The Role
Lead multi-channel graphic design for River Island across digital, print, retail, packaging, social, CRM, and brand communications. Develop concepts from brief through final execution, maintain brand consistency, guide creative workshops, review project quality, and mentor designers. Collaborate with UX/UI, content, marketing, development, and studio teams. The role requires strong typography, photography, art direction, motion graphics, video editing, digital and print production expertise, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma.
Summary Generated by Built In
The Senior Designer will play a key role in shaping and evolving the River Island brand across every customer touchpoint. Working across digital, print and physical communications, you'll take projects from an initial idea or creative reference through to fully realised concepts and final execution. You'll combine strategic thinking with exceptional craft to create work that is distinctive, commercially effective and unmistakably River Island.
Responsibilities
Responsibilities
- Bring the River Island brand to life through innovative and engaging multi-channel design across digital, print and physical touchpoints. You'll be equally comfortable creating campaign concepts, CRM, social, retail graphics, packaging and brand assets, with a strong understanding of digital design principles and best practice.
- Develop creative concepts from simple references, moodboards or strategic briefs into fully realised campaign directions and design systems.
- Own creative thinking from concept through to execution, ensuring ideas remain strong throughout the entire design process.
- You will help to lead, motivate, and inspire our multi-channel, multidisciplinary creative team to produce first-class creative whilst being the best version of themselves.
- Lead and actively contribute to creative workshops and brainstorming sessions, bringing original ideas and inspiring creative solutions.
- Confidently present concepts to the team and internal stakeholders.
- Sign-off day-to-day projects, ensuring design directives and a consistently high standard is met with synergy and consistency across all touchpoints.
- Keep all stakeholders up to date on project developments, allowing for changes or amendments.
- Work closely with the Traffic Team to assign and manage the team's day-to-day output, working to each designer's strengths whilst challenging them to grow in their roles. You may need to brief freelance support when necessary.
- Handover and brief the artwork team to deliver print-ready files and digital assets.
- Collaborate with our internal UX/UI team and content developers to push the boundaries of design and functionality for the River Island website and digital channels.
- Maintain seasonal brand and design style guides, ensuring consistency across every customer touchpoint.
- Champion typography, photography and art direction, helping elevate the creative standard across every project.
- Inspire the wider team by sharing ideas, creative references and emerging trends from fashion, luxury, design and culture.
- You are fascinated by what makes brands stand out and talented enough to translate that understanding into memorable multi-channel creative.
Requirements
- 5–8+ years' experience as a Senior Designer within fashion, luxury, lifestyle or another premium consumer brand.
- Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related creative discipline.
- Proven experience developing creative concepts from initial inspiration through to final execution across multiple channels.
- You have an insatiable love for fashion and graphic design.
- A strong holistic approach to creative problem solving whilst maintaining a keen eye for detail.
- Exceptional conceptual thinking with the ability to transform simple creative references into compelling campaign ideas and design systems.
- Outstanding typography skills with a sophisticated eye for layout, hierarchy and editorial design.
- A strong understanding of photography, art direction and premium visual storytelling.
- Proven experience creating innovative and engaging multi-channel creative.
- A strong ability to provide feedback, influence and inspire junior team members.
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver high-quality creative to deadline.
- Communicate clearly, accurately and confidently with colleagues across all levels and disciplines.
- Ability to collaborate with wider creative teams including Brand Marketing, Art Directors, Developers, Content Teams and Studio.
- Proactive, self-motivated and confident taking ownership of projects.
- Technical knowledge of both digital and print production processes.
- High technical proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma.
- Strong knowledge of Adobe After Effects and motion graphics capabilities.
- Solid video editing skills for social and campaign content.
- An exceptional portfolio demonstrating:
o Strong conceptual thinking
o Excellent typography and layout
o Photography-led creative
o Premium fashion or luxury aesthetic
o Multi-channel campaign work
o Evidence of taking ideas from concept through to final execution - Knowledge of workflow tools.
About Us
We’re a much-loved brand with an exciting future. Our Islanders are a diverse bunch of bright, talented people who love working together – and are proud of the work they do. Progression here can take you in all kinds of directions. This is what a career at River Island is like. And this is where yours starts.
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
🩺 The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
This role is based at our Head Office in West London. Check us out here on a map.
What we can offer you:
💰 Generous 50% staff discount so you can treat yourself to the latest products, and a bargain staff shop on site!
🛒 Reducing Islanders everyday expenses through discounts, benefits, financial advice, wellbeing solutions and more through the Retail Trust.
🎉 A free onsite gym, subsidised restaurant & café to fill you needs. Various social events to socialise throughout the year.
🤎 Every family is unique, we support Islanders with all different family setups enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption & fertility treatment. We also work closely with the Retail Trust to create dedicated support for all our Islanders!
💻 Flexible working, on top of payday and summer early finish Fridays.
💕 Give as you earn scheme, a ‘Giver Island’ day each year and receive matched funding.
🎓 Support with upskilling through on the job training and qualifications. A succession plan if you want to progress.
💰 A generous bonus scheme & private pension plan.
🩺 The choice to opt in for healthcare through our provider AXA.
☀️ 25 days paid holiday, exclusive of Bank Holidays. With the added option to purchase additional holiday twice a year for whatever the need!
Keeping You Safe
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive workplace where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all employees to uphold our values and contribute to a positive working environment.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
Our business is made up of a diverse community, where we all belong and feel part of something bigger. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion or belief. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise.
Skills Required
- 5–8+ years of experience as a Senior Designer within fashion, luxury, lifestyle, or another premium consumer brand
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related creative discipline
- Experience developing creative concepts from initial inspiration through final execution across multiple channels
- Strong conceptual thinking and creative problem-solving skills
- Outstanding typography, layout, hierarchy, and editorial design skills
- Strong understanding of photography, art direction, and premium visual storytelling
- Experience creating innovative multi-channel creative campaigns
- Ability to provide feedback, influence, and inspire junior team members
- Ability to work under pressure and deliver high-quality creative to deadlines
- Clear and confident communication across levels and disciplines
- Ability to collaborate with Brand Marketing, Art Directors, Developers, Content Teams, and Studio
- Proactive, self-motivated, and able to take ownership of projects
- Technical knowledge of digital and print production processes
- High proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma
- Strong knowledge of Adobe After Effects and motion graphics
- Solid video editing skills for social and campaign content
- Portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, typography, layout, photography-led creative, premium fashion or luxury aesthetics, and multi-channel campaigns
- Knowledge of workflow tools
- Passion for fashion and graphic design
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The Company
What We Do
Family owned from day one, we’ve been a big part of life on the UK high street for over 70 years. Today, still guided by shared values and a clear focus on our customers, we’re one of the strongest and most successful fashion brands around. And we’re changing like never before – exploring new ways to connect with our customers in person and online. And our talented Islanders are thinking differently about everything from products and stores to wellbeing and sustainability. The result is an energising culture you’ll love, work that’ll stretch you, a career you can build and a brand you’ll be proud to belong to. This is life on the island. Come and be part of it.
