Overview
Design Lead Jobs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia at the human co
Title: Design Lead
Company: the human co
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Design Lead
We're looking for an emerging Design Lead to take on a future-of-design leadership role across the studio of one of our clients.
In this role, you'll lead design and studio output, setting the creative and technical standard the whole team works to. You'll bring deep expertise across brand, campaign, digital, and content design, staying hands-on with the work while also shaping where design is headed next.
You're someone who's genuinely switched on to how AI and emerging tools are changing design practice, and you know how to turn that into real capability gains for a team rather than just experimentation for its own sake. You'll mentor and develop designers at every level, and act as the calm, senior voice the studio turns to for creative and production decisions.
What you'll be doing:
- Leading design output across brand, campaign, digital, social, and content work, setting the creative and craft standard for the studio
- Championing the adoption of AI and emerging design tools where they genuinely improve speed, quality, or creative possibility
- Overseeing design production, finished art, and technical file standards across the team
- Reviewing, signing off, and releasing creative output across allocated clients and projects
- Maintaining consistency, brand alignment, and layout quality across every deliverable
- Briefing and managing external suppliers, retouchers, and freelance support where needed
- Building strong relationships across design, strategy, and production stakeholders
- Representing design in leadership discussions, bringing a strong point of view on craft and the future of the discipline
- Mentoring and developing designers across all levels, from junior through to senior specialists
- Setting clear standards and expectations for craft, process, and how the team show up across the design studio
What you'll bring:
- 8+ years' experience in a design, creative, or studio environment, with proven leadership experience
- Expert understanding of design, production, and digital craft, alongside a strong grasp of how AI and emerging tools are reshaping the discipline
- A strong portfolio showcasing both conceptual leadership and hands-on craft
- Calm, decisive, and confident under pressure
- Genuine passion for the future of design and for building a team that can get there
If this sounds like you, we'd love to hear from you and check out your portfolio – please make it easy to find 😉
