Senior Experiential Designer / Associate Creative Director

Senior Experiential Designer / Associate Creative Director

About the Role

As a Senior Experiential Designer / Associate Creative Director, you will help lead the creative vision for multi-dimensional brand experiences, mentoring creative teams to deliver exceptional work through collaboration and innovation. This role requires a diverse background that balances graphic, environmental, experience, and digital design. You'll conceptualize captivating multi-touch experiences that align perfectly with client brands while actively engaging in the creative process and managing project teams. This is a leadership position where you bridge the gap between creative vision, user needs, and technical constraints.

Your Responsibilities

Creative Leadership & Strategy

• Lead the development of new ideas and creative design solutions based on sound strategic rationale across multiple brands
• Act as an expert in interactive experience design, working closely with multimedia directors and interactive experts
• Imagine, structure, prototype, and test innovative participatory experiences rooted in human interactions and emerging technologies
• Define interactive concepts, interfaces, and interaction mechanics in collaboration with project teams
• Work closely with Creative Directors to develop project roadmaps and execute strategic design solutions
• Translate clients' brands into thoughtful, compelling, and interactive experiences

Project Management & Execution

• Lead project creative design teams on assigned projects, ensuring execution is consistent and of the highest quality
• Collaborate with creative leadership to create high-quality, strategic presentations through copywriting, sketches, renders, mock-ups, and presentations
• Manage design, development, and implementation of all event-related creative in support of overall look and feel
• Maintain project budgets and track allocated hours to ensure profitability in partnership with project managers
• Understand the creative team's bandwidth and recommend when additional resources are needed

Client Relations & Business Development

• Develop personal client relationships that inspire clients and manage their expectations effectively
• Be an impactful participant in new business development efforts, including the pitch process
• Identify new projects and opportunities with existing clients
• Lead and participate in client presentations with compelling, innovative design solutions
• Inspire clients and creative partners with mind-blowing concepts, approaches, and presentations

Team Development & Mentorship

• Mentor creative team members through hands-on coaching and clear creative direction
• Inspire teams to do their best work and contribute to the creative and agency culture
• Set the highest standards for all creatives by leading in new thinking and techniques
• Mentor team members so well they can advance in their careers; identify areas of growth and help establish career paths
• Convey by example the mechanics and attributes of team strategy and accountability
• Act as an expert resource: provide training, alignment, and coaching on experiential and interactive design

Innovation & Excellence

• Contribute to defining and documenting best practices in interactive experience, and participatory design
• Maintain constant monitoring of interactive design, emerging technologies, cultural trends, and game mechanics
• Propose, test, and iterate interactive solutions working across departments and disiplines
• Help create thought leadership content and R+D
• Contribute to elevating the quality of projects interactively, aesthetically, and technologically

Your Skills & Competencies

Design & Technical Mastery

• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, etc.
• Proficiency in prototyping tools (Figma, Adobe CC) and ease in communicating ideas via wireframes, user journeys, diagrams, and prototypes
• Demonstrate astute design skills and an incredible eye for detail
• Deep understanding of interaction mechanics, collective behavior, and game principles

• Solid knowledge of experience architecture, real-world UX (physical + digital), and design of engaging interactions
• Understanding of human behavior, collective participation, and immersive environments

Strategic Thinking

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities
• Deep understanding of brand strategy, consumer behavior, and market trends
• Approach design with thoughtfulness and understanding of how it impacts the larger business
• Identify risks and friction points related to experiences and recommend realistic, elegant, innovative solutions
• Conceptualize unique experiences that exceed client expectations

Leadership Competencies

• Creative Innovation - Drive, develop, or support new and improved creative methods and technologies; devise new approaches to solve problems; constantly challenge yourself with transformative ideas
• Communication - Easily convey and sell ideas with brevity; articulate creative concepts, provide constructive feedback, and inspire teams to achieve excellence
• Urgency - Decisive, responsive, and fast-acting; cool under pressure; eliminate unnecessary steps while never sacrificing quality
• Flexibility - Maintain composure when deadlines shift and priorities change; keep an open mind and adapt strategies as needed
• Prioritization/Organization - Properly allocate time and resources; establish reasonable timelines; manage all resources effectively

Professional Excellence

• Always lead with a solutions-oriented mindset, focusing on strategically solving challenges
• Excellent collaboration skills across departments and disciplines
• Excel at presenting work in a clear and inspiring manner to internal and external partners
• Passionately offer versatile communication and problem-solving skills, equally comfortable with words and visuals
• Advocate for brand and identity standards; understand when to adhere closely and when to advise more creative approaches

Your Experience

Required

• Minimum 5-7 years of experience in interactive experience design, experiential design, interaction design, or design of immersive environments
• Degree or advanced training in Design, Advertising, Theater, or related creative discipline
• Portfolio demonstrating leadership in creative projects and high-impact design solutions
• Proven track record of leading successful creative teams and delivering results for experiential marketing campaigns
• Concrete experience in projects that take place in the real world (installations, events, immersive spaces, physical environments)
• Mastery of hybrid pathways (physical + digital)
• Solid experience in planning, directing, and ideating
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills

Preferred

• Event and experience design expertise
• Understanding of physical technologies, connected objects, sensors, tangible interfaces, and software systems
• Knowledge or interest in creative AI tools, platforms, and emerging technologies
• Skills in visual content creation (2D, 3D, motion design, generative)
• Knowledge or interest in TouchDesigner, Enscape, Unreal Engine,
• Ability to travel to shows domestically and internationally (approximately 15% of responsibilities)