Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Ffern

Location: London, United Kingdom

Job Type: Permanent

Category: Design Leadership / Creative Direction

Date Posted: November 3, 2026

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and execute the creative vision for Ffern's seasonal campaigns, encompassing print, packaging, and digital design to ensure a cohesive and impactful brand experience.

• Manage, mentor, and develop a team of talented designers, fostering specialisms and establishing clear ownership and growth paths within the design function.

• Develop and maintain Ffern's distinctive brand aesthetic across all touchpoints, from commissioned artwork and print materials to website user interface and bespoke seasonal gifts.

• Oversee the end-to-end production lifecycle for physical products, including packaging, seasonal charms, and point-of-sale elements, working closely with suppliers and operations teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within a highly design-centric direct-to-consumer brand. The responsibilities indicate a need for strategic oversight of creative output, team management, and hands-on involvement in production and supplier relationships, with a strong emphasis on maintaining and evolving a specific brand identity.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Seasonal Campaign Ownership: Drive the design of all seasonal elements, including commissioned artwork, print collateral, packaging, and website content, ensuring alignment with the overarching seasonal brief and brand aesthetic.

• Creative Direction Execution: Translate creative direction from founders into tangible, high-quality finished work, meticulously resolving design details and acting as the primary design liaison.

• Print & Packaging Management: Oversee the production of all physical design elements, managing relationships with printers and makers, demonstrating deep knowledge of paper stocks, finishes, texture, and construction.

• Digital Experience Design: Direct the design of the Ffern website and digital platforms, ensuring seamless integration of seasonal campaigns, product pages, and content, with a focus on UI and content system structure.

• Team Leadership & Development: Lead, mentor, and provide constructive feedback to the design team, fostering individual growth in areas like digital and print specialisms, and owning the strategic design roadmap.

• Product & Packaging Innovation: Own product and packaging design initiatives, collaborating with New Product Development and Operations to define supplier capabilities, timelines, and feasibility for new product launches.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ensure seamless integration between print, packaging, new product development, digital, content, and campaigns, creating a unified physical and digital brand presence.

• Risk Management & Scheduling: Build and manage the seasonal design schedule, proactively identifying and flagging potential risks to ensure timely delivery of all design assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic creative leadership and operational execution. The role demands not only conceptual design direction but also rigorous project management, production oversight, and deep technical understanding of physical manufacturing processes, particularly in print and packaging.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong portfolio and demonstrable experience equivalent to a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, or a related field is expected.

Experience: Minimum of 10+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant portion in senior leadership roles, including direct line management of design teams. Experience within a direct-to-consumer (DTC) or subscription-based business model is highly preferred.

Required Skills:

• Design Leadership: Proven ability to lead and inspire design teams, providing clear direction and constructive feedback.

• Brand Aesthetic Alignment: An intuitive understanding and ability to embody and develop Ffern's specific brand aesthetic.

• Cross-Disciplinary Design: Broad experience across digital design (UI/UX, web), print design, packaging design, and physical product design.

• Production Expertise: Deep knowledge of print production, paper stocks, finishes, textures, and construction methods, with experience briefing and managing printers and makers.

• Project & Schedule Management: Exceptional ability to build and manage complex design schedules, track multiple variables, and mitigate risks for seasonal campaigns.

• Supplier & Operations Collaboration: Experience working directly with suppliers, operations teams, and new product development to bring physical products to life, understanding feasibility and timelines.

• Digital Design Tools: Proficiency in digital design software, with specific mention of Figma for UI and content design review.

• Commercial Acumen: Understanding of commercial aspects, particularly within DTC or subscription business models.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience building and structuring a design function, including defining roadmaps, design languages, and specialisms.

• Familiarity with content systems and their structure behind digital platforms.

• Experience in developing bespoke seasonal gifts or unique product offerings.

• Knowledge of point-of-sale (POS) design and physical space presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of artistic sensibility, technical production knowledge, and strong managerial and organizational capabilities. The preference for DTC/subscription experience suggests a need for understanding customer lifecycle, retention, and brand loyalty drivers within a design context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Holistic Campaign Showcase: Demonstrate experience leading and executing complete seasonal campaigns, showcasing how print, digital, and physical elements (packaging, product) were integrated to create a cohesive narrative.

• Design Leadership Examples: Include case studies or examples that illustrate your approach to leading and mentoring design teams, including how you provided direction and facilitated growth.

• Production & Material Expertise: Feature projects where you've demonstrated deep knowledge of paper stocks, printing techniques, finishes, and packaging construction, highlighting your direct involvement in briefing and managing makers.

• Brand Aesthetic Development: Showcase instances where you have successfully interpreted and evolved an established brand identity, demonstrating creativity within defined parameters.

• Problem-Solving & Process Improvement: Present examples of how you've built frameworks or processes to manage complex projects with numerous variables, ensuring on-time, on-brief delivery.

Process Documentation:

• Design Roadmap Development: Provide examples or describe your methodology for creating strategic design roadmaps that align with business objectives and seasonal planning.

• Workflow Optimization: Illustrate how you've structured design workflows to improve efficiency, manage cross-functional dependencies, and ensure clear communication channels, particularly between design, operations, and product development.

• Quality Assurance & Standards: Detail your approach to maintaining high design standards across all outputs, including processes for reviewing work, providing feedback, and ensuring consistency with brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates are expected to present a portfolio that not only showcases creative output but also demonstrates strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a robust understanding of production processes and project management within a design context. Evidence of building or structuring design functions and managing complex seasonal cycles will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Design Director role in London with 10+ years of experience, leading teams in a DTC/subscription environment, the estimated salary range is £75,000 - £100,000 per annum. This range accounts for the senior nature of the role, the required breadth of experience, and the high cost of living in London.

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: As outlined above, reflecting the seniority and scope of the role.

• Hybrid Working Model: Flexibility to balance in-office collaboration with remote work, fostering work-life integration.

• Generous Holiday Allowance: Standard holiday entitlement, likely exceeding statutory minimums.

• Pension Scheme: Contribution towards a company pension plan.

• Product Allowances/Discounts: Potential for Ffern product benefits or discounts, aligning with the brand's offering.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for continued learning, workshops, and attending industry events relevant to design and leadership.

• Access to Unique Creative Environment: Working within a company deeply invested in design and aesthetic quality.

Working Hours: Typically a 40-hour work week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet critical deadlines, especially during peak seasonal campaign periods. The hybrid model allows for some autonomy in structuring the work week.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on data from industry salary surveys (e.g., Glassdoor, LinkedIn Salary, Hays) for Design Director positions in London, adjusted for the specific industry (DTC/Subscription) and the stated experience level. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for permanent, senior roles in London-based companies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) / Subscription E-commerce, with a strong focus on artisanal products, unique experiences, and a distinct brand identity rooted in seasonality and commissioned art.

Company Size: Likely a growing mid-size company, indicated by the need to "build new product development into a function of its own" and the "significant" future plans. This suggests a dynamic environment with opportunities for impact.

Founded: Ffern is a relatively young company (founded 2019), which often implies a fast-paced, entrepreneurial culture where design plays a pivotal role in shaping the brand's identity and customer experience from the ground up.

Team Structure:

• The Design Director will lead a team of "deeply talented people" and will be a key member of the senior leadership, working "closely with our founders."

• The role involves significant cross-functional collaboration with founders, New Product Development, Operations, Digital, Content, and Campaigns teams.

• The structure emphasizes a hands-on approach, with the Director expected to resolve details themselves and act as the "single senior point of contact for the founders on design." Methodology:

• Ffern's approach is deeply rooted in a specific, evolving aesthetic and a commitment to quality in both physical and digital execution.

• Design is viewed as central to the customer experience, influencing everything from product to packaging to website interaction.

• There's a clear emphasis on seasonal storytelling and the integration of commissioned art and unique craftsmanship.

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the need for commercial awareness and understanding of DTC metrics, though the primary driver appears to be creative vision and execution.

Company Website: https://ffern.co/

📝 Enhancement Note: Ffern appears to be a brand that prioritizes aesthetic integrity and a unique customer journey. The culture is likely collaborative, fast-paced, and founder-led, with design holding a central, strategic position. The company's youth suggests an evolving structure and a high degree of influence for senior hires.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director or Head of Design. It sits at the top of the design hierarchy within the company, reporting directly to founders or C-suite executives. The scope includes strategic planning, team management, and direct contribution to product and brand development.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will report directly to the founders and will be responsible for leading and mentoring the internal design team. This structure offers high visibility and direct influence on the company's strategic direction.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's role is critical to Ffern's success. Design is described as central to their plans, impacting customer acquisition, retention, brand perception, and the overall premium experience. Success in this role directly translates to the brand's ability to execute its vision and achieve its business objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Functional Growth: Opportunity to build and scale the design function, potentially expanding the team and defining specialized roles as the company grows.

• Strategic Influence: Direct impact on brand strategy, product development, and overall business direction through creative leadership.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop deeper understanding and influence across operations, product development, and marketing within a DTC context.

• Leadership Development: Hone leadership skills by managing a team, driving initiatives, and contributing to executive-level decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant scope for an experienced design leader to shape a brand's visual identity and operationalize its creative vision. The growth potential is tied to the company's expansion and the individual's ability to build and lead a high-performing design function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Likely a hybrid model, with a requirement for some in-office presence in London for collaboration, team meetings, and hands-on work with physical materials. The exact nature of the office space is not specified but would likely support creative collaboration.

Office Location(s): London, United Kingdom. This implies access to a vibrant creative hub and professional networks.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The London office would serve as a central point for collaborative sessions with founders, team members, and potentially external partners like printers and makers.

• Resource Access: Expect access to necessary design software and potentially physical resources for prototyping and material exploration.

• Team Interaction: Regular face-to-face interaction with the design team and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment and foster a strong team dynamic.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is typical, but the demanding nature of seasonal campaigns and product launches will require flexibility and proactive time management. The hybrid arrangement offers some control over personal scheduling.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model suggests a balance between the benefits of in-person collaboration and the flexibility of remote work. The London location places the role within a major global city known for its design and creative industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess alignment with Ffern's aesthetic, leadership experience, and technical skills.

• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage involving a presentation of past work, focusing on relevant case studies demonstrating design leadership, print/packaging expertise, and ability to execute a brand vision. Expect detailed questions about your process, decision-making, and team management approach.

• Founder/Leadership Interviews: Discussions with founders to assess cultural fit, strategic thinking, and alignment with Ffern's vision and values. This is where your understanding of their brand and potential contributions will be deeply explored.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Potential meetings with other team leads (e.g., Operations, NPD) to evaluate collaboration style and cross-functional communication capabilities.

• Final Offer: Based on overall assessment of skills, experience, cultural fit, and strategic potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on projects that best demonstrate your ability to manage seasonal campaigns, lead design teams, and work with print, packaging, and digital mediums. Showcase projects with a strong brand identity focus.

• Highlight Process & Strategy: Don't just show the final output. Explain your design process, the rationale behind your decisions, how you interpreted creative direction, and how you managed production complexities.

• Demonstrate Leadership: Include examples of how you've mentored designers, structured teams, or managed workflows. If you've built a design function, clearly articulate that process.

• Showcase Technical Depth: For print and packaging, be specific about materials, techniques, and challenges overcome. If possible, include physical examples or high-quality mockups.

• Align with Ffern's Aesthetic: Research Ffern thoroughly. Your portfolio should subtly (or explicitly) show an appreciation for and capability within their specific brand universe.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Analysis: Be prepared to discuss Ffern's current brand aesthetic, identify strengths, and propose potential areas for evolution or new creative directions within their established framework.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate hypothetical challenges related to seasonal campaign execution, supplier issues, or team conflicts. Prepare structured responses demonstrating your problem-solving methodology.

• Leadership Scenarios: Think about how you would onboard a new designer, handle underperformance, or foster collaboration within a hybrid team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh portfolio quality and presentation, with a strong emphasis on understanding the candidate's strategic approach to design leadership, production management, and brand stewardship within a DTC context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software Suite: Proficiency in industry-standard design tools is essential. This would typically include:

  • Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign (critical for print, packaging, and brand collateral).
  • Figma: Explicitly mentioned for digital UI and content design review, indicating its central role in digital workflows.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Monday.com, Trello, or similar platforms for managing seasonal design schedules, task delegation, and workflow tracking.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Familiarity with systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving design assets across the organization.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Understanding of tools like Google Analytics to inform digital design decisions based on user behavior and performance metrics.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to interpret data from various sources to understand the impact of design on key business metrics.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managed by the Design Director, an understanding of how CRM systems and marketing automation platforms influence customer journeys and content delivery is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements revolve around advanced graphic design software, with a specific emphasis on Figma for digital work. Proficiency in project management tools is also crucial for managing the complex workflows inherent in seasonal campaigns and product development.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Aesthetic Excellence: A deep commitment to beauty, quality, and craftsmanship in all design outputs.

• Brand Integrity: Upholding and thoughtfully evolving Ffern's unique and established creative identity.

• Collaboration & Communication: Open, clear, and constructive dialogue across teams and with founders.

• Ownership & Accountability: Taking responsibility for projects from concept through to execution and delivery.

• Curiosity & Innovation: A drive to explore new possibilities within the brand's framework and to continuously improve processes and outcomes.

• Seasonality & Narrative: Understanding and embracing the cyclical nature of the business and its importance in storytelling.

Collaboration Style:

• Founder-Centric: Working closely and transparently with founders, translating their vision into actionable design strategies.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Seamlessly partnering with Product Development, Operations, Digital, and Content teams to ensure holistic campaign and product launches.

• Team Empowerment: Fostering an environment where designers feel empowered to contribute, develop their skills, and take ownership of their work.

• Constructive Feedback Loop: Establishing clear channels for giving and receiving feedback to continuously elevate the quality of work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Ffern's culture appears to value high creative standards, a strong sense of brand purpose, and collaborative execution. The ideal candidate will be someone who respects the existing aesthetic while bringing fresh perspectives and driving efficient, high-quality creative output.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Balancing the need to evolve the brand's aesthetic with the imperative to maintain a consistent and recognizable identity across diverse outputs.

• Managing Multiple Variables: Overseeing numerous design elements for each season (print, packaging, digital, product, art commissions) requires meticulous organization and risk management.

• Supplier & Production Complexities: Navigating the intricacies of print and packaging production, ensuring quality and timely delivery from diverse suppliers.

• Translating Vision to Execution: Effectively interpreting and executing the founders' creative direction while empowering the team to bring their own expertise to bear.

• Scaling the Design Function: As the company grows, developing scalable processes, structures, and team capabilities to meet increasing demands.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Building: Deepen expertise in shaping and evolving a premium DTC brand identity.

• Leadership Scalability: Gain experience in scaling a design department, defining roles, and implementing robust operational frameworks.

• Product Innovation: Contribute directly to the development of new products and unique seasonal offerings.

• Cross-Industry Insights: Develop a nuanced understanding of subscription models, e-commerce operations, and artisanal production.

• Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor and develop emerging design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents challenges inherent in a growing, design-led DTC company. Success will require strong organizational skills, creative problem-solving, and the ability to manage complex stakeholder relationships and production processes. The growth opportunities are significant for a leader looking to make a substantial impact.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach translating our founders' creative direction for Season X into a cohesive design execution across print, packaging, and digital?" - Prepare to discuss your process for breaking down briefs, identifying key themes, and ensuring consistency.

• "Describe a time you had to manage a complex seasonal design schedule with tight deadlines and competing priorities. What risks did you identify, and how did you mitigate them?" - Use the STAR method to detail a relevant project, focusing on your planning, risk assessment, and execution.

• "How would you go about building a design roadmap for Ffern over the next 1-2 years, considering our growth plans and commitment to seasonality?" - Outline a strategic framework, including how you'd gather input, define objectives, and allocate resources. Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your understanding of Ffern's current aesthetic, and how do you see it evolving under your direction?" - Demonstrate thorough research into Ffern's existing designs, website, and brand narrative. Be prepared to offer thoughtful insights.

• "How do you foster a collaborative and productive environment within a design team, particularly in a hybrid work setting?" - Discuss your leadership philosophy, communication strategies, and methods for team building.

• "Describe your experience working with printers and makers. How do you ensure quality and manage relationships effectively?" - Share specific examples of your technical knowledge and experience in managing production processes. Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your portfolio presentation around key themes: Brand Stewardship, Seasonal Execution, Production Expertise, and Team Leadership.

• Ffern-Centric Selection: Prioritize projects that most closely align with Ffern's aesthetic and the role's requirements (DTC, print, packaging, digital).

• Show, Don't Just Tell: Use high-quality visuals and mockups. For production pieces, explain the materials, printing techniques, and any challenges overcome.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, link design decisions to business outcomes (e.g., improved user engagement, successful product launches, positive customer feedback).

• Engage in Dialogue: Treat the presentation as a conversation. Be prepared to answer in-depth questions about your process, rationale, and leadership approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared for a rigorous evaluation of their creative judgment, leadership capabilities, and practical production knowledge. Demonstrating a deep understanding of Ffern's brand and a strategic approach to design leadership will be paramount.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ffern's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to specifically highlight projects demonstrating senior design leadership, expertise in print, packaging, and digital design, and experience with DTC or subscription models. Emphasize projects that showcase your ability to manage seasonal campaigns and maintain a strong brand aesthetic.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to reflect the key responsibilities and requirements outlined in this description. Use keywords such as "Design Director," "Creative Direction," "Print Production," "Packaging Design," "Digital UI Design," "Team Management," "Brand Aesthetic," and "DTC." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Ffern's website, social media presence, and any available press to gain a deep understanding of their brand, aesthetic, products, and company culture. Prepare thoughtful insights and questions based on this research.

• Prepare for a Presentation: Anticipate being asked to present your portfolio and discuss your strategic approach to design leadership, team management, and brand development. Practice articulating your process and decision-making.

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