Experiential Design Lead 

About the Role

We're looking for an Experiential Design Lead to oversee the visual identity of our live events, activations, and editorial franchises across both spatial experiences and graphic design. This role is responsible for translating our brands and editorial voice into compelling physical environments while developing the graphic systems that tie every touchpoint together—from spatial, scenic, lighting and furniture to floral and propping to graphics, signage, invitations, print collateral, and digital integrations.

The ideal candidate is equally comfortable thinking in three dimensions and designing in two, creating immersive experiences where architecture, materials, typography, graphics, and storytelling work seamlessly together.

What You'll Do

• Lead creative direction across editorial tentpoles, recurring franchises, subscriber experiences, custom client activations, and B2B events, developing cohesive spatial and graphic design systems from concept through execution
• Translate creative briefs into immersive environments, balancing environmental design, branded moments, print collateral, signage, wayfinding, stage design, and digital-physical integrations
• Partner closely with editorial, marketing, and production teams to extend brand identity into physical spaces while maintaining strong visual storytelling across every guest touchpoint
• Interpret sponsor and partner brand identities/guidelines to create integrated event experiences that meet client objectives while preserving the integrity of our brands and delivering meaningful audience engagement
• Develop creative concepts, mood boards, renderings, presentation materials, invitations, event branding, environmental graphics, print production files, and installation specifications
• Collaborate with producers, fabricators, printers, and production vendors to ensure designs are buildable, on budget, and aligned with venue and production constraints
• Oversee fabrication, print production, material selections, color management, and on-site installation to ensure design quality from concept to completion
• Direct freelance designers, illustrators, fabricators, printers, and production partners as needed across multiple projects
• Maintain and evolve experiential brand standards and design systems, ensuring consistency across recurring franchises while allowing flexibility for each event's unique identity
• Present creative concepts and visual strategies to internal stakeholders and clients, incorporating feedback while maintaining creative integrity, production timelines and budget constraints
• Travel to event sites for site visits, installation, load-in, and show-day creative oversight as needed

What You'll Bring

• 6+ years of experience in art direction, experiential design, environmental design, graphic design, or a related creative discipline within agencies, brands, media companies, or live events
• A portfolio demonstrating excellence across both spatial/environmental design and graphic/print design, with examples of integrated brand experiences for a range of projects
• Strong understanding of environmental graphics, signage, print production, typography, layout, and branded physical experiences
• Experience working with and a list of preferred fabrication vendors, printers, production partners and creative collaborators to bring concepts to life
• A pulse on culture and design trends across fashion, hospitality, architecture, food, entertainment, and media, with the judgment to distinguish timeless ideas from passing trends
• Strong creative judgment with an understanding of budgets, production methods, and how to make design decisions that balance impact with feasibility
• Impeccable taste and a highly developed design sensibility, with the ability to create experiences that feel current, sophisticated, and culturally resonant
• Deep familiarity with Vox Media's brands and a nuanced understanding of how each brand's editorial voice translates into physical environments and visual identity
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with experience leading creative conversations across cross-functional teams
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), Figma, Splash and Gsuite 

Nice to Have

• Experience designing for media, publishing, entertainment, or editorial brands
• Experience building scalable design systems for recurring franchises rather than one-off events
• Experience working with sponsors and/or advertisers 
• Working knowledge of 3D visualization, rendering, or environmental design software (SketchUp, Rhino, Cinema 4D, or similar)
• Experience managing both print production and environmental fabrication across multiple concurrent projects