Lead Designer

About the Role & Team

The Lead Designer will have proven experience managing and leading design and creative development from concept idea through final artwork. This is a critical role managing and setting style guide directions and working up original graphic assets and creative concepts for several of our global franchises with a focus on lifestyle and fashion. The Lead Designer will be responsible for the EMEA region while supporting the global creative teams. The Lead Designer will drive vision and innovation through creation of unique and original graphics and provide creative solutions at the highest level of quality.  If selected for the role you will support the Senior Creative Design Manager to develop and implement creative directions and strategy across the franchises.

This role will require you to be onsite 4 days a week.

What You Will Do

• Develop, lead and oversee graphic design and style guides for global use. Focus the creative deliverables for EMEA accounts and brands working closely with regional and global DCP counterparts 

• Work with Senior Creative Design Manager to develop creative, from idea generation through to consumer trend-right, art direction and design for both licensed, Disney-owned products and operated businesses across EMEA 

• Understand and implement consumer and design trends to create world-class creative solutions 

• Contribute to an inclusive, dynamic creative culture that encourages calculated risk-taking and challenges the status quo to drive next level creative to ensure our franchises remain relevant in the marketplace 

• Ensure design excellence by maintaining integrity and leading artistic and creative direction 

• Leverage ideas, assets and content across EMEA and globally whilst sharing best practises and driving efficiencies, making use of tools, resources and processes that enable team members to deliver their objectives  

• As required, clearly present ideas and pitches to senior stakeholders, both internal and external 

• Champion creative, character and brand integrity at all stages whilst advocating for creative excellence Operate with integrity, champion change and be a good ambassador for the Walt Disney Company  

• Operate as part of an effective and inclusive team by demonstrating an awareness of others; welcoming and valuing unique perspectives and ideas; offering support, sharing knowledge and best practices in order to contribute to overall departmental commitments 

• Accountable for compliance with corporate guidelines ensuring character and design consistency and integrity 

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree-level education in Art and Design/Graphic Design or Fashion Design and/or equivalent work experience  

• Proven work experience in graphic design and trend-led graphic asset generation aimed at lifestyle, fashion and  home  

• Demonstrable level of market and trend knowledge for lifestyle, home, stationery, and fashion  

• Proven experience of building effective relationships and managing stakeholders within a large, multi-national, matrix organisation 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience of working with global brands in an international environment 

• Proven experience translating graphic IP into commercial product 

• Previous experience of managing the performance of direct reports

• Practical knowledge and experience of the consumer product lifecycle from concept to on-shelf 

The Perks

• 25 days annual leave
• Private medical insurance & dental care
• Free Park Entry: You will have the opportunity to enter any of our parks with your family and friends for free
• Disney Discounts: you are entitled to discounts on designated Disney products, resort F&B and ticketing
• Excellent parental and guardian leave
• Employee Resource Groups – WOMEN @ Disney, Disney DIVERSITY, Disney PRIDE, our new disability & neurodiversity focused group - ENABLED, and our Mental Health & Wellbeing Group, TRUST.

The Walt Disney Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strive to be a diverse workforce that is representative of our audiences, and where all can thrive and belong. Disney is committed to forming a team that includes and respects a variety of voices, identities, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.