Study Hall is a multidisciplinary design agency based in Oakland, CA. We practice the unconventional applications of conventional disciplines to create distinctive, effective, and irresistible creative. We’re looking for a Design Director to lead some great projects - shaping ideas, guiding teams, and pushing the level of craft across everything we make.

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At Study Hall, the Design Director is both a conductor and a creator. You lead with taste, craft, and clarity. You sweat the details as much as the big idea. You see potential in every brief and know how to shape a team and process to unlock it. You work closely with the Executive Creative Director and fellow design leads to guide projects from pitch through launch. You balance mentorship with momentum and care just as much about team growth as you do about breakthrough work. You are here to push the craft, work, and culture forward.

This role is not purely directional. Expect to stay close to the work and step in when needed to push ideas across the finish line.

• Creative Leadership:
  • Partner with the ECD to define and evolve creative direction across key projects
  • Lead multidisciplinary teams through brand development from strategy through execution
  • Frame ideas into clear, compelling narratives
  • Direct identity systems, toolkits, motion, and final outputs with precision
  • Step into the work when needed to elevate craft and execution
• Team Mentorship and Collaboration:
  • Mentor designers through clear, actionable feedback
  • Foster original thinking and raise the creative bar across the team
  • Bridge strategy, design, and production into cohesive systemsLead critiques and shape the culture of feedback
  • Partner with production to guide pacing, resourcing, and output
• Client Partnership:
  • Present work with clarity, confidence, and a strong point of view
  • Lead workshops and key client conversations
  • Help clients understand not just what we’re making, but why it matters
  • Build relationships that create space for bold, original work
• Craft & Output:
  • Ensure a high level of execution across all deliverables
  • Maintain consistency and quality across systems and touchpoints
  • Push for work that feels distinctive, not derivative
  • Set the standard for what “ga-damn” looks like at Study Hall
• Market Positioning & Presence:
  • Stay close to design trends, client needs, and the competitive landscape
  • Help refine how we position ourselves and engage with our clients and different industries
  • Represent Study Hall in conversations, meetings, and industry settings

• A design leader with a strong point of view and high creative standards
• Someone with real depth in brand identity systems, not just campaigns or visuals
• Comfortable leading teams while still contributing to the work
• A clear communicator who can articulate ideas to both creatives and clients
• Someone who thrives in ambiguity and can turn it into clarity
• High taste, high craft, and the ability to execute at a high level

• 8-12 years of experience in brand design, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
• Deep experience in identity systems, motion principles, and design culture
• A sharp, creative thinker with the flexibility to adapt across industries and styles
• Experienced with clients across categories, including but not limited to tech, culture, CPG, and startup businesses
• Strong communicator with confident presentation skills
• Comfortable in a hybrid studio culture with in-person collaboration when required
• Proficient in Figma, Adobe Suite, and Keynote, with experience directing photo, animation, and video team

• Ready to rock!

• $140-185k base
• Performance bonus
  
• Killer benies
• Location: SF preferred, NYC/Bk secondary
• Open to remote work for exceptional candidates
• Some travel expected