Lead Designer, Brand

_Job Description

Our mission at RPI Print/Blurb is to enable creative people and professionals to design, build and deliver high-quality photo products worldwide. We help creators create. To get there, we need exceptionally talented, bright, and driven people.

We are seeking a multidisciplinary, hands-on, creative and strategic Lead Designer, Brand, who can execute across multiple channels while keeping our brand at the forefront a player/coach role. This person will be strong in craft and a people-focused leader, who embodies the values we seek in our design leaders. You will lead brand and marketing communication design, working cross-functionally to shape, evolve, and drive RPI / Blurb's visual design strategically as the leading end-to-end bookmaking platform for hobbyists to professionals. As a key member of the design team, you will play a pivotal role in creating experiences utilizing multiple mediums to impact how we connect with a global audience across a diverse range of channels and touchpoints.

Our ideal candidate partners with other team leads to translate business goals into clear, visually compelling and concise concepts to support the brand's core mission and DNA, from ideation to execution. The Lead Designer, Brand, is a growth-minded, resilient, and trusted leader to colleagues across the organization, thriving in ambiguity and an environment where needs evolve. The Lead Designer, Brand, will collaborate closely across the organization, working at the heart of a company that is at an exciting inflection point. While the opportunities to create impact through this role are limitless, here are the key responsibilities:

Responsibilities

• Lead and own the RPI Print and Blurb visual identity and strategy across print, digital, TV, mobile, and environmental spaces, working directly with RPI/Blurb leadership and team leads to define how product, marketing, and brand come together
• Be an active part of the design of our digital and print projects and initiatives; lead brainstorm sessions, ideate concepts and campaigns, create mockups, refine design details, and prepare assets in a timely fashion
• Actively evolve, contribute and collaborate with Design team members to guide the design system and design guidelines/templates to apply across platforms and channels to ensure a cohesive design language and evolve short- and long-term visual design strategy
• Create and execute against business objectives for all project team members
• Work closely with marketing, business, and product teams to validate all projects and initiatives
• Collaborate and continuously communicate with various cross-functional teams and partners to ensure alignment, moving work toward implementation
• Solicit, review, and incorporate feedback from team and partners
• Art direct and select photography and rendered assets
• Be immersed in our company values and passions, instilling the integrity of the company and of brand in the look, the feel and the execution of design storytelling
• Foster, develop, and mentor design team members
• Partner with design leadership to build a healthy and collaborative work and Design culture at RPI / Blurb

Qualifications

• 6-8+ years of experience working in organizations that have shipped software, working closely with cross-functional partners, taking a leading role in the execution of a pre-defined brand; experience at a technology-focused, product-led company is preferred.

• At least 3+ years' experience as an In-House Senior / Lead Designer and 3+ years of mentoring/leadership or management experience.

• Solutions-oriented leader, confident in managing up to leadership and building influence across teams

• *Outstanding portfolio, with case studies showcasing an exemplary foundation in design for digital and print channels, creating impactful campaigns, and how you moved the discipline of brand forward within an organization (see below for details)

• Proven ability to create powerful narrative through visual design

• Demonstrated excellence in photography art direction

• Experience working with external agencies, creators and talent

• A learning and growth mindset - our team size and process will evolve over the next few years as we strive to continuously improve and adapt based on what we learn from our work and with each other

• Empathy, resilience and comfort in ambiguity - A demonstrated customer-focused, empathy approach to design and fluency in digital, print, event, environment, and motion design; resilience to take on feedback from anywhere and adapt to changes

• Skilled in multi-tasking to manage a high volume of creative and content

• Deep understanding of design in multiple mediums and form factors (2D & 3D): print, digital, TV, mobile; strong fluency in UI, UX and accessibility; utilizing data to make informed design decisions and rationale

• Excellent communication and presentation skills

• Fluent in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; experience with AirTable, Jira and Confluence, a plus

• A passion for mission-driven brands

Bonus Points

• A passion for books and printed objects
• Photography, illustration, motion graphics, or other fine art and creative pursuits

Application Materials

• Provide a resume and cover letter
• *Please provide portfolio of work samples demonstrating expertise in the following areas: brand identity design, marketing campaigns, website or UI design, print design, photography or art direction samples. Portfolios with password protection must include access details.