Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director, Art
Company: Critical Mass
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Media / Management & Leadership / Marketing / Art & Design
Date Posted: October 28, 2025
Experience Level: 10+ Years
Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the strategic vision and execution of digital design systems, focusing on performance marketing and integrated brand experiences.
• Cultivate and nurture a high-performing, collaborative creative culture within the design team, fostering professional growth and exceeding client expectations.
• Drive innovative creative solutions and proposals that contribute to both agency brand enhancement and new business acquisition within key vertical markets.
• Ensure operational excellence in creative processes, from concept development to final deliverable, by implementing and monitoring quality standards and best practices.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a senior leadership position within the creative function, requiring a blend of strong artistic direction, strategic thinking, and operational management. The emphasis on "performance marketing" and "design systems" indicates a need for a leader who can translate creative vision into measurable business outcomes and scalable design frameworks.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the development and evolution of digital design systems, creating new components and refining existing patterns to ensure scalability and consistency across client projects.
• Act as a hands-on creative lead, actively mentoring and guiding the design team to produce their best work and fostering an environment of continuous learning and improvement.
• Build and maintain a vibrant and inspiring creative culture within the design team, aligning with Critical Mass's core values of honesty, inspiration, drive, passion, and authenticity.
• Drive creative strategies that directly address customer needs and achieve overarching business objectives for clients across various digital channels.
• Develop and present compelling, innovative proposals for both existing client growth and new business opportunities, showcasing strategic thinking and creative vision.
• Promote continuous improvement and accountability by championing Creative discipline, operational excellence, and leveraging deep industry vertical expertise.
• Conduct strategic account planning in collaboration with senior management within vertical marketing groups to identify growth opportunities and client needs.
• Conceive and deliver sophisticated experience design solutions that align with and fulfill strategic business objectives, ensuring a user-centric approach.
• Utilize Figma as a primary creative tool, demonstrating proficiency in its advanced features for design and system development.
• Effectively communicate complex creative ideas, strategies, and rationales to diverse project stakeholders, including clients, internal teams, and partners.
• Lead and collaborate seamlessly with multidisciplinary teams, including creative disciplines, technology, planning, account management, program management, and external partners.
• Provide consistent, constructive feedback and leadership to team members across all assigned accounts, focusing on performance and professional development.
• Develop, monitor, and adjust creative department staffing strategies, including team composition, performance evaluations, skills development, training, and mentoring programs.
• Establish, implement, and consistently monitor quality standards for all creative artifacts and deliverables to ensure brand integrity and client satisfaction.
• Continuously refine Creative methods, problem-solving models, and best practices to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the design function.
• Proactively manage the scope, schedules, and budgets associated with production to ensure successful project delivery within defined parameters.
• Engage and collaborate with practice leads from media, technology, marketing science, usability, and quality assurance to maximize project outcomes and ensure client satisfaction.
• Support and lead Human Resource initiatives, with a particular focus on performance management and talent development within the creative team.
• Understand, embrace, and effectively communicate Critical Mass's corporate mission and values to the team and in client interactions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The extensive list of responsibilities highlights the senior nature of this role, encompassing strategic leadership, team management, client engagement, operational oversight, and hands-on creative contribution. The expectation to be "just as comfortable in the work as leading it" emphasizes the need for a leader who remains technically proficient and actively involved.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Communication or a related field, or equivalent practical experience in design leadership.

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in design, marketing, or communications, with a strong focus on interactive work and proven design leadership capabilities.
• Demonstrated experience in a lead design role within a project-based strategic, creative, or technical agency environment.
• Substantial experience managing and executing performance social creative campaigns, understanding the nuances of data-driven creative optimization.

Required Skills:

• Creative Leadership & Vision: Ability to set a clear creative direction, inspire teams, and translate client objectives into impactful design solutions.
• Design Systems Development & Management: Expertise in building, scaling, and maintaining comprehensive design systems, including component libraries and style guides.
• Performance Marketing Design: Deep understanding of how design directly influences performance metrics in digital marketing campaigns (e.g., click-through rates, conversion rates).
• Experience Design (XD) & User Interface (UI) Principles: Strong foundation in UX/UI principles, with the ability to design intuitive, engaging, and effective user experiences.
• Brand Development & Strategy: Proven ability to develop and evolve brand identities and ensure consistent brand expression across all touchpoints.
• Team Management & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop creative teams, fostering a positive and productive work environment.
• Client Relationship Management: Skill in building and maintaining strong client relationships, effectively communicating creative concepts, and managing client expectations.
• Strategic Planning: Capacity to contribute to and execute strategic plans that align creative efforts with business goals and market opportunities.
• Figma Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Figma for design creation, prototyping, collaboration, and design system management.
• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to work effectively with diverse teams (technology, planning, account management) and drive collective success.

Preferred Skills:

• Storytelling with Video: Solid understanding and practical experience in storytelling through video, including editing, pacing, and motion design.
• Interactive Commerce Design: Experience designing for e-commerce platforms and optimizing the online shopping experience.
• Creative & Product Process Optimization: Knowledge of creative production workflows and product development cycles, with an ability to identify and implement efficiencies.
• Operational Excellence: A mindset focused on process improvement, efficiency, and accountability in creative delivery.
• Industry Vertical Expertise: Specific experience or knowledge within particular client industries relevant to Critical Mass's portfolio.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience requirement of 8+ years, coupled with the "10+" implied by the AI summary, positions this as a senior leadership role demanding significant strategic and management expertise. The explicit mention of Figma and performance marketing design highlights critical technical and strategic competencies.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate Design Leadership: Showcase examples of leading creative teams and driving design initiatives from concept to completion.
• Design System Examples: Include case studies or detailed examples of design systems you have developed, managed, or significantly contributed to, highlighting their structure, components, and impact.
• Performance Marketing Creative: Present work that explicitly demonstrates how your design decisions influenced and improved performance marketing metrics (e.g., A/B tested creative, conversion-focused design).
• Client Success & ROI: Provide examples where your creative direction led to tangible business results, client growth, or a positive return on investment, with quantifiable outcomes where possible.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your approach to designing and optimizing creative workflows to enhance efficiency, collaboration, and quality.
• System Implementation & Scalability: Detail your experience in implementing design systems or creative processes that are scalable and adaptable to various project needs and client demands.
• Performance Analysis & Iteration: Demonstrate how you use data and performance metrics to inform design decisions, iterate on creative work, and drive continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role, the portfolio is paramount. It must not only showcase aesthetic talent but also strategic thinking, leadership capabilities, and a data-driven approach to creative execution, particularly in performance marketing contexts.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Given the seniority of the "Design Director" title, the location in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, and the 8+ years of experience requirement, a competitive salary range is expected. For a Design Director in a major Canadian city with an agency of Critical Mass's caliber, the estimated annual base salary could range from CAD $120,000 to $180,000. This range is influenced by factors such as specific experience, proven leadership impact, and the scope of responsibilities.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.
• Retirement Savings Plan: Contribution matching or defined benefit plans.
• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation days, personal days, and paid holidays.
• Professional Development: Budget for training, conferences, workshops, and certifications to support continuous learning and skill enhancement.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services for personal and work-related challenges.
• Potential for Performance Bonuses: Based on individual, team, and company performance.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are likely 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time role. However, given the leadership nature and client-facing responsibilities, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines and client needs, potentially involving occasional extended hours or weekend work during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for senior creative leadership roles in major Canadian markets, considering agency size and reputation. Benefits are typical for a company of Critical Mass's size and industry. The note about 5 days a week in the office implies a standard, structured work schedule.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Marketing & Advertising / Experience Design. Critical Mass operates within a highly competitive and rapidly evolving digital landscape, focusing on delivering integrated customer experiences for major brands. Their work spans strategy, creative, media, and technology. Company Size: Critical Mass is a mid-to-large sized agency, part of Omnicom Group, which suggests a robust organizational structure, established processes, and significant client portfolios. This size offers both the resources of a large network and the agility of a focused agency. Founded: Critical Mass was founded in 1995. With over 25 years in the industry, the company has a deep history and extensive experience in digital transformation and customer experience design, demonstrating stability and a proven track record.

Team Structure:

• Creative Department: The Design Director will lead a significant portion of the creative department, likely including art directors, designers, and potentially motion graphics specialists or UI/UX designers, depending on team specialization.
• Reporting: This role will report to a senior executive, such as a Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Executive Creative Director (ECD), or Head of Creative, and will in turn manage a team of direct reports.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close collaboration with account management, strategy, media planning, technology, data science, and project management teams to ensure cohesive and effective client solutions.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: Critical Mass emphasizes a blend of creative excellence and data-informed decision-making, particularly in performance marketing. The design director must integrate performance insights into creative strategy.
• Customer-Centric Design: The agency focuses on understanding and designing for customer needs and journeys, ensuring that creative output is relevant and effective.
• Agile & Iterative Processes: Expect a dynamic environment where agile methodologies and iterative development are used to adapt to client needs and market changes, requiring flexibility and continuous improvement.

Company Website: [Critical Mass Website URL - e.g., https://www.criticalmass.com/]

📝 Enhancement Note: Critical Mass's affiliation with Omnicom Group implies a professional, structured agency environment with access to extensive resources and a global client base. The company's long history suggests a mature understanding of the digital landscape and a commitment to innovation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, placing the individual at a Director or Executive level within the creative discipline. It signifies a transition from individual contribution and team management to strategic oversight and departmental influence. Reporting Structure: The Design Director typically reports to an Executive Creative Director or Chief Creative Officer, overseeing a team of art directors and designers. They are a key player in the senior leadership team, influencing the agency's creative output and strategic direction. Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is significant, directly shaping the visual identity and user experience of client campaigns and digital products. Their leadership influences client acquisition, retention, and the agency's overall reputation for creative excellence and effectiveness in driving business results.

Growth Opportunities:

• Executive Leadership: Potential to advance to Chief Creative Officer (CCO) or Executive Creative Director (ECD) roles, with expanded responsibility for the entire creative department and agency-wide creative strategy.
• Specialization & Innovation: Opportunities to lead specialized initiatives, such as developing new service offerings in areas like AI-driven design, immersive experiences, or advanced design systems, and to contribute to thought leadership.
• Global Opportunities: Within Omnicom, there may be opportunities to transfer to other agencies or locations, or to work on global client accounts with international scope.
• Mentorship & Talent Development: A chance to build and mentor future creative leaders, leaving a lasting impact on the agency's talent pipeline.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+" years of experience suggested by AI, combined with the Director title, indicates a career path that has progressed through senior art direction and design management, now focusing on strategic leadership and broader organizational impact within the creative function.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Critical Mass emphasizes an in-office work environment, as explicitly stated. This suggests a traditional agency setting designed for collaboration, spontaneous ideation, and fostering team cohesion. Office Location(s): The role is based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This specific location implies a local office presence within the city, likely in a professional business district. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: The office environment is expected to feature collaborative zones, meeting rooms, and open-plan areas conducive to team discussions, brainstorming sessions, and client presentations.
• Creative Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (like Figma), hardware, and potentially specialized creative technology will be provided to support high-quality output.
• Team Interaction: The on-site requirement fosters direct interaction with design teams, cross-functional colleagues, and leadership, facilitating mentorship, knowledge sharing, and a strong sense of community.

Work Schedule: The expectation is for a standard 40-hour work week, with the understanding that creative projects may require flexibility and occasional extended hours to meet critical deadlines and client demands. This structured approach supports consistent team presence and workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit "5 days a week" in-office policy is a significant factor for candidates and suggests a company culture that values in-person collaboration and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will conduct an initial review of applications and portfolios, focusing on alignment with core requirements and experience.
• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (likely an ECD or CCO) to assess creative vision, leadership philosophy, and strategic thinking. This stage will heavily involve a review of your portfolio.
• Portfolio Presentation & Case Study: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, focusing on key projects that demonstrate leadership, design system expertise, performance marketing impact, and problem-solving skills. Be prepared to walk through your process, rationale, and results.
• Team & Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential direct reports, peers from other departments (e.g., Strategy, Account Management, Technology), and potentially senior leadership to evaluate collaboration style, cultural fit, and ability to work across disciplines.
• Final Interview: A concluding interview with a senior executive to confirm fit and discuss final terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent your leadership, strategic thinking, and impact in performance marketing and design systems.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the client's challenge, your role and approach, the design process, key decisions, and the measurable business outcomes or impact achieved.
• Highlight Leadership: Emphasize your role in leading teams, mentoring talent, and driving creative strategy, not just individual design execution.
• Showcase Systems Thinking: Include examples of design systems, frameworks, or processes you've developed and how they contributed to efficiency and consistency.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, use data and metrics to demonstrate the success of your creative work, especially in performance marketing contexts.
• Be Prepared for Figma: Demonstrate your comfort and expertise with Figma, potentially showcasing interactive prototypes or design system components.

Challenge Preparation:

• Creative Problem-Solving: Be ready for hypothetical scenarios or brief challenges related to client briefs, design system development, or team management.
• Strategic Articulation: Practice articulating your creative philosophy, approach to performance marketing design, and leadership style concisely and persuasively.
• Cultural Alignment: Research Critical Mass's values and recent work to demonstrate how you align with their culture and approach.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and case studies is critical for this role. Candidates must be prepared to not only showcase their work but also to articulate the strategic thinking, leadership, and business impact behind it.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: As explicitly mentioned, this is a core tool for design, prototyping, collaboration, and design system management. Advanced proficiency is expected.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and potentially After Effects or Premiere Pro for motion graphics and video editing will be essential for many creative tasks and team outputs.
• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Jira, or Monday.com for managing creative workflows, tracking tasks, and collaborating with project managers.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Google Analytics / Adobe Analytics: Understanding how to interpret data from these platforms to inform design decisions and measure campaign performance.
• Data Visualization Tools: Familiarity with tools like Tableau or Power BI for understanding and presenting performance data to stakeholders.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly a "design" tool, an understanding of how CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) and marketing automation platforms (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot) function can inform design strategies for lead generation and customer journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Figma and performance marketing underscores the need for candidates to be technically adept in modern design tools and strategically aware of data-driven creative execution.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Honest: Upholding integrity in all client and internal dealings; transparent communication and realistic expectations.
• Inspired: Fostering a creative environment that encourages new ideas, innovation, and passion for design excellence.
• Driven: A commitment to achieving client objectives and exceeding performance benchmarks through dedicated effort and strategic execution.
• Passionate: A genuine enthusiasm for design, brands, and creating impactful customer experiences.
• Real: Authenticity in interactions, feedback, and problem-solving, building trust and strong working relationships.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A collaborative approach that breaks down silos between creative, strategy, technology, and account teams to deliver unified client solutions.
• Constructive Feedback Culture: An environment where open, honest, and constructive feedback is encouraged among team members and across departments to drive continuous improvement.
• Knowledge Sharing: Practices that promote the sharing of insights, best practices, and learnings across the creative team and the wider agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Critical Mass's stated values provides a clear framework for understanding the expected cultural fit. Candidates should demonstrate how their own work ethic and collaborative style align with these principles.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Performance Demands: Effectively translating innovative creative ideas into designs that demonstrably drive performance marketing metrics.
• Managing Diverse Creative Talent: Leading and motivating a team with varied skill sets, personalities, and career aspirations, ensuring high performance and retention.
• Navigating Client Expectations & Agency Demands: Managing competing priorities, client feedback, and internal agency pressures while maintaining creative integrity and quality.
• Keeping Pace with Evolving Digital Trends: Continuously adapting design strategies and team skills to stay ahead of rapid changes in technology, platforms, and consumer behavior.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design System Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in designing and scaling complex, enterprise-level design systems.
• Leadership Development Programs: Access to Omnicom or agency-specific leadership training designed to enhance management, strategic thinking, and executive presence.
• Industry Conferences & Events: Participation in leading design, marketing, and technology conferences to stay abreast of trends and network with peers.
• Mentorship: Opportunities to mentor junior talent and to be mentored by senior leaders within Critical Mass and Omnicom.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges listed are typical for senior creative leadership roles in dynamic agency environments, requiring strategic problem-solving and adaptability. Growth opportunities focus on expanding leadership scope and staying at the forefront of industry innovation.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your philosophy on leading creative teams, particularly in balancing artistic expression with performance marketing objectives." (Prepare with examples of how you've achieved this balance.)
• "Walk us through a complex design system you've developed or managed. What were the key challenges, your process, and the impact on client projects?" (Be ready to detail your strategic contribution and system architecture.)
• "How do you ensure creative excellence while adhering to strict production timelines and budgets in an agency setting?" (Focus on your process management, team coordination, and problem-solving skills.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Critical Mass's values (Honest, Inspired, Driven, Passionate, Real) resonate with your personal and professional approach?" (Research the company's work and culture to draw parallels.)
• "Describe your ideal collaboration model with account management, strategy, and technology teams. How do you foster effective cross-functional partnerships?" (Emphasize your communication and integration strategies.)
• "How do you measure the success of creative work beyond aesthetics? What KPIs are most important to you, especially in performance marketing?" (Be prepared to discuss data-driven evaluation and ROI.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, present a clear problem-solution-result framework.
• Highlight Leadership Role: Explicitly state your contributions as a leader, strategist, and mentor, not just as a designer.
• Demonstrate Systems Thinking: Show how your work contributes to larger systems, brand consistency, or scalable solutions.
• Quantify Impact: Use data and metrics to prove the effectiveness of your creative work.
• Engage and Discuss: Be prepared for interactive discussion, questions about your process, and potential on-the-spot creative problem-solving related to your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, leadership capability, and a data-informed approach to design, tailored to the agency environment and performance marketing context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the Critical Mass careers portal via the provided link.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating design system development, performance marketing success, and creative leadership. Prioritize case studies with quantifiable results.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 8+ years of relevant experience, leadership roles, and proficiency in key skills like Figma, design systems, and performance creative. Use keywords from the job description.
• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your strategic approach, leadership impact, and ability to articulate creative rationale and business outcomes. Prepare for questions on team management, client relations, and creative process.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Critical Mass's work, clients, and company values to demonstrate a genuine interest and alignment with their culture and strategic direction. Understand their approach to performance marketing and experience design.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions to provide a comprehensive overview for operations candidates. All details, including specific responsibilities, qualifications, and application procedures, should be verified directly with Critical Mass before making application decisions.