Design Lead

Job Title: Design Lead (6-Month Contract-to-Full-Time)

Location: Lagos, Nigeria (Hybrid)

Salary: 1,000,000–1,500,000 monthly gross

Type: Full-time Contract (6 months), with opportunity for permanent role

Our client looking for a visionary Design Lead to help take their visual identity and execution to the next level. This is a cross-functional role that blends creative direction with system building, mentorship, and execution, spanning editorial, product, and branded content.

You’ll be leading a small design team (a senior graphic designer, an associate graphic designer and a UI/UX designer) while working closely with editorial, product, and commercial teams to build visually cohesive, high-standard creative outputs.

Responsibilities:

• Lead visual design across editorial, product, programmes/projects and brand assets.

• Oversee design for branded studio work and client-facing creative briefs.

• Develop and implement a scalable design system including templates, style guides and workflows.

• Supervise and mentor a team of more junior designers.

• Lead regular design reviews, feedback sessions, and skill-building initiatives.

• Manage freelancers and illustrators, ensuring alignment with brand tone and quality.

• Work with editors, engineers, marketers, and leadership to ensure design supports strategic goals.

• Collaborate on cover design, special editions, and visual experimentation.

• Support visual strategy for social, product launches, and multimedia storytelling.

• Build and manage an asset archive, design toolkit, and documentation for internal use.

• Advise on visual identity expansion for new projects, verticals, and platforms.

• Contribute to future-facing product and commercial strategy.

Responsibilities:

• A senior-level designer or art director with bachelor’s degree in design, visual art, or related field.

• 7+ years’ experience including at least 2–3 years in a senior or leadership role.

• Able to combine strong aesthetic judgment with system-level thinking and leadership.

• Comfortable leading design execution while mentoring other creatives.

• Strong portfolio across editorial, UI/UX, and branding, with high visual standards and taste.

• Fluent in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premier Pro) and Figma.

• Deeply curious about African storytelling, aesthetics, and how visual design can power journalism.

• Prior work in media, publishing, technology or creative studio environments is highly preferred.