Design Director (On-Site, New York)

Who are we?

MATTE Projects is a 360° full-service creative studio at the convergence of hype, storytelling, and design. We bring people together to inspire new ways of engaging, provoke long-term progress, and entertain audiences around the world—all while helping forward-thinking brands and institutions nimbly and authentically do the same. Our studio’s capabilities range from strategic ideation and insights, creative development, branding and identity, experiential, web design and development, campaigns and content creation, to full-scale production and execution.

About this role:

We are seeking a Design Director to join our team and oversee the creative quality, technical precision, and design excellence across all campaign, content, and experiential projects. This pivotal role requires a leader who can balance artistry with execution, ensuring that every design output embodies MATTE’s standard of innovation and craft.

Key Responsibilities:

Creative Leadership:

• Lead and oversee the design team across all disciplines—campaign, content, and experiential—providing vision, direction, and mentorship to ensure consistent creative excellence.
• Serve as a key decision-maker in design reviews, ensuring all deliverables meet or exceed MATTE’s quality and innovation standards.

Quality Control:

• Implement and uphold processes for design reviews, ensuring technical precision, creativity, and consistency in all visual assets across mediums.
• Establish and enforce standards for design, typography, color, layout, and overall visual identity, while encouraging new approaches and creative risks.

Innovation:

• Champion innovation within the design team, identifying and integrating emerging trends, tools, and technologies to elevate MATTE’s offerings.
• Push creative boundaries to develop groundbreaking design solutions that set new standards in the industry.
• Collaborate with strategy and creative leadership to explore and prototype innovative design concepts that differentiate MATTE’s work from competitors.

Technical Excellence:

• Evaluate and refine the team’s technical skills, identifying areas for growth and implementing training or development opportunities.
• Drive best practices for file preparation, asset management, and technical delivery for both digital and physical outputs.

Collaboration & Communication:

• Work closely with Creative Directors, Producers, and other cross-functional leads to ensure seamless integration of design into larger creative projects.
• Act as the primary advocate for design excellence and innovation, collaborating with clients and internal teams to articulate and execute a unified vision.

Project Oversight:

• Directly manage the design process for key projects, ensuring timelines, budgets, and deliverables align with MATTE’s goals.
• Oversee the development of prototypes, mockups, and production-ready files, ensuring flawless execution across all touchpoints.

Team Development:

• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and accountability within the design team.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop top design talent to maintain MATTE’s reputation for creative brilliance.

Qualifications:

• 15+ years experience in a senior creative leadership role at an agency or creative studio, ideally with a focus on campaign, content, and experiential.
• Strong operational capabilities, with experience managing creative workflows and cross-functional collaboration.
• A track record of winning and delivering big business, driving successful pitches, and managing client relationships at the executive level.
• Exceptional creative vision, with an ability to push boundaries and deliver work that challenges industry norms and inspires audiences.
• Strong leadership and team development skills, with a passion for mentoring and empowering creative talent.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of clearly articulating creative concepts and strategies to clients and internal teams.
• A deep understanding of the creative landscape, with a pulse on emerging trends and technologies.

What We Offer:

• Opportunity to work with a world-class creative studio at the cutting edge of innovation, design, and storytelling.
• Leadership role within a dynamic, fast-paced environment with the chance to influence the future direction of MATTE Projects.
• Four days per week in office, work from home on Fridays!

Salary Range: $190,000-$210,000/yr based on experience

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k with a 4% company contribution max match 
• Fully covered yearly Citibike membership wellness perk
• Talkspace membership wellness perk
• Competitive PTO package
• End of Year Recharge paid time off
• Sabbatical Program option after three years of employment with us
• Parental Leave for all new parents

Everyone is welcome at MATTE - we’re passionate about building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and creating an environment where our differences are celebrated. MATTE provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, MATTE will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.