Head of Design (m/w/d)
📍 Job Overview
Job Title: Head of Design (m/w/d)
Company: Pammys™ (dieseo GmbH)
Location: Hamburg, Germany
Job Type: Festanstellung (Full-Time)
Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Management & Leadership
Date Posted: 2026-08-11
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: On-site
🚀 Role Summary
-
Lead the strategic visual evolution and cohesive brand identity development for Pammys™, a rapidly growing international footwear brand.
-
Manage and mentor a high-performing design team, fostering a culture of creative excellence, speed, and impactful output.
-
Develop sophisticated art direction, comprehensive design systems, and compelling visual concepts for global markets and diverse marketing channels.
-
Drive creative direction for large-scale brand campaigns, product launches, social media initiatives, paid social advertising, and all digital touchpoints.
-
Ensure unwavering consistency in visual language across all brand and marketing touchpoints, reinforcing brand recognition and impact.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a senior leadership opportunity within the creative department, directly influencing the brand's aesthetic and market perception. It requires a blend of strong creative vision, team management skills, and an understanding of data-driven marketing. The emphasis on "speed, pragmatism, and execution power" indicates a fast-paced, results-oriented environment common in high-growth DTC brands.
📈 Primary Responsibilities
-
Spearhead the continuous visual development and refinement of the Pammys™ Brand Identity in close collaboration with the Director of Creative.
-
Lead, mentor, and empower the design team, cultivating a high-performance environment focused on Creative Excellence, Velocity, and impactful output.
-
Architect and implement robust Art Direction guidelines, comprehensive Design Systems, and innovative Visual Concepts tailored for international markets.
-
Provide strategic Creative Direction for high-impact Brand Campaigns, pivotal Product Launches, engaging Social Media content, targeted Paid Social advertising, and all critical digital touchpoints.
-
Guarantee a unified and consistent visual language across all relevant Brand and Marketing channels, strengthening brand equity and customer recognition.
-
Professionally challenge and elevate designs from initial ideation through to final asset delivery, ensuring strategic alignment and creative integrity.
-
Foster seamless cross-functional collaboration with Social Media, Content Production, UX/UI, Performance Marketing, and Product Development teams to ensure cohesive brand execution.
-
Translate current Design, Fashion, Social Media, and Cultural Trends into a distinctive and ownable visual language for the Pammys™ brand.
-
Establish and optimize efficient design processes, meticulously managing Quality, Prioritization, and overall Creative Output to meet business objectives.
-
Leverage Creative and Performance Data insights to inform and continuously evolve visual concepts, ensuring marketing effectiveness and ROI.
📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic brand building and tactical execution. The requirement to translate trends into a unique visual language, combined with data-driven concept evolution, suggests a modern approach to brand design within a performance-oriented marketing context. The emphasis on process management points to the need for strong operational discipline within the creative function.
🎓 Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for this level of leadership. Equivalent practical experience will also be strongly considered.
Experience: Minimum of 5-10 years of progressive experience in Brand Design, Graphic Design, Art Direction, or Creative Design, with a significant portion spent in leadership roles.
Required Skills:
-
Extensive experience in Brand Design, Graphic Design, Art Direction, or Creative Design, preferably within the Fashion, Direct-to-Consumer (DTC), E-commerce, or dynamic Consumer Brands sectors.
-
Proven track record of leading and developing design teams, with a minimum of several years in a managerial or supervisory capacity.
-
Exceptional understanding and application of Typography, Layout, Composition, Image Language, Art Direction, and Visual Systems.
-
Demonstrated success in developing and evolving strong, impactful Brand Identities that resonate with target audiences.
-
Strong proficiency in understanding and executing Social Media, Paid Social, and Digital Design principles for maximum engagement and conversion.
-
Hands-on experience managing large-scale campaigns, successful product launches, and integrated, cross-channel Creative Concepts.
-
Advanced proficiency with design software, including Figma and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, with experience in modern Design and AI workflows.
-
Keen aesthetic sense for Fashion, Pop Culture, Social Media trends, and current Design movements.
-
Ability to interpret and derive actionable Creative Learnings from Performance Data to optimize visual strategies.
-
Articulate and confident in expressing a clear creative vision and providing sound professional justifications for design decisions.
-
High standard of quality combined with demonstrable Speed, Pragmatism, and robust Execution Power. Preferred Skills:
-
Experience with AI-powered design tools and workflows for enhanced efficiency and creativity.
-
Familiarity with UX/UI principles to ensure seamless user experiences across digital platforms.
-
Understanding of performance marketing metrics and how design impacts conversion rates.
-
Experience in international market adaptation of brand visuals.
📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize both deep creative expertise and strong leadership capabilities. The inclusion of "AI workflows" and "Performance Data" indicates a forward-thinking approach to design management, where technology and data analytics are integral to creative strategy. The preference for DTC/E-commerce/Fashion backgrounds is critical for understanding the Pammys™ market.
📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
-
A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a strong progression in Brand Identity development and Art Direction across multiple campaigns or brands.
-
Detailed case studies demonstrating the strategic thinking behind design decisions, including the problem, solution, and quantifiable impact.
-
Examples of Design Systems, style guides, or visual frameworks that have been implemented and maintained for brand consistency.
-
Evidence of leading design projects from concept to completion, highlighting team management and cross-functional collaboration.
-
Demonstrations of visual concepts applied across various channels, including digital, social media, paid media, and potentially print or OOH. Process Documentation:
-
Showcase of experience in establishing and documenting efficient design workflows, emphasizing speed, quality, and prioritization.
-
Examples of how you have managed design project pipelines, managed creative briefs, and facilitated feedback loops.
-
Evidence of using data (performance, user feedback) to refine and iterate on design processes and outcomes.
-
Documentation of how you have leveraged design tools and technologies (e.g., Figma, Adobe CC, AI tools) to streamline creative production.
📝 Enhancement Note: For a Head of Design role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just showcasing aesthetics to demonstrating strategic thinking, process management, leadership, and measurable impact. The emphasis on data integration and efficiency suggests a need for operations-mindedness within the creative leadership.
💵 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Head of Design roles in Hamburg, Germany, with 5-10 years of experience in a fast-growing DTC/fashion company, the estimated annual salary range is €70,000 - €95,000. This range considers the leadership responsibilities, company growth stage, and the competitive market for creative talent in Germany.
Benefits:
-
Attractive compensation package commensurate with experience and leadership.
-
Deutschlandticket subsidy, providing affordable public transportation across Germany.
-
Access to Corporate Benefits, offering discounts on various products and services.
-
Opportunity for significant creative impact and ownership in a rapidly scaling international brand.
-
Direct collaboration with senior leadership and cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment.
-
Professional development opportunities to lead and grow a design team.
Working Hours: Standard full-time hours, approximately 40 hours per week, with an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines and business needs, common in fast-paced growth environments.
📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on research of comparable roles in Hamburg, Germany, considering factors like company size, industry (DTC/Fashion), and the seniority of the position. The provided benefits are directly from the job description, with additional context added regarding the potential for creative impact and professional growth, which are key motivators for senior creative roles.
🎯 Team & Company Context
🏢 Company Culture
Industry: Footwear / Fashion / Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) / E-commerce. Pammys™ operates in a highly competitive and trend-driven market, requiring agility, innovation, and a strong brand narrative to capture consumer attention and loyalty.
Company Size: Over 150 employees. This indicates a company that has moved beyond startup phase and is established enough to have dedicated departments and infrastructure, yet still retains a growth-oriented, agile culture.
Founded: 4 years ago. This is a relatively young company, implying a dynamic, fast-paced environment with significant room for innovation and impact.
Team Structure:
-
The Design team is led by the Head of Design and reports to the Director of Creative. The Head of Design will manage a team of designers.
-
Close collaboration is expected with Social Media, Content Production, UX/UI, and Performance Marketing teams.
-
The overall organizational structure likely supports direct communication and quick decision-making, characteristic of a rapidly scaling DTC brand. Methodology:
-
Data-driven decision-making, utilizing Creative and Performance Data to inform visual strategy and concept development.
-
Emphasis on speed, pragmatism, and execution power in all creative endeavors.
-
Agile and iterative approach to design, with continuous refinement based on market trends and performance metrics.
-
Collaborative approach, fostering strong partnerships across departments to ensure brand consistency and effectiveness.
Company Website: dieseo.de (Note: The provided URL dieseo-gmbh.jobs.personio.de is for their careers page, dieseo.de is more likely the main company site for general information).
📝 Enhancement Note: The company context paints a picture of a high-energy, ambitious, and rapidly expanding DTC brand. The "Pammyversum" culture suggests an inclusive, innovative, and fast-paced environment. The focus on scaling to mid-nine-figure revenues underscores the significant growth trajectory and the importance of a strong brand presence.
📈 Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, Head of Design, signifying a significant step up from individual contributor or junior design positions. It involves strategic oversight, team management, and direct influence on brand direction.
Reporting Structure: The Head of Design reports to the Director of Creative, indicating a clear hierarchy within the creative department. This structure allows for strategic alignment and mentorship from a more senior creative leader.
Operations Impact: The role has a direct and profound impact on the Pammys™ brand's market perception, customer acquisition, and retention. By shaping the visual identity and creative output across all channels, the Head of Design directly influences brand strength, campaign effectiveness, and ultimately, revenue growth.
Growth Opportunities:
-
Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and scale a design team, hone management skills, and contribute to the overall creative leadership of the company.
-
Strategic Brand Influence: Play a pivotal role in defining and evolving the visual narrative of a rapidly growing international brand, with potential for broader creative responsibilities as the company scales.
-
Skill Expansion: Deepen expertise in areas like AI-driven design, performance-focused creative, and cross-cultural design adaptation through hands-on experience and collaboration.
-
Career Advancement: Potential to move into Director-level creative roles or broader marketing leadership positions as the company continues its aggressive growth trajectory.
📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential, not just within the design function but potentially into broader marketing or brand leadership. The emphasis on scaling and international expansion provides a fertile ground for developing strategic and leadership capabilities.
🌐 Work Environment
Office Type: The job is listed as "On-site," indicating a physical office presence is required in Hamburg. This suggests a collaborative, in-person work environment conducive to team interaction and creative brainstorming.
Office Location(s): The office is located at Großer Burstah 3, 20457 Hamburg, Germany. This is a central location in Hamburg, likely offering good accessibility via public transport.
Workspace Context:
-
A collaborative workspace designed to foster interaction between the design team, the Director of Creative, and other departments like Social Media, Content Production, and Performance Marketing.
-
Access to modern design tools and technology, including Figma, Adobe Creative Cloud, and potentially emerging AI workflows.
-
An environment that values creative input, open discussion, and rapid iteration on design concepts.
Work Schedule: While the standard work week is approximately 40 hours, the fast-paced nature of a growing DTC brand suggests a dynamic schedule where flexibility may be required to meet critical project deadlines and campaign launches.
📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement emphasizes the company's value for in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for creative teams to brainstorm effectively and maintain a strong team culture. The location in Hamburg is a plus for talent attraction.
📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
-
Initial Screening: A review of your application, CV, and portfolio to assess alignment with the role's core requirements and experience level.
-
Portfolio Presentation: An opportunity to present your portfolio, discussing key projects, your design process, leadership approach, and how you've driven brand impact and efficiency. Be prepared to articulate your strategic thinking behind your creative choices.
-
Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Director of Creative, potential design team members, and cross-functional leads (e.g., Head of Performance Marketing, Head of Social Media) to evaluate collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit.
-
Creative Challenge/Case Study: A potential practical exercise or case study, possibly involving a brief related to Pammys™ brand challenges, to assess problem-solving skills, creative ideation, and execution under pressure.
-
Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall vision, strategic alignment, and confirm cultural fit.
Portfolio Review Tips:
-
Curate Strategically: Select projects that best demonstrate your leadership, brand identity development, art direction, design system creation, and cross-channel campaign experience. Prioritize quality over quantity.
-
Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the challenges faced, your specific role and contributions, the solutions implemented, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., brand impact, engagement, conversion improvements).
-
Showcase Leadership: Include examples of how you've led teams, managed creative processes, and collaborated with stakeholders. Highlight your ability to mentor and develop designers.
-
Demonstrate Data Integration: If possible, showcase how you've used performance data or insights to inform design decisions or optimize creative output.
-
Tailor to Pammys™: Research Pammys™ thoroughly. Consider how your portfolio can demonstrate an understanding of their brand, target audience, and growth ambitions.
Challenge Preparation:
-
Understand the Brand: Deeply research Pammys™, their current visual identity, marketing campaigns, competitor landscape, and growth strategy.
-
Think Strategically: Be ready to discuss how design can drive business objectives, especially in a DTC/fashion context. Consider brand consistency, customer acquisition, and engagement.
-
Process & Efficiency: Prepare to discuss how you would structure design processes, manage workflows, prioritize tasks, and ensure quality and speed, particularly in a fast-paced environment.
-
Trend Awareness: Be ready to discuss current design, fashion, and cultural trends and how they can be relevantly applied to the Pammys™ brand.
📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical application of skills, strategic thinking, and collaborative ability. The portfolio review is critical, and candidates should focus on showcasing not just design talent but also leadership, process management, and business acumen.
🛠 Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
-
Figma: Essential for collaborative design, prototyping, and component-based design systems. Proficiency is expected for team workflows.
-
Adobe Creative Cloud: Mastery of Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is critical for asset creation, image manipulation, and final production artwork.
-
Design Systems Tools: Experience with building and maintaining design systems is highly valued for ensuring brand consistency at scale.
-
AI Design Workflows: Familiarity with AI tools that can assist in ideation, asset generation, or workflow automation is increasingly important.
Analytics & Reporting:
-
Performance Data Tools: Understanding how to interpret data from platforms like Google Analytics, social media analytics (Meta Business Suite, TikTok Analytics), and e-commerce platforms to inform design decisions.
-
A/B Testing Platforms: Experience with or understanding of A/B testing for creative assets to measure impact on conversion rates.
CRM & Automation:
- While not directly a CRM role, understanding how design integrates with customer journeys and marketing automation platforms can be beneficial.
📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack focuses on core creative production tools. The emphasis on Figma, Adobe CC, and AI workflows highlights the need for modern, efficient design practices. The mention of performance data underscores the role's integration with marketing analytics.
👥 Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
-
Creative Excellence: A commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering high-quality, impactful designs that elevate the brand.
-
Speed & Pragmatism: The ability to deliver quickly and efficiently without compromising quality, embracing practical solutions in a fast-paced environment.
-
Execution Power: A strong focus on bringing creative visions to life effectively and on time.
-
Data-Driven Creativity: Using insights from performance data and market trends to inform and refine creative strategies.
-
Collaboration: Fostering a strong, supportive, and communicative environment within the design team and across departments.
Collaboration Style:
-
Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with marketing, content, UX/UI, and product teams to ensure a unified brand experience.
-
Open Feedback Culture: Encouraging constructive feedback to continuously improve designs and processes.
-
Shared Ownership: Promoting a sense of collective responsibility for the brand's visual success.
-
Agile & Iterative: Embracing a flexible approach to design, adapting quickly to new information and market shifts.
📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at Pammys™ is characterized by a drive for growth, innovation, and efficient execution. The values emphasize both creative ambition and pragmatic delivery, a common duality in successful DTC brands.
⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
-
Maintaining Brand Consistency at Scale: As Pammys™ grows internationally, ensuring a consistent visual identity across diverse markets and touchpoints will be a significant challenge.
-
Balancing Speed with Quality: The demand for rapid output in a fast-paced DTC environment can create tension with maintaining high creative standards.
-
Translating Trends Effectively: Identifying relevant trends and translating them into a unique, ownable brand language without simply copying competitors.
-
Data-to-Design Integration: Effectively translating performance data into actionable creative improvements and articulating these insights to the team and stakeholders.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
-
Strategic Brand Building: Deepen expertise in developing and scaling a global consumer brand's visual identity.
-
Team Leadership: Gain extensive experience in managing, mentoring, and developing a creative team within a high-growth setting.
-
Cross-Functional Expertise: Develop a broader understanding of marketing, e-commerce, and product development through close collaboration.
-
Industry Exposure: Stay at the forefront of design, fashion, and digital marketing trends, potentially through industry events or professional development programs.
📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior creative leader in a rapidly scaling company. The growth opportunities are significant, offering a chance to shape a major brand and develop advanced leadership and strategic skills.
💡 Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
-
"How would you approach evolving the Pammys™ brand identity to support our international growth and scaling objectives?" (Focus on strategic thinking, process, and brand vision.)
-
"Describe your process for developing and implementing a design system. How do you ensure adoption and adherence across a team and multiple channels?" (Demonstrate process management, technical understanding, and collaboration.)
-
"How do you balance the need for creative innovation with the demand for rapid execution and data-driven optimization in a DTC environment?" (Address pragmatism, speed, data literacy, and strategic trade-offs.)
-
"Walk us through a time you led a design team through a challenging project or a period of significant change. What was your approach, and what were the outcomes?" (Showcase leadership, problem-solving, and team management.) Company & Culture Questions:
-
"What excites you most about Pammys™ as a brand, and what do you see as our biggest visual opportunities or challenges?" (Demonstrate research, brand understanding, and strategic insight.)
-
"How do you foster a culture of creative excellence and collaboration within a design team?" (Discuss team management, motivation, and feedback mechanisms.)
-
"How do you ensure that creative output directly contributes to business objectives like customer acquisition and brand engagement?" (Connect design to ROI and performance metrics.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
-
Structure is Key: Organize your presentation logically, typically by project or by theme (e.g., Brand Identity, Campaign Design, Team Leadership).
-
Focus on Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic solution, your role, and the tangible results achieved (e.g., increased engagement, improved conversion rates, stronger brand recall). Quantify where possible.
-
Showcase Process: Briefly explain your design process, including research, ideation, iteration, and collaboration, to demonstrate your methodology.
-
Highlight Leadership: When discussing team projects, clearly articulate your leadership contributions, how you guided the team, and how you facilitated their success.
-
Be Conversational: Engage with your interviewers, be open to questions, and adapt your presentation based on their interests and feedback.
📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, leadership capability, and an understanding of business objectives within the DTC/fashion context. The portfolio is the primary tool to validate these claims.
📌 Application Steps
To apply for this Head of Design position:
-
Submit your comprehensive application through the provided link on the Personio careers portal.
-
Tailor Your Resume: Optimize your resume to highlight leadership experience, years of experience in brand design/art direction, and specific achievements related to brand identity development, team management, and driving creative impact. Use keywords from the job description.
-
Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest projects that showcase strategic brand evolution, art direction, design systems, and leadership. Prepare detailed case studies with clear problem statements, your strategic solutions, and quantifiable results.
-
Prepare Your Presentation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your strategic thinking, design process, leadership approach, and the impact of your work. Be ready to discuss your understanding of the Pammys™ brand and market.
-
Research Pammys™: Thoroughly understand the company's mission, values, current brand, target audience, and growth ambitions. Prepare thoughtful questions about the role, the team, and the company's future.
⚠️ 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.
Application Requirements
The ideal candidate has extensive experience in brand design, art direction, and leading creative teams within fashion or e-commerce environments. You must possess a strong command of design tools like Figma and Adobe Creative Cloud, along with a deep understanding of current cultural and digital design trends.