The role

This is a senior creative leadership role, with real responsibility. As Senior Creative Lead, you’ll take ownership of creative direction across Airborne’s work – from brand identities and digital platforms to ongoing creative partnerships. You’ll lead projects day to day, guide collaborators, and be accountable for the quality and coherence of what we put into the world. Technology, particularly AI, is reshaping how ideas are generated, explored, produced and delivered. Some of the old agency models are creaking under that shift. Others are doubling down on scale, churn, and process-heavy thinking. Airborne is being set up to respond to this moment. We’re building a studio that combines senior creative judgement, modern technology, and a networked way of working – where independence isn’t lost, but strengthened through smart connection, shared standards and genuine collaboration. Until now, much of the creative direction at Airborne has been held fairly tightly around the founder/Creative Director’s vision. That helped establish a clear bar for quality and coherence. We’re now at a point where that responsibility needs to be shared – thoughtfully, and with trust. This role exists because we’re ready for that shift. You’ll work closely with the founder and operations directorteam, but you won’t be operating in their shadow. The expectation is simple: you lead the work.

Your responsibilities

You will:

Lead creative direction across major brand, identity and digital projects
Own the quality bar — shaping, refining and approving work before it leaves the studio
Collaborate with the founder on overall creative direction, while taking day-to-day ownership
Present work to clients and lead creative conversations with confidence and clarity
Build strong narratives and presentations, and facilitate workshops where needed
Brief, guide and quality-check work produced by our AsOne network of senior independents
Mentor a Junior Designer and support their development through clear feedback and example – help build the team
Balance hands-on creative work with leadership and direction, depending on project needs
Work closely with Ops to ensure work is delivered at a high standard, without overreach or burnout

You’ll typically be leading several projects at once across brand, web and ongoing partnerships, supported by a small core team and our wider network.

You are

A senior designer with 6-8+ years’ experience, including leading projects or teams
Comfortable operating at both conceptual and practical levels
Confident presenting work and discussing creative decisions with senior stakeholders
Curious about how the industry (and world) is changing with technology — and engaged rather than threatened by it
Calm under pressure, with strong judgement and a clear creative point of view
Someone who takes ownership seriously — of outcomes, not just tasks

You’ve likely worked in studios, agencies or as a senior independent. You know what good looks like, and you know how to get there without theatrics.

How you work

You:

Care deeply about craft, but don’t confuse it with perfectionism
Give clear, constructive feedback and expect the same in return
Collaborate easily across disciplines — strategy, design, product and tech
Are comfortable making decisions, and adjusting them when better information appears
Value independence, but enjoy doing better work together than you could alone

Airborne is powered by AsOne. AsOne is a network, not a hierarchy. This role works because you enjoy leading with people, not over them.

What we offer

Salary: £45,000-£55,000, with a clear progression path as the role expands
Flexible hybrid working (London studio + remote)
Annual learning budget

Longer-term, this role should evolve into Head of Design, and then Creative Director, with scope for increased responsibility, compensation and influence as the studio grows.

Culture

We’re building a studio that values:

Autonomy without isolation
Craft without ego
Ambition without burnout
Human judgement, supported by technology
Clear thinking, honest communication and mutual respect

We believe the next wave of creative studios will be smaller, smarter, more connected — and led by people who care deeply about the work and the way it’s made. This role is an opportunity to help lead that mission.

How to apply

Please send:

A portfolio (5–7 projects that show range and depth)
A short note (200–300 words) explaining why this role resonates
A CV, if you feel it adds context

Subject: Senior Creative Lead — London/Hybrid

Airborne Studio

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Senior Creative Lead