Lead Creative Gift Designer
Permanent - Full Time £45,000 - £65,000 / yearJob Overview
Contract: Permanent, Full-Time (40 hours per week, Monday to Friday)
Travel: Regular travel within the UK, plus quarterly international trips.
Location: Poole or London
Travel: Regular travel within the UK, plus quarterly international trips.
Location: Poole or London
Diversity matters
We are building a brand that represents the people of the world. It’s what you do that counts, and we are always looking to expand perspectives and voices to shape our future.
We see you, we celebrate you, we want you!
Who we are
You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there’s more to this great-smelling, partly employee-owned, family-run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good.
The Living Wage Foundation’s statement 'a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay' is one that we are proud to commit to in the UK. As an accredited Living Wage employer, we put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what’s inside that counts - whether that’s an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.
The role
The Lead Designer is responsible for driving the creative development of the Gifts category, working in close partnership with the Category Lead to shape the creative vision, develop inspiring and commercially successful collections, and translate strategic direction into compelling design. The role leads creative projects, develops artist and global partnerships, identifies future opportunities and champions innovation across gifting, packaging and creative collaboration.
Want to see where a career at Lush could take you? Head over here to explore real stories of growth and development across the business.
Please note: We may close this vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response or our business requirements change.
You might know us as the inventors of the bath bomb, but there’s more to this great-smelling, partly employee-owned, family-run company than pioneering cosmetics. We believe our business should put more back into the world than it takes and demonstrate that capitalism can be a force for good.
The Living Wage Foundation’s statement 'a hard day's work deserves a fair day's pay' is one that we are proud to commit to in the UK. As an accredited Living Wage employer, we put our people first and fight cruel practices like animal testing, promote regeneration, and show that it is what’s inside that counts - whether that’s an ingredient in a product, or the minerals in a smartphone.
The role
The Lead Designer is responsible for driving the creative development of the Gifts category, working in close partnership with the Category Lead to shape the creative vision, develop inspiring and commercially successful collections, and translate strategic direction into compelling design. The role leads creative projects, develops artist and global partnerships, identifies future opportunities and champions innovation across gifting, packaging and creative collaboration.
Want to see where a career at Lush could take you? Head over here to explore real stories of growth and development across the business.
Please note: We may close this vacancy early if we receive an overwhelming response or our business requirements change.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Direction & Strategy
- Partner with the Creative Lead to shape category vision, translating market insights and cultural trends into commercially viable collection concepts.
- Create mood boards, narrative direction packs, and lead inspiration trips to drive early-stage range development.
- Step in to provide creative direction for the category alongside the Lead Gift Design Manager in the Creative Lead's absence.
Packaging Innovation & Concept Development
- Conduct trend research on gifting, design, and sustainable materials to push creative boundaries.
- Collaborate directly with the Packaging Team to develop innovative formats, materials, and early-stage concepts.
- Craft and deliver compelling creative presentations for key stakeholders, including founders.
Artist Partnerships & Licensing
- Build and nurture relationships with external artist groups, agencies, and creative communities, integrating their insights into future ranges.
- Align with the Design Manager to leverage local Poole artist outreach and scale these into broader collection opportunities.
- Manage the administrative elements of creative partnerships, including copyright assignments, sample coordination, and licensing agreements for briefs created.
Global Creative Collaboration
- Act as the creative bridge for international teams (e.g., North America, Japan), driving cross-regional alignment and idea-sharing.
- Provide regional teams with creative guidance, inspiration packs, and shared design direction.
Project Execution & Brand Advocacy
- Write clear briefs and direct internal and external designers to ensure projects meet creative standards and deadlines.
- Approve small creative project budgets (proofs, samples, and materials) alongside the Creative Operations Manager.
- Serve as a brand ambassador for the Gifts category at events, showcases, and filming opportunities.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- Creative Direction & Trend Forecasting: Strong track record in collection development, storytelling, concept generation, and translating macroeconomic/cultural trends into tangible product ranges.
- Packaging & Design Innovation: Deep knowledge of packaging structures, print processes, and material exploration within a retail or product-led environment.
- Artist Management & Licensing: Practical experience partnering with external artists, managing agency relationships, and handling copyright/licensing contracts.
- Global Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to influence and collaborate across diverse international teams and present confidently to senior founders.
- Commercial & Project Leadership: Adept at writing comprehensive creative briefs, managing minor creative budgets, and directing design execution from concept through to final sample.
We'd love to see your work! Please include any portfolio or website links in your personal summary.