Design Director, Soho Home

Description

We are looking for a Design Director to lead the Soho Home Design team and drive the creative direction, quality, and delivery of our product collections across Furniture, Upholstery, Lighting, Mirrors, Décor and Textiles.

Working closely with the Chief Creative Officer, this role will translate the overarching creative vision for Soho Home into a clear, ownable and commercially relevant product direction - ensuring every collection feels distinctive & cohesive to Soho Home.

The Design Director will provide strong creative leadership to the Design team, while bringing pace and consistency to the journey from concept through to sketching, development and finalisation.

This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with Product Operations, NPD, QC, to ensure the creative ambition is delivered through to production.

Creative Leadership

Work closely with the Chief Creative Officer to define and evolve the creative direction for Soho Home across each season.

Translate the wider Soho Home creative vision into clear product and category direction for the Design team.

Maintain a strong and consistent creative point of view across all categories and seasons.

Ensure collections feel considered as a whole, with a clear balance of statement pieces, core products and commercial opportunities.

Push the team to develop products with a strong design narrative, whilst maintaining the quality, craftsmanship and functionality expected of Soho Home.

Identify opportunities for new design directions, materials, techniques, collaborations and categories.

Ensure Soho Home continues to feel culturally relevant and creatively progressive without losing its established design language.

Line Planning & Seasonal Direction

Establish clear category direction, product briefs and creative priorities before design work begins.

Ensure the Design team is working against an agreed line plan, with clarity on what needs to be designed, why and by when.

Balance creative ambition with commercial, production and capacity considerations.

Review collections holistically throughout the season to identify gaps, duplication or opportunities.

Lead seasonal sketch reviews and ensure designs are developed against the agreed creative and line-plan direction.

Ensure the team maintains momentum from initial concept through to finalisation.

Design Team Leadership

Lead, inspire and develop the Soho Home Design team, creating a high-performing and collaborative creative culture.

Set clear expectations around quality, output, deadlines and ownership.

Allocate design work effectively across the team, taking into account, category expertise and capacity.

Manage and mentor Designers supporting their development and creative growth.

Provide regular feedback and challenge to ensure the team is consistently producing work at the required level.

Identify skills gaps and support the development of the team's capabilities.

Build strong relationships across Design, NPD, QC and Product Operations to ensure the wider product team operates as one function.

Product Development

Provide creative leadership throughout the design and development process, from initial concept through to final approval.

Work closely with NPD and Product Operations to ensure creative decisions are translated accurately into development.

Review and approve key design developments, finishes, materials and details.

Ensure the integrity of the original design intent is maintained throughout development and production.

Work collaboratively with suppliers and manufacturers where required to push quality, craftsmanship and innovation.

Support the resolution of design challenges during development without compromising the overall creative vision.

Ensure products are designed with a clear understanding of manufacturing, quality, cost and lead-time implications.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner closely with Product Operations to maintain a clear and realistic design critical path across all seasons.

Work with NPD to ensure designs are commercially viable and ready for briefing and development at the required milestones.

Work closely with Sourcing and suppliers to identify new capabilities, materials and manufacturing opportunities.

Partner with Quality to ensure design intent and product standards are maintained through development.

Process & Ways of Working

Establish a clear and disciplined Design process across concept, sketching, review, development and finalisation.

Ensure key creative decisions are made at the right stage and communicated clearly to the wider team.

Work with Product Operations to maintain visibility of design progress, risks, dependencies and key deadlines.

Identify potential delivery risks early and work proactively with the relevant teams to resolve them.

Encourage a culture of accountability, clarity and decisive creative leadership.

Continually review and improve the Design team's ways of working to enable the team to spend more time designing and less time navigating process.

Responsibilities

• We are looking for a Design Director to lead the Soho Home Design team and drive the creative direction, quality, and delivery of our product collections across Furniture, Upholstery, Lighting, Mirrors, Décor and Textiles.
• Working closely with the Chief Creative Officer, this role will translate the overarching creative vision for Soho Home into a clear, ownable and commercially relevant product direction - ensuring every collection feels distinctive & cohesive to Soho Home.
• The Design Director will provide strong creative leadership to the Design team, while bringing pace and consistency to the journey from concept through to sketching, development and finalisation.
• This is a highly collaborative role, working closely with Product Operations, NPD, QC, to ensure the creative ambition is delivered through to production.
• Creative Leadership
• Work closely with the Chief Creative Officer to define and evolve the creative direction for Soho Home across each season.
• Translate the wider Soho Home creative vision into clear product and category direction for the Design team.
• Maintain a strong and consistent creative point of view across all categories and seasons.
• Ensure collections feel considered as a whole, with a clear balance of statement pieces, core products and commercial opportunities.
• Push the team to develop products with a strong design narrative, whilst maintaining the quality, craftsmanship and functionality expected of Soho Home.
• Identify opportunities for new design directions, materials, techniques, collaborations and categories.
• Ensure Soho Home continues to feel culturally relevant and creatively progressive without losing its established design language.
• Line Planning & Seasonal Direction
• Establish clear category direction, product briefs and creative priorities before design work begins.
• Ensure the Design team is working against an agreed line plan, with clarity on what needs to be designed, why and by when.
• Balance creative ambition with commercial, production and capacity considerations.
• Review collections holistically throughout the season to identify gaps, duplication or opportunities.
• Lead seasonal sketch reviews and ensure designs are developed against the agreed creative and line-plan direction.
• Ensure the team maintains momentum from initial concept through to finalisation.
• Design Team Leadership
• Lead, inspire and develop the Soho Home Design team, creating a high-performing and collaborative creative culture.
• Set clear expectations around quality, output, deadlines and ownership.
• Allocate design work effectively across the team, taking into account, category expertise and capacity.
• Manage and mentor Designers supporting their development and creative growth.
• Provide regular feedback and challenge to ensure the team is consistently producing work at the required level.
• Identify skills gaps and support the development of the team's capabilities.
• Build strong relationships across Design, NPD, QC and Product Operations to ensure the wider product team operates as one function.
• Product Development
• Provide creative leadership throughout the design and development process, from initial concept through to final approval.
• Work closely with NPD and Product Operations to ensure creative decisions are translated accurately into development.
• Review and approve key design developments, finishes, materials and details.
• Ensure the integrity of the original design intent is maintained throughout development and production.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers and manufacturers where required to push quality, craftsmanship and innovation.
• Support the resolution of design challenges during development without compromising the overall creative vision.
• Ensure products are designed with a clear understanding of manufacturing, quality, cost and lead-time implications.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Partner closely with Product Operations to maintain a clear and realistic design critical path across all seasons.
• Work with NPD to ensure designs are commercially viable and ready for briefing and development at the required milestones.
• Work closely with Sourcing and suppliers to identify new capabilities, materials and manufacturing opportunities.
• Partner with Quality to ensure design intent and product standards are maintained through development.
• Process & Ways of Working
• Establish a clear and disciplined Design process across concept, sketching, review, development and finalisation.
• Ensure key creative decisions are made at the right stage and communicated clearly to the wider team.
• Work with Product Operations to maintain visibility of design progress, risks, dependencies and key deadlines.
• Identify potential delivery risks early and work proactively with the relevant teams to resolve them.
• Encourage a culture of accountability, clarity and decisive creative leadership.
• Continually review and improve the Design team's ways of working to enable the team to spend more time designing and less time navigating process.

Requirements

• Significant experience in a senior design leadership role within interiors, furniture, homeware, hospitality or a related creative environment.
• A highly developed and recognisable design point of view, with the ability to create products that feel distinctive and ownable.
• Proven experience leading and developing a creative design team.
• Strong understanding of furniture, upholstery, lighting, décor and/or interiors.
• Excellent knowledge of materials, finishes, manufacturing processes and product development.
• Experience developing collections from initial concept through to production.
• Strong understanding of how to balance creative ambition with commercial and operational realities.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, with the ability to articulate a creative vision clearly to both creative and commercial stakeholders.
• Highly organised, decisive and comfortable managing multiple categories, projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Collaborative and confident working with senior leadership, suppliers and cross-functional teams.
• A strong understanding of luxury, hospitality and/or premium interiors.
• A genuine curiosity for culture, art, fashion, architecture, travel, craftsmanship and emerging design.

Benefits

• Soho House offers competitive compensation packages that feature global benefits and perks. Whether you’re seeking entry-level employment or a new opportunity to expand your profession, we offer training to develop the technical and managerial skills necessary to grow your career.
• Annual Every House Membership
• 50% off Food & Drink, 7 days a week
• Staff Room Rates
• Private Health and Dental Care
• Weekly Pay
• Life Assurance
• Up to 50% Staff Discount on Cowshed & Soho Home
• In Office Dog Policy on Fridays
• Season Ticket Loan
• Christmas Office Closure
• In conjunction with Soho Impact, take 2 days paid a year to support a charity of your choice.
• Free Counselling Sessions
• Cookhouse & House Tonic: Our Cookhouse & House Tonic programmes offer unique food and drink trainings, events and opportunities to inspire and educate.
• Continuous training to develop yourself personally and professionally
• Exclusive access to our benefits platform with hundreds of discounts on shopping, gym memberships, holidays, insurance and much more
• Team Events: From fitness sessions to cinema screenings and art classes, each month we hold a series of fun events which you can sign up to
• The ability to inspire a team while maintaining high standards and accountability.