design lead

Reporting to: Creative Director

Industry: Advertising and Marketing

WHO WE ARE

Image & Time is a full service design and consulting company. We work across branding, digital design, campaigns, and experiential projects to create culturally relevant, meaningful, and strategically driven work. We leverage design thinking and a human-centered process to solve complex problems and deliver outstanding creative outcomes.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are hiring a Design Lead with 8+ years of experience in a design studio, agency, or independent practice. This is a senior leadership role with clear creative authority. You will own design quality across projects, influence creative direction from concept to delivery, and set the visual standard for the team. You will be trusted to make design decisions, guide execution, and escalate only when necessary.

We're looking for someone who sees design as a tool for impact, pushes for great ideas, and obsessively cares about craft and detail. This role is for designers ready to step into leadership while staying hands-on with exceptional work.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES (BESIDES BEING AWESOME)

• Conceptual Thinking: Develop original, thought-provoking design solutions across branding, editorial, digital, and environmental design.
• Design Craft: Execute beautifully crafted work with a strong command of typography, composition, colour, and materiality.
• Design Integrity: Uphold the highest standards of excellence, ensuring every project is rooted in strategy, concept, and execution. You will have final say on projects assigned to the design studio, ensuring work meets strategic and creative standards before delivery.
• Design with Purpose: Lead and execute brand identities, design for good initiatives and experiences that don't just look good, they mean something.
• Creative Conviction: Push boundaries, fight for great ideas, and never settle for "just okay." You'll be the guardian of design integrity in every project.
• Mentor & Motivate: Inspire and lead a small but mighty team, providing creative direction, structured feedback, and mentorship that raises individual and collective performance.
• Client Storytelling: Bring clients into our world. Educate, persuade, and take them on a journey where they understand the why behind the wow. You will act as the senior design voice in client conversations, confidently defending design decisions and guiding clients through the thinking behind the work.
• Cultural Radar: Stay ahead of design trends, movements, and cultural shifts to keep our work fresh, relevant, and powerful.
• Advocate for Design Thinking: Champion a philosophy where design is not an afterthought but a foundation for problem-solving and innovation. You will help embed design thinking into how projects are approached, influencing not just outputs but how problems are framed and solved.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8+ years of experience in a design studio, agency, or independent practice.
• A portfolio that demonstrates intelligence, craft, and originality(work that goes beyond execution to show deep thinking).
• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite and an openness to new tools and technologies.
• Strong conceptual and typographic skills with an ability to create work that is both timeless and forward-thinking.
• The ability to work autonomously and collaboratively, handling multiple projects with precision and creativity.
• A critical eye and a rigorous approach to the design process.
• Curiosity, cultural awareness, and an interest in how design intersects with art, architecture, technology, and society.
• A no-BS attitude, a thick skin, and a sense of humour,because great work comes from great culture.
• Demonstrated experience owning or significantly influencing creative direction on projects and working directly with senior stakeholders or clients.

BONUS POINTS IF YOU…

• Have experience across multiple disciplines (AR/VR, motion, editorial)
• Have worked with high-profile brands, cultural institutions, or experimental projects.
• Have strong writing skills and the ability to articulate design thinking clearly.

WHY YOU'LL LOVE WORKING WITH US

Work with a team of passionate, creative, and forward-thinking professionals.

Be part of a collaborative and innovative work culture where ideas thrive.

Work on exciting projects that blend data, content, and technology to create digital magic.

This role is ideal for a senior designer ready to step into a leadership position with real influence, not just increased responsibility.

If you're a creative disruptor with a passion for bold, meaningful design, we'd love to hear from you.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Education:

• Undergraduate (Required)

Experience:

• design studio, agency, or independent practice: 8 years (Required)