Creative Associate Director, Experiential Interiors

Soho, London (hybrid) | Up to £80k, dependent on experience

Role snapshot

An established interior design studio in Soho is looking for a Creative Associate Director to lead its experiential work. The studio already creates brand experiences for some of the world’s best-loved consumer brands, and experiential is where it is growing next. This role is about leading that work creatively and helping build it into a significant part of the business.

The opportunity

You’ll lead the studio’s experiential projects and the teams that deliver them, from brand activations and pop-ups to permanent brand spaces and immersive environments. You’ll bring the studio’s retail craft and delivery strength into work where story, content, and spectacle matter as much as layout.

Just as importantly, you’ll help build the offer: winning new clients, shaping how experiential work is pitched and delivered, and growing the team as the work grows. The role carries more commercial accountability than a typical Associate position, and the reward potential rises with it as the sector grows, against objectives agreed with the Directors.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading experiential concepts from brand story and audience insight through to build and install
• Designing brand activations, pop-ups, launches, exhibitions, and permanent brand experiences
• Bringing content, AV, lighting, and interactive technology together with spatial design, working with specialist partners
• Working with fabricators and production partners on build methods, programme, and cost
• Running tight, fixed-date programmes where the opening day can’t move
• Building the experiential offer, including credentials, case studies, pitch approach, and new client relationships
• Growing a team with experiential skills as the work grows

What you’ll produce

• Creative concepts, brand narratives, and storyboards
• Visitor journeys and experience mapping
• Spatial design, 3D visualisations, and animated walkthroughs
• Content, AV, and interactive integration briefs
• Build, install, and de-rig information with production partners
• Experiential pitch and credentials material

Who we’re looking for

• An established creative lead in brand experience, experiential, or exhibition design at Associate level or equivalent, typically with 12+ years’ experience
• A portfolio of activations, pop-ups, or brand spaces delivered for recognised brands
• A track record of winning work and growing client relationships, not just delivering them
• Confidence working with fabricators, content studios, and AV partners
• A builder’s mindset, comfortable shaping something new inside an established studio
• Retail or brand environment experience is a strong advantage
• AutoCAD, SketchUp, and Adobe Creative Suite (Cinema 4D, Unreal, or similar visualisation tools an advantage)

What success looks like in year one

• Experiential work grows in value and client numbers
• Live projects land on the day, on budget, and make an impact
• The studio has a clear experiential offer it can pitch with confidence
• The beginnings of a dedicated experiential team are in place
• Existing experiential clients are retained and growing

Interested? Send your CV and portfolio to interiors@twentyonetwelve.net for a confidential chat.