Robert Newham’s Post

Have you ever hired a “senior” designer, only to wonder where the impact is? You expected a strategic powerhouse but ended up with endless ideas and no real outcomes. I’ve been there and without a good mentor, it’s hard to know what to look for. Too often, this is what follows: 🔄 Projects stuck in feedback loops 🗯️ Meetings full of debates, but no progress 💥 Stakeholders losing patience, and your credibility slipping “How do you find designers who truly drive your product forward?” That’s the question I always ask myself when hiring. What I am looking for is simple: Design reviews that lead to real decisions Designers who influence strategy and deliver measurable impact Teams that love collaborating with design To succeed, I focus on three broad areas during the hiring process: Hire for influence: Can they tie design choices to business goals? Prioritise strategic thinking: Do they tackle what matters most? Assess execution: Ideas are cheap; delivery isn’t. If this resonates, feel free to reach out. My door is always open to hear your experiences and challenges.

"Looking for designers who happen to manage people"—not your typical people manager, but someone who can still design while leading a team. It's rare, but I’m noticing more of this lately. It’s not just in design either. I’m seeing an increase in conversations from VCs and founders that their companies are taking longer to hire senior leadership roles, leaning towards ICs who can execute, rather than focusing on pure management roles. It’s interesting—companies flattening hierarchies, cutting out middle management, and expecting design leaders to remain hands-on. I’m wondering if this trend balances out in the long term. Truth is, I’d do the same if I were hiring today. I'd lean on senior folks in an advisory or fractional capacity for as long as possible and tap into my network for specific gaps, like GTM strategy. But when it comes to full-time hires, I'd likely focus on execution and ICs over exec-level roles. What are your thoughts? For those of you leading teams or in senior roles, how are you seeing this play out in your world? Do you see this trend growing or is it just a phase? Btw, looks like an awesome and rare opportunity, hit up Tom Scott if interested ↓ #design #management #leadership

DVA is not associated with this job post. Design Manager, LATAM https://lnkd.in/ge6FybXt Responsibilities: Leadership: Lead, mentor, and support a team of designers, ensuring high-quality design work that aligns with Teamtown’s brand and client objectives while raising our design standards. Creative Quality Assurance: Lead and oversee the design process for projects, ensuring quality standards are met, and designs align with brand and client expectations. Mentorship and Skill Development: Provide guidance, feedback, and mentorship to designers, implementing training and design reviews that foster skill growth and creative confidence. Process Improvement (DesignOps): Work with the CEO to develop and optimize design workflows, templates, and tools that streamline project execution and reduce internal iterations. Collaboration with Head Designer: Work closely with the Head Designer to manage project prioritization, team assignments, and project-specific client needs. #jobopportunity #jobsearch #jobs #job #hiring #jobseekers #jobvacancy #recruitment #nowhiring #jobsearching #jobinterview #jobopening #jobseeker #jobhunt #career #hiringnow #jobalert #recruiting #employment #jobshiring #careers #jobhunting #work #vacancy #jobvacancies #applynow #jobfair #jobopportunities #workfromhome #jobposting

🔍 Navigating through Job Applications and Titles in Design 🎨 I’ve been seeing different job titles in the field of design, such as #Design_Lead, #Design_Manager, #Lead_Designer, and #Head_of_Design. It’s important to understand the roles of each title to apply for jobs effectively. Here’s a breakdown of each role: Design Lead 👥: This role involves guiding a team of designers, doing design work, mentoring junior designers, and making sure the design matches project goals. Design Manager 📋: A Design Manager focuses on the operational side of the design team, overseeing workflow, managing resources, setting deadlines, and making sure the team meets its objectives. Lead Designer 🎯: The Lead Designer leads design projects and sets the creative direction. They work closely with other departments to ensure designs match broader company objectives. Head of Design 🚀: This is a strategic leadership role, responsible for the overall vision and direction of the design department. It involves setting long-term design strategies and fostering innovation. Understanding these roles is important for targeting job applications effectively. Each role requires different skills and experiences, so identifying which aligns with our career goals and strengths can help us position ourselves for success. 🎯 Have you encountered confusing titles in your job search? What are your thoughts on the differences between them? 💬 #JobSearch #DesignCareers #UXDesign #ProductDesign #CareerGrowth #DesignLeadership

DVA is not associated with this job opportunity. Manager, Brand Design https://lnkd.in/eWCymX2T What you'll do: Overall Impact Lead, inspire, and mentor a small team of brand designers to nurture their skills, and foster growth while partnering with other managers on the team Lead the advancement and broadening of design problem-solving, utilizing proficiency in brand design systems, execution of imagery systems, conceptual development, and creative strategies to pave the path forward Facilitate collaboration between our design leaders specializing in motion, .com, and identity work, fostering a holistic approach to brand iteration... #career #job #jobs #jobsearch #education #business #success #hiring #careergoals #work #motivation #recruitment #love #employment #careers #careerdevelopment #resume #college #goals #job #training #careeradvice #interview #nowhiring #careercoach #entrepreneur #leadership #jobseekers #virtualassistant

Recently, there's been a lot of focus on hiring designers from big-name tech companies (https://lnkd.in/eEjxq8EQ). Their skills are impressive, no doubt. But in today’s climate of cost-saving and redundancies, organisations also need designers who’ve honed their craft in the tough, high-pressure environment of a transformation. It’s like the football saying: “Can they do it on a cold, rainy night in Stoke?” Transformation designers bring hard-won skills: trade-offs, persuasion, pragmatism, and optimism. They deliver impact even when resources are tight and priorities shift. If you’re hiring, don’t overlook them. Their adaptability and creativity could be exactly what your organisation needs right now. Link to blog post in comments.

🚨🚨 ACT FAST!! Luxury Presence is hiring for a position of Senior Product Designer in Remote🚨🚨 They say short lists are made within the first week. Don’t wait!! Luxury Presence is hiring for a position of Senior Product Designer in Remote https://ift.tt/1kTBY73 If you need a hand in getting prepared, I offer #resume services and #interview prep support. Click the link to book a slot on my Calendly before it fills up! https://ift.tt/FshXHCG If you know someone who would fit the role, let's get THEM #hired. Tag them in the comments and share the post to your connections! *Note: I am not hiring or sourcing for this role. If you are interested in applying, please do so through the link in the post.

🚨🚨 ACT FAST!! Luxury Presence is hiring for a position of Senior Product Designer in Remote🚨🚨 They say short lists are made within the first week. Don’t wait!! Luxury Presence is hiring for a position of Senior Product Designer in Remote https://ift.tt/1kTBY73 If you need a hand in getting prepared, I offer #resume services and #interview prep support. Click the link to book a slot on my Calendly before it fills up! https://ift.tt/FshXHCG If you know someone who would fit the role, let's get THEM #hired. Tag them in the comments and share the post to your connections! *Note: I am not hiring or sourcing for this role. If you are interested in applying, please do so through the link in the post.

Good Design Talent Won’t Just Follow—They’ll Challenge If you want innovation, hire designers who challenge the status quo. The best design talent doesn’t just execute—they push back, ask questions, and rethink the entire user experience. Are you creating an environment where your designers feel empowered to lead, or just follow orders? To truly elevate your brand, bring in designers who will disrupt the norm for the better. Offer them responsibility and ownership along with money. Yes, you will have some stubbornness, but we already live in an age where stubbornness is the foundation of groundbreaking innovation. I help businesses invest in design. Be it exploring how to identify design ROI or inculcating a culture to balance creativity and optimization. What do you look at while hiring a Design talent? #Innovation #CreativeLeadership #HiringDesigners #DesignCulture

Hiring good designers is hard 🤨 Here are 5 things I look for when hiring designers: Will you ever find a designer you can trust? So many things can go wrong... 🔴 How do I read design portfolios? 🔴 How much do I pay them? 🔴 How can I make sure they are good? After reviewing over 400 design applications in the last 2 years, here's what I'm looking for: ✅ Great presentation skills, mainly as a portfolio ✅ The applicant asks questions about the product/service ✅ Great writing skills, especially in the application email or message ✅ Transparent pricing/salary expectations (they know their worth) ✅ Culture fit, familiarity with remote & async work (essential at Grauberg) What else should founders look out for when hiring designers? #hiring #uxdesign