The Poetry marketing team is on the lookout for a Design Lead who possesses a keen eye for detail and a strong brand sensitivity. This pivotal role is responsible for the comprehensive execution of visual assets across various marketing campaigns, ensuring that creative concepts are not only brought to life but also resonate beautifully with the brand’s aesthetics.
Responsibilities of the Design Lead
As a Design Lead, you will collaborate closely with the Creative Lead, Art Director, and Copywriter. Your primary duties will include:
- Brand Stewardship & Design Quality
- Lead the visual implementation of marketing campaigns and brand collateral from concept to final artwork.
- Develop comprehensive style guides specific to campaigns ensuring visual consistency across multiple channels.
- Present style guides to the creative team for input and alignment on the approved concept.
- Design assets for a variety of formats, including print, digital, email, packaging, e-commerce, and social media.
- Ensure all designs adhere to Poetry’s high visual standards and branding guidelines.
- Adapt concepts into various formats while maintaining integrity and quality.
- Collaboration & Cross-Functional Alignment
- Work in tandem with various teams including Visual Merchandising (VM), E-commerce, and Digital to create a cohesive visual experience.
- Liaise with external print suppliers and production partners to uphold quality standards.
- Embrace constructive feedback and iterate on designs collaboratively and professionally.
- Design Execution & Ownership
- Consistently maintain and evolve Poetry’s visual language for all materials.
- Apply brand guidelines effectively while identifying opportunities to refresh designs.
- Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail, particularly in layout and typography.
- Keep abreast of design trends and proactively incorporate fresh ideas into assets.
- Project & Deadline Accountability
- Deliver all creative work on schedule according to timelines established by the Traffic Manager.
- Communicate promptly if deadlines need adjustment, ensuring all stakeholders are informed.
- Take ownership of deadlines to produce accurate and complete designs ready for rollout.
- Maintain a respectful and solution-oriented approach to managing workflow pressures.
Qualifications & Skills Required
| Qualifications | Skills |
|---|---|
| 5+ years of graphic design experience, preferably in fashion, retail, or lifestyle brands. | Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (essential: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator). |
| Strong understanding of layout, typography, and multi-format design. | Experience with traffic/project management systems and structured workflows. |
| Knowledge of production processes for print, packaging, and digital assets. | Ability to work independently and take full ownership of the design function. |
Behavioral Competencies
- Highly organized and driven by deadlines, able to manage various projects simultaneously.
- Maintains calm under pressure with a proactive and solutions-oriented mindset.
- Communicates clearly and respectfully, especially in times of shifting project timelines.
- Deeply connected to the Poetry brand and its customers, committed to crafting engaging and beautiful designs.
- Reliable, accountable, and focused on details.
- Curious and creative, drawing inspiration from design to push the boundaries of execution in a brand-consistent manner.
The Cape Union Mart Group is dedicated to transformation. Preference will be given to candidates who enhance the diversity of the team, aligning with our Employment Equity plan.