, improve efficiency, or enhance creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the portfolio is critical for showcasing not just creative output but also the candidate's ability to manage complex design operations. This includes demonstrating their process for brand stewardship, system implementation, and delivering high-impact work efficiently. The mention of AI tools implies a need to showcase innovative approaches to design operations and workflow optimization.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $158,200 - $237,400 USD Annual. Note: Individual starting salary within this range may depend on geography, experience, expertise, and education/training. The Dallas location suggests the higher end of the range is achievable for highly qualified candidates.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage.

• 401(k) plan with company contributions.

• Tuition reimbursement program for continued education and skill development.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and company-designated Holidays (at least 28 days of vacation annually).

• Paid Parental Leave and Paid Caregiver Leave, supporting work-life balance.

• Adoption Reimbursement assistance.

• Short-term and Long-term Disability Benefits.

• Life and Accidental Death Insurance.

• Supplemental benefit programs: critical illness, accident hospital indemnity, group legal.

• Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) for confidential support.

• Extensive employee wellness programs promoting health and well-being.

• Employee discounts of up to 50% on eligible AT&T mobility plans, internet, and phone services.

• Long-Term Grants and Deferred Compensation opportunities.

• Additional sick leave beyond state and local requirements may be available.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

Note: The role requires a minimum of 5 days per week in the office, indicating a structured work schedule with limited remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a senior Brand Design Director role in a major metropolitan area like Dallas, especially within a large corporation like AT&T. The detailed benefits package underscores AT&T's commitment to employee well-being and professional development, which are key considerations for operations professionals seeking stability and comprehensive support. The explicit requirement for 5 days in-office per week is a critical detail for candidates assessing work-life integration and operational flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Telecommunications and Technology. AT&T is a global leader in communication services, driving innovation in 5G, fiber optics, and integrated digital experiences. This industry context means the brand design must be forward-looking, adaptable, and capable of communicating complex technological advancements to a broad consumer base.

Company Size: Large enterprise (Fortune 500). This implies structured processes, established brand governance, significant cross-functional collaboration, and opportunities to impact millions of customers. For operations professionals, this means working within established frameworks while also having the potential to influence and optimize them.

Founded: AT&T has a long and rich history, tracing its roots back to the invention of the telephone. This legacy provides a strong foundation for the brand, but also necessitates a design approach that respects heritage while embracing future innovation. The company's established design legacy, referencing Saul Bass, highlights a deep appreciation for impactful visual storytelling and strategic brand building.

Team Structure:

• The Brand Design team operates as a world-class studio within AT&T, likely comprising various design specialists (graphic designers, identity system experts, digital designers, production artists) and is led by an AVP, Head of Brand Design.

• This role reports directly to the AVP, indicating a senior position with significant influence and responsibility.

• The team collaborates extensively with marketing, product development, technology, legal, and other enterprise-wide functions to ensure brand consistency and strategic alignment across all initiatives. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Expression: Translating business priorities, customer needs, and market insights into compelling brand expression. This requires a systematic approach to gathering and interpreting data to inform creative strategy.

• Scalable Identity Systems: Developing and optimizing global brand identity systems that ensure consistency, quality, and scalability across diverse channels and mediums. This involves structured frameworks and robust governance.

• Agile Creative Execution: Delivering exceptional work with speed, rigor, and accountability, which necessitates efficient project management and workflow optimization.

• Innovation through Technology: Leveraging emerging tools and technologies, including AI-enabled workflows, to improve speed, scale, and efficiency in creative production.

Company Website: att.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding AT&T as a legacy telecommunications giant undergoing continuous technological evolution is key. The brand design function is not just about aesthetics but about operationalizing brand strategy across a vast organization. The emphasis on "scale," "consistency," and "efficiency" points to a need for operations-minded individuals who can manage complex creative processes within a regulated and globally distributed environment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director level, within the Brand Design function. It requires significant experience in creative leadership, strategic brand development, and operational execution of design systems. The scope of responsibility includes shaping the visual identity of a global Fortune 500 brand, indicating a high level of impact and autonomy.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Design Director reports directly to the AVP, Head of Brand Design. This places them in a key position within the Brand Design studio, with direct access to senior leadership and the ability to influence strategic direction. The role also requires extensive collaboration with various cross-functional teams across the enterprise.

Operations Impact: The Brand Design Director's work directly impacts AT&T's market perception, customer engagement, and overall business success. By ensuring a consistent, compelling, and modern brand expression across all touchpoints, this role supports marketing efforts, enhances customer loyalty, and contributes to revenue generation through effective brand communication and differentiation. The optimization of brand assets and systems also leads to operational efficiencies by reducing rework and ensuring clear guidelines for asset usage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into higher leadership roles within Brand Design or broader Marketing/Creative departments, such as AVP or VP levels, overseeing larger teams and more extensive brand portfolios.

• Specialization & Expertise Development: Deepen expertise in specific areas like digital brand strategy, AI in creative workflows, or global brand governance through advanced training, industry conferences, and leading specialized initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead critical, cross-departmental brand initiatives, gaining broader exposure and influence across the AT&T enterprise, potentially leading to roles in brand strategy, marketing leadership, or product marketing.

• Mentorship & Team Development: Lead and mentor junior designers and creative teams, fostering a culture of design excellence and operational rigor, which is crucial for developing future leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, particularly for individuals who can demonstrate both creative excellence and strong operational management capabilities. The ability to "champion design as a strategic business driver" and "leverage emerging tools" will be key indicators for future advancement within AT&T's structured career progression paths.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This position is based in Dallas, Texas, at the One AT&T Plaza. It requires a minimum of 5 days per week in the office, indicating a hybrid work model with a strong emphasis on in-person collaboration and office presence. The location is a major corporate headquarters, suggesting a professional and well-equipped corporate environment.

Office Location(s): Dallas, TX, United States (One AT&T Plaza). This central location in Dallas provides access to a major business hub.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed for collaboration, likely featuring open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and dedicated studio spaces to facilitate teamwork and brainstorming sessions.

• Access to state-of-the-art design tools, technology infrastructure, and potentially specialized production equipment will be available to support the creative and operational demands of the role.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design leadership, cross-functional partners, and the broader AT&T employee community within the office environment will foster strong working relationships and a cohesive team culture.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, with a mandatory 5-day per week office presence. This structured schedule is typical for senior roles in large corporations, ensuring consistent availability for team collaboration, stakeholder meetings, and project execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for 5 days of in-office presence is a critical factor for candidates to consider. It signals a culture that values face-to-face collaboration, team cohesion, and direct oversight, which are often important for managing complex operational workflows and ensuring accountability within a large enterprise like AT&T.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter will likely review applications, focusing on experience, qualifications, and portfolio submission.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A conversation with the AVP, Head of Brand Design, to assess strategic thinking, creative vision, leadership style, and alignment with the team's culture and operational needs.

• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, detailing key projects, their role, the strategic thinking, creative process, and operational execution. This may include a specific case study relevant to AT&T's brand challenges. Be prepared to discuss how you managed scope, timelines, and stakeholder expectations.

• Cross-Functional Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with key partners from Marketing, Product, or Technology to evaluate collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and the ability to influence diverse teams.

• Team Interviews/Workshop: Potential interaction with other members of the Brand Design team, possibly involving a collaborative exercise or design critique to assess teamwork and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: A meeting with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, long-term vision, and final offer details.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best showcase your experience in brand identity systems, large-scale consumer brands, and creative leadership. Highlight projects with demonstrable impact on business objectives.

• Showcase Operational Rigor: For each project, detail your role in managing scope, timelines, budgets, and production. Explain the processes you implemented to ensure consistency, quality, and efficiency.

• Highlight AI Integration: If applicable, clearly demonstrate how you've utilized AI tools to enhance design workflows, improve efficiency, or drive innovation. Explain the specific tools and outcomes.

• Tell a Story: Frame your projects as narratives, detailing the challenge, your strategic approach, the creative solution, and the measurable results. Emphasize your leadership and problem-solving abilities.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, leadership style, how you handle feedback, manage difficult stakeholders, and drive operational excellence in creative projects.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Analysis: Be prepared to analyze AT&T's current brand presence and suggest strategic improvements or opportunities for design innovation.

• Process Optimization Scenario: You might be given a scenario involving a complex creative project with tight deadlines and multiple stakeholders, and asked to outline your operational plan for successful execution.

• AI Application Discussion: Discuss your perspective on the role of AI in brand design and how you would integrate it into AT&T's creative operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes not only creative talent but also the ability to manage complex projects operationally. Candidates should prepare to discuss their project management methodologies, stakeholder management strategies, and how they ensure consistent brand execution at scale, especially highlighting any experience with AI in creative workflows.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, photo editing, and layout. Proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is a must.

• Figma: Increasingly vital for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX design. Experience with Figma is highly preferred.

• After Effects: For motion graphics, animation, and dynamic brand content.

• Adobe XD: For prototyping and user experience design, often used in conjunction with other Adobe tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed for design, understanding how design impacts user engagement and brand perception means familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) to interpret user behavior and campaign performance.

• Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI) can be beneficial for presenting design impact and ROI to stakeholders. CRM & Automation:

• While primarily a design role, understanding how brand assets are managed and deployed within CRM or marketing automation platforms (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot) can be advantageous for ensuring cohesive customer journeys.

• Familiarity with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems is crucial for managing brand assets at scale, ensuring version control, accessibility, and efficient distribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI-enabled workflows" suggests a need for familiarity with cutting-edge design technology. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with AI-powered design tools, plugins, or platforms that can enhance efficiency, streamline production, or generate creative concepts, in addition to standard industry software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Design Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to producing work of the highest quality, with meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of design principles.

• Strategic Partnership: Viewing design not just as an execution function, but as a strategic partner that drives business objectives and market impact.

• Collaboration & Inclusivity: Fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional teams work together seamlessly to achieve common goals.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new technologies, methodologies (like AI), and creative approaches to stay ahead of industry trends and effectively serve a dynamic brand.

• Accountability & Rigor: Delivering exceptional work with speed, rigor, and accountability, ensuring projects are managed effectively from start to finish.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively collaborating with Marketing, Product, Technology, and other departments to ensure brand consistency and strategic alignment across all initiatives. This involves clear communication, active listening, and consensus-building.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, design critiques, and workshops to refine creative output and continuously improve processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting a culture of learning and sharing best practices, insights, and new techniques within the design team and across the organization. This includes mentorship and guidance for junior team members.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a blend of creative passion and operational discipline. For operations professionals, understanding how AT&T expects its design leaders to balance creative vision with rigorous project management, stakeholder alignment, and a data-informed approach will be key to cultural fit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Corporate Scale: Ensuring brand consistency and creative excellence across a vast, global organization with diverse business units and customer segments, while adhering to strict brand governance.

• Integrating AI Effectively: Navigating the evolving landscape of AI in design – identifying, implementing, and managing AI tools to enhance efficiency and creativity without compromising brand integrity or human oversight.

• Stakeholder Alignment: Managing the expectations and priorities of numerous senior stakeholders across different departments, ensuring buy-in and cohesive direction for brand initiatives.

• Pace of Innovation: Keeping pace with rapid technological advancements in telecommunications and digital experiences, and translating these into relevant and compelling brand expressions.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced AI in Design Workshops: Opportunities to gain deeper expertise in AI-powered design tools and workflows through specialized training and internal R&D initiatives.

• Strategic Brand Management Courses: Access to executive education programs or industry certifications focused on advanced brand strategy, governance, and leadership.

• Cross-Functional Project Leadership: Leading high-impact, cross-enterprise projects that offer exposure to different business functions and enhance strategic influence.

• Mentorship Programs: Participation in formal or informal mentorship programs, both as a mentee to learn from senior leaders and as a mentor to develop emerging talent within the design studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for a candidate who is not only a creative visionary but also a skilled operational leader capable of navigating complexity, driving adoption of new technologies, and managing diverse stakeholder relationships within a large corporate structure.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to translate complex business objectives into a clear brand strategy for a large consumer brand. What was your process, and what were the outcomes?" (Focus on strategic thinking, process, and impact.)

• "How do you approach managing brand consistency across numerous channels and touchpoints for a global organization? What systems or processes do you rely on?" (Focus on operational rigor, brand governance, and scalability.)

• "Discuss your experience leveraging AI tools in a creative workflow. Provide a specific example of how AI improved efficiency, scale, or creative output, and any challenges you faced." (Focus on technological adoption and operational innovation.)

• "How do you build consensus and gain buy-in from diverse stakeholders (e.g., Marketing, Legal, Product) for your design strategies and creative direction?" (Focus on stakeholder management and influence.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you most about AT&T's brand and its legacy? How do you see your role contributing to its future evolution?" (Demonstrate research and cultural alignment.)

• "Describe your leadership philosophy, particularly how you foster creativity while ensuring operational discipline and accountability within a design team." (Assess leadership style and operational mindset.)

• "How do you approach mentorship and developing talent within a creative team?" (Evaluate contribution to team culture and growth.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each key project, clearly articulate the business challenge, your strategic approach, your specific role and contributions, the creative solution, and the measurable impact.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how you managed timelines, budgets, scope, and stakeholder expectations. Detail any processes you implemented for brand governance or workflow optimization.

• Showcase AI Integration: If you have relevant experience, dedicate a segment to demonstrating how you've used AI tools to solve problems or improve efficiency in your design work. Be ready to discuss the tools and your thought process.

• Be Prepared for Deep Dives: Anticipate detailed questions about your design choices, the rationale behind them, and how you would adapt your approach to AT&T's specific context.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to articulate not just their creative vision but also their operational strategy for delivering high-quality, consistent brand experiences at scale. Demonstrating a proactive approach to integrating new technologies like AI will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the AT&T careers portal, ensuring you include a link to your portfolio.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in brand identity systems, creative leadership, project management, stakeholder engagement, and any specific experience with AI in design workflows. Quantify achievements wherever possible.

• Prepare your portfolio walkthrough: Rehearse presenting your key projects, focusing on the strategic rationale, operational execution, and demonstrable impact. Be ready to discuss your process for managing complex creative initiatives.

• Research AT&T's brand: Understand their current brand positioning, recent campaigns, and the competitive landscape. Consider how your strategic vision aligns with their business objectives and future direction.

• Practice answering behavioral and situational questions: Prepare examples that showcase your leadership, problem-solving skills, ability to collaborate, and experience in managing creative operations within a large organization.

⚠️ 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.