Design Lead
At Sorores, we create brands, destinations and experiences for some of the world's most ambitious luxury real estate and hospitality projects.
We're looking for an exceptional Design Lead to join our growing creative team, someone who is equally passionate about big ideas and flawless execution. This is a leadership role for a highly conceptual designer who can translate strategy into compelling visual experiences, inspire others to produce their best work, and own the creative direction of projects from concept through to delivery.
This isn't a project management role. It's a creative leadership role.
You'll work alongside our Head of Marketing & Creative to define the visual vision for brands, campaigns and experiences, while leading a talented team of designers to bring that vision to life across every touchpoint.
About the Role
As Design Lead, you'll be the creative owner of your projects.
You'll establish the creative direction, develop distinctive visual concepts, and ensure every piece of work reflects the highest creative standards. From luxury hospitality brands and residential developments to marketing campaigns, digital experiences and printed collateral, you'll oversee the creative process from the first idea to final production.
You'll remain hands-on where it matters most, developing concepts, refining key deliverables and art directing creative output while mentoring the wider design team and raising the quality of work across the studio.
This role is ideal for someone who enjoys leading creatively without stepping away from design.
What You'll Do:
Creative Leadership
- Define the creative vision and visual direction for multiple projects.
- Translate brand strategy into distinctive creative concepts and visual systems.
- Develop creative territories, moodboards and visual narratives.
- Ensure consistency and excellence across every project touchpoint.
- Champion outstanding creative thinking throughout the studio.
Art Direction
- Lead the creative direction of photography, film, CGI and digital content.
- Guide visual storytelling, styling, composition and image selection.
- Collaborate closely with strategists and copywriters to create integrated brand experiences.
- Review and elevate creative work to ensure it meets the highest standards.
- Understanding of brand
- Extensive experience working with brands, not just designing assets, but developing and applying visual identity systems. You understand how brands are built, how design decisions reinforce positioning, and how to maintain consistency across every touchpoint while allowing brands to evolve.
Design & Production
- Stay actively involved in concept development and key design stages.
- Oversee creative production across print, digital, websites, presentations, campaigns, sales collateral and environmental graphics.
- Work with external partners including photographers, filmmakers, developers, printers and specialist suppliers.
- Ensure creative quality is maintained throughout production without compromising commercial objectives.
- Motion principles
Team Leadership
- Lead, mentor and inspire a multidisciplinary design team.
- Provide clear creative direction, feedback and coaching.
- Support resource planning alongside project managers.
- Foster a collaborative, ambitious and creatively curious studio culture.
- Help shape and elevate the agency's overall creative output.
Client Leadership
- Present creative concepts and rationale with confidence.
- Lead creative workshops and design presentations.
- Build trusted relationships with clients through strategic thinking and creative expertise.
- Represent the Sorores creative standard at every stage of a project.
Skills & Knowledge:
Creative Leadership
- Exceptional conceptual thinking.
- Ability to develop original creative ideas from strategic briefs.
- Strong visual storytelling and narrative development.
- Excellent creative judgement and decision-making.
- Ability to define and communicate a compelling creative vision.
Art Direction
- Photography direction.
- Film and video direction.
- Styling and composition.
- Typography systems.
- Colour theory and palette development.
- Layout systems and visual hierarchy.
- Image selection and visual curation.
Technical Expertise
- Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
- Advanced understanding of print production and fabrication.
- Strong knowledge of website design and digital user experience principles.
- Experience managing multi-disciplinary creative production.
Leadership Skills
- Creative mentoring and coaching.
- Team leadership.
- Resource awareness.
- Decision-making.
- Problem solving.
- Constructive feedback.
- Cross-functional collaboration.
Professional Skills
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills.
- Strong commercial awareness.
- Excellent organisation and project management.
- Supplier and stakeholder management.
- Ability to balance creativity with budgets, timelines and commercial objectives.
What We're Looking For
- A minimum of 9 years' professional experience in branding and design for luxury hospitality and/or real estate. Preferably in a creative agency environment.
- A portfolio demonstrating exceptional brand identity, campaign and editorial work.
- Outstanding conceptual thinking and the ability to develop original creative ideas from strategic briefs.
- Strong art direction experience across photography, film and digital content.
- Strong understanding of print production, digital design and multi-channel creative delivery.
- Experience leading designers, mentoring teams and providing creative direction.
- Excellent presentation and communication skills.
- Commercial awareness and confidence balancing creative ambition with project objectives.
- A genuine passion for craft, storytelling and creating world-class work.
Please send your CV and a portfolio to careers@sorores.co.uk