58 Senior Art Director Roles jobs in London

SGK and SGS & Co have built an impressive roster in creative, strategy, digital commerce, experiential marketing, engineering, and creative content production—bringing together the incredible talent of 2,300 agency professionals. This collective expertise will come together under Marks, a Next-Gen Creative Platform built to thrive in today's global and local cultural conversations. Equator will continue to play an important role as an agency within Marks.

We are looking for a Design Director to join the team on a 12 month contract. Partnering with Client Services, this role will own the creative client relationships and quality of design across brands and/or accounts, ensuring we deliver the best against each brief. Using strong judgement and analytical skills to drive better design and deliver beyond the client expectation

Responsibilities:

• Building strong client relationships, acting as their brand custodian. Using understanding of strategic, creative and commercial aspect of brands to add provocation and richness.
• Leading by example, guiding and inspiring your team to produce exceptional, insightful work that fully explores, challenges and goes beyond the brief. Knowing the power of sketching.
• Approving work before client submission, maintaining our quality of output.
• Acting as the design consultant to your Client Service partners, aligning briefs to the client and brand needs, adding richness and insight to enable design to go deeper, stronger.
• Maximising our resources, managing your team’s workflow to deliver efficiently, adapting the plan when things change in partnership with Resource Management.

Skills/Experience:

• Strong knowledge of strategic, creative and commercial aspect of brands and the
• world they inhabit
• 8-12 years experience within a Brand/Packaging Design agency in Design roles
• Shopper/retail experience
• Understanding of design systems within retail envrionment
• Stakeholder management skills
• Exceptional print / material knowledge
• Cross-team management, ability to identify and leverage skills across the network
• Agility, read the room and adapt
• A degree in Graphic Design, Product Design, Illustration or related fielddobe CC, Office, Sketching

Propelis, is a go-to-market ecosystem that enables marketers to move their brands forward with greater speed, clarity, and confidence. Our broad range of integrated solutions include brand creative, packaging, print solutions, branded environments, and content production. Services are delivered through our family of brands: SGX, Marks, Equator, Collide, and 5Flow. With a combined legacy spanning more than 150 years, Propelis commences operations with 10,000 employees in 30+ countries, nearly $1 billion in annual sales, and a diverse client base of over 2,000 leading companies.

Design Director (Consumer Packaging and more)

£65,000 to £80,000

Hybrid working (3 days in the office, Central London)

We’re working with a very well-known branding agency in Central London, part of a global communications group, to find a Design Director who brings both creative vision and strategic depth. This is an opportunity to lead and inspire a talented team, shaping work for some of the world’s most recognisable consumer brands.

In this role you will be both a leader and a creator; guiding the strategic and creative direction of projects while staying close to the craft. You will challenge convention, spark innovation and lead by example, ensuring that every piece of work pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in consumer branding and packaging.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the creative direction on major branding and packaging projects, from concept to delivery
• Championing design excellence across every touchpoint, ensuring work is strategically sound and beautifully executed
• Building trusted relationships with clients, understanding their brands, their challenges and their ambitions
• Collaborating closely with Creative Directors, Strategists and Client Services to deliver world-class creative solutions
• Mentoring, inspiring and developing designers at all levels, creating a culture of creativity, curiosity and excellence
• Presenting ideas with confidence and clarity, ensuring great work is sold as effectively as it’s created
• Keeping your finger on the pulse of cultural and design trends, bringing fresh insights that move brands forward
• Helping identify new opportunities for both clients and the agency, contributing to growth and innovation

What you’ll bring

• Strong experience leading creative teams within a top-tier branding or design agency
• Proven ability to shape and deliver strategic, design-led brand and packaging solutions for well-known consumer brands
• Excellent communication skills, with a natural talent for storytelling and presenting ideas
• A collaborative and empathetic leadership style that inspires trust and drives performance
• The ability to stay calm under pressure, balancing creative ambition with commercial awareness
• A genuine passion for building brands that make an impact and stand the test of time
• If you’re a design leader who loves big ideas, believes in the power of great branding and thrives in a collaborative, creative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Why you'll apply

Our client offers a range of benefits to boost lifestyle, health and your future which include health & dental, life assurance, pension, travel insurance, mental health services and flexible holidays.

But more than that they'll give you the chance to work across major brands, produce the best work of your career and future proof your career with group-wide opportunities in one of the world's best-known networks.

This role is the real deal. If you are a brand maven looking for a bright spotlight then please get in touch.

Design Director (Consumer Packaging and more)

£65,000 to £80,000

Hybrid working (3 days in the office, Central London)

We’re working with a very well-known branding agency in Central London, part of a global communications group, to find a Design Director who brings both creative vision and strategic depth. This is an opportunity to lead and inspire a talented team, shaping work for some of the world’s most recognisable consumer brands.

In this role you will be both a leader and a creator; guiding the strategic and creative direction of projects while staying close to the craft. You will challenge convention, spark innovation and lead by example, ensuring that every piece of work pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in consumer branding and packaging.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the creative direction on major branding and packaging projects, from concept to delivery
• Championing design excellence across every touchpoint, ensuring work is strategically sound and beautifully executed
• Building trusted relationships with clients, understanding their brands, their challenges and their ambitions
• Collaborating closely with Creative Directors, Strategists and Client Services to deliver world-class creative solutions
• Mentoring, inspiring and developing designers at all levels, creating a culture of creativity, curiosity and excellence
• Presenting ideas with confidence and clarity, ensuring great work is sold as effectively as it’s created
• Keeping your finger on the pulse of cultural and design trends, bringing fresh insights that move brands forward
• Helping identify new opportunities for both clients and the agency, contributing to growth and innovation

What you’ll bring

• Strong experience leading creative teams within a top-tier branding or design agency
• Proven ability to shape and deliver strategic, design-led brand and packaging solutions for well-known consumer brands
• Excellent communication skills, with a natural talent for storytelling and presenting ideas
• A collaborative and empathetic leadership style that inspires trust and drives performance
• The ability to stay calm under pressure, balancing creative ambition with commercial awareness
• A genuine passion for building brands that make an impact and stand the test of time
• If you’re a design leader who loves big ideas, believes in the power of great branding and thrives in a collaborative, creative environment, we’d love to hear from you.

Why you'll apply

Our client offers a range of benefits to boost lifestyle, health and your future which include health & dental, life assurance, pension, travel insurance, mental health services and flexible holidays.

But more than that they'll give you the chance to work across major brands, produce the best work of your career and future proof your career with group-wide opportunities in one of the world's best-known networks.

This role is the real deal. If you are a brand maven looking for a bright spotlight then please get in touch.

ABOUT US

Brandpie is an exciting and dynamic consultancy with a diverse and highly experienced team located across the UK and North America. We are world leaders in purpose-led transformation. Working with some of the world's largest B2B organisations to help them better understand and define their purpose. Our work with companies impacts the way they appear, communicate, operate and engage with their employees and the wider world. We do this through a unique blend of services across brand, culture and experience.

We pride ourselves in being a company that works in a smart, friendly, and co-operative way that respects everyone’s time and is understanding of that fact that work, however important, is just one part of your life. Our culture aspires to be creative and nurturing, with open, transparent communication. We’re a diverse and strategic bunch, with a mix of doers and thinkers, and we are looking for someone who’s like-minded and pragmatic to help us deliver great work.

THE ROLE

As a Design Director, you will:

• Promote and develop creative thinking and motivate others to come up with new and unique ideas.
• Ensure complex information is delivered and displayed in the most compelling way.
• Lead the team to deliver amazing work, from conceptual ideas, through development, design, and completion.
• Be a partner with the senior team to ensure that the creative solution solves the client / brand need on the project.
• Listen to, mentor, and guide the design team members to learn and grow their skills and knowledge.
• Take ownership of full project delivery, ensuring everyone involved is clear on the objectives, and can subsequently help to create a case study for each project.
• Play an active role in new business, being involved in pitches and meeting with potential new clients.
• Work with the Creative Director to build, manage, and sustain a digital first design team.

Requirements

As a Design Director, you are:

• Experienced: with several years of experience under your belt, you’ve created great work for big international brands, small charities and everything in between. Ideally you will currently be working as a Design Director and have a strong background or leading a design team, however a hungry and driven Senior Designer ready for their first Design Director role will also be considered.
• Keen eye for design: current in the latest trends and standards for graphic design and know the difference between decoration and creative problem-solving.
• Technical: you are a master of the Adobe Creative Suite, with skills/experience in one or more of the following a major plus: Sketch, After Effects, Premiere Pro and Cinema 4D. You have delivered strong concepts and unique ideas across various mediums, with experience in motion and digital design.
• Collaborative: you love to brainstorm and work with others, whether you are 1-1 with the creative director or rolling your sleeves up with the team, you do your part to contribute to the creation of a killer execution.
• Detail oriented: you are able to manage multiple projects at once while maintaining attention to detail with each project.
• A self-starter: always curious and excited to learn with one finger to the pulse of the latest trends in brand and design.
• Full of personality: enthusiastic, passionate and positive, always bringing good vibes to the team.
• Clear communicator:  Strong communication skills and an ability to work remotely and independently with the ability to collaborate successfully during this new normal.

YOUR MINDSET

• Clear communicator:  You have strong communication skills and are comfortable communicating and challenging ideas with clients and colleagues.
• Team player:  You love to generate fresh thinking and work with others, whether you are 1-1 or rolling your sleeves up with the broader team, you do your part to contribute to the creation of brilliant ideas and experiences.
• Passionate : You are excited and passionate about developing world-class design experiences and the benefits innovative technologies can offer our clients. Keeping up with the latest trends, new approaches and techniques to enhance our capabilities as a business.
• Detail-oriented:  You are able to manage multiple projects at once while maintaining attention to detail with each project.
• A self-starter:  You’re comfortable working in a small team and taking the initiative to help drive projects forward. Even if this sometimes means you need to do something that’s not always expected from your role.

Benefits

PERKS AND BENEFITS

At Brandpie we believe supporting and helping everyone to grow as a team and an individual. We help do this through our comprehensive and competitive benefits package we offer:

• Generous reward package:  We provide industry competitive salaries that reflect experience and ability. We also offer additional benefits including medical and life insurance, gym membership contributions and a company pension scheme.
• A competitive holiday package:  You will start with 23 days annual leave, which increases by 1 day per year to a maximum of 28 days. Our business usually closes between Christmas and New Year, providing an additional 3 days leave.
• Wellbeing support:  We believe it’s vital people have time to focus on their wellbeing (both physical and mental). From day one you will be provided with a comprehensive core and mental health cover (currently with Vitality Health), subsidized gym membership, partner rewards and discounts, including 12 months free subscription to Headspace and Employee Assistance Programme though WeCare.
• Flexi-time and place: We now operate a fully flexible model. We do not insist that our people are office based and respect everyone’s individual preference. We encourage flexible work patterns and want our people to find a fair work/life balance they are comfortable with.
• Solid technology kit:  On joining you will receive new IT equipment including a laptop (Mac only), peripherals, and an external monitor for your home set-up.
• Personal development: We want you to learn and grow with us. To make sure our people are up to date with our latest work, we do regular Knowledge Share sessions, and we will work with you to create a personal career development plan. We make a commitment that every member of staff has at least 1 day a month dedicated to PD.

Our dedication to embracing diversity

Brandpie is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, train, reward and promote regardless of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law.

Jones Knowles Ritchie is a branding business, founded in 1990 and proudly independent ever since.

We started out in the world of packaging, but now we’re worldwide—from three founders, to more than 300 of us across the UK and USA. Together, we build and deliver brands across the entire consumer experience.

But even more important than what we do, is why we do it. We’re here to inspire brands and people to be their true selves. To be brave. Be tenacious. And above all, be yourself. Because we believe that’s the only way to truly be distinctive, everywhere.

We are seeking a Design Director on a fixed term contract (FTC) to guide and elevate our creative vision. Reporting directly to the Creative Director, you will oversee the creative direction of branding initiatives, particularly in the Consumer Packaging (CPG) sector.

The Design Director plays a pivotal leadership role within our Design team, driving quality and strategically led creative solutions. You will inspire your team and offer growth opportunities, enabling them to excel in their roles while consistently innovating for our clients.

Responsibilities

• Champion the sharing of creative work and inspiration both internally and externally 
• Identify and develop skills within the team through training and mentorship 
• Lead client-facing presentations with excellence in communication
• Deliver impactful pitches and strategies that influence client outcomes
• Provide constructive feedback on design work and guide projects towards creative excellence 
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to achieve optimal results for clients

Experience 

• Substantial experience in a leading branding, design, or creative agency
• Significant exposure to Global CPG projects with proven leadership
• Ability to construct brand ideas across various consumer touchpoints
• Experience managing design teams and fostering a collaborative environment
• Fluent in senior-level presentations and client engagement
• A passionate advocate for outstanding design and attention to detail
• Proven ability to extract world-class conceptual design from team members

Requirements

• 7+ years of relevant experience
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite
• Exceptional communication skills
• Experience leading a team of designers

At JKR, our goal is to create an equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace that reflects and creates for the societies we live in. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is a long-term business imperative and a commitment at JKR, not an initiative that sits under one department. As a leader in our business, you will demonstrate being a DE+I advocate and champion with your actions in how you build, run, and grow your team(s)

Benefits

This role will be offered as a Fixed term contract from January 2026, for 6, possibly 12 months, you will be eligible for JKR benefits including:

• Pension Plan
• Training & Development
• Paid holiday
• Health insurance
• Location: Shoreditch studio
• Hybrid working: min 2 days pw in the studio (or as required by the team)

A London-based studio is looking for a Design Director to lead their commercial mixed-use sector. This is a newly defined role that will sit alongside other sector leaders within the studio.

The vision is to grow this sector with a focus on markets in the UK and Europe. Currently, it is the studio’s smallest sector, and they have identified a clear gap—there is a need for senior leadership to develop and elevate the offering.

The role will be supported by a peer leadership team. It would suit an architect ready to lead and take on the responsibility of heading a sector, managing a P&L, and who will enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a sector grow—reaping the rewards of their leadership abilities.

The role encompasses two clear skill sets - professionals who are work-winners with a strong network of industry connection or those with proven design pedigree and a portfolio that demonstrates significant impact across the UK and Europe. The studio has an established presence in other sectors, and there is opportunity to cross-sell within the wider practice. The client is ideally looking for architects who have worked on design-led, iconic schemes in the UK/Europe and wants to lead design direction in their sector.

This role would suit leaders who are looking to move away from politically led structures, who value the ability to make decisions quickly, and who have an entrepreneurial mindset. Those who enjoy running their own business unit within a business—will thrive running a sector. You’ll have the support of resources, finance, legal, and operations, but the space to lead autonomously.

Architects who are driven to challenge themselves and develop not only their own careers but also nurture the careers of their team will be well suited to this opportunity.

Experience Required:

• A qualified architect (ARB/RIBA) with 15+ years of experience
• A portfolio demonstrating commercial mixed-use projects in the UK and/or Europe
• Has held client-facing roles and led multiple projects at scale
• Deep understanding of innovative design within a UK context
• Strong knowledge of London boroughs and the UK planning system
• Confident in presenting and public speaking
• Commercially astute, internally and externally, and able to manage a range of stakeholders
• Comfortable managing both upwards and downwards, taking full responsibility
• A passion for people, teams, and design excellence

This is a rare opportunity to shape the creative direction of a key design sector for the London office, with a focus on commercial mixed-use buildings. You’ll benefit from the backing of a strong brand and a wider studio network with international offices and cross-sector knowledge.

A London-based studio is looking for a Design Director to lead their commercial mixed-use sector. This is a newly defined role that will sit alongside other sector leaders within the studio.

The vision is to grow this sector with a focus on markets in the UK and Europe. Currently, it is the studio’s smallest sector, and they have identified a clear gap—there is a need for senior leadership to develop and elevate the offering.

The role will be supported by a peer leadership team. It would suit an architect ready to lead and take on the responsibility of heading a sector, managing a P&L, and who will enjoy the satisfaction of seeing a sector grow—reaping the rewards of their leadership abilities.

The role encompasses two clear skill sets - professionals who are work-winners with a strong network of industry connection or those with proven design pedigree and a portfolio that demonstrates significant impact across the UK and Europe. The studio has an established presence in other sectors, and there is opportunity to cross-sell within the wider practice. The client is ideally looking for architects who have worked on design-led, iconic schemes in the UK/Europe and wants to lead design direction in their sector.

This role would suit leaders who are looking to move away from politically led structures, who value the ability to make decisions quickly, and who have an entrepreneurial mindset. Those who enjoy running their own business unit within a business—will thrive running a sector. You’ll have the support of resources, finance, legal, and operations, but the space to lead autonomously.

Architects who are driven to challenge themselves and develop not only their own careers but also nurture the careers of their team will be well suited to this opportunity.

Experience Required:

• A qualified architect (ARB/RIBA) with 15+ years of experience
• A portfolio demonstrating commercial mixed-use projects in the UK and/or Europe
• Has held client-facing roles and led multiple projects at scale
• Deep understanding of innovative design within a UK context
• Strong knowledge of London boroughs and the UK planning system
• Confident in presenting and public speaking
• Commercially astute, internally and externally, and able to manage a range of stakeholders
• Comfortable managing both upwards and downwards, taking full responsibility
• A passion for people, teams, and design excellence

This is a rare opportunity to shape the creative direction of a key design sector for the London office, with a focus on commercial mixed-use buildings. You’ll benefit from the backing of a strong brand and a wider studio network with international offices and cross-sector knowledge.

Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum – from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.

A super-charged experience powerhouse - 900 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world’s biggest brands to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today’s consumer landscape.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Director (Adaptive) on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract basis. This is a hybrid working role based in our London, UK Studio

As our Adaptive Packaging Designer, you’ll be responsible for developing packaging systems that seamlessly adapt across product lines, formats, and markets globally. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teamsto deliver packaging that are not only beautiful, but also functional.

You will of course be grounded in brand pack design, both creatively and in its expansion and translation across wide reaching portfolios, with strong print and technical knowledge to back this up in execution.

As well as thinking conceptually, you’ll be structured in your approach; critical to this role is inherent adaptability and pragmatism as well as strong organisational skills. Working across multiple creative projects in a fast-paced studio environment you will need to prioritise and manage your time effectively and assist driving the creative team through projects, keeping them on track in output and creative quality throughout.

What you’ll do

You’ll lead the team on multiple projects from brief through design, adaptation and roll out and production across a wide variety of packaging design projects

You will report directly to the Creative Director and you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day quality of outputs from, and nurturing of the design team.

You’ll be providing inspirational directions to the more junior members of the team, mentoring and sharing your knowledge and skills

You’ll be able to work efficiently, balancing tight deadlines and frequently shifting priorities

Foster a respectful, open and inspiring work environment within the studio, including a genuine and positive attitude

What you’ll need

• Solid experience in branding, packaging design with focus on adaptation and roll out, digital understanding is a plus
• Strong understanding or artwork, print and production process
• A portfolio that represents a diverse range of industry expertise, showing systems thinking in the world of FMCG
• The ability to be the brand guardian, ensuring it’s development and executional consistency and recognising when to creatively challenge and stretch it as the opportunity arises
• The ability to change perspectives: a keen eye for detail but being able to shift to ‘helicopter view’ when needed
• Ability to manage clients and projects independently, in association with the Creative Director and the members of the client services and strategy teams.
• Thorough understanding of print production processes and the implications of design proposals
• Excellent presentation skills, articulating ideas with conviction in client facing situations
• The ability to manage teams and support them in driving creative quality and technical execution excellence
• A passion for visual culture, creativity, innovation and tech, beyond the world of graphic design
• A expert working knowledge of the usual Adobe software (InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator)

What we'll offer

When working for Marks you will enjoy an excellent base salary, along with an outstanding suite benefits including :

• 25 days holiday per annum + additional 'Me Day'
• Flexible working during summer hours
• Pension Scheme
• Voluntary SGS Europe Group Healthcare Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Healthcare Digital GP Service
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
• City Bike Scheme (London only)
• Employee referral program

Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum – from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.

A super-charged experience powerhouse - 900 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world’s biggest brands to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today’s consumer landscape.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced Design Director (Adaptive) on a 12 month Fixed Term Contract basis. This is a hybrid working role based in our London, UK Studio

As our Adaptive Packaging Designer, you’ll be responsible for developing packaging systems that seamlessly adapt across product lines, formats, and markets globally. You’ll collaborate with cross-functional teamsto deliver packaging that are not only beautiful, but also functional.

You will of course be grounded in brand pack design, both creatively and in its expansion and translation across wide reaching portfolios, with strong print and technical knowledge to back this up in execution.

As well as thinking conceptually, you’ll be structured in your approach; critical to this role is inherent adaptability and pragmatism as well as strong organisational skills. Working across multiple creative projects in a fast-paced studio environment you will need to prioritise and manage your time effectively and assist driving the creative team through projects, keeping them on track in output and creative quality throughout.

What you’ll do

You’ll lead the team on multiple projects from brief through design, adaptation and roll out and production across a wide variety of packaging design projects

You will report directly to the Creative Director and you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day quality of outputs from, and nurturing of the design team.

You’ll be providing inspirational directions to the more junior members of the team, mentoring and sharing your knowledge and skills

You’ll be able to work efficiently, balancing tight deadlines and frequently shifting priorities

Foster a respectful, open and inspiring work environment within the studio, including a genuine and positive attitude

What you’ll need

• Solid experience in branding, packaging design with focus on adaptation and roll out, digital understanding is a plus
• Strong understanding or artwork, print and production process
• A portfolio that represents a diverse range of industry expertise, showing systems thinking in the world of FMCG
• The ability to be the brand guardian, ensuring it’s development and executional consistency and recognising when to creatively challenge and stretch it as the opportunity arises
• The ability to change perspectives: a keen eye for detail but being able to shift to ‘helicopter view’ when needed
• Ability to manage clients and projects independently, in association with the Creative Director and the members of the client services and strategy teams.
• Thorough understanding of print production processes and the implications of design proposals
• Excellent presentation skills, articulating ideas with conviction in client facing situations
• The ability to manage teams and support them in driving creative quality and technical execution excellence
• A passion for visual culture, creativity, innovation and tech, beyond the world of graphic design
• A expert working knowledge of the usual Adobe software (InDesign, Photoshop & Illustrator)

What we'll offer

When working for Marks you will enjoy an excellent base salary, along with an outstanding suite benefits including :

• 25 days holiday per annum + additional 'Me Day'
• Flexible working during summer hours
• Pension Scheme
• Voluntary SGS Europe Group Healthcare Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Healthcare Digital GP Service
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
• City Bike Scheme (London only)
• Employee referral program