We’re looking for a Design Director— an inspired (and inspiring!) creative, experienced craftsperson, and empathetic leader who shares in our ambition to build and create better brands that people deserve.

WHO WE ARE:

We’re a brand agency that has been around for about 10 years now, and we share a particular belief: when it comes to great and meaningful work, people are the reason, people are the challenge, and people are the answer. That’s why we call ourselves For The People.

This belief of ours, this fascination with messiness and beauty and intricacy of human nature—as well as the approach we’ve built around it— has worked out pretty well for us (at least so far). For example, in 2019, D&AD declared FTP one of the top 10 design studios in the world… and then it happened again in 2021. But more importantly, it has allowed us to do work we’re truly proud of– like building a brand that allowed Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility firm Be Equitable joyously embrace the work of progress… or helping Tasmania’s West Coast communities recover after mining companies abandoned them, by elevating and codifying their rugged spirit to attract new visitors and residents.

Of course, it’s not just about the work we do with our clients and partners– we do our best to make sure that engaging with people properly starts internally. That’s why we welcome everyone at FTP – the neurodiverse, the LGBTQI+ community, all (working) ages, and people of all ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, lifestyles and passions. We do this because it’s right, but also because it’s wise – as diverse perspectives lead to better work strategically and creatively.

We also believe in working in a way that values individual and collective wellbeing– putting respect before hierarchies, and cultivating an accepting environment that rewards brave ideas. We’ve found that’s the best way to do the sort of work we love to do – work that pushes creative and social boundaries, and challenges category conventions.

Speaking of work… what sort of work would you be doing if you joined us? Well, the majority of our work comes from social enterprises, government, start-ups, charities, cultural institutions and placemaking projects (including the development of regions, towns and cities). Technology clients have always represented an important part of our business too. But it’s always changing… the only real constant is that we look to work with organisations who are ready for big transformations, who agree to partner with us respectfully, and who are curious and driven enough to dive into the unknown in the interests of building a more meaningful relationship with people.

Anyway, that’s MORE than enough about us. Let’s talk about…

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• A strong ability to consistently generate impactful ideas and craft unexpected solutions for brands and places through design

• A distinct and developed point-of-view on design

• A deep understanding of the branding process and developing brands for various clients across different categories

• Design experience across a breadth of platforms and applications: from print to OOH to digital

• An understanding of the high standards needed to ensure project success and health, managing and creating significant parts of the work and handling complex tasks with the support of our designers

• An ability to own parts of a larger strategic vision, working independently or collaborating with others to bring said vision to life

• Experience guiding other creatives, ensuring quality, identifying team & client needs

• An empathetic leadership style, and a genuine love of collaborative creation and teaching

• Experience improving processes and the agency experience for your team

• High-level skill and experience using Adobe CC and Figma

• Demonstrated experience (that you’re excited to share with/teach the team) in at least one of the following: motion, digital design, 3D visualisation, illustration, type design, print, storytelling, or art direction

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING:

• Manage entire brand projects end-to-end with some guidance from our Creative Directors and Group Account Director

• Work closely with strategists and storytellers to ensure brand strategy informs all stages of brand development, both visual and written

• Determine appropriate methodology and resolve critical issues independently

• Lead creative critiques and use personal expertise to draw out the best possible creative ideas to deliver on design/brand strategy

• Lend your knowledge to project management and client management when needed (with a full grasp of project timeline, milestones and scope)

• Deliver powerful, insightful and novel ideas to clients

• Lead (and sometimes oversee the delegation of) client presentations and workshops

• Handle high volumes of feedback on the work effectively before distilling it down into an actionable plan for your team

• Provide ongoing direction of the design team and the selection and/or refinement of the final creative solution

• Mentor and support a team of designers; managing their professional development, 1:1’s, assessments and reviews (with the support of the management team)

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS:

• Our general operating hours are Monday-Friday 9-5.30pm AEST

• We are looking for someone that can come into one of our Sydney, Fremantle or Melbourne offices (or at least in a hybrid capacity)

• We do our best to offer a flexible working environment to accommodate diverse needs

HOW TO APPLY:

If all of the above makes you think “Oh wow, I think I’m the person for this!” then we’ll need you to PRECISELY FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS:

Please send an email with the subject line “Design Director” to work@forthepeople.agency that includes the following:

• *A short* introduction of yourself in the body of the email (a little about you and why you think you’d be the right Design Director for For The People)

• Link to (or attach) your CV

• Link to website or portfolio

If you do apply, we very much appreciate the time you take to do so! Good luck, and we hope to talk to you soon!

– The “For The People” people