Associate Design Director
Amsterdam, Rotterdam · Netherlands · DTDK · DTNL · 3+ years experience · Hybrid · Posted Oct 5, 2026
At a glance
- Experience
- 3+ years experience
- Workplace
- Hybrid
- Location
- Amsterdam, Rotterdam · Netherlands · DTDK · DTNL
About the role
- As an Associate Design Director, you operate at a studio-wide level: shaping the craft vision, elevating design excellence, and steering the strategic direction of our visual design practice.
- You ensure quality across accounts, drive operational standards, and keep our craft innovative, consistent and competitive.
- You influence senior stakeholders, guide multidisciplinary teams, mentor talent, and represent DEPT® externally.
Responsibilities
- Own craft direction across complex projects and accounts, ensuring work is aligned, elevated and unmistakably DEPT®.
- Raise the bar by defining standards, sharpening processes, and enabling teams to deliver consistently exceptional work.
- Guide clients and internal teams with clear, high-level creative and product direction that goes beyond the brief.
- Drive innovation through experimentation and curiosity, creating work that sets benchmarks and wins awards.
- Shape the future of the design practice by evolving craft vision, building team capabilities, and fostering a culture of mentorship and continuous learning.
- Support pitches and growth opportunities with strong creative POVs that connect craft to business impact.
- Represent DEPT® externally through talks, posts and publications that amplify our creative reputation.
Requirements
- 10+ years of experience in visual/UI/UX design, including 3+ years at senior or leadership level.
- Serious craft expertise: a portfolio demonstrating strategic impact, systems thinking, and high-quality execution across complex digital ecosystems.
- A strategic thinker who influences product, design, and business decisions with clear vision and rationale.
- A recognised design voice: inspires teams, elevates craft standards, and contributes to the wider design community.
- Mentorship mindset: actively builds others up through coaching, structured feedback, and knowledge sharing.
- Continuously curious: eager to master emerging tools, AI workflows, motion, and design trends.
- Deep understanding of visual principles, accessibility, and modern interaction patterns.
- Mastery of Figma and design systems.
- Confident communicator able to articulate design direction with clarity and conviction.
- Working proficiency in English.
Preferred qualifications
- Motion skills (Jitter, AE, etc.) are a plus.
Benefits
- 24 vacation days per year and the possibility to buy an unlimited number of extra vacation days
- DEPT®/YOU Learning Menu and DEPT®/YOU Special Programs
- Contribution to your health through the OpenUp platform, gym and wellness discounts, and healthy lunches at the office
- Discount on your lease bike
- Hassle-free commutes with an NS Business Card
Workplace
- Flexible, hybrid working policy (2-3 days from the office, depending on location)
Skills
- Figma
- Jitter
- AE
- UX Design
- Design Systems
