Custom Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Custom Design Director

Company: Laminating Services Inc (Versa Designed Surfaces)

Location: New Albany, IN, US

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Creative Design & Operations Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-07-27

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of custom digital and gravure printed wallcoverings and murals for the commercial and high-end residential markets.

• Oversee the end-to-end custom design process, from concept development and art direction to final file preparation and delivery, ensuring adherence to brand aesthetic and production standards.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of digital designers and project managers, fostering a high-performance creative studio environment.

• Act as the primary creative liaison and partner for distribution channels and clients, translating concepts into exceptional, large-scale wallcovering products.

• Drive innovation in digital printing technologies, substrates, and color management to expand the capabilities and offerings of the custom design studio.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role bridges creative direction with operational execution in a manufacturing environment. The "Custom Design Director" title, combined with responsibilities in digital production, color management, and team leadership, strongly suggests a need for a candidate who can not only conceptualize and art direct but also understand and manage the technical aspects of large-format printing and the project management of complex custom orders. The emphasis on "operations" in the context of a design director role here relates to the efficient and accurate delivery of custom design projects within a manufacturing workflow.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Lead concept development, art direction, and final design execution for custom murals and wallcovering designs, ensuring alignment with client briefs, commercial, and high-end residential project requirements.

• Translate client concepts, mood boards, and briefs into original, scalable digital artwork, meticulously managing the design process through to final approval and production-ready files.

• Establish and evolve the studio's creative point of view on custom digital design, murals, and large-format printing, balancing artistic vision with practical producibility and market trends.

• Partner directly with distribution partners, interior designers, and end clients to scope custom projects, present creative concepts, manage feedback, and guide revisions.

• Oversee digital file preparation, including color separation, image scaling, and layout for wide-format gravure and digital printing across various substrates, ensuring seamless panel-to-panel installation.

• Ensure rigorous adherence to color management and proofing standards across design software, proofing devices, and production printers to guarantee accuracy from screen to sample to finished mural.

• Collaborate closely with production and manufacturing teams to specify appropriate substrates, inks, and finishing methods based on the intended end application and performance requirements.

• Build, lead, and mentor a team of project managers and product designers, setting creative standards, providing constructive feedback, and facilitating professional development.

• Establish and optimize studio workflows, project timelines, and quality-control processes for custom work, managing multiple projects and deadlines efficiently.

• Support project scoping and cost estimation for