Temporary Design Director, ELLE

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Temporary Design Director, ELLE

Company: CDS Global

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full time, Temporary

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Management & Leadership

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead and evolve the visual identity of ELLE across all platforms, ensuring a cohesive and elevated brand experience in the competitive fashion media landscape.

• Direct the creative vision and production of the print magazine, including covers and editorial layouts, to maintain ELLE's fashion authority and market position.

• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of three designers, fostering a collaborative environment for creative excellence and professional growth.

• Collaborate closely with editorial, photography, fashion, digital, and marketing teams to develop compelling visual storytelling that resonates with a broad audience.

• Oversee the creative development of fashion shoots and editorial initiatives, partnering with external creative talent to deliver exceptional, on-brand content.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a temporary position focused on leading the visual direction for ELLE magazine and its associated digital platforms. The emphasis is on hands-on creative direction, team management, and cross-functional collaboration within the fast-paced media industry, specifically targeting a fashion-forward audience. The role requires a blend of strategic vision and practical execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Spearhead the comprehensive visual identity for ELLE across print, digital, social media, video, events, photography, and emerging platforms, ensuring a unified and premium brand presentation.

• Define and execute the creative direction for the print magazine, including impactful cover designs, engaging editorial layouts, and special features that uphold ELLE's status as a fashion authority.

• Provide strategic creative direction, constructive feedback, and professional development opportunities to a team of three designers, fostering their growth and maximizing team output.

• Partner effectively with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, branded content, and external contributor teams to craft compelling visual narratives.

• Supervise the creative execution of fashion shoots and key editorial projects, working with photographers, illustrators, and freelancers to achieve outstanding artistic and brand-aligned results.

• Establish and maintain robust visual systems, design templates, and comprehensive style guides to ensure unwavering brand consistency across all consumer touchpoints.

• Manage the end-to-end lifecycle of design projects, from initial concept to final production, skillfully balancing multiple priorities while upholding the highest creative standards and meeting stringent deadlines.

• Drive both long-term creative strategy and hands-on design execution, infusing innovative concepts and meticulous craftsmanship into projects of diverse scope and complexity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on strategic leadership and tactical execution. The Design Director is expected to not only guide the overall creative direction but also be involved in the hands-on creation and oversight of design assets, particularly for the print magazine. This implies a need for strong conceptual thinking combined with deep knowledge of print production and digital design best practices.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a strong educational background in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Communications, or a related creative field is typically expected for a role of this caliber.

Experience: 10+ years of editorial design experience, with a significant portion focused on consumer fashion, luxury, or lifestyle brands, demonstrating a deep understanding of visual trends and audience engagement within these sectors.

Required Skills:

• Extensive experience leading and evolving the visual identity of a consumer editorial brand, with a proven track record in magazine cover design.

• Demonstrated success in leading, mentoring, and developing creative teams within a collaborative and fast-paced environment.

• Proven ability to partner effectively with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, and social media leaders on integrated, cross-functional creative initiatives.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, essential for high-quality editorial design and production.

• Hands-on experience with design workflow and collaboration tools such as WoodWing and Figma for efficient project management and asset creation.

• Exceptional design sensibility, robust production skills, and meticulous attention to detail, crucial for maintaining brand integrity and quality.

• Strong organizational and project management capabilities, with a demonstrated ability to juggle multiple projects and meet simultaneous deadlines.

• A collaborative, inclusive, and solutions-oriented approach, complemented by excellent communication and interpersonal leadership skills.

• Ability to excel and adapt within a demanding, deadline-driven editorial setting. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with motion graphics or video editing software for digital content creation.

• Familiarity with content management systems (CMS) relevant to digital publishing.

• A strong network of freelance photographers, illustrators, and stylists within the fashion industry.

• Understanding of SEO best practices as they relate to visual content for digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on specific software like WoodWing and Figma, alongside the core Adobe Creative Suite, suggests a need for candidates who are not only visually talented but also adept at using industry-standard tools for efficient workflow and collaboration within a large media organization. The "10+ years" experience level and focus on leadership indicate this is a senior role requiring significant strategic and managerial capabilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a strong command of editorial design principles, with a significant emphasis on fashion and luxury brand aesthetics.

• Specific examples of magazine cover designs and complex editorial layouts that demonstrate creative vision and technical execution.

• Case studies detailing the evolution or management of a brand's visual identity across multiple platforms (print, digital, social).

• Evidence of leading and mentoring design teams, with examples of collaborative projects and their successful outcomes.

• Demonstrations of system implementation or optimization, particularly concerning design templates, style guides, and workflow enhancements.

• Projects that clearly illustrate ROI or significant impact on audience engagement and brand perception. Process Documentation:

• Documentation of workflow design and optimization processes for editorial content creation, highlighting efficiency gains and quality improvements.

• Examples of process implementation and automation methods used to streamline design production and asset management.

• Evidence of process measurement and performance analysis, showcasing how design initiatives were tracked and their impact evaluated.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Director role, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only display aesthetic prowess but also strategic thinking regarding brand consistency, team leadership, and project management. The expectation is to see tangible results and a clear understanding of how design contributes to business objectives, especially within a fashion context.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The hourly rate for this temporary role is $105.00 per hour.

Benefits: This position is temporary and is not eligible for bonus or commission compensation. Specific benefits are not detailed, but typically, temporary roles may not include the full suite of benefits offered to permanent employees. Standard offerings might include access to certain company resources or pro-rated paid time off, depending on contract terms.

Working Hours: The role is full-time, and while specific hours are not stated, it is assumed to be a standard 40-hour work week, with potential for extended hours due to the deadline-driven nature of the media industry. The role requires 4 days per week in the office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated hourly rate of $105.00 for a Temporary Design Director with 10+ years of experience in New York City aligns with industry benchmarks for senior creative leadership roles in major media markets. The absence of bonus/commission and the temporary nature of the position are key considerations for candidates. The hybrid work model with 4 days in-office is typical for roles requiring significant team collaboration and direct oversight.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Publishing, specifically within the fashion and lifestyle segment. Hearst Magazines is a major player with a diverse portfolio of renowned brands, indicating a fast-paced, content-driven, and highly competitive environment.

Company Size: Hearst Magazines, as part of Hearst Corporation, is a large organization. CDS Global, the employer of record for this role, is also a significant entity in media services. This suggests a structured corporate environment with established processes, but also opportunities to influence within specific brand teams.

Founded: Hearst Corporation was founded in 1887, and Hearst Magazines has a long legacy of publishing. This history implies a company culture that values established editorial integrity and brand heritage, while also adapting to new media landscapes.

Team Structure:

• The ELLE design team consists of three designers who will report directly to the Design Director.

• This role will involve close collaboration with various departments, including editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, and branded content teams, requiring strong cross-functional partnership skills.

• The Design Director will report into a senior editorial or brand leadership position within ELLE. Methodology:

• Hearst Magazines emphasizes a data-informed approach to content creation, balancing creative vision with audience engagement metrics.

• Workflow planning and optimization are critical, especially in a hybrid environment, to ensure seamless content production from concept to publication.

• Automation and efficiency practices are likely employed to manage the high volume of content produced across multiple platforms.

Company Website: https://www.hearst.com/magazines

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Hearst Magazines suggests a culture that is both traditional in its respect for brand legacy and forward-thinking in its adoption of digital media. The role's focus on a specific iconic brand, ELLE, means the Design Director will be instrumental in shaping its visual narrative within this dynamic corporate structure. Collaboration is key, as the success of visual storytelling relies on tight integration with editorial and other content-generating departments.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior-level, temporary Design Director position. It represents a significant leadership opportunity for an experienced creative professional to helm the visual direction of a globally recognized fashion brand. The role demands strategic oversight, team management, and a deep understanding of visual branding within the media industry.

Reporting Structure: The Temporary Design Director will report to a senior editorial leader within ELLE, likely an Editor-in-Chief or Deputy Editor. They will directly manage a team of three designers, overseeing their day-to-day tasks and professional development.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's impact is critical to ELLE's brand perception and market competitiveness. By shaping the visual storytelling, they directly influence audience engagement, readership, and the overall desirability of the brand. This role is pivotal in translating editorial content into compelling visual experiences that drive reader loyalty and attract advertisers.

Growth Opportunities:

• For this temporary role, direct career progression within ELLE might be limited, but it offers significant visibility and experience that can lead to permanent senior design roles in media or fashion.

• The opportunity to hone leadership skills by managing a design team and collaborating with high-caliber professionals provides valuable professional development.

• Gaining experience with the Hearst Magazines ecosystem and its established processes can open doors to other brands within the company or the broader Hearst Corporation.

• Developing expertise in managing visual identity across diverse platforms (print, digital, social) enhances marketability for future creative leadership roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is a temporary position, the title "Design Director" signifies a high level of responsibility. The growth opportunities are less about immediate promotion within this specific contract and more about leveraging the experience, network, and portfolio enhancement gained to secure future permanent roles in senior creative leadership within the media or fashion industries.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role requires a hybrid work arrangement, with 4 days per week expected in the New York City office. This indicates a dynamic, collaborative office environment typical of media companies, designed to foster in-person teamwork, brainstorming, and direct oversight.

Office Location(s): The role is based in New York City, a global hub for fashion, media, and design. This location provides access to industry events, talent, and a vibrant creative ecosystem. Specific office details are not provided but are expected to be modern, well-equipped facilities conducive to creative work.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, encouraging interaction with editorial, photography, and marketing teams to ensure cohesive content creation.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including Adobe Creative Suite, WoodWing, and Figma, will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct mentorship and feedback from senior editorial leadership will be integral to the daily work environment.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is implied, but the nature of editorial and fashion media often necessitates flexibility and willingness to work beyond standard hours to meet deadlines, particularly around publication cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a strong emphasis on in-office presence (4 days/week) highlights the importance of face-to-face collaboration and team synergy in a creative leadership role. New York City as a base offers unparalleled access to the fashion and media industries, which is a significant draw for professionals in this field.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of resumes and portfolios to assess experience, creative output, and alignment with ELLE's brand.

• Creative Assessment/Portfolio Review: Candidates will likely present their portfolio to key stakeholders, discussing their design philosophy, leadership approach, and specific projects. Expect questions about how you've managed visual identity, led teams, and collaborated cross-functionally.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with senior editorial, fashion, and digital leads to evaluate collaboration skills, understanding of the ELLE brand, and ability to integrate into the existing team structure.

• Final Interview: Possibly with a higher-level executive to finalize the decision, focusing on strategic vision and overall fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Showcase projects that best represent your experience in fashion/lifestyle editorial design, strong cover designs, and cross-platform brand consistency.

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the brief, your creative process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the measurable impact or results.

• Highlight Leadership: Include examples of how you've led teams, mentored designers, and fostered a collaborative creative environment.

• Demonstrate Brand Understanding: Be prepared to discuss ELLE's current visual identity and how you would approach evolving it while maintaining its core essence.

• Tech Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, WoodWing, and Figma, and how you leverage these tools for efficiency.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge or a detailed discussion about how you would approach specific editorial scenarios (e.g., designing a cover for a major fashion trend story, revamping a digital feature's visual layout).

• Practice articulating your design decisions concisely and persuasively, focusing on strategy and audience.

• Prepare questions that demonstrate your understanding of ELLE's brand, its audience, and the broader media landscape.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component for this role. Candidates should meticulously prepare it, focusing on demonstrating both aesthetic excellence and strategic leadership within the fashion media context. The interview process will likely be multi-faceted, assessing creative talent, management capabilities, and cultural fit.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency required in Adobe InDesign (for layout and print production), Photoshop (for image editing and manipulation), and Illustrator (for graphics and vector work).

• WoodWing: Experience with this digital publishing workflow solution is specifically mentioned, indicating its importance for content management, production, and collaboration within the editorial process.

• Figma: Proficiency in Figma is requested, highlighting its use for digital design, prototyping, and collaborative workflow, especially for web and social media assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as primary tools, a Design Director would likely utilize analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) to understand audience engagement with visual content and inform design decisions. CRM & Automation:

• CRM systems are generally not primary tools for a Design Director, but understanding how design assets integrate with marketing automation platforms or content management systems could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of WoodWing and Figma alongside the core Adobe Creative Suite indicates a need for candidates who are not only strong visual designers but also proficient in the digital tools and workflows essential for modern editorial production and collaboration within a large publishing house.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A commitment to pushing creative boundaries and delivering visually stunning, impactful design that upholds ELLE's premium brand positioning.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional partnership, working seamlessly with editorial, photography, and marketing to achieve shared content goals.

• Brand Integrity: A deep respect for and dedication to maintaining and evolving ELLE's iconic visual identity with precision and consistency.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: A results-oriented approach, understanding the fast-paced nature of media and delivering high-quality work within tight deadlines.

• Innovation: Encouraging new ideas and approaches to visual storytelling that keep ELLE at the forefront of fashion media.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, involving frequent interaction and idea exchange with editorial, photography, fashion, and digital teams to ensure a cohesive brand narrative.

• Open to feedback and constructive criticism, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and mutual respect.

• Proactive communication to keep stakeholders informed of design progress and to solicit input at key stages of the creative process.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture at ELLE, as part of Hearst Magazines, likely values a blend of established editorial tradition and modern digital innovation. The emphasis on collaboration and brand integrity is paramount for a publication of this stature. The temporary nature might also imply a need for someone who can quickly integrate and contribute without extensive onboarding.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Heritage with Modern Trends: Evolving ELLE's visual identity to stay relevant and fresh for a contemporary audience while respecting its iconic legacy.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively navigating the creative visions and requirements of multiple departments (editorial, fashion, marketing, digital) to create cohesive visual narratives.

• High-Volume, Fast-Paced Environment: Consistently delivering exceptional creative output under tight deadlines inherent in magazine publishing and digital content production.

• Leading a Team Remotely/Hybrid: Ensuring effective team cohesion, creative direction, and mentorship within a hybrid work model.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Gaining invaluable experience in shaping the visual direction of a globally recognized fashion brand.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepening understanding of integrated media strategies by working closely with diverse content teams.

• Team Management in a Hybrid Setting: Refining leadership and mentorship skills in a modern, flexible work environment.

• Industry Network Expansion: Building connections within the fashion and media industries through collaborations and events in New York City.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a senior creative role in a major media publication. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly for enhancing one's portfolio and professional network, even within a temporary capacity. The ability to adapt and thrive in a dynamic, high-pressure environment is key.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving ELLE's visual identity for the next year, considering current fashion and digital trends?" (Focus on brand analysis, trend awareness, and strategic planning).

• "Describe a time you successfully led a design team through a challenging project with tight deadlines. What was your approach to motivation and workflow?" (Highlight leadership, project management, and team dynamics).

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across print, digital, and social media platforms, especially when collaborating with different departments?" (Emphasize process, communication, and strategic oversight). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your understanding of ELLE's brand and its target audience? How does your design philosophy align with it?" (Demonstrate research and genuine interest).

• "How do you foster a collaborative and inclusive environment within a creative team?" (Showcase leadership style and interpersonal skills).

• "How do you measure the success of your design work, both creatively and in terms of business impact?" (Focus on metrics, audience engagement, and ROI). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure your presentation logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating a progression of skills and responsibilities.

• For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the process, the tools used, the challenges, your solutions, and the outcome.

• Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and how you empower your design teams.

• Have specific examples ready for how you've managed stakeholder expectations and incorporated feedback.

• Be ready to discuss your experience with WoodWing and Figma, and how they fit into your workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing strategic thinking, strong leadership, a deep understanding of the fashion media landscape, and proven ability to execute high-quality design within a collaborative, deadline-driven environment. The portfolio is your primary tool for demonstrating these capabilities.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this temporary Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided Oracle Cloud link.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 10+ years of editorial design experience, specifically in fashion/luxury, and emphasize leadership roles, team management, and cross-functional collaboration.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features magazine cover designs, editorial layouts, examples of visual identity development, and case studies of team leadership. Be prepared to discuss your process and outcomes.

• Prepare for the Interview: Research ELLE and Hearst Magazines thoroughly. Practice articulating your design philosophy, leadership approach, and how you would contribute to the brand's visual direction. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewers.

• Highlight Key Skills: Emphasize your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, WoodWing, and Figma, and your experience managing projects from concept to completion in a fast-paced media environment.

⚠️ 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.