Lead Designer

About UsWe are a recently Series A funded technology and lifestyle startup headquartered in Irvine, California with a fashion/design office in Seoul, South Korea. Our brand spans multiple touchpoints including digital art, social media, fashion merchandise, music events, community meetups, and digital applets. We blend social media technology with authentic community building both online and offline. Role OverviewContemporary experimental design is core to our identity, driving a unique visual presence across all platforms and products. We're seeking a Lead Designer to lead our multi-disciplinary design team across digital and physical products. Reporting to the Executive Creative Director, this role will oversee design operations spanning web applications, fashion merchandise, and experiential design while maintaining our distinct visual identity. The position requires a unique blend of creative leadership, technical expertise, and cross-cultural management capabilities.Position ContextDirect report to Executive Creative Director with significant creative autonomyLeads multinational design teams across US and Korea officesManages diverse creative disciplines including UX/UI, graphic design, and 3D animationMaintains cohesive brand identity across multiple channels and touchpointsOperates at intersection of digital products and physical merchandiseBridges cultural and creative perspectives between US and Korean teamsKey ResponsibilitiesStrategic Creative DirectionDefine and evolve the company's visual identity across all platforms and productsLead creative strategy for digital products, merchandise, and brand experiencesDevelop comprehensive brand systems that scale across multiple sub-brandsGuide creative decision-making for both physical and digital product linesAlign design direction with business objectives and market trendsAnticipate and respond to emerging design and cultural trendsTeam Leadership & DevelopmentManage and mentor design teams across US and Korea officesBuild and maintain high-performing creative teams across multiple disciplinesProvide clear creative direction and constructive feedbackFoster collaboration between UX/UI, graphic, and 3D design teamsDevelop career growth paths for design team membersCreate opportunities for skill development and creative explorationBalance workload across international team structureDesign Operations & ExecutionEstablish and maintain design systems and documentationImplement efficient design review and approval processesCoordinate design projects between US and Korea teamsEnsure consistent quality across all design deliverablesOversee design production workflows for digital and physical productsMaintain design excellence while meeting business timelinesOptimize resource allocation across multiple project streamsCore CompetenciesCreative LeadershipDemonstrated ability to guide creative vision across diverse product typesAdvanced capacity for balancing innovation with brand consistencySophisticated eye for design excellence and attention to detailRefined ability to translate business objectives into creative directionStrategic approach to evolving brand identityProfessional AttributesSuperior creative judgment and aesthetic sensibilityDemonstrated ability to lead cross-cultural creative teamsExcellence in managing multiple concurrent design workstreamsAdvanced problem-solving capabilities in creative contextsTrack record of successful creative team developmentTechnical ExcellenceMastery of contemporary design tools and technologiesDeep understanding of both digital and physical design principlesProven ability to implement scalable design systemsStrong foundation in typography, color theory, and compositionExpertise in design production across multiple mediumsWorking StyleThe ideal candidate demonstrates creative leadership while maintaining hands-on involvement. This role requires someone who:Balances creative excellence with practical executionBuilds trust and rapport across international teamsMaintains calm decision-making under deadline pressureChampions design quality while meeting business objectivesApproaches feedback with both confidence and opennessCreates space for team creativity while ensuring deliverablesAdapts leadership style to different cultural contextsRequired Qualifications5-10 years of professional design experience3+ years in design leadership rolesFluent in Korean and English (verbal and written)Strong portfolio demonstrating contemporary design excellenceExperience managing multiple sub-brands and design systemsTrack record of maintaining brand consistency at scaleBackground in both digital and physical product designDeep understanding of current design trends and youth cultureTechnical RequirementsExpert proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative SuiteStrong knowledge of digital product design principlesExperience with print production and packaging designSome familiarity with 3D design tools and animation workflowsExpertise in design systems creation and documentationProficiency in project management toolsUnderstanding of design QA and review processesLocation & Team StructureBased in Orange County, CaliforniaWorks out of office 5 days per week in Irvine, CaliforniaReports to Executive Creative DirectorManages team of UX/UI designers, graphic designers, technical illustrators, and 3D animators in California and KoreaRegular collaboration with Korea officeFlexibility to coordinate across time zonesSuccess MetricsQuality and consistency of design output across all channelsEffectiveness of design team management and developmentImplementation of efficient design systems and processesTeam satisfaction and creative growthSpeed and quality of design productionBrand cohesion across multiple touchpointsInnovation within brand guidelinesCross-cultural team collaborationWhat We OfferCompetitive compensation packageComprehensive health benefitsFlexible PTO policyProfessional development opportunitiesInternational creative leadership experienceOpportunity to shape the future of a fast-growing brandInterested candidates should submit their portfolio, resume, and cover letter demonstrating their creative vision and leadership experience.Location on-site in Irvine, California.

Created: 2025-02-04