Design Director, Elle

This is a Full Time Job

Be Part of What's Next

Great design doesn't just support great storytelling-it defines how audiences experience it. As Temporary Design Director at ELLE, you'll lead the creative vision for one of the world's most iconic fashion brands, shaping bold visual storytelling across every platform while inspiring a talented team to push creative boundaries.

Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)
• Lead and evolve ELLE's visual identity across print, digital, social media, video, events, photography, and emerging platforms, ensuring a cohesive and elevated brand experience.
• Direct the creative vision and production of the print magazine, including covers, editorial layouts, and special packages that reflect ELLE's fashion authority.
• Manage, mentor, and inspire a team of three designers by providing creative direction, constructive feedback, and professional development.
• Collaborate closely with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, branded content, and contributor teams to develop compelling visual storytelling.
• Oversee the creative development of fashion shoots and editorial initiatives, partnering with photographers, illustrators, and freelancers to deliver exceptional work.
• Establish and maintain visual systems, design templates, and style guides that reinforce brand consistency across all consumer touchpoints.
• Manage projects from concept through production, balancing multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional creative quality and meeting tight deadlines.
• Drive both long-term creative strategy and hands-on design execution, bringing innovative ideas and thoughtful craftsmanship to projects of varying scope and scale.

Qualifications (What We're Looking For)
• 10 years of editorial design experience across print and digital media, ideally supporting a consumer fashion, luxury, or lifestyle brand.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing the visual identity of a consumer editorial brand, including magazine cover design.
• Proven success leading, mentoring, and developing creative teams in a collaborative environment.
• Experience partnering with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, and social leaders on cross-functional creative initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, with experience using WoodWing and Figma.
• Strong design sensibility, excellent production skills, and exceptional attention to detail.
• Outstanding organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• A collaborative, inclusive, and solutions-oriented approach with excellent communication and leadership skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, deadline-driven editorial environment.
• Ability to work a hybrid schedule based in New York City, with 4 days per week in the office.