Group Design Director, Brand Experience

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Group Design Director, Brand Experience

Company: Publicis Groupe Holdings B.V (Team One)

Location: Los Angeles, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Experience Design / Creative Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-22

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days/week in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic design and execution of holistic brand experiences, integrating digital, social, content, physical, and emerging technology touchpoints.

• Drive a modern, premium point of view on luxury design, translating brand strategy into cohesive and aspirational design systems across all expressions.

• Orchestrate multidisciplinary design teams to create connected brand worlds that feel distinctive, desirable, and unmistakably premium.

• Focus on developing physical environments, events, and activations that not only engage firsthand audiences but also serve as catalysts for content, conversation, and social expression.

• Champion design excellence, innovation, and a sophisticated understanding of contemporary luxury codes for high-value brands.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a creative agency (Team One, part of Publicis Groupe) focused on premium and luxury brands. The emphasis is on "brand experience" as a holistic concept, moving beyond traditional channel-specific design to an integrated ecosystem approach. The "architects of aspiration" tagline and focus on modern affluents and next-gen consumers indicate a need for design that is culturally fluent and forward-thinking.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Establish and guide the overarching design vision for how client brands are experienced across all channels, ensuring a cohesive and aspirational narrative.

• Translate complex brand strategies and creative platforms into unified design systems that maintain brand distinction across diverse touchpoints, from social assets to physical installations.

• Lead the design direction for integrated brand experiences, with a significant focus on physical environments, activations, retail spaces, hospitality, dealerships, events, and cultural experiences.

• Conceptualize and guide the creation of physical experiences designed to generate participation, content, and social expression that extends far beyond the immediate physical footprint.

• Develop and evolve visual and experiential systems that are adaptable across both physical and digital realms without compromising brand identity or craft.

• Guide the application of typography, photography, motion graphics, environmental graphics, spatial design, digital interfaces, and content creation to build connected brand worlds.

• Partner closely with creative leadership, strategists, social and content teams, producers, and technologists to bring ambitious brand ideas to life as distinctive, connected experiences.

• Maintain a strong understanding of emerging technologies (AI, spatial computing, interactive environments) and their potential to shape brand interactions and expressions, collaborating with innovation specialists.

• Present and defend ambitious design recommendations to senior clients and internal leadership, fostering alignment and buy-in for innovative experience strategies.

• Mentor and inspire multidisciplinary design talent, raising the creative ambition and design thinking capabilities across the agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a strong emphasis on experiential design and its integration with digital and social channels. The expectation is for the candidate to think about how physical spaces and events can become content engines and social drivers, a key differentiator in modern brand building for premium clients.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Design, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Architecture, Brand Experience Design, or a related creative field is typically expected for this level.

Experience: 12+ years of experience in design, brand experience, creative direction, or a closely related discipline, with a proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams.

Required Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to build and steward premium brand experiences across multiple forms of expression, with a portfolio showcasing integrated campaigns rather than single-channel excellence.

• Sophisticated understanding of modern luxury and premium design principles, with the ability to create desire, distinction, and long-term brand value through design.

• Strong brand and visual design fundamentals, including identity, typography, composition, photography, motion graphics, and visual systems.

• Meaningful experience designing for physical places, spaces, environments, or experiential programs, and an understanding of how these connect to broader brand and cultural ecosystems.

• Ability to conceptualize physical experiences that generate content, participation, and social expression.

• Capacity to think simultaneously at the level of brand system, customer journey, environment, content, and individual touchpoint.

• Working knowledge of experiential production and feasibility, with the ability to collaborate effectively with producers, fabricators, architects, technologists, and specialist partners.

• Strong curiosity and fluency with emerging technologies and their potential role in brand experience.

• Exceptional conceptual thinking, presentation, and client-facing skills.

• Demonstrated ability to mentor senior and emerging creative talent and elevate the quality of work around them. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in automotive, hospitality, retail, entertainment, or other premium experience-led categories.

• Familiarity with AI, real-time technology, spatial computing, and interactive environments from a creative application perspective.

• Understanding of how to connect real-world (IRL) experiences with content and social media strategy from the outset.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of "10+" years is further refined to "12+" years in the "What You Bring" section, indicating a senior-level role. The emphasis on a portfolio demonstrating integrated experiences over single-channel expertise is crucial for candidates to highlight.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 12 years of progressive experience in design leadership and brand experience development.

• Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize and execute premium brand experiences across a diverse range of touchpoints, including digital, social, content, and critically, physical environments and activations.

• Provide case studies that clearly articulate the strategy, design process, and measurable impact of integrated brand experiences, particularly those involving physical spaces or events.

• Highlight experience in developing and implementing cohesive design systems that ensure brand consistency and aspiration across all expressions.

• Include examples that illustrate a sophisticated understanding of modern luxury codes and how design creates desire and long-term brand value.

• Feature projects that demonstrate an ability to connect physical experiences with content generation, social engagement, and cultural resonance.

• Present work that reflects a multidisciplinary approach, encompassing visual design, spatial design, customer journey mapping, and an understanding of emerging technologies. Process Documentation:

• Articulate the methodology used for translating brand strategy into tangible design systems and experiential concepts.

• Detail the process for leading multidisciplinary teams, fostering collaboration between designers, strategists, technologists, and producers.

• Explain how you ensure design excellence and craft are maintained across all touchpoints, from initial concept to final execution.

• Describe your approach to integrating physical experiences with content and social amplification strategies from the initial design phase.

• Illustrate how you incorporate an understanding of emerging technologies and feasibility constraints into the design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is critical for this role, requiring evidence of integrated brand experience design, not just isolated visual design work. Emphasis should be placed on projects that demonstrate a holistic approach to brand building across physical and digital realms, with a clear articulation of process and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: USD $212,464.00 - USD $324,016.00 Annually.

Benefits:

• Medical coverage

• Dental coverage

• Vision coverage

• 401(k) with company matching

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Generous paid parental leave

• Tuition reimbursement

• Family forming assistance reimbursement

• Pet adoption assistance and "pawternity" leave

• Professional development trainings

• Business Resource Groups (BRGs) for various communities

• Annual Day of Good and volunteer opportunities

• Regular structured performance reviews

Working Hours: The role operates on a standard 40-hour work week, with a hybrid schedule requiring 3 days per week in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is competitive for a senior leadership role in a major metropolitan area like Los Angeles within the advertising/marketing industry. The benefits package is comprehensive and includes unique perks like pet adoption assistance and family forming support, reflecting a modern employer's approach to employee well-being.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising & Marketing Services / Communications. Team One operates as an integrated media, digital, and communications agency within the Publicis Groupe network.

Company Size: Team One is described as having 400+ creators, doers, and difference-makers across six North American offices, placing it in the mid-to-large agency category. Publicis Groupe is a global leader in marketing and communications.

Founded: Team One was founded in 1997.

Team Structure:

• The Group Design Director will likely lead and mentor a team of multidisciplinary designers, art directors, and potentially brand experience specialists.

• This role involves close collaboration with Creative Directors, Strategists, Social Media teams, Content Creators, Producers, and Technologists.

• Reporting structure likely involves reporting to a Chief Creative Officer or similar senior creative leadership, with direct reports being design talent.

• Cross-functional collaboration is paramount, as the role bridges creative vision with execution across various departments and client teams. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights and cultural fluency are key to Team One's approach, as they aim to help premium brands thrive by reaching modern affluents and next-gen consumers.

• Design thinking is applied holistically to brand experiences, integrating strategy with creative execution.

• Emphasis on creating "aspiration" and building "brand worlds" through culturally relevant and innovative strategies.

• Agility and speed are valued to keep pace with the "speed of culture."

Company Website: https://www.teamone.la/ and https://www.publicisgroupe.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Team One's positioning as "architects of aspiration" for premium brands implies a culture that values creativity, strategic thinking, and a deep understanding of consumer desires and cultural trends. The integration within Publicis Groupe provides access to a vast global network and resources.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role within the creative function, specifically focused on Brand Experience Design. It requires a high degree of strategic thinking, leadership, and creative vision. The role is positioned to influence brand strategy and execution at a high level for premium clients.

Reporting Structure: The Group Design Director will report to senior creative leadership (e.g., CCO) and will be responsible for leading and mentoring a team of design professionals. They will work collaboratively with other department heads and client teams.

Operations Impact: The Group Design Director's impact is directly tied to elevating the perception, desirability, and effectiveness of client brands through exceptional, connected experiences. This includes driving brand equity, customer engagement, and ultimately, business results for premium and luxury clients. Their work will shape how target audiences interact with and perceive the brands they manage.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to move into more senior executive creative roles (e.g., ECD, CCO), overseeing larger creative departments or entire agency brands.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific areas of brand experience, such as sustainable design, immersive technologies, or retail environment design, potentially leading dedicated practice areas.

• Strategic Influence: Play a more significant role in agency-wide strategic development and new business pitches, shaping the agency's creative offerings and positioning.

• Mentorship & Education: Develop into a recognized thought leader in brand experience design, contributing to industry publications, speaking at conferences, and mentoring emerging talent within Publicis Groupe.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for this role is clearly towards higher levels of creative leadership and strategic influence within the agency network, with opportunities for both breadth and depth in specialization.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Los Angeles, CA, and operates on a hybrid model, requiring 3 days per week in the office. This suggests a collaborative, in-person work environment for key team interactions, brainstorming, and client meetings, balanced with remote flexibility.

Office Location(s): 13031 West Jefferson Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90094. This location provides access to the vibrant creative ecosystem of Southern California.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and agency setting imply a dynamic workspace designed for collaboration, ideation, and cross-functional team interaction. Expect open plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated project spaces.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware, and potentially emerging technology labs or resources within Publicis Groupe.

• Team Interaction: Ample opportunities to interact with diverse creative professionals, strategists, account managers, and production specialists, fostering a rich learning and networking environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, with flexibility offered through the hybrid model. However, the nature of agency work, particularly on high-profile premium brands, may require occasional extended hours to meet client deadlines and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work model (3 days in office) is typical for creative agencies seeking to balance in-person collaboration with employee flexibility. The Los Angeles office location positions the role within a major hub for creative industries.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or recruiter call to assess basic qualifications, cultural fit, and salary expectations.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will present their portfolio to a panel of senior creative leaders and potentially key stakeholders. This is a critical stage to demonstrate conceptual thinking, multidisciplinary experience, and leadership capabilities.

• Creative/Leadership Interview: In-depth discussion with Creative Directors and potentially C-level executives focusing on strategic approach, problem-solving skills, team management philosophy, and vision for brand experience.

• Client Simulation/Case Study: May involve a hypothetical client challenge or a deep dive into a past project's strategic rationale and execution, assessing real-time problem-solving and client-facing communication.

• Final Round: Interviews with top leadership to confirm strategic alignment, cultural fit, and overall suitability for the role.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase integrated brand experiences, premium/luxury work, and physical/experiential design.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's challenge, your strategic approach, your role, the design process, and the measurable impact or outcomes.

• Highlight Integration: Emphasize how different elements (digital, social, physical, content) worked together cohesively.

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you led teams, mentored talent, and influenced strategic direction.

• Demonstrate Premium Sensibility: Ensure your presentation reflects a sophisticated understanding of luxury and aspiration through aesthetic choice, language, and case study content.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your process, decision-making, handling of feedback, and vision for the future of brand experience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand "Brand Experience": Be ready to discuss your definition and approach to holistic brand experiences, beyond traditional advertising.

• Luxury/Premium Mindset: Prepare to discuss how you imbue brands with aspiration, distinction, and desirability, especially without resorting to cliché luxury codes.

• Physical + Digital Integration: Practice articulating how physical spaces and events can drive digital content and social engagement, and vice-versa.

• Emerging Tech: Be ready to discuss your perspective on how new technologies can enhance brand experiences.

• Leadership Scenarios: Prepare examples of how you've led teams through challenging creative processes, managed client expectations, and fostered talent development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is paramount. Candidates should prepare a presentation that clearly articulates their strategic thinking, leadership, and ability to design holistic, premium brand experiences across multiple disciplines.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign), Figma, Sketch, potentially 3D rendering software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender) for environmental visualization.

• Prototyping Tools: Figma, Adobe XD, InVision for digital interface and interaction design.

• Presentation Software: PowerPoint, Keynote, Google Slides for client presentations and internal strategy decks.

• Project Management: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Monday.com, Trello, or similar for managing creative projects and workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct analytics role, an understanding of how design impacts key metrics (engagement, conversion, brand perception) is essential. Familiarity with analytics platforms like Google Analytics, social media analytics, and potentially tools used for measuring experiential ROI would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to a design leadership role, but an understanding of how CRM systems and marketing automation platforms influence customer journeys and touchpoints could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on design and creative leadership tools. While direct analytics or CRM tool proficiency isn't the primary focus, understanding how design integrates with and influences these areas is key.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaborative: Team One emphasizes working together to achieve better results than individuals could alone. This means active participation in cross-functional teams and a willingness to share ideas and feedback.

• Optimistic: A forward-thinking, confident approach, believing in the possibility of achieving ambitious goals and overcoming challenges.

• Results-driven: Creativity is always in service of tangible business outcomes and client success, not just for its own sake. Operations professionals are expected to demonstrate ROI.

• Entrepreneurial: A proactive mindset, encouraging the development of new ideas, initiatives, and approaches to problem-solving, aiming for significant impact ("Shoot for the moon").

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teams: Expect to work in integrated teams with strategists, creatives, media specialists, and technologists, fostering a holistic approach to client solutions.

• Open Feedback Culture: The agency values constructive feedback and open dialogue to improve work and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouragement of sharing insights, best practices, and learnings across teams and disciplines.

• Innovation Focus: A culture that supports experimentation and the exploration of new ideas and technologies to drive creative excellence and client results.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "C.O.R.E." values (Collaborative, Optimistic, Results-driven, Entrepreneurial) are central to Team One's culture and should be reflected in how candidates present themselves and their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Aspiration with Feasibility: Translating highly aspirational premium brand experiences into practical, executable realities within client budgets and timelines.

• Defining Modern Luxury: Moving beyond conventional luxury codes to create design that resonates with contemporary affluents and next-gen consumers in culturally relevant ways.

• Integrating Physical and Digital: Seamlessly connecting real-world experiences with digital and social touchpoints to create a truly unified brand narrative.

• Measuring Experiential Impact: Developing and demonstrating the ROI of physical environments and activations, proving their value beyond traditional metrics.

• Leading Diverse Talent: Effectively leading and inspiring multidisciplinary teams with varied expertise and creative approaches.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend leading design, branding, and experiential marketing conferences.

• Publicis Groupe Resources: Access to a vast network of training programs, workshops, and specialized knowledge within Publicis Groupe, including innovation labs and emerging technology showcases.

• Mentorship: Formal and informal mentorship opportunities with senior leaders within Team One and Publicis Groupe.

• Cross-Disciplinary Exposure: Working on diverse client portfolios and collaborating with experts across strategy, media, technology, and content provides continuous learning.

• Thought Leadership: Opportunities to contribute to agency thought leadership, speaking engagements, and industry publications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are inherent to high-level creative leadership in a dynamic agency environment. Growth opportunities are substantial, leveraging the resources of a global network like Publicis Groupe.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How do you define 'brand experience' for a premium brand in today's market, and how does it differ from traditional advertising?" (Prepare to articulate your holistic approach and discuss modern luxury codes.)

• "Describe a time you successfully integrated a physical activation or environment with digital and social media to create a cohesive brand narrative. What were the key challenges and your solutions?" (Focus on process, integration, and measurable outcomes.)

• "How do you ensure design excellence and maintain a consistent, aspirational brand vision across multiple channels and touchpoints, especially when working with diverse teams?" (Highlight your leadership style, process for quality control, and collaboration methods.)

• "What is your perspective on the role of emerging technologies (AI, AR/VR, spatial computing) in shaping future brand experiences for luxury clients?" (Demonstrate curiosity and a forward-thinking approach.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do you see your leadership style aligning with Team One's C.O.R.E. values (Collaborative, Optimistic, Results-driven, Entrepreneurial)?" (Prepare specific examples of how you embody these values.)

• "Based on your understanding of Team One and Publicis Groupe, how would you contribute to fostering an inclusive and innovative creative culture?" (Showcase your understanding of agency culture and your role in shaping it.)

• "How do you approach mentoring and developing creative talent, particularly senior designers and art directors?" (Discuss your philosophy and practical methods for nurturing talent.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Arc: Structure your presentation with a clear beginning (challenge), middle (process, solutions), and end (results, impact).

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals that showcase the aesthetic, craft, and strategic intent of your work. Minimize text on slides; speak to the visuals.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, include data, metrics, or qualitative feedback that demonstrates the success and business impact of your projects.

• Highlight Your Role: Clearly define your specific contributions, especially in leadership and strategic decision-making.

• Showcase Integration: Explicitly point out how different elements of the experience worked together.

• Address Premium Context: Explain why your solutions were appropriate for premium/luxury brands and how they generated desire or aspiration.

• Practice & Time: Rehearse your presentation to fit within the allotted time and ensure a confident, engaging delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership, a deep understanding of brand experience for premium clients, and cultural alignment with Team One's values. The portfolio presentation is the primary vehicle for showcasing these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Group Design Director, Brand Experience position:

• Submit your application through the Publicis Groupe careers portal at https://careers.publicisgroupe.com/jobs/175181.

• Tailor your Resume: Emphasize your 12+ years of experience, leadership roles, and specific achievements in brand experience design, particularly for premium/luxury brands and integrated/experiential projects. Use keywords from the job description (e.g., "brand experience," "creative direction," "multidisciplinary design," "luxury brand strategy," "spatial design," "experiential").

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most impactful projects that demonstrate your ability to design holistic, premium brand experiences across digital, social, content, and physical touchpoints. Prepare a concise, compelling narrative for each case study, focusing on strategy, process, leadership, and results.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio with a clear, engaging story that highlights your strategic thinking, multidisciplinary approach, and understanding of premium brand building. Be ready to discuss your design process, leadership philosophy, and vision for brand experience.

• Research Team One & Publicis Groupe: Familiarize yourself with their work, client roster (especially Lexus, Marriott, Ritz-Carlton), brand values (C.O.R.E.), and recent campaigns. Understand their positioning as "architects of aspiration."

⚠️ 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.