Brand Activation

About The Role
As a Brand Activation & Event Designer, you will bring brands to life through compelling physical environments including retail pop-ups, brand activations, and events. You'll translate brand strategies into immersive three-dimensional spaces that create memorable consumer connections and drive business results. This role requires someone with a strong understanding of environmental design, retail strategy, and consumer engagement who can balance creative vision with practical execution across temporary and semi-permanent installations.

Your Responsibilities

Design & Creative Development

• Translate creative briefs and brand guidelines into impactful environmental design solutions for activations, pop-ups, and events
• Create comprehensive design packages including sketches, renderings, floor plans, elevations, 2D and 3D visualizations, and presentation decks
• Design thoughtful and engaging guest journeys that maximize brand impact and consumer flow
• Develop multiple design concepts and solutions that align with brand identity while pushing creative boundaries
• Understand how brands translate into physical retail and event spaces, from architecture to finishing details
• Create mood boards, material palettes, and styling concepts that bring brand stories to life

Spatial & Environmental Design

• Design functional layouts considering traffic flow, space allocation, sightlines, and consumer behavior
• Specify materials, textures, finishes, lighting, furniture, fixtures, graphics, props, and decor elements
• Understand fabrication methods, rental options, and construction techniques to ensure designs are buildable
• Create detailed specifications and documentation for production teams to execute designs
• Balance aesthetic vision with structural requirements, safety regulations, and building codes

Production & Execution Collaboration

• Work directly with production, fabrication, and graphics teams to vet ideas and understand what's feasible within budgets
• Collaborate with vendors, fabricators, and installers to ensure design intent is maintained through execution
• Solve design and budgetary challenges while maintaining brand integrity and design excellence
• Understand project timelines and installation logistics for temporary activations
• Review shop drawings, material samples, and mockups to ensure quality standards

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Participate in planning and strategy sessions, contributing insights on spatial design and consumer engagement
• Present design concepts with confidence and enthusiasm to internal teams and clients
• Develop and maintain strong client relationships through clear communication and creative excellence
• Manage client expectations while advocating for design excellence
• Identify opportunities for additional projects and scope expansion with existing clients

Project Collaboration

• Collaborate seamlessly with creative directors, account teams, strategists, and production staff
• Work on multiple projects simultaneously, managing time effectively and meeting deadlines
• Communicate concerns early with a solutions-oriented approach when challenges arise
• Participate in new business development efforts including pitch presentations
• Mentor junior designers and provide constructive creative direction

Your Skills & Competencies

Technical Proficiency

• Mastery of relevant creative tools
• Ability to effectively and artistically convey and present ideas in 3D (modeling and rendering software or sketches and material boards)
• Proficiency in Figma for presentation decks and collaborative design work
• Experience creating technical drawings, floor plans, and elevations
• Passion for learning emerging design tools and AI-based software

Design Excellence

• Expert understanding of environmental and experiential design principles
• Deep knowledge of retail design, consumer behavior, and merchandising strategies
• Comprehensive understanding of materials, finishes, lighting design, and spatial composition
• Strong graphic design skills and understanding of brand identity systems
• Excellent aesthetic, eye for detail, color, typography, and styling
• Ability to design across various brand aesthetics and adapt to client-specific styles

Retail & Activation Expertise

• Understanding of retail environments, pop-up strategy, and temporary installations
• Knowledge of consumer engagement tactics and activation best practices
• Experience with event design across various scales and formats
• Understanding of how physical spaces drive brand awareness and business outcomes
• Familiarity with POS materials, signage systems, and wayfinding design

Budget & Production Knowledge

• Clear understanding of project budgets and ability to design within financial constraints
• Knowledge of fabrication costs, rental vs. custom build decisions, and value engineering
• Understanding of installation logistics, timelines, and on-site coordination
• Solid comprehension of graphic production processes and file preparation
• Ability to balance design ambition with practical execution realities

Professional Competencies

• Creative Innovation - Constantly push boundaries while staying strategically grounded; bring fresh thinking to brand challenges and develop solutions that are both beautiful and effective
• Communication - Articulate design concepts clearly and persuasively; present work with confidence; express ideas through compelling visuals and narratives
• Urgency - Thrive under tight deadlines; make quick decisions without sacrificing quality; eliminate unnecessary steps while maintaining design excellence
• Flexibility - Adapt easily to changing priorities, client feedback, and evolving project requirements; maintain composure when challenges arise
• Prioritization/Organization - Manage multiple projects effectively; allocate time and resources wisely; track hours and budgets accurately

Mindset & Approach

• Solutions-oriented mindset, approaching obstacles as creative challenges to solve
• Knows how to ideate within strategic and budgetary guardrails
• Pushes for innovative ideas while understanding when to move forward with agreed direction
• Maintains professionalism and positivity under pressure
• Works collaboratively while also excelling independently
• Committed to creating inclusive, energetic work environments
• Understands when to escalate issues to creative leadership

Your Experience

Required

• 4-7 years of experience in environmental design, retail design, event design, or experiential design
• Degree or advanced training in Interior Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, Industrial Design, or related field
• Portfolio demonstrating strong work in brand activations, retail spaces, pop-ups, or event environments
• Proven experience bringing projects from concept through installation
• Experience working with fabricators, production teams, and vendors
• Strong presentation skills and experience presenting to clients
• Understanding of the experiential marketing industry and agency ecosystem

Preferred

• Experience with luxury brands, consumer products, or lifestyle brands
• Knowledge of sustainable design practices and materials
• Experience with trade shows, festivals, or large-scale events
• Understanding of digital integration in physical spaces (screens, interactive elements, lighting control)
• Experience managing or mentoring junior designers
• Ability to travel to site visits and installations (approximately 10-15% of time)
• Familiarity with project management tools and processes