London, UK
Head of studio
at Design Research Studio
Design Research Studio is seeking a head of studio to lead its team in London.
We are looking for an ambitious and highly effective head ofsStudio to lead, project manage and grow all aspects of our multidisciplinary studio. You will work closely in partnership with Tom our founder and our creative director to deliver a wide range of projects.
Our studio
A restless innovator, Tom established Design Research Studio as an innovations and design agency sitting at the heart of the Tom Dixon brand. Our Design Research Studio now boast an extraordinary portfolio of global projects including reimagining the modern cruise experience for Virgin Voyages, reinventing the interior of The Pullman Hotel in Bercy and designing the Manzoni Hotel in Milan.
We are located at the Coal Office, 1 Bagley Walk, N1C 4PQ, London.
More information about us can be found on our website.
About the role
This is a pivotal management role where you will have the responsibility to lead, project manage and empower our talented team.
More specifically you will be responsible for:
- growth: Expand the studio portfolio of projects across interior design and product design. Consistently push the quality of design output and client service, with respect to ideation and delivery
- organisational: Deliver a united design studio under a collective creative vision, delivering excellence and innovation across interiors, product, graphics, branding and content
- commercial: Source, facilitate and manage the pipeline of studio work with clients ensuring sales targets are met. Ensure profitability through project selection, resourcing, studio organisation and client management
- operational: Comfortable being ‘hands on’, you will step in and manage relationships with our key clients and customers when required
- people: Find, develop, support, incentivise and retain the best talent in design. Manage the studio organisation and the people strategy across projects and services. Build a productive environment where designers can grow their careers
- leadership and mentorship: Lead by example, motivate and promote a positive working environment for the wider design team. With foresight and empathy ensure the wellbeing of the studio team whilst creating the environment for them to succeed. Align with the wider company plan to seamlessly deliver the studio business
About you
We’re looking for someone who has a great understanding of the balance between design, leadership and commerce whist working in a fast-paced environment. We would like to bring on someone with a good dose of common sense, who is interested in more enlightened ways of working in a truly modern design studio.
A proven commercial track record, you’ve delivered growth in a design-led business.
- globally minded with significant experience and a passion for the interiors/design industry
- entrepreneurial spirit, you engage new clients, new business and new projects
- as the leader and mentor, take ownership for all processes in our studio and in doing so help reduce complexity and clarify our ways of working and you don’t mind getting in to the detail; from supporting the design on a project to fee proposals for our clients
- consider the relationship between creativity and technical design as fluid and be able to confidently orchestrate a studio to deliver excellence
- strong project management skills and the ability to work across numerous projects
- a strong global network and contacts across the industry including architects and designers also knowing the bigger players across the world but especially in London, New York and China
- our design teams work across the following software and you will need to lead these methodologies, AutoCAD, Rhino, Revit and Adobe Creative Suite
- superb communication skills. You naturally ignite great rapport with people and adapt your style to all levels
We offer a competitive package alongside the opportunity to build an extraordinary career within one of the world’s leading design agencies and lifestyle brands.
Benefits include:
- annual bonus potential
- 65% off Tom Dixon products bought at TDS Retail/e-com store
- birthday day off – enjoy
- anniversary awards – to celebrate your five, ten and more years with the company
- recruitment referral programme – to say thank you for successful referrals
- charitable donations
- health care schemes
- Perkbox, retail and gym discounts and so much more
- wellbeing support, employee assistance programme
- cycle to work scheme
- social events
- free snacks – healthy and indulgent options
We embrace diversity in all applicant’s backgrounds. The successful applicant must have eligibility to work in the UK.