Design Director, Commerce

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Commerce

Company: Momentum

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing / Creative / Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-22

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and mentor a multidisciplinary design team to create compelling, conversion-driven visual experiences for experiential commerce projects.

• Develop and implement design strategies that translate shopper insights and spatial considerations into integrated design platforms for multichannel campaigns.

• Ensure design output is optimized for conversion, engagement, and real-world interaction across retail environments and immersive brand experiences.

• Act as a trusted creative partner, presenting design concepts to clients with clarity and confidence, and bringing forward proactive, innovative design ideas.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within the Marketing/Creative/Design Operations spectrum, focusing on the strategic and leadership aspects of design within a commercial context. The emphasis on "conversion-driven work" and "shopper insights" highlights a strong link to revenue generation and customer acquisition, a key area for operations professionals. The hybrid work arrangement suggests a need for strong self-management and asynchronous communication skills, typical in modern operations roles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Creative Leadership & Team Management: Lead, mentor, and inspire a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performance environment. Set the overarching design vision and standards across commerce and experiential workstreams.

• Design Strategy Development: Translate shopper insights, spatial considerations, and brand guidelines into elevated, integrated design platforms. Develop comprehensive design systems and toolkits for multichannel campaigns, including in-store experiences, Point-of-Sale (POS) materials, and physical environments.

• Conversion & Engagement Optimization: Ensure all design outputs are meticulously optimized for conversion, engagement, and tangible real-world interaction, directly contributing to client business objectives.

• Client Partnership & Presentation: Serve as a key creative point of contact for clients, presenting design concepts with clarity, confidence, and strategic rationale. Proactively bring forward forward-thinking design ideas and solutions to address client challenges.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work seamlessly with strategy, creative, account management, and production teams to ensure cohesive execution of campaigns and projects. Foster strong communication channels to maintain alignment between creative vision and production feasibility.

• Innovation & Trend Integration: Stay abreast of the latest retail trends, experiential design innovations, emerging technologies, and evolving shopper behaviors. Champion fresh thinking around immersive experiences, interactivity, and compelling storytelling within physical and digital spaces.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a blend of strategic design thinking and practical execution oversight. For an operations professional, understanding how design directly impacts sales conversion and customer engagement is crucial. The emphasis on cross-functional collaboration points to the need for strong communication and project management skills, akin to managing operational workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Environmental Design, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this level of responsibility.

Experience: 8-10+ years of progressive experience in design, with a significant and proven focus on shopper marketing, experiential design, retail environments, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) sectors.

Required Skills:

• Creative Leadership & Team Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead, guide, and inspire design teams, fostering professional growth and high-quality output.

• Design Strategy & Systems: Proficiency in translating strategic objectives and consumer insights into cohesive design platforms and scalable design systems.

• Shopper & Experiential Design Expertise: Deep understanding of shopper behavior, retail environments, and the principles of creating engaging physical and digital brand experiences.

• Environmental/Spatial Design: Experience with 3D design, spatial planning, and the creation of physical environments that drive engagement and conversion.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, potentially After Effects or Premiere Pro for motion graphics).

• Client Presentation & Communication: Exceptional ability to articulate design rationale, present concepts clearly and confidently to clients, and build trusted advisory relationships.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven ability to work effectively with diverse teams, including strategy, creative, production, and account management.

Preferred Skills:

• 3D/Spatial Design Tools: Familiarity with 3D modeling and rendering software (e.g., SketchUp, Rhino, Cinema 4D, Blender) or other spatial design tools.

• Design for Conversion: Understanding of UX/UI principles as they apply to physical and digital retail touchpoints to drive conversion.

• Retail Technology Integration: Awareness of emerging technologies in retail (e.g., AR/VR, interactive displays, IoT) and their application in design.

• Brand Guideline Development & Application: Experience in creating and maintaining brand guidelines for consistent application across various touchpoints.

• Project Management Fundamentals: Basic understanding of project timelines, resource allocation, and budget considerations within a design context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "8-10+ years" combined with "Proven leadership experience" strongly suggests this is a senior-level role. The emphasis on both strategic (design systems, shopper insights) and tactical (Adobe Suite, 3D design) skills means candidates need a well-rounded profile. For operations applicants, highlighting experience managing creative workflows, ensuring brand consistency, and optimizing processes for design execution will be key.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 3-5 detailed case studies demonstrating end-to-end design process for commerce and experiential projects. Each case study should clearly articulate the business challenge, strategic approach, design solutions, and measurable outcomes.

• Shopper Journey Mapping: Include examples that illustrate the understanding of shopper behavior and how design interventions are strategically placed to influence decisions at various points in the customer journey.

• Design System Examples: Present examples of design systems or toolkits developed for multichannel campaigns, showing how consistency and scalability were achieved across different platforms and environments (e.g., in-store displays, digital POS, social assets).

• Conversion-Focused Design: Highlight projects where design directly contributed to improved conversion rates, increased engagement, or enhanced customer experience, backed by quantifiable results.

• Spatial & Environmental Design: Showcase work related to physical spaces, retail environments, pop-up shops, or experiential activations, demonstrating 3D thinking and execution.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Optimization: Demonstrate your ability to document and optimize design workflows, from brief inception to final asset delivery, ensuring efficiency and quality control.

• Cross-Functional Integration: Illustrate how your design process integrates with other departments (strategy, production, account management) to ensure seamless project execution and stakeholder alignment.

• Design Review & Feedback Loops: Provide examples of how structured design review processes and feedback mechanisms are implemented to refine creative output and ensure client satisfaction.

• Brand Guideline Implementation: Show evidence of developing or applying brand guidelines within a design process to maintain brand integrity across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: A strong portfolio is paramount for this role, as it will be the primary evidence of strategic and creative capabilities. For operations professionals, framing portfolio items in terms of process efficiency, cross-functional alignment, and measurable impact will be crucial. Think about how your project management or operations experience translates into delivering design projects on time, within budget, and to high quality standards.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $150,000 - $162,500 USD per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is competitive for a Design Director role in New York City, reflecting the significant experience required (8-10+ years), leadership responsibilities, and the agency's status. The specific placement within the range will depend on factors such as the candidate's exact years of relevant experience, demonstrated leadership capabilities, portfolio strength, and specific expertise in shopper marketing and experiential design. New York City also commands a higher salary due to its high cost of living and robust market for creative talent.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement Savings Plan: Likely a 401(k) with potential company match.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Includes vacation days, sick leave, and company holidays.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and attending industry conferences to stay current with retail and experiential design trends.

• Hybrid Work Model: Flexibility to work remotely and in the New York City office.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Support services for personal and professional well-being.

• Potential for Bonuses: Performance-based bonuses may be offered.

Working Hours: The role is likely based on a standard 40-hour work week, with potential for overtime during peak project periods. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in how these hours are structured, balancing in-office collaboration with remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is clearly defined and aligns with senior creative leadership roles in a major metropolitan area. The benefits listed are standard for agency environments, with a focus on professional development being particularly relevant for a role requiring continuous learning in trends and technologies.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising / Experiential Marketing / Retail & CPG Services. Momentum Worldwide operates at the intersection of brand experience, shopper marketing, and experiential activations, serving clients across various consumer sectors.

Company Size: Momentum Worldwide is a significant player in the experiential marketing space, part of the larger Interpublic Group (IPG). While exact employee numbers for Momentum specifically aren't provided, its affiliation with IPG suggests a large, global network with substantial resources and reach. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for diverse projects and cross-agency collaboration.

Founded: Momentum was founded in 2002. This history suggests a mature agency with established methodologies, client relationships, and a deep understanding of the evolving marketing landscape. Its longevity indicates resilience and adaptability.

Team Structure:

• Multidisciplinary Design Team: The Design Director will lead a team comprising various design specialists (e.g., graphic designers, environmental designers, motion designers). This team likely collaborates closely with other departments.

• Reporting Structure: This role typically reports to a Creative Director, Executive Creative Director, or a similar senior creative leadership position. The reporting structure is designed to align creative output with overall agency strategy and client objectives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role emphasizes close collaboration with Strategy, Account Management, Production, and potentially Analytics teams. This integrated approach is essential for developing holistic brand experiences that are both creatively compelling and strategically sound, mirroring the collaborative nature of effective operations.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role requires translating "shopper insights" and "analytics" into design decisions, indicating a data-informed approach to creative strategy and execution.

• Integrated Experience Design: Momentum's "Total Brand Experience" philosophy suggests a methodology that connects all consumer touchpoints, from physical retail to digital content, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand narrative.

• Agile & Iterative Processes: While not explicitly stated, the fast-paced agency environment necessitates agile project management and iterative design processes to adapt to client feedback and market trends.

Company Website: https://www.momentumww.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company’s focus on "disruptive, entertaining, shareable, unforgettable experiences" and "Total Brand Experience" highlights a results-oriented culture grounded in creative innovation. For operations professionals, understanding how to support and enable such a creative output through efficient processes and robust systems is key. The scale of the organization suggests that operational excellence is critical for managing complex, large-scale projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, equivalent to a Director-level position within a creative agency. It requires significant strategic oversight, team management, and client-facing responsibilities. The focus is on shaping the creative direction of commerce-related design initiatives and ensuring their effectiveness in driving business results.

Reporting Structure: The Design Director typically reports to a higher-level creative leader (e.g., ECD, CCO) and manages a team of designers. This structure allows for strategic alignment with top-level agency goals while providing hands-on leadership and mentorship to the design team.

Operations Impact: The impact of this role is directly tied to client success. By leading the creation of visually compelling and conversion-optimized commerce experiences, the Design Director influences client revenue, brand perception, and customer engagement. This role is crucial in translating strategic business objectives into tangible, impactful brand interactions that drive measurable results.

Growth Opportunities:

• Executive Creative Leadership: Potential to advance to Executive Creative Director or Chief Creative Officer roles, overseeing larger creative departments or entire agency portfolios.

• Specialization & Thought Leadership: Opportunity to become a recognized expert in experiential commerce design, speaking at industry events, contributing to publications, and shaping agency innovation in this space.

• Client Relationship Management: Develop deeper strategic partnerships with key clients, potentially leading to roles with broader account management or strategic consulting responsibilities.

• Studio/Department Head: Possibility to lead and grow the entire design studio or a specific discipline within the agency, focusing on operational efficiency and team development.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a clear career trajectory within the creative and marketing industry, with significant potential for leadership and strategic influence. For operations professionals aiming for leadership, understanding this path helps in aligning personal development goals with the company's growth potential. The emphasis on "impact" and "results" aligns well with operations' focus on measurable outcomes.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a hybrid role, meaning it involves a combination of working remotely and from the company's physical office location in New York City. This structure aims to balance the benefits of in-person collaboration with the flexibility of remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office is located in New York, New York. This prime location offers access to a vibrant talent pool, industry events, and a dynamic business environment. Specific details about the office's amenities and accessibility would be available upon inquiry or during the interview process.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The New York office likely serves as a hub for brainstorming, client meetings, team workshops, and hands-on creative sessions, fostering a dynamic and interactive work environment.

• Access to Tools & Technology: Employees can expect access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially specialized equipment for prototyping or presentation.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid model necessitates intentional interaction. In-office days will be crucial for spontaneous collaboration, team building, and mentorship opportunities, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie and shared purpose.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a standard 40-hour work week. However, agency life often requires flexibility, with potential for extended hours during critical project phases or client deadlines. The hybrid nature allows for greater autonomy in managing one's schedule, balancing core working hours with personal needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of this role is a key aspect. For operations roles, this often translates to a need for excellent remote communication and collaboration tools, as well as structured in-office days for critical team activities. Understanding how the company facilitates effective hybrid collaboration is key.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Typically with an HR representative or recruiter to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the direct manager (likely a Creative Director or ECD) to dive deeper into experience, leadership style, and specific skill sets. Be prepared to discuss your approach to team management and design strategy.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: A critical stage where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key projects, design process, and problem-solving abilities. Expect to articulate the "why" behind your design choices and their impact on business objectives. This may involve a prepared presentation.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members (designers) and cross-functional partners (strategy, account) to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior agency leader to discuss vision, strategic alignment, and overall suitability for the role and company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your expertise in commerce, shopper marketing, and experiential design. Focus on quality over quantity.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic thinking, the challenges faced, your creative solutions, and the measurable results achieved. Use a narrative structure.

• Highlight Process: Show your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration. Demonstrate how you translate insights into design.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, use data and metrics to show the success of your designs (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics, ROI).

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your leadership style, conflict resolution, how you handle client feedback, and your vision for the future of experiential commerce design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Case Study Deep Dive: Be ready to discuss a specific case study from your portfolio in detail, or potentially work through a hypothetical design challenge related to a client's business.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to discuss your approach to understanding client business objectives, target audiences, and market trends.

• Leadership Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would manage a challenging team member, handle creative disagreements, or motivate a team under pressure.

• Trend Awareness: Familiarize yourself with current trends in retail, experiential marketing, and technology that impact design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio presentation and case studies is crucial. For operations professionals, this means framing your experience in terms of project execution, process improvement, and measurable outcomes, even if your background isn't strictly design. Highlight instances where you've managed creative projects, streamlined workflows, or contributed to the strategic success of marketing initiatives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, layout, and image manipulation. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign as minimum requirements.

• 3D Design Software (Preferred): Familiarity with tools like SketchUp, Rhino, Cinema 4D, or Blender would be advantageous for environmental and spatial design.

• Prototyping Tools: Depending on the nature of the work, tools like Figma, Adobe XD, or InVision might be used for digital mockups or interactive prototypes.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Internal Analytics Tools: While not specified, the agency likely uses various analytics platforms to track campaign performance, shopper behavior, and ROI. The Design Director will need to understand how to interpret these reports to inform design decisions.

• Client-Specific Platforms: Exposure to client-specific CRM, e-commerce analytics, or retail analytics platforms may be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Tools like Asana, Monday.com, Jira, or similar platforms are standard for managing creative projects, workflows, and team assignments.

• Collaboration Platforms: Microsoft Teams, Slack, Google Workspace for communication and document sharing.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the primary tools are design-centric, understanding the underlying analytics and project management systems is key for operations professionals. The ability to interpret data to guide design and to manage creative workflows efficiently are critical operational skills that translate well to this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Do Great Work: A commitment to excellence, pushing creative boundaries, and delivering impactful, high-quality results for clients. This translates to a focus on meticulous execution and strategic thinking in all design endeavors.

• Be One: Emphasizes collaboration, teamwork, and a unified approach across departments. This means fostering a culture where designers work seamlessly with strategy, account, and production teams.

• Grow: A dedication to continuous learning, professional development, and staying ahead of industry trends. This supports an environment where employees are encouraged to expand their skill sets and knowledge base.

• Have Fun: Cultivating an enjoyable and positive work environment that fosters creativity and camaraderie.

• Give Back: A commitment to social responsibility and community engagement, reflecting a broader purpose beyond client work.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated & Cross-Functional: The agency promotes a highly collaborative environment where different disciplines work together from the outset of a project. This ensures that creative ideas are grounded in strategy and production feasibility.

• Feedback-Driven: An open culture where constructive feedback is encouraged and valued, enabling iterative improvements and ensuring the best possible outcomes.

• Proactive & Partnership-Oriented: Encourages team members to be proactive in identifying opportunities, solving problems, and acting as true partners to clients and internal teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Do Great Work" and "Be One" indicates a performance-driven yet collaborative culture. For operations professionals, understanding how to support these values through efficient processes, clear communication channels, and a focus on measurable outcomes is essential for success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Objectives: The primary challenge is ensuring that innovative and engaging design solutions directly meet client business goals, such as driving sales and enhancing brand perception.

• Managing Diverse Client Needs: Working with multiple clients across different industries requires adaptability, understanding varied brand guidelines, and catering to diverse strategic objectives.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: The rapid evolution of retail, technology, and consumer behavior demands continuous learning and adaptation to maintain relevance and deliver cutting-edge experiences.

• Hybrid Team Management: Effectively leading and inspiring a design team that operates in a hybrid model, ensuring consistent quality, collaboration, and team cohesion across remote and in-office settings.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Conferences & Workshops: Access to leading industry events focused on retail, experiential design, shopper marketing, and emerging technologies.

• Internal Training & Mentorship: Opportunities for skill development through internal workshops, cross-departmental learning, and mentorship from senior creative leaders.

• Exposure to Diverse Clients & Projects: Working on a variety of challenging projects for high-profile clients provides extensive practical learning and broadens expertise.

• Leadership Development Programs: Potential for participation in leadership training programs to hone management and strategic decision-making skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant growth potential, but also requires navigating complex challenges. Understanding these challenges helps candidates prepare for the realities of the position and demonstrate their problem-solving capabilities. For operations roles, framing these challenges in terms of process optimization, stakeholder management, and strategic alignment is key.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for translating shopper insights into a comprehensive design strategy for a retail environment."

• "How do you ensure that design decisions are optimized for conversion and engagement in a commerce context?"

• "Walk us through a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with challenging client feedback or budget constraints. What was your approach and the outcome?"

• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous learning within a design team, especially in a hybrid work environment?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Momentum Worldwide and our focus on 'Total Brand Experience'?"

• "How do you see your design philosophy aligning with our core values of 'Do Great Work,' 'Be One,' and 'Grow'?"

• "Describe your experience working in a collaborative, cross-functional agency environment."

• "How do you approach building and mentoring a diverse design team?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the client, the challenge, your role, your strategic approach, the solution, and the results. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) as a guide.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize the business outcomes and client success metrics achieved through your design work. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Showcase Your Process: Illustrate your problem-solving skills by detailing your thought process, research, ideation, and iteration phases.

• Highlight Leadership: If applicable, point out instances where you led a team, managed a project, or influenced strategic decisions.

• Be Concise and Engaging: Aim for clarity and brevity, making your presentation dynamic and easy to follow. Prepare for Q&A.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a results-oriented mindset. For candidates with operations backgrounds, translating their experience in process optimization, data analysis, and project management into the language of creative leadership and business impact will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director, Commerce position:

• Submit your application directly through the Momentum Worldwide careers portal via the provided link: https://www.momentumww.com/opportunities/?gh_jid=8602111002.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Carefully select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in shopper marketing, experiential commerce, and retail design. Ensure each project clearly articulates the problem, your solution, your process, and the measurable impact (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics).

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your leadership experience, years of relevant design expertise, and specific skills in areas like design strategy, shopper behavior translation, and cross-functional collaboration. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio. Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, leadership approach, and how you drive business results through design. Anticipate questions about your process and problem-solving abilities.

• Research Momentum: Familiarize yourself with Momentum Worldwide's work, client roster, and company values. Understand their approach to "Total Brand Experience" and how your skills align with their mission.

⚠️ 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.