Design Manager
Summary
Design Manager leading HIA's (Hamad International Airport) in-house creative studio, shaping the airport's brand across digital, environmental, corporate, and campaign channels. Day to day this means art-directing shoots and activations, maintaining the brand identity system, briefing stakeholders, and mentoring junior designers.
Role Purpose
The Design Manager leads the visual expression of HIA’s brand across digital, environmental, corporate, and campaign channels. The role combines hands-on design capability with strategic oversight, ensuring that all creative outputs meet brand standards, stakeholder objectives, and creative excellence benchmarks. As the design lead within the in-house creative studio, the role oversees junior designers, manages complex creative briefs, maintains brand systems, and drives visual innovation. The role also supports the delivery of events, activations, and branded experiences across the airport environment.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Direction and Visual Leadership
Translate high-level briefs into impactful creative concepts, visual narratives, and integrated design systems.
Provide art direction across photo shoots, videography, motion assets, and on-ground brand activations.
Guide the development of environmental design, airport graphics, merchandise, and physical assets in line with brand and experience design principles.
Brand Identity System Ownership
Maintain and evolve the HIA visual identity system in alignment with MATAR and Qatar Airways Group standards.
Ensure consistent application of brand elements, including typography, colour, layout, and iconography, across departments and formats.
Continuously improve brand guidelines, design templates, and visual asset libraries to support consistency and governance.
Stakeholder Engagement and Alignment
Collaborate with Brand, Marketing, External and Internal Communications, Events, and Executive Offices to understand objectives and deliver effective design solutions.
Present creative concepts and rationale to stakeholders, securing alignment and constructive feedback.
Liaise with Procurement and Legal on usage rights, talent licensing, and supplier documentation when required.
Mentorship and Capacity Building
Provide day-to-day creative guidance and coaching to junior designers, supporting their professional development.
Lead internal design reviews and workshops to strengthen quality, alignment, and visual storytelling capability across the team.
Innovation and Brand Elevation
Stay current on global design and branding trends, particularly within travel, aviation, and premium experience environments.
Introduce innovative design approaches, motion techniques, and emerging media formats to keep HIA visually distinctive and globally benchmarked.