Design Director at Landor

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director

Company: Landor

Location: Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design, Creative Leadership

Date Posted: 2025-06-15T16:00:12

Experience Level: 5-10 years (Director Level)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Provide exceptional creative leadership and strategic direction for design teams and complex branding projects.
Drive the development and execution of breakthrough design strategies and comprehensive brand systems.
Foster a culture of creative excellence, providing constructive critique and mentorship to nurture junior design talent.
Collaborate effectively with internal cross-functional teams and external clients to deliver transformative brand design solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the "Design Director" title at a world-leading brand consultancy like Landor, this role is clearly focused on high-level creative strategy, team leadership, and client management within the brand design domain. The emphasis on "transformative, creative work" and "breakthrough design strategies" indicates a need for significant experience in shaping brand identities and experiences at scale. The experience level is inferred as Director-level (typically 5-10+ years) based on the responsibilities outlined.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Lead and manage multidisciplinary design teams, guiding their creative process from concept to final delivery on complex branding initiatives.
Work closely with Creative Directors to define and articulate the future creative vision and design standards for the studio and client projects.
Evaluate, refine, and push conceptual design options, ensuring they align with strategic objectives and represent 'big ideas' grounded in design strategy and creative briefs.
Champion and cultivate innovative creative thinking within the team, coaching and developing the skills of designers at various levels.
Develop and implement competitive and effective design strategies and project plans that address client challenges and market opportunities.
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and clients, ensuring projects meet creative standards, strategic goals, and client satisfaction.
Oversee the complete delivery lifecycle of design projects, demonstrating a clear ability for impactful project management and creative oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight the dual nature of a Design Director role at a top branding agency: strategic leadership and hands-on creative guidance. The emphasis on coaching, nurturing junior talent, and defining future creative vision points towards a significant people management and mentorship component, which is critical at this level. The need to evaluate and push design options implies a strong foundation in design critique and strategic thinking.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design, Communication Design, Branding, or a related creative field is typically expected for a Design Director role at this level in a leading agency. Equivalent professional experience with a strong portfolio demonstrating strategic design thinking and leadership may also be considered.

Experience: Previous significant experience (likely 7+ years, with several years in a leadership capacity) in a similar Design Director or Senior Design Lead role within a reputable branding or design agency is required. Must demonstrate a proven track record of leading cross-discipline teams and successfully delivering complex, high-impact branding projects. A strong portfolio showcasing strategic design thinking, creative leadership, and successful project outcomes is essential.

Required Skills:

Demonstrated expertise in Creative Leadership and guiding design teams through the entire creative process.
Exceptional proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Adobe Acrobat) for high-level design execution and oversight.
Deep understanding and application of current creative and design trends across various industries and platforms.
Proven ability in developing and articulating compelling Design Strategy that connects business objectives with creative solutions.
Strong capability in providing constructive and actionable design critique to develop and refine creative concepts.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills for effective Client Interaction and building strong internal and external relationships.
Solid experience in end-to-end Project Delivery and the ability to manage the creative aspects of multiple projects simultaneously.
A solutions-driven outlook, demonstrating resilience and adaptability in navigating creative challenges.

Preferred Skills:

Experience with motion design principles and software (e.g., After Effects) given Landor Group's includes ManvsMachine.
Familiarity with digital design tools and workflows (e.g., Sketch, Figma) for integrated brand experiences.
Experience in sonic branding or architectural design integration into brand experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: Education and specific years of experience are inferred based on the seniority of a Design Director role at a global agency like Landor. While not explicitly listed, a degree in a design-related field is standard, and significant agency experience leading teams is a clear requirement. The preferred skills are added based on Landor Group's broader capabilities (sonic branding, architectural design, motion) to provide a more complete picture of potential cross-disciplinary collaboration.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Your portfolio must clearly demonstrate your ability to provide strategic and creative leadership on significant branding projects.
Include detailed case studies that showcase your design process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work on business outcomes.
Present a range of projects that highlight your expertise across different brand touchpoints (visual identity, packaging, digital, environment, etc.).
Showcase examples of your team's work under your direction, illustrating your ability to guide and elevate creative output.

Process Documentation:

Document your involvement in the research and discovery phase, demonstrating how insights informed your design strategy.
Illustrate your ideation and iteration methods, showing the evolution of concepts under your guidance.
Explain your approach to validation and testing, highlighting how feedback and data influenced design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role at a strategic branding agency, the portfolio needs to go beyond showcasing beautiful visuals. It must demonstrate strategic leadership, process, and impact. Case studies are crucial for explaining the 'why' behind the design decisions and the business results achieved. Highlighting team leadership and the ability to guide others is also vital at this level.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The base salary for this position is listed as $75,000 to $180,000 USD per year. This wide range reflects potential variations based on the candidate's specific experience level, qualifications, and potentially the complexity of the portfolio and interview performance. Director-level roles at top-tier branding agencies in a city like Cincinnati typically fall within this spectrum, influenced by the agency's size, reputation, and the candidate's proven ability to drive significant creative and business impact.

Benefits:

Comprehensive benefits package as offered by WPP (Landor's parent company), which typically includes health, dental, and vision insurance.
Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k) with potential company contributions.
Paid time off, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
Potential for professional development opportunities, training, and access to WPP-wide resources.
Wellness programs and employee assistance initiatives.

Working Hours: Standard full-time working hours (approximately 40 hours per week), with the understanding that a Director-level role in a creative agency may require flexibility to meet project deadlines and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided in the original job description. The benefits listed are standard for a large company like WPP, based on general knowledge of corporate benefits packages. Specific details would need to be confirmed directly with the employer. Working hours are assumed based on a full-time, salaried position in a professional services environment.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising / Design Services - Landor is a world-leading brand consulting firm specializing in identity, strategy, and experience. The industry context emphasizes the strategic importance of design in driving business value and competitive advantage.

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees (based on LinkedIn data). This size indicates a well-established global organization with significant resources, structured teams, and opportunities for large-scale project involvement.

Founded: Not explicitly stated in the provided data, but Landor has a long history as a pioneer in brand consulting, founded by Walter Landor in 1941.

Team Structure:

As a Design Director, you will lead cross-discipline design teams, likely composed of visual designers, strategists, writers, and other creative professionals.
You will report to a Creative Director and work closely with other Design Directors and senior leadership.
Collaboration is highly cross-functional, involving strategy, client management, and implementation teams.

Methodology:

Landor employs a strategic, research-driven approach to branding, starting with deep understanding of business challenges and market dynamics.
The design process involves rigorous ideation, iteration, and refinement, grounded in strategic insights.
Emphasis is placed on creating holistic brand experiences that span multiple touchpoints, requiring integrated design thinking.

Company Website: https://landor.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company size, industry, and a general understanding of Landor's history and reputation as a leading branding agency are used to infer context about the company and design culture. The team structure and methodology are typical for a strategic branding consultancy of this size and caliber, emphasizing cross-functional collaboration and a structured, insights-driven creative process.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, positioned above Senior Designers and potentially managing Design Managers or Leads. It involves significant responsibility for creative output, team development, and client relationships. It is a key step in a design career path towards Creative Director or other executive creative roles.

Reporting Structure: The role reports to a Creative Director, indicating a clear path for creative oversight and strategic alignment within the studio and the broader organization.

Design Impact: Design Directors at Landor have a direct and significant impact on the final brand identities and experiences delivered to major clients. Their influence extends to shaping creative strategy, elevating design quality, and mentoring the next generation of design talent.

Growth Opportunities:

Potential for advancement to Creative Director or other senior leadership positions within Landor or the broader WPP network.
Opportunities to specialize in specific areas of branding or design (e.g., digital brand experience, packaging, corporate identity).
Continuous skill development through exposure to diverse projects, clients, and internal training programs.
Mentorship opportunities, both as a mentor to junior staff and potentially being mentored by senior creative leaders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis is based on the typical progression within a creative agency structure. A Design Director is a senior role with clear leadership responsibilities, positioning it as a stepping stone to higher creative leadership positions. The growth opportunities are inferred based on the structure of a large global agency and the nature of the role.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site in the Cincinnati studio. As a branding agency, the studio environment is likely designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and client interaction.

Office Location(s): Cincinnati, Ohio. Specific address would be provided later in the process or is available on the company website.

Design Workspace Context:

The on-site requirement suggests a collaborative studio environment where face-to-face interaction is valued for brainstorming, critique, and team synergy.
Likely equipped with necessary design tools, meeting rooms for client presentations and internal reviews, and spaces conducive to creative work.
Provides direct access to team members and other departments, facilitating seamless cross-functional collaboration.

Work Schedule: Full-time, likely standard office hours, but with potential for flexibility based on project needs and deadlines inherent in agency work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment details are based on the provided "On-site" status and the typical setup of a creative agency studio. Emphasis is placed on how the physical environment supports creative collaboration and workflow.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial screening call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit.
Interview(s) with Creative Directors and potentially other Design Directors or senior team members to discuss your portfolio, creative leadership experience, and strategic thinking.
A potential design challenge or case study presentation where you walk through your process and strategic approach on a specific project or prompt.
Interviews focused on cultural fit, team management style, and collaboration skills with peers and direct reports.
Final interview with senior leadership (e.g., Managing Director, Executive Creative Director).

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on showcasing projects where you played a significant leadership role in defining the creative strategy and guiding the team.
Structure your case studies to clearly articulate the client's business problem, the strategic rationale behind your design solution, your process, and the measurable impact of the work.
Highlight your ability to work across different media and touchpoints, demonstrating a holistic approach to brand building.
Be prepared to discuss your team management style, how you provide feedback, and how you foster creative growth in others.
Tailor your portfolio presentation to Landor's expertise in strategic branding, emphasizing projects that demonstrate strong strategic thinking and business results.

Challenge Preparation:

If given a design challenge, clarify the objectives and expected deliverables upfront.
Structure your response to demonstrate your strategic thinking, design process, and ability to arrive at a compelling solution.
Be prepared to articulate your design decisions and rationale clearly, as if presenting to a client or internal stakeholders.
Manage your time effectively during the challenge, focusing on the most impactful aspects of the solution.

ATS Keywords: Creative Leadership, Design Strategy, Branding, Brand Identity, Visual Identity, Packaging Design, Digital Branding, Brand Experience, Team Management, Creative Direction, Design Process, Design Thinking, Strategic Thinking, Client Management, Agency Experience, Project Management, Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Design Trends, Constructive Critique, Portfolio, Case Studies, Cross-functional Collaboration, Mentorship, Innovation, Problem Solving, Brand Systems, Design Systems, WPP, Landor.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application and interview process is based on typical practices for senior design roles at reputable agencies. Emphasis is placed on portfolio review, strategic thinking assessment, and evaluating leadership and collaboration skills. The ATS keywords are a comprehensive list derived from the job description and common terms used for senior design roles in the branding industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency is required across Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and Adobe Acrobat for core design work, production, and file management.
While not explicitly listed, familiarity with presentation software (e.g., Keynote, PowerPoint, Google Slides) is necessary for client and internal presentations.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Tools for project management and collaboration (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) are likely used for team coordination and workflow tracking.
Communication platforms (e.g., Slack, Microsoft Teams) for internal team communication and file sharing.

Research & Testing:

While specific tools aren't mentioned, Design Directors would be involved in leveraging insights from market research, consumer insights, and potentially usability testing to inform design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required tools are taken directly from the job description (Adobe Creative Suite). Other tools for collaboration and project management are inferred as standard in agency environments. Specific research and testing tools are not mentioned, but the role's strategic nature implies engagement with the insights gathering process.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Creativity and Innovation: Landor's positioning as "World-leading brand specialists" and the emphasis on "breakthrough design strategies" suggest a strong value placed on pushing creative boundaries and innovative thinking in branding.
Strategic Rigor: The connection of "business strategy to brand" indicates a culture where design is seen as a strategic tool, requiring designers to think beyond aesthetics and connect their work to business objectives.
Collaboration: The need to "Partner and interact with internal teams and clients" highlights a collaborative culture where teamwork and effective communication are essential for successful project delivery.
Nurturing Talent: The responsibility to "Promote and develop creative thinking, coaching and nurturing junior team members" points to a value placed on mentorship and the growth of design talent within the organization.

Collaboration Style:

Given the agency structure and the need for cross-functional teams, collaboration is likely highly interactive and requires strong communication skills.
Design critiques are likely a regular part of the process to provide feedback and push creative concepts.
Collaboration extends to working closely with client teams, requiring strong presentation and relationship-building skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: Design values and collaboration style are inferred from the company's stated mission ("Connecting business strategy to brand," "Building brands, designed to transform") and the responsibilities outlined in the job description (creative leadership, coaching, partnership). These points highlight the key cultural aspects relevant to a creative professional in this role.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Balancing creative vision with client constraints and business objectives on complex, high-stakes branding projects.
Managing and motivating diverse design teams while fostering individual growth and ensuring high-quality output.
Staying ahead of evolving design trends and technologies in a fast-paced industry.
Navigating complex client relationships and managing expectations throughout the design process.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunity to work on a wide range of challenging and impactful branding projects for major clients.
Exposure to diverse industries and business models, expanding your strategic understanding.
Development of leadership and team management skills through hands-on experience and mentorship.
Potential access to WPP's extensive network and resources for professional growth and learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are derived from the nature of a senior leadership role in a demanding agency environment. Leading teams, managing clients, and navigating complex projects are inherent challenges, while the opportunity to work on significant brands and develop leadership skills represents key growth areas.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your typical design process when leading a complex branding project, from initial brief to final implementation. Highlight your strategic thinking at each stage.
Describe how you approach providing and receiving design critique within a team setting. Provide examples of how your feedback has helped elevate creative work.
Explain how you ensure design solutions are aligned with business strategy and measurable objectives. Be prepared to discuss the impact of your work on client outcomes.

Company Culture Questions:

Research Landor's recent work and be prepared to discuss projects you admire and why. This shows your understanding of their creative standards and approach.
Ask questions about the team structure, collaboration style, and how creative decisions are made within the Cincinnati studio.
Be ready to discuss your leadership philosophy and how you motivate and develop design talent.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select 3-5 of your strongest case studies that best demonstrate your strategic leadership and ability to deliver impactful branding solutions.
For each case study, clearly articulate the problem, your strategic approach, your role in leading the team, the design process, and the results or impact of the work.
Practice presenting your portfolio concisely and engagingly, focusing on the narrative and the strategic thinking behind the design decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a Design Director role at a strategic branding agency. The focus is on demonstrating strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, process, and cultural fit. Portfolio presentation tips emphasize showcasing the 'why' and the impact of the work, beyond just the visual outcomes.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link.
Ensure your design portfolio is up-to-date, well-organized, and prominently features case studies that highlight your strategic thinking, creative leadership, and the impact of your work on business outcomes. Tailor the selection of projects to align with Landor's expertise in branding.
Optimize your resume to include relevant keywords from the job description and clearly articulate your experience in creative leadership, team management, strategic design, and project delivery. Highlight your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant design tools.
Prepare for interviews by practicing discussing your design process, leadership style, and how you approach solving complex branding challenges. Review your portfolio case studies thoroughly to be ready to articulate your rationale and the results of your work.
Research Landor's recent projects, clients, and company values to demonstrate your understanding of their work and culture during the interview process.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Design Director