Design Director, Commerce

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Commerce

Company: Circa - IPG DXTRA

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Experience Design / Creative Direction

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and execution of holistic brand experiences, translating creative concepts into tangible realities that resonate with target audiences.

• Drive innovative commerce strategies through a deep understanding of consumer insights, behaviors, and market trends across digital, environmental, and physical touchpoints.

• Manage and mentor a multidisciplinary design team, fostering a collaborative environment to deliver exceptional and disruptive brand experiences.

• Approach projects with a strategic, analytical lens, ensuring all design solutions align with client objectives, competitive landscapes, and industry best practices.

• Champion a passion for all design disciplines, including graphic, environmental, retail, digital, and motion, to create immersive and unforgettable brand engagements.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Design Director with a specific focus on "Commerce," indicating a strong emphasis on designing customer journeys and brand interactions within a commercial context, likely involving retail, e-commerce, or experiential marketing initiatives that directly drive sales or brand affinity. The responsibilities and qualifications suggest a senior leadership role responsible for both creative output and team management.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Translate concepts from creative teams into detailed design development, guiding the process through final execution for a variety of brand experiences.

• Apply an analytical and strategy-focused lens to all projects, ensuring design solutions are rooted in business objectives and consumer understanding.

• Cultivate a comprehensive understanding of client brands, their competitive environments, and emerging industry trends to inform design strategies.

• Demonstrate expert knowledge and application of all Experience Design pillars, including but not limited to architecture, environmental, interior, retail, graphic, digital, and motion design.

• Stay continuously abreast of industry trends, competitive design landscapes, and consumer behaviors to proactively identify opportunities for innovation and share insights with the wider team.

• Effectively manage multiple complex projects with demanding deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced agency environment.

• Lead and inspire a multidisciplinary experience design team, fostering collaboration and ensuring the delivery of exceptional, high-impact brand experiences.

• Present design concepts and strategies effectively both internally to leadership and externally to clients, building trust and strong collaborative relationships.

• Mentor and guide junior design team members, fostering their professional development and ensuring high standards of work.

• Uphold and embody the company's core values in all professional interactions and project work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic leadership, hands-on design direction, and team management. The emphasis on "holistic journey," "consumer insights," and "disruptive, entertaining, shareable, unforgettable experiences" points towards a role heavily involved in experiential marketing, brand activation, and creating impactful customer touchpoints that drive engagement and potentially commerce.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Experience Design, or a closely related design discipline.

Experience: 10-12+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant focus on experiential design, brand strategy, and creative direction within an agency setting. Proven track record of leading design teams and managing complex client projects.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating a strong passion for design, particularly in experiential and commerce-focused brand activations.

• Advanced proficiency in layout, typography, line composition, color theory, sketching, and visualization techniques.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and other relevant design and prototyping software.

• Strong understanding and application of design principles across various disciplines: Architecture, Environmental, Interior, Retail, Graphic, Digital, and Motion Design.

• Natural and compelling communicator with outstanding visual and verbal presentation skills, capable of articulating complex design concepts to diverse audiences.

• Ability to develop a thorough understanding of client brands, competitors, and market dynamics to inform strategic design decisions.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize effectively, and meet fast-paced deadlines in a dynamic agency environment.

• Experience in leading and mentoring multidisciplinary design teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.

• Demonstrated ability to build strong, trusting relationships with clients through clear communication and impactful presentations.

• A "hustler" mentality, demonstrating adaptability, proactivity, and resilience in navigating rapidly changing priorities and energetic environments. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with 3D design software or environmental design principles.

• Familiarity with user journey mapping, spatial diagramming, and material application in design contexts.

• Understanding of retail design principles and direct-to-consumer (DTC) commerce strategies.

• Experience in working with IPG DXTRA or similar large agency networks.

• Knowledge of sustainability principles in design and production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "hustler at heart" requirement, combined with managing multiple projects and fast deadlines, points to a need for resilience, proactivity, and a strong work ethic, typical of high-pressure agency environments. The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating "passion for design and experiential" is critical, suggesting that showcasing innovative and impactful work is paramount.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 10-12 years of design work, with a strong emphasis on experiential marketing, brand activations, and commerce-related projects.

• Demonstrations of the entire design process, from initial concept development and consumer insight integration to final execution and measurable impact.

• Case studies that clearly articulate the strategic thinking behind design decisions, the challenges faced, and the innovative solutions implemented.

• Visual examples of diverse design applications, including but not limited to environmental design, retail spaces, digital interfaces, graphic collateral, and motion graphics.

• Evidence of ability to translate abstract concepts into tangible, immersive experiences that connect with target audiences. Process Documentation:

• Case studies should detail the methodology used for understanding client objectives, target audiences, and competitive landscapes.

• Showcase the process of developing and refining design concepts, including sketching, moodboarding, and visualization techniques.

• Document the project management approach for handling multiple fast-paced projects, ensuring timely delivery and budget adherence.

• Illustrate the collaborative process with creative teams, clients, and internal stakeholders, highlighting communication and partnership strategies.

• Provide examples of how consumer insights, behaviors, and mindsets were integrated into the design process to craft holistic journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily weighted towards demonstrating practical application of design skills in real-world, client-facing scenarios, particularly within the experiential and commerce domains. Candidates must be prepared to walk through their thought process and the strategic underpinnings of their design choices.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $165,000 per year.

This range is determined by factors including, but not limited to, the candidate's actual experience and qualifications, location, market conditions, and internal equity.

Benefits:

• Time Well Taken: Flexible paid time off (PTO) policy allowing employees to take the time they need for rest and rejuvenation.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work from home or in the office, offering a balance between personal needs and collaborative work.

• Holidays and Winter Break: Agency-observed holidays and a complete office closure between Christmas and New Year's.

• No Meeting Fridays: Dedicated time for focused work, project completion, and personal development without scheduled meetings.

• DE&I Programs and Initiatives: Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through curated programs and ongoing initiatives.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance plans.

• Disability Insurance: Short-term and Long-term disability coverage to provide financial support during extended absences.

• Retirement Savings: 401(K) plan with a company match to support long-term financial planning.

• Employee Assistance Plan (EAP): Confidential support services for personal and work-related challenges.

• Tuition Reimbursement: Financial assistance for continuing education and professional development.

• Work from Home Stipend: Support for home office setup and ongoing remote work needs.

• Referral Bonuses: Incentives for referring successful candidates to the company.

• Training and Development: Opportunities for continuous learning and professional growth.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Pre-tax savings for healthcare or dependent care expenses.

• Health Savings Account (HSA): Tax-advantaged savings accounts for healthcare expenses, often paired with high-deductible health plans.

Working Hours: The role is based on a standard 40-hour work week, with the expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and client needs, especially given the dynamic agency environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and competitive for a Design Director role in New York City. The benefits package is extensive, with particular emphasis on flexibility (hybrid work, Time Well Taken, No Meeting Fridays) and professional development, aligning with a modern agency culture focused on employee well-being and growth.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising, specifically focused on Experiential Marketing and Brand Experience. Momentum Worldwide is part of IPG DXTRA, a network of marketing agencies under the Interpublic Group (IPG) umbrella.

Company Size: Part of the larger IPG DXTRA network, which comprises numerous agencies and employees globally. Momentum Worldwide itself is likely a significant entity within this network, suggesting a large company environment with substantial resources and project scope.

Founded: Momentum Worldwide was founded with a mission to create disruptive, entertaining, and unforgettable brand experiences. Its history is tied to innovation in bringing people closer to what they love through unique brand engagements.

Team Structure:

• The Experience Design team is multidisciplinary, encompassing various specializations such as Architecture, Environmental, Interior, Retail, Graphic, and Motion Design.

• The Design Director leads this team, working collaboratively with other leads within the agency (e.g., Strategy, Consulting, Analytics, Production).

• Reporting structure likely involves direct reports within the design team, with the Design Director reporting to a higher-level creative or executive lead.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with strategy, analytics, and production teams to ensure cohesive and effective campaign execution. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Insights: Utilizing consumer insights, behaviors, mindsets, and context to inform and craft holistic brand journeys.

• Experiential Focus: Prioritizing the creation of immersive and memorable experiences that connect audiences with brands in original and unexpected ways.

• Integrated Approach: Employing a "Total Brand Experience" methodology that combines consulting, strategy, analytics, experience design, and production to solve business challenges.

• Continuous Innovation: Encouraging a culture of pushing boundaries and doing "amazing, unprecedented, wild things" to create unforgettable client experiences.

Company Website: https://www.ipgdxtra.com/ (for IPG DXTRA), and Momentum Worldwide's specific site would be relevant for deeper insight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as being driven by "doers" who create "disruptive, entertaining, shareable, unforgettable experiences." The emphasis on "Total Brand Experience" suggests a holistic approach where design is integrated with strategy, analytics, and production to achieve business objectives. The company's values (Be One, Do Great Work, Have Fun, Give Back, Grow) and commitment to DEI and sustainability are key cultural pillars.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a senior leadership position within the Experience Design function, specifically focused on driving commerce-related brand experiences. It requires a blend of strategic vision, creative excellence, team leadership, and client management expertise. The "Director" title signifies significant responsibility and autonomy in shaping design output and strategy.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director will likely report to a Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Executive Creative Director (ECD), or a similar senior leadership role within Momentum Worldwide. They will directly manage a team of multidisciplinary designers, including junior and mid-level professionals.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is critical to the success of client campaigns. They are responsible for:

• Shaping the visual and experiential identity of brands, directly influencing consumer perception and engagement.

• Designing customer journeys that drive conversion and build brand loyalty in commerce-related initiatives.

• Elevating the creative output of the agency, contributing to its reputation for delivering disruptive and unforgettable experiences.

• Mentoring and developing talent, ensuring a strong pipeline of skilled designers for future projects.

• Building and maintaining strong client relationships, leading to repeat business and successful partnerships. Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to grow into higher executive creative roles (e.g., ECD, CCO) within Momentum Worldwide or the broader IPG DXTRA network.

• Strategic Influence: Opportunity to shape the overall creative and experiential strategy for key clients and contribute to agency-wide innovation initiatives.

• Specialization & Expansion: Deepen expertise in specific areas of commerce design or expand influence into new markets and technologies.

• Mentorship & Talent Development: Cultivate leadership skills by nurturing and developing design talent, building a legacy of creative excellence.

• Cross-Agency Collaboration: Engage with other IPG DXTRA agencies to leverage diverse expertise and contribute to integrated client solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned at a senior "Director" level, implying a strong focus on leadership, strategic input, and significant impact on client success and agency reputation. Growth opportunities are tied to advancing within the creative leadership track and expanding strategic influence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates on a hybrid work model, allowing employees to blend working from home with time spent in the office. This suggests a modern workspace designed to accommodate both focused individual work and collaborative team activities.

Office Location(s): The primary location for this role is New York, New York, United States. This implies access to a vibrant urban environment with opportunities for industry networking and client engagement. Specific office amenities and accessibility details would typically be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office likely serves as a central point for team meetings, brainstorming sessions, client presentations, and hands-on design critiques.

• Tool & Technology Access: Employees can expect access to industry-standard design software and hardware, as well as collaborative platforms essential for hybrid work environments.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model encourages intentional in-office days for high-touch collaboration, fostering team cohesion and spontaneous creative exchange. The "No Meeting Fridays" policy suggests an environment that respects focused work time, whether remote or in-office.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is the baseline, but the agency environment and client demands necessitate flexibility. This means occasional extended hours or weekend work may be required to meet project deadlines. The "No Meeting Fridays" policy is a key feature, promoting focused work during the week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model and "No Meeting Fridays" are significant features of the work environment, indicating a company culture that values flexibility, work-life balance, and focused productivity. The New York City location offers a dynamic professional setting.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess qualifications and alignment with the role's requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Creative Discussion: A key stage where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on key projects, design process, strategic thinking, and leadership capabilities. Expect detailed questions about your approach to experiential and commerce design.

• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with potential peers and leads from other departments (e.g., Strategy, Production) to assess collaborative skills and cultural fit.

• Executive Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership (e.g., CCO, ECD) to evaluate strategic vision, leadership potential, and overall fit within the agency's leadership team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your experience in experiential design, brand storytelling, and commerce-focused solutions. Highlight your role and contributions, especially in leadership capacities.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's challenge, your strategic approach, the design process, your specific contributions, and the measurable outcomes or impact achieved. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.

• Showcase Process: Detail your thought process, from initial concept generation and research to problem-solving and final execution. Include mood boards, sketches, user journeys, and spatial diagrams where relevant.

• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, include data or metrics that demonstrate the success of your designs, such as engagement rates, conversion improvements, or brand perception shifts.

• Tailor to Commerce: Emphasize how your designs have influenced consumer behavior, driven sales, or enhanced the overall commerce experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Conceptual Thinking: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach a hypothetical client brief, demonstrating your ability to generate innovative ideas and strategic solutions.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you've handled difficult client feedback, managed project challenges, or resolved team conflicts.

• Leadership & Mentorship: Prepare examples of how you've led teams, mentored junior designers, and fostered a positive and productive creative environment.

• Industry Trends: Stay current on emerging trends in experiential marketing, digital design, retail, and the broader commerce landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to thoroughly assess creative leadership, strategic thinking, and collaborative capabilities. The portfolio review is a critical component, requiring candidates to articulate not just their design output but also their strategic rationale and leadership impact, particularly in the context of commerce.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Deep expertise required in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects for graphic design, image manipulation, layout, and motion graphics.

• Prototyping & Wireframing Tools: Proficiency in tools like Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or similar for digital design, user interface (UI) development, and creating interactive prototypes.

• 3D Design Software (Preferred): Familiarity with software such as Cinema 4D, Blender, or 3ds Max could be beneficial for environmental or architectural visualization.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar for managing project workflows, timelines, and team tasks.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary data analyst role, understanding how to interpret analytics from previous campaigns (e.g., website traffic, engagement metrics, conversion rates) will be crucial for informing design decisions and presenting impact. Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics or platform-specific analytics dashboards is advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Understanding of how design integrates with CRM systems and marketing automation platforms to create seamless customer journeys, particularly in commerce. Familiarity with CRM concepts (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and marketing automation workflows is a plus.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency in tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace for communication and collaboration within a hybrid team structure.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on core design software, with a strong preference for Adobe Creative Suite. Proficiency in digital design and prototyping tools is essential. While not a data-heavy role, understanding how design impacts analytics and CRM processes is increasingly important for a Design Director focused on commerce.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Be One: Emphasizes teamwork, collaboration, and a unified approach to achieving client goals. This means working seamlessly across disciplines and supporting colleagues.

• Do Great Work: A commitment to excellence, innovation, and delivering high-impact, memorable experiences that exceed client expectations. This value drives the pursuit of creative and strategic breakthroughs.

• Have Fun: Fosters a positive and energetic work environment where passion for the work is celebrated, and enjoyment is integrated into the daily experience.

• Give Back: Encourages community involvement and social responsibility, reflecting a commitment to making a positive impact beyond client work.

• Grow: Promotes continuous learning, professional development, and personal advancement for all team members, supporting career progression and skill enhancement.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work hand-in-hand with strategists, account managers, analytics specialists, and production teams to create cohesive and effective campaigns.

• Open Feedback Culture: A culture that encourages constructive feedback, open dialogue, and iterative design processes to refine creative work and ensure optimal outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: A proactive approach to sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across the team and agency to foster collective growth and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply integrated into its culture, promoting a collaborative, high-performance, and growth-oriented environment. The emphasis on "doing great work" and "growing" aligns perfectly with the expectations for a senior design leader.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Commerce Objectives: Effectively translating innovative creative concepts into designs that demonstrably drive commercial success and meet client KPIs.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating the needs and feedback from multiple internal teams (strategy, production) and external clients with varying priorities.

• Keeping Pace with Rapid Industry Evolution: Staying ahead of trends in digital, experiential, and commerce design, and integrating new technologies and platforms into creative strategies.

• Leading and Inspiring a Multidisciplinary Team: Ensuring cohesive vision and high-quality output from a diverse group of designers with specialized skills, especially within a hybrid work model.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Workshops: Access to training in emerging design tools, methodologies, and A/B testing for optimizing user experiences.

• Industry Conferences & Events: Opportunities to attend leading industry events (e.g., SXSW, Cannes Lions) to gain insights, network, and stay abreast of global trends.

• Leadership Development Programs: Formal training and mentorship to enhance leadership, strategic thinking, and client management skills.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Opportunities to collaborate on projects with other IPG DXTRA agencies, broadening expertise across different marketing disciplines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical of a senior role in a dynamic agency setting, requiring adaptability, strong leadership, and a continuous learning mindset. The growth opportunities are well-defined, focusing on advancing leadership capabilities and expanding strategic influence within the agency network.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you translated a complex client brief into a compelling experiential or commerce design concept. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on strategic thinking, problem-solving, and impact.)

• "How do you balance creative innovation with the need to meet specific commercial objectives and KPIs for a client?" (Prepare examples demonstrating commercial acumen and data-informed design.)

• "Walk us through your approach to leading and mentoring a multidisciplinary design team. How do you foster collaboration and ensure high-quality, cohesive work?" (Highlight leadership style, team management strategies, and mentorship experience.)

• "How do you stay current with industry trends in experiential design, commerce, and digital marketing, and how do you integrate these insights into your work?" (Showcase proactivity, curiosity, and strategic application of trends.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Momentum Worldwide and IPG DXTRA, and how do you see your skills aligning with our values of 'Be One,' 'Do Great Work,' 'Have Fun,' 'Give Back,' and 'Grow'?" (Research the company's recent work, values, and approach to experiential marketing.)

• "How would you contribute to our diverse and inclusive work environment?" (Prepare to discuss your commitment to DEI and fostering inclusive team dynamics.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment. What strategies do you employ to ensure effective collaboration and communication?" (Demonstrate adaptability and effective remote/hybrid work practices.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly define the problem, your strategic solution, your specific role and contributions, the design process, and the measurable results.

• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize instances where you led teams, managed client relationships, or influenced strategic direction.

• Showcase Commerce Focus: Explicitly connect your design choices to commerce outcomes – driving engagement, conversions, or brand loyalty.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals and concise descriptions to effectively communicate your ideas. Be prepared to discuss the rationale behind every design element.

• Engage Your Audience: Be dynamic and interactive. Anticipate questions and be ready to delve deeper into specific aspects of your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a deep understanding of how design drives commerce outcomes. Candidates must be ready to articulate their process and impact with confidence, using their portfolio as a strong foundation for discussion.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director, Commerce position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Greenhouse platform.

• Curate Your Portfolio for Impact: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in experiential design, brand strategy, and commerce-focused initiatives. Ensure each project clearly articulates the client challenge, your strategic approach, your leadership role, the design process, and measurable results. Tailor your portfolio to highlight how your designs have directly influenced consumer behavior and commercial success.

• Optimize Your Resume for Operations Relevance: Highlight leadership responsibilities, experience managing multidisciplinary teams, client relationship management, and your expertise in translating creative concepts into tangible brand experiences. Use keywords from the job description, such as "Experience Design," "Commerce," "Brand Experience," "Creative Direction," and "Client Presentation."

• Prepare Your Presentation Narrative: Practice walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on clear, concise storytelling that emphasizes strategic thinking, problem-solving, and measurable impact. Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you foster collaboration within a team.

• Research Momentum Worldwide's Work and Values: Familiarize yourself with their recent campaigns, client roster, and stated company values (Be One, Do Great Work, Have Fun, Give Back, Grow). Consider how your own professional philosophy aligns with their culture and approach to creating "disruptive, entertaining, shareable, unforgettable experiences."

⚠️ 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.