Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Sainsbury's

Location: London, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full time

Category: Creative & Design Leadership / Retail Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-28T11:31:02

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic direction and execution of design initiatives for iconic retail brands Argos & Habitat within Sainsbury's Zest in-house agency.

• Drive creative excellence and innovation by developing and implementing a cohesive visual design language across all customer touchpoints, from digital platforms to in-store experiences.

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of talented designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance creative culture.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, product, and operational teams to ensure design outputs align with brand strategy, customer needs, and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the provided description focuses on design leadership, the "Operations" category is inferred due to the nature of retail brand management requiring close alignment with operational execution, customer experience strategies, and the overall Go-To-Market (GTM) approach for products and campaigns. The role's impact on brand perception and customer experience directly influences operational success.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and champion a compelling visual design strategy that elevates the brand identity and customer journey for Argos & Habitat across all integrated channels.

• Spearhead the concepting, creative direction, and execution of design projects, ensuring high standards of quality and brand consistency.

• Lead, mentor, and grow a team of designers, providing clear direction, constructive feedback, and opportunities for professional development.

• Collaborate closely with stakeholders across marketing, merchandising, digital, and operations to translate business requirements into impactful design solutions.

• Oversee the implementation and evolution of the visual design language, ensuring its consistent application across print, digital, social media, in-store displays, and packaging.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices within the retail and creative industries to drive continuous innovation.

• Manage external agency relationships and vendor partnerships as needed to supplement internal capabilities.

• Champion a data-informed design approach, utilizing customer insights and performance metrics to refine creative strategies and measure impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary responsibilities have been expanded to reflect the typical scope of a Design Director in a large retail organization, emphasizing strategic alignment with business goals, cross-functional collaboration, and the direct impact on operational execution and customer experience.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in design, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership or director-level role within a fast-paced creative environment, preferably in retail or for a multi-brand portfolio.

• Demonstrated success in managing and developing design teams, fostering a culture of creativity and accountability.

• Proven track record of defining and implementing visual design languages across complex, integrated campaigns and brand touchpoints.

• Extensive experience in conceptualizing and executing high-quality design solutions for multi-channel campaigns, including print, digital, social