Senior Designer/Project Director

Potion is seeking a talented Senior Designer/Project Director to join the Design discipline.

A Senior Designer leads by example and assumes a high level of ownership and responsibility for design within their projects. They have a rock-solid foundation in design & visual communications (branding, composition, typography, etc.) and have honed their skills to create pixel-perfect designs across multiple platforms and a wide range of interactive media. This full-time position affords a good deal of independence and latitude within the studio in defining and maintaining conceptual vision, in managing successful project teams, evaluating and understanding client’s needs, and maintaining the user experience–while applying and communicating a solid rationale and executing to the highest standards.

The role of design at Potion carries many responsibilities. Everything from an initial concept through its myriad executions—UX, UI, motion studies, prototypes, apps, full-body-gesture interfaces, touch screens—are all developed and refined within the Design Discipline. Consequently, the Discipline values broad-minded thinkers with multidisciplinary skill sets. Potion blends technology, rich design, and real human-experience to craft beautiful and thoughtful digital products that have lasting impact, and relies on its designers to bring those ambitions to life.

When functioning as a Project Director, the candidate will have broad responsibility for overall executive decision-making within their projects including creative vision and strategy, and final execution.  Project directors work with discipline leads at the project level in delivering to insure overall project success.

This is a full-time, on-site position in our Manhattan office.

Expectations and Responsibilities

Everyone within the Design Discipline contributes to a project’s conceptual development and should be eager to collaborate in developing meaningful experiences for a wide-range of audiences. They are expected to bring a strong point of view to both challenge and inspire one another, to push boundaries and elevate our work. This ability must be backed by a sophisticated executional ability of the highest caliber, and exceptional command of the production process from initial concept to final delivery.

Project Directors, in particular, provide strong leadership on a daily basis and are confident in presenting their work internally and to clients. They demonstrate the highest level of independence, and are responsible for not only producing exemplary work for ~ 2 projects at a time, but also directly supervising other designers and technologist when necessary to produce innovative and sophisticated solutions. Project Directors are expected to be able to discuss and weigh strategic aspects of their project at any time, and collaborate with Technology and Production to create beautiful and functional digital experiences from Potion’s unique point of view. They provide leadership and support to client presentations, planning meetings, and proposals, and are able to provide reasonable estimates of time, effort, and materials needed to execute Potion projects.

Senior Designers also:

• Work with the Design Director to achieve key studio and discipline goals
• Monitor and evaluate functional level of project teams, providing feedback and support when necessary, so that teams high-functioning
• Represent Potion as a knowledgeable expert in proposals, client presentations/meetings, and speaking engagements
• Promote and maintain friendly, motivational, can-do, team-oriented attitude.
• Travel to physical locations for various reasons, including but not limited to client meetings, presentations, and installations

Supervision

This position reports to the Design Director in weekly 1:1 check-ins and bi-annual performance reviews.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7+ years professional experience and leadership experience in a studio environment
• Has strong understanding of digital design (UX/UI, visual design, typography, branding, image making) as well as a core area of strength.
• Has complete understanding of hands-on design skills and a mastery of digital design principles
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, and ability to articulate their thinking to colleagues, clients, and the design industry
• Excellent ability to provide and receive positive and critical feedback, in an effective and efficient way to ensure that the studio output fulfills the studio’s mission and vision
• Excited to mentor and help others develop skills
• Great leadership skills
• Ability to lead and contribute to a high performing team
• Ability to collaborate with other Disciplines to ensure project efficiency and success
• An expert knowledge of the Adobe CC
• Ability to prototype ideas quickly using pen and paper or popular tools like Sketch and Framer
• Ability to conceptually own, craft and present visually powerful and beautiful presentations that articulate a deep understanding of what we do
• Comprehensive awareness and interest in new media, emerging technologies, and design trends
• Superior ability to work collaboratively and participate in the creation of a respectful working environment
• Conversant with and supportive of the mission and values of Potion
• Exercises maturity, vision, humility, curiosity, enthusiasm, humor, and inspiration
• Position deals with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment. It is important to have a detail-oriented, respectful approach.

The person in this position may be expected to perform other job-related duties, outside of what is listed in this description, that may be required by their supervisor.