Associate Design Director, Product at AKQA

Role Overview

As an Associate Design Director at AKQA Amsterdam, you will shape how brands come to life through intuitive and distinctive digital experiences. You will combine high-level design thinking with exceptional digital craft to turn complex ideas into functional interfaces and scalable systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and own the design direction across digital products and services.
• Translate brand identities into interfaces, interactions, and motion behaviors.
• Work hands-on in Figma and prototyping tools to explore and test ideas.
• Create and evolve scalable, brand-led design systems using components and tokens.
• Integrate AI and emerging technologies into the design workflow and output.
• Mentor junior designers through collaborative feedback and leading by example.

Requirements Snapshot

• Exceptional eye for interface design and deep understanding of typography and interaction.
• Proficiency in Figma and contemporary prototyping tools for hands-on making.
• Strong understanding of UX principles and human-centered design processes.
• Ability to build and manage complex, scalable design systems.
• Experience using AI tools to enhance design processes and explore new possibilities.

Expected Impact

You will raise the studio's overall craft standard by delivering high-quality digital work that connects creative ambition with technical functionality. By mentoring the design team and fostering a culture of collaboration, you will help grow internal talent while ensuring brands are expressed consistently across all digital touchpoints.