Brand Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Brand Design Director

Company: Lola Blankets

Location: New York, NY, United States; Utah, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Brand & Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-03-20T16:21:05

Experience Level: 8-10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads the creative execution and visual expression of a fast-growing, design-driven brand specializing in faux-fur blankets.

• Oversees a multidisciplinary creative team, including graphic designers, Brand Producers, Creative Producers, and Video Creative Leads, ensuring cohesive and high-quality output.

• Translates brand strategy into clear creative direction, operational excellence, and elevated output across all brand channels and campaigns.

• Combines creative leadership with organizational strength to build systems, mentor talent, and scale creative output without compromising premium quality.

• Partners closely with Cofounder & Creative Director and Head of Brand Marketing to drive brand vision and market presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is titled "Brand Design Director," the responsibilities heavily lean into creative operations and team leadership within a design context. The emphasis on "operational excellence," "scalable design systems," "creative workflows," "production processes," and "scaling creative output" indicates a strong need for someone who can manage and optimize the operations of a creative department, not just execute design. This is a critical distinction for candidates applying. The "On-site" work arrangement suggests a need for physical presence in either New York or Utah, implying team collaboration and oversight will be in-person.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Own and evolve Lola Blankets' visual identity across all touchpoints, including digital platforms, retail environments, packaging, marketing campaigns, social media, and video content.

• Translate the overarching brand vision and strategy into actionable creative direction and scalable design systems that ensure brand consistency.

• Lead the conceptualization and execution of major brand campaigns, from initial ideation through final delivery.

• Maintain and continuously evolve brand standards, guidelines, and aesthetic principles as the company scales and its market presence grows.

• Provide clear, constructive feedback and mentorship to graphic designers, Brand Producers, Creative Producers, and Video Creative Leads to foster individual and collective growth and performance.

• Establish and refine creative workflows, robust prioritization frameworks, and efficient production processes to streamline project management and delivery.

• Foster a collaborative, high-performing creative culture grounded in craftsmanship, accountability, and a shared commitment to brand excellence.

• Partner with senior leadership on strategic team structuring, talent acquisition (including hiring and freelance resourcing), and overall team development.

• Oversee the end-to-end creative execution for design, photography, video, and campaign production, ensuring projects move efficiently from concept to launch.

• Guide production planning in collaboration with producers, effectively balancing creative ambition with realistic timelines and budget constraints.

• Conduct thorough reviews and provide final approvals for creative work before presenting to stakeholders and launching to the public.

• Maintain rigorous quality control across all creative outputs, ensuring they meet the highest standards of the brand.

• Collaborate closely with Performance Marketing, Operations, and Product teams to align creative initiatives with broader business objectives while safeguarding brand equity.

• Support the Performance Marketing team by developing elevated creative assets that drive conversion while upholding brand integrity and aesthetic.

• Work in tandem with copywriters and marketing partners to ensure a cohesive and compelling brand narrative across all communications.

• Continuously strive to elevate Lola Blankets' creative standard and enhance its cultural relevance within the market.

• Identify and capitalize on opportunities for innovation in content creation, storytelling techniques, and overall brand expression.

• Build and implement scalable systems that enable the creative output to grow in tandem with the business's expansion.

• Champion design thinking principles and methodologies throughout the organization, fostering a culture of creative problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities listed are a blend of creative leadership and significant operational management. For operations professionals, the emphasis on "establishing creative workflows, prioritization frameworks, and production processes," "overseeing creative execution across design, photo, video, and campaign production," and "guiding production planning" are key indicators of the operational rigor expected. The role requires not just aesthetic vision but the ability to operationalize that vision at scale.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Director-level role. Advanced degrees or certifications in design management or leadership may be advantageous.

Experience:

• 8–10+ years of progressive experience in creative leadership, design direction, or brand leadership roles within a dynamic, growth-oriented company.

• Proven track record of successfully managing and mentoring multidisciplinary creative teams, including direct reports and cross-functional collaborators.

• Extensive experience leading photo and video productions from initial concept development through to post-production, managing budgets and timelines effectively.

Required Skills:

• Creative Direction & Brand Stewardship: Expertise in defining and evolving visual identities, leading campaign concept development, and ensuring consistent brand aesthetic across all channels.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Proven ability to lead, manage, mentor, and inspire creative teams to achieve high performance and professional growth.

• Creative Operations & Production Oversight: Strong understanding of creative workflows, production processes, project prioritization, and managing photo/video production lifecycles.

• Design Systems & Visual Storytelling: Deep knowledge of design principles, typography, color theory, photography, motion graphics, and creating cohesive visual narratives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to partner effectively with Marketing, Performance Marketing, Operations, and Product teams to align creative with business goals.

• Strategic Thinking & Execution: Capacity to translate brand strategy into clear creative direction and operational plans, driving projects from ideation to completion.

• Project Management & Prioritization: Highly organized with exceptional skills in prioritizing projects in fast-paced, high-volume environments.

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced skills in industry-standard design software (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for creative review and guidance.

• Understanding of Modern Creative Workflow Tools: Familiarity with project management and collaboration tools used in creative operations.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in a fast-growing e-commerce or direct-to-consumer (DTC) brand environment.

• Familiarity with brand strategy development and execution.

• Experience with digital marketing creative, particularly for performance-driven campaigns.

• Knowledge of emerging design trends and technologies relevant to lifestyle brands.

• Experience with budget management for creative production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement is explicitly stated as "8-10+ years." The "What We're Looking For" section emphasizes "operational instincts" and the ability to "scale creative organizations," which are critical for operations-focused candidates. The mention of "modern creative workflow tools" implies familiarity with project management platforms beyond just Adobe Suite.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Brand Systems and Identity Evolution: Showcase examples of how you have developed, implemented, or evolved a brand's visual identity and design systems across multiple platforms. Demonstrate scalability and consistency.

• Campaign Concept and Execution: Present at least one comprehensive campaign that illustrates your ability to lead from concept ideation through to final execution across various media (digital, social, video, print). Highlight the strategic thinking behind the creative.

• Integrated Creative Work: Include examples of integrated creative projects that demonstrate cohesive storytelling and visual execution across different channels (e.g., website, social media, email, packaging, advertising).

• Team Leadership & Process: While not a direct "product," your portfolio should implicitly or explicitly reflect your ability to manage creative workflows, production processes, and team collaboration. Consider including case studies that detail your role in improving creative operations or team efficiency.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design and Optimization: Be prepared to discuss how you have designed or optimized creative workflows to improve efficiency, speed, and quality of output. This includes demonstrating how you manage project intake, prioritization, feedback loops, and approvals.

• Production Management: Showcase your experience in managing the operational aspects of photo and video productions, including planning, budgeting, vendor management, and post-production oversight.

• Measurement and Performance Analysis: Be ready to discuss how you measure the success of creative initiatives and how you use data (e.g., campaign performance, brand sentiment, team productivity metrics) to inform creative strategy and optimize future efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations professionals will find this section particularly relevant. The emphasis on "scalable design systems," "creative workflows," "production processes," and "measurement and performance analysis" directly aligns with operational responsibilities. Candidates should prepare to articulate their experience in operationalizing creative output and demonstrating its impact through data and process improvements.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

For a Brand Design Director role in New York City or Utah with 8-10+ years of experience, leading a multidisciplinary team and overseeing significant creative operations, the estimated annual salary range would be between $150,000 - $220,000 USD.

• New York City: The higher end of the range ($175,000 - $220,000 USD) reflects the significantly higher cost of living and competitive market for senior creative talent in NYC.

• Utah: The lower to mid-range ($150,000 - $190,000 USD) is more typical for Utah, though a competitive offer could still reach higher, especially for a fast-growing DTC brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: This salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Director-level creative leadership roles in high-growth DTC companies, adjusted for location (NYC vs. Utah) and the significant operational and team management responsibilities inherent in this position. Data sources considered include industry salary reports for creative directors, brand directors, and operations managers in design-heavy industries, as well as cost of living indices for the specified locations.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: 21 days of paid vacation annually, plus federal holidays (with a note about Thanksgiving).

• Health Coverage: Full health benefits package, typically including medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Parental Leave: Comprehensive parental leave policies, including 16 weeks paid for birth parents and 8 weeks paid for non-birth parents.

• Product Discount: A generous 55% discount on Lola Blankets for personal use and for friends and family, highlighting the company's commitment to its product and employees.

• Career Growth: Explicitly stated opportunities for career advancement and expansion of creative leadership responsibilities, suggesting a path for professional development within the company.

Working Hours: The standard full-time workweek is typically considered 40 hours. Given the Director-level responsibility and the fast-paced nature of a growing brand, flexibility and a willingness to work beyond standard hours during peak periods or critical project phases are often expected.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is quite comprehensive, particularly the parental leave and product discount, which are strong indicators of a company culture that values employee well-being and product enthusiasm. The "Opportunities for career growth" is a key draw for ambitious professionals.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: E-commerce / Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Home Goods, specializing in premium faux-fur blankets. The brand positions itself as design-driven, focusing on modern luxury, comfort, and style.

Company Size: Described as "fast-growing" with a "devoted community" and "strong influencer presence." Based on typical growth trajectories for DTC brands, this likely means anywhere from 50-200 employees, with potential for rapid scaling.

Founded: The founding date is not provided, but the description implies a relatively young company that has achieved significant scale and market traction rapidly.

Team Structure:

• Creative Team: The Brand Design Director directly leads a multidisciplinary team comprising Graphic Designers, a Brand Producer, a Creative Producer, and a Video Creative Lead. This suggests a structured creative department capable of handling diverse content needs.

• Reporting Structure: The role partners closely with the Cofounder & Creative Director and the Head of Brand Marketing. This indicates a senior leadership position with direct influence on brand strategy and execution, reporting into a high-level creative or marketing executive.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong partnerships are expected with Performance Marketing, Operations, and Product teams, highlighting a collaborative, integrated approach to business functions.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Brand Storytelling: The brand relies on a "strong influencer presence" and aims to redefine comfort and style, suggesting a blend of aesthetically driven brand building with data insights from marketing and sales performance.

• Scalable Systems & Processes: A core requirement is building systems to scale creative output, indicating a focus on operational efficiency, standardized workflows, and robust production processes.

• Quality and Craftsmanship: The brand emphasizes "premium quality," "modern luxury," and "craftsmanship," implying a high standard for all outputs, from product to creative assets.

Company Website: Lola Blankets (implied domain: lolablankets.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fast-growing" nature of Lola Blankets implies an entrepreneurial, dynamic environment. For operations professionals, this means embracing agility, process improvement, and the challenge of building infrastructure alongside business growth. The emphasis on design and lifestyle branding suggests a culture that values aesthetics, customer experience, and relatable storytelling.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior leadership level, specifically a Director, overseeing a significant creative department. It combines strategic creative direction with the operational management of a team and its output. It's a pivotal role for someone looking to manage and scale creative operations within a growing DTC brand.

Reporting Structure: The Brand Design Director reports to or partners closely with the Cofounder & Creative Director and the Head of Brand Marketing. This signifies a high level of visibility and influence within the organization, with direct impact on brand strategy and business growth.

Operations Impact: The Brand Design Director's work directly impacts revenue by ensuring creative assets are not only on-brand but also effective in driving conversion (through partnership with Performance Marketing) and building brand equity. By scaling creative output and optimizing processes, this role supports the company's overall growth objectives and market positioning.

Growth Opportunities:

• Expanded Creative Leadership: Potential to grow into a VP of Creative or Chief Creative Officer role as the company scales, taking on broader strategic responsibilities and managing larger teams.

• Operations Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in creative operations, building out more sophisticated systems, tools, and processes for a rapidly growing brand.

• Brand Development: Chance to play a significant role in shaping an iconic lifestyle brand, influencing its visual language and market perception for years to come.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Potential to move into broader marketing leadership roles or take on more strategic operational responsibilities beyond the creative department.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, this role offers a unique opportunity to apply process optimization and system-building skills within a creative context. The "growth opportunities" highlight the potential for impact and advancement, particularly in shaping the operational backbone of a scaling brand's creative function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," suggesting a physical office environment. Given the company's focus on design and branding, the office is likely to be modern, aesthetically pleasing, and conducive to collaboration. It could be in a vibrant urban setting like New York or a more scenic, potentially larger footprint location in Utah.

Office Location(s): The job is posted for both New York, NY, and Utah, UT. This implies that candidates can be based in either location, and the company likely has established offices or operational hubs in these regions.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: As a Director role, expect a workspace that facilitates interaction with direct reports, peers in marketing and operations, and senior leadership. This might include open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and potentially dedicated creative studios.

• Tools and Technology: Access to industry-standard creative software (Adobe Creative Suite) and modern creative workflow/project management tools is expected. The company will likely invest in technology that supports efficient creative production and collaboration.

• Team Interaction: The on-site nature is crucial for fostering team cohesion, enabling on-the-spot feedback, running creative reviews, and building a strong creative culture through direct interaction.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour workweek is the baseline, but as a Director, there may be an expectation of flexibility to meet project deadlines, manage production schedules, and attend to critical business needs, especially during campaign launches or periods of rapid growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" requirement is a key differentiator. Operations candidates should consider how their skills in managing in-person team dynamics, optimizing physical workspaces for creative output, and fostering in-person collaboration align with the company's needs. The dual locations (NYC/Utah) suggest a need for adaptable leadership or potentially distinct teams in each region.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

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

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: A key stage will likely involve presenting your portfolio to key stakeholders (e.g., Cofounder & Creative Director, Head of Brand Marketing, Senior Leadership). This is where you'll showcase your brand systems, campaign work, and ability to articulate strategic thinking. Be prepared to discuss your process and operational approach.

• Team & Cross-Functional Interviews: You may meet with direct reports and peers from Performance Marketing, Operations, or Product teams to assess leadership style, collaboration skills, and ability to integrate creative with business objectives.

• Final Interview: A final discussion with senior leadership, possibly the CEO or Cofounders, to gauge cultural fit, strategic alignment, and long-term vision for the brand's creative direction.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Operations: Beyond showcasing beautiful design, highlight your role in the process. For each project, explain:

  • The problem you solved (business or creative challenge).
  • Your strategic approach and how it informed the creative.
  • The workflows and processes you implemented or followed.
  • How you managed production, timelines, and budgets.
  • The measurable results and impact (e.g., engagement, conversion, brand perception).

• Case Study Structure: For key projects, structure your presentation as a mini case study: Challenge -> Strategy -> Execution (including your operational role) -> Results. Quantify impact wherever possible.

• Demonstrate Scalability: Show examples where you've built or scaled design systems, workflows, or teams. This is critical for a "fast-growing" company.

• Highlight Leadership: Clearly articulate your leadership philosophy, how you mentor teams, and foster a productive creative culture.

Challenge Preparation:

• Creative Brief Interpretation: Be ready to discuss how you interpret creative briefs and translate them into actionable direction.

• Operational Problem-Solving: Prepare to discuss hypothetical scenarios related to creative production bottlenecks, budget constraints, or team conflicts, and how you would resolve them using operational best practices.

• Brand Vision Articulation: Practice articulating your vision for Lola Blankets' brand aesthetic and how you would evolve it, considering both creative and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates should leverage this stage to emphasize their ability to manage complex creative projects efficiently. The portfolio review is not just about aesthetics; it's about demonstrating a strategic and operational mindset that can scale a creative function.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for creative review, providing feedback, and potentially light hands-on work.

• Prototyping/Design Tools: Familiarity with tools like Figma or Sketch might be beneficial for understanding modern design workflows and collaborating with designers.

• Project Management Software: Experience with platforms like Asana, Monday.com, Trello, or similar tools used for managing creative workflows, task assignment, and tracking project progress.

• DAM (Digital Asset Management) Systems: Understanding of how to organize, store, and distribute creative assets efficiently.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics: For understanding website performance, user behavior, and the impact of creative on traffic and engagement.

• Social Media Analytics Tools: (e.g., native platform analytics, Sprout Social, Hootsuite) for monitoring social media performance and brand sentiment.

• Marketing Performance Dashboards: Experience with tools that aggregate data from various marketing channels to assess campaign effectiveness.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM Systems: Familiarity with how CRM data (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) informs marketing and creative strategy, even if not directly managing the CRM.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Understanding of tools like Klaviyo or Mailchimp for email marketing and customer journey automation, and how creative assets are integrated.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams for day-to-day team communication and project coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is focused on creative direction, a strong understanding of the operational tools and technologies that support creative execution, production, and performance measurement is crucial. For operations professionals, highlighting experience with project management, asset management, and performance tracking tools will be a significant advantage.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Data-Informed Creativity: While design-led, decisions should be informed by performance data, customer insights, and market trends to ensure creative effectiveness and ROI.

• Efficiency & Scalability: A core value is building and maintaining efficient processes that allow creative output to scale seamlessly with business growth, avoiding bottlenecks.

• Collaboration & Transparency: Fostering open communication and strong partnerships across departments (Marketing, Product, Operations) to ensure alignment and shared success.

• Craftsmanship & Quality: A commitment to high-quality execution in all creative outputs, reflecting the premium nature of the Lola Blankets brand.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Embracing new ideas, technologies, and approaches to keep the brand culturally relevant and ahead of trends in a dynamic DTC market.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Actively seeking input and collaboration from Performance Marketing, Operations, and Product teams to ensure creative initiatives support broader business goals.

• Process Review & Feedback: Encouraging a culture where creative processes are regularly reviewed and improved, with constructive feedback loops for team members and cross-functional partners.

• Knowledge Sharing: Promoting the sharing of best practices, insights, and learnings across the creative team and with other departments to foster collective growth and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "efficiency & scalability" and "collaboration & transparency" are particularly relevant for operations professionals looking to understand the cultural fit within a creative leadership role. This role requires bridging the gap between creative vision and operational reality.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Scalability: The primary challenge will be maintaining a high level of creative quality and brand integrity while rapidly scaling production and team output to meet business demands.

• Integrating Creative with Performance: Ensuring that brand-building creative and conversion-driven marketing creative work harmoniously, without one undermining the other.

• Managing Diverse Creative Disciplines: Effectively leading and integrating the work of graphic designers, producers, and video specialists, each with unique needs and workflows.

• Rapid Growth Environment: Navigating the inherent chaos and constant change of a fast-paced, scaling DTC company, requiring adaptability and resilience.

• Talent Acquisition & Development: Attracting and retaining top creative talent while fostering their growth and ensuring the team can meet evolving business needs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Creative Operations Expertise: Deepen expertise in building and optimizing operational frameworks for creative departments in a high-growth context.

• Brand Strategy Leadership: Gain significant experience in shaping the brand narrative and visual identity of an iconic lifestyle brand.

• Cross-Functional Strategic Influence: Develop a stronger understanding of how creative impacts other business functions (marketing, product, sales) and contribute to broader business strategy.

• Leadership Development: Hone leadership skills through managing a diverse team, mentoring talent, and driving strategic initiatives within a senior leadership team.

• Industry Exposure: Potential to attend industry events, conferences, or workshops related to branding, design, and creative operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, the "Challenges" section highlights areas where their skills in process improvement, risk mitigation, and strategic planning are most valuable. The "Learning & Development" aspects offer clear paths for career progression and skill enhancement within operations and leadership domains.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your approach to building and scaling a creative team and its operational processes in a fast-growing DTC environment." (Focus on workflows, hiring, mentorship, and efficiency metrics.)

• "How do you balance maintaining a strong, consistent brand identity with the need for high-volume, performance-driven creative assets?" (Discuss collaboration with marketing, A/B testing strategies, and brand guidelines.)

• "Walk us through a major campaign you led from concept to execution. What were the key operational challenges, and how did you overcome them? What were the results?" (Use a STAR method, emphasizing your role in process and production.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Lola Blankets' brand and its potential? How would you evolve our visual identity and storytelling?" (Show you've researched the brand, its products, and its market position.)

• "Describe your experience working with founders or senior leadership in a fast-paced startup environment." (Highlight your ability to align with executive vision and drive results.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Operational Narrative: For each project presented, weave in the operational aspects: how you managed it, what processes were involved, how you collaborated, and what the measurable outcomes were.

• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your creative initiatives. For example, "This campaign led to a 15% increase in brand engagement" or "Implementing this new workflow reduced production time by 20%."

• Show Leadership: Clearly articulate your role as a leader, not just a designer. Explain how you guided teams, made decisions, and fostered a positive work environment.

• Be Prepared for 'Why': For every decision, be ready to explain the strategic rationale and how it served the brand and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: Operations candidates should lean heavily into demonstrating their process-oriented thinking, problem-solving skills, and ability to manage complex projects and teams. The interview is an opportunity to showcase how their operational expertise can directly support and enhance the creative output of Lola Blankets.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Brand Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate your experience in brand systems development, campaign leadership, and creative operations. Emphasize your ability to scale creative output and manage multidisciplinary teams.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your years of experience in creative/brand leadership, team management, and production oversight. Use keywords like "creative direction," "brand stewardship," "creative operations," "workflow optimization," "production oversight," and "team leadership."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your strategic approach to brand evolution, creative operations, and team management. Prepare specific examples using the STAR method for your portfolio walkthrough and to answer behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Lola Blankets' brand, product, target audience, and current marketing efforts. Understand their aesthetic, values, and market position to articulate your vision and cultural fit effectively.

⚠️ 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.