At Gensler, the Brand Design studio brings together designers, strategists, and storytellers to shape how people experience and navigate the built environment. You will have the opportunity to lead experiential graphic design work that connects information, identity, and place, grounded in the studio principle to create a better world through the Power of Design.
As a Brand Design Director, you will focus primarily on experiential graphic design (EGD), signage, and wayfinding. This role combines creative direction with practical problem-solving, guiding teams and projects from early concept through design development, documentation, fabrication, and installation. Based in Boston, MA, the position is onsite, with an annual salary range of USD 120,000 - 140,000.
Responsibilities
- Build client relationships and lead fast-paced, interdisciplinary teams across architecture, interiors, graphic and wayfinding specialties, and other creative partners.
- Guide brand design work across environments including aviation, education, entertainment, hospitality, retail, sports, workplace, and mixed-use projects while balancing vision, usability, integration, technical requirements, schedules, budgets, and fabrication realities.
- Set creative direction by developing concepts that connect information, identity, and place.
- Design clear, intuitive information and navigation systems aligned to user needs and architectural conditions.
- Lead experiential concepts that integrate typography, graphics, color, materials, storytelling, and spatial design.
- Resolve complex challenges involving design, accessibility, code, fabrication, and implementation through innovative and practical solutions.
- Provide clear, critical design reviews to elevate quality and consistency.
- Generate new opportunities and strengthen existing client relationships across the studio practice.
- Own the conceptual design approach and design narrative for RFP responses, interviews, and pursuits.
- Partner with Design Managers to develop workplans, scopes, schedules, and level-of-effort estimates for design services.
- Advance a point of view on how information, navigation, and graphics shape the experience of place.
- Stay current on emerging approaches to accessibility, digital wayfinding, materials, fabrication, technology, and user experience.
- Provide design oversight and stewardship across assigned Brand Studio projects, acting as primary client design point of contact from concept through bidding, fabrication, and installation.
- Coordinate closely with architecture and interiors teams to integrate signage and experiential elements into the overall environment.
- Guide sign families, location plans, message schedules, environmental graphic concepts, material and fabrication strategies, and design intent packages.
- Collaborate with consultants, fabricators, vendors, and contractors to maintain design intent through implementation.
- Support professional development of studio staff and mentor Brand Designers, while managing fees, teams, schedules, and budgets to support delivery.
Requirements
- 10–15+ years of professional experience, including recent leadership of EGD projects spanning signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics, and placemaking; professional degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Architecture, Visual Communication, or related field is preferred (partially specified).
- Portfolio showing strong conceptual thinking and fully realized signage, wayfinding, and experiential graphics in the built environment.
- Proven ability to build, nurture, and grow client relationships and generate new business.
- Exceptional design judgment and capability to provide clear, critical design direction to project teams.
- Strong communication and presentation skills to explain complex design concepts to clients and collaborators.
- Knowledge of the full project process from programming and concept design through design development, documentation, fabrication, and installation.
- Understanding of materials, fabrication methods, accessibility considerations, code requirements, and coordination within architectural environments.
- High emotional intelligence and collaborative problem-solving in complex situations.
- Engaging leadership and mentoring skills with interest in developing emerging design professionals.
- Strong project and financial management skills, including experience with fees, teams, schedules, and budgets.
- Ability to develop collaborative relationships across the firm and with clients, consultants, fabricators, and other key partners.
Benefits
- Medical, dental, vision, disability, wellness programs, flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off.
- 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership.
- Twice annual bonus opportunities.
- Reimbursement for certain professional licenses and associated renewals and exam fees.
- Tuition reimbursement for certain eligible programs or classes.
Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer; employment decisions based on merit, performance, and business needs. Individuals with disabilities and protected veterans are encouraged to apply. Gensler will not ask applicants for sensitive or personal financial information during the recruitment process. For assistance or accommodations, visit gensler.com/careers or contact Gensler as indicated in their application notice. If contacted by someone falsely representing Gensler, email talentacquisition@gensler.com.
