Principal, Visual Design

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE

The Principal, Visual Design role requires a visionary approach, collaborating with the creative team to not only meet client needs but to establish new benchmarks for conceptual and visual design excellence. A core responsibility is to challenge the team's thinking, pushing beyond conventional problem-solving to deliver transformative, best-in-class solutions.

The ideal candidate is a design expert combining a deep focus on users and an exceptional eye for detail with strong leadership, collaboration, and execution skills. You possess the conviction to lead when necessary and the humility to follow great ideas, regardless of their source. You are committed to meticulous detail and leveraging every challenge as an opportunity for growth.

As part of the creative leadership team, you will play a crucial role in executing the overarching creative and design strategy, ensuring the team's activities align with and significantly contribute to the organization's strategic short and long-term success.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Closely collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of talented people.
• Lead and mentor the creative team, fostering a collaborative, optimistic, and proactive culture.
• Bring a fresh, insightful point of view that inspires both the internal team and the client, putting the team and client first.
• Define and implement successful design strategies, setting high visual and conceptual standards for all company efforts (including websites, branding, UX, and content).
• Generate strategic insights and moodboards to facilitate creative innovation.
• Drive complex digital projects from kick-off to completion, ensuring the team's deliverables exceed client expectations and stay within budget and deadlines.
• Establish project direction, craft guidelines, and assist with production as needed.
• Identify key client decision-makers and leverage excellent interpersonal skills to grow and maintain these relationships, collaborating across all internal departments and external stakeholders to achieve desired results.
• Actively contribute to the design discipline through mentoring, conversation, and proposing ideas to elevate company operations and improve processes.

WHAT YOU BRING

• 5+ years of proven experience in design and interactive work for leading brands, including 2+ years in a leadership role.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Visual Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Mastery of Figma (including components, variants, and auto layout) and familiarity with essential collaboration tools (e.g., Hubspot, Google Suite, Slack).
• Strong knowledge and experience in visual design, user-centered experience design, interaction design, and brand development. Experience developing and maintaining a robust design system.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic vision and creative inspiration to large, diverse teams.