Design DirectorLocation: Pune (Full-Time)Exp: 7-8+ yrsCompensation: ₹12-15 LPAReports To: Head of Marketing & BrandTeam: Designers, Jr. Designers, Motion Graphic Artists, Stop-Motion Artists; collaborates w/ Copywriters & FreelancersAbout Together HospitalityTogether Hospitality is home to five distinct brands, each w/ its own personality, audience & creative world. We believe design is a strategic tool that builds desire, creates memory, drives awareness & shapes how people experience our brands. We're looking for a Design Director to own & elevate the visual identity of all five brands while leading a multidisciplinary design team to produce exceptional creative work.About the RoleThe Design Director is the design conscience of Together Hospitality, owning the visual language across all five brands & ensuring every creative output meets a consistently high standard. This senior, hands-on leadership role brings creative decision-making on visual hierarchy, illustration, direction & execution directly into the design function, reducing reliance on external creative intervention.You'll lead designers, Jr. designers, motion & stop-motion artists, while collaborating closely w/ copywriters, strategists & the Creative Director. You think first about what an audience needs to understand, feel or do, then determine the most effective way to communicate it visually. We're looking for someone w/ exceptional creative range, strong design fundamentals & a constant appetite for experimentation across graphic design, motion, illustration, photography, retouching, stop-motion & emerging creative tech.What You'll DoOwn the Design Language Across Five Brands●Define & maintain each brand's visual identity●Establish & evolve typography, colour, image treatment, motion & illustration styles, & layout systems●Keep each brand distinct, recognizable & true to its identity●Make key creative decisions on hierarchy, emphasis & storytelling●Evolve brand aesthetics while preserving brand equitySet & Maintain the Creative Standard●Serve as the final quality filter before work is published●Translate communication objectives into clear visual direction●Define what audiences should notice first & how creative should make them feel●Give actionable, developmental feedback to designers●Reduce dependency on founder/leadership-level creative reviewsLead & Grow the Design Team●Manage designers, Jr. designers,



motion & stop-motion artists●Allocate projects, review work, unblock challenges & mentor●Brief & direct copywriters so words & visuals work together●Build stronger creative judgment & execution across the teamDirect Craft Across Mediums●Design-direct graphic design, motion, illustration & stop-motion work●Oversee photography editing & retouching standards●Develop inventive, on-brand motion/stop-motion executions●Introduce new formats, techniques & references so design stays ahead of trendsBuild Systems & Scale Consistency●Create design systems, templates & brand guidelines●Establish workflows for consistency across teams & freelancers●Onboard new designers/creative partners efficiently●Integrate AI tools where they improve quality, creativity or executionWorking w/ the Creative DirectorThis role partners closely w/ the Creative Director, who owns storytelling, narrative, content concepts, brand films, shoots, reels & video production. The Design Director owns brand identity, visual systems, design craft & creative consistency. Where storytelling & design intersect, both collaborate as equals.What This Role Does Not Own●Storytelling, video production, shoots & editing●Content strategy & content calendar management●Campaign strategy & brand narrative development●Photography/videography execution on shootsKey Result Areas (KRAs)●Creative Quality & Standards (25%): Better creative quality across brands; less need for leadership intervention; strong visual POV in major deliverables●Brand Integrity Across Five Brands (20%): Distinct, consistent identities; no visual overlap or dilution●Team Capability & Leadership (20%): Stronger team output; better briefing; greater autonomy●Creative Range & Experimentation (20%): Current formats/techniques adopted; elevated motion, illustration & editing; contemporary, differentiated work●Reliability & Delegation (15%):



Consistent delivery; scalable systems; full ownership w/ minimal oversightWhat We're Looking ForEducation & Foundation●Degree from a leading design institution (NID, MIT-ID, Srishti, NIFT, Symbiosis or equivalent)●Strong grounding in typography, composition, colour theory, hierarchy & visual communication●Ability to teach & develop these fundamentals in othersExperience●7-8+ yrs in design & creative leadership●Exp owning the visual identity of one or more brands●Proven success leading designers/multidisciplinary teams●Exp in hospitality, F&B;, lifestyle, culture or consumer brands preferredCraft & Creative Range●Strong graphic design foundation w/ fluency in motion, illustration & image editing●Exp directing retouching & photography post-production●Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; familiar w/ motion workflows & After Effects●Portfolio showing breadth, experimentation & adaptabilityLeadership & Brand Thinking●Solid briefing & communication skills●Deep understanding of brand-building through design●Ability to coach, mentor & elevate creative talent●Clear, actionable & constructive feedback styleWhat Sets Great Candidates Apart●Portfolio showing range across multiple brands & mediums●Evidence of elevating both teams & brands over time●Ability to articulate design decisions through communication objectives●Proven examples of evolving a brand's visual identity over timeWho You Are●Sets the standard: creative quality improves simply because you're in the room●Has range: adapts approach to brand needs rather than imposing a signature style●Experiments constantly: curious about new formats, tools, AI workflows & creative possibilities●Leads through others: enjoys building great teams as much as outstanding work●Teaches the thinking: develops people, not just projects●Brand obsessed: instinctively protects & strengthens brand identity●Has exceptional taste: notices every detail & won't let mediocre work ship●Thrives in complexity: managing multiple brands & priorities energizes youCompensation & Benefits●₹12-15 LPA (based on exp & fit)●Full-time role based in Pune●Opportunity to shape the visual identity of five growing brands●Lead a multidisciplinary creative team●Significant ownership, creative freedom & impactIf you're passionate about building brands through design, leading creative talent & pushing visual craft forward, we'd love to hear from you.

📌 Design Director (Maharashtra)
🏢 Together Hospitality
📍 Maharashtra