Temporary Design Director, ELLE

Be Part of What’s Next

ELLE is looking for a visionary Design Director to shape how one of the world’s most influential fashion brands looks, feels, and connects with audiences across every platform. In this temporary leadership role, you’ll set the creative direction for print, digital, social, video, events, and emerging formats while leading a talented team of designers.

About Hearst Magazines (Why Us?)

We create media that moves minds, products and ideas. Our portfolio of 30 iconic brands — including Cosmopolitan, Delish, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Men’s Health and Road & Track — reaches nearly 130 million people each month. Our teams combine trusted journalism and cultural storytelling with technology, data and commerce to create experiences that inform, inspire and entertain audiences across generations and around the globe. And together, we are shaping what’s next.

Key Responsibilities (What You Are Doing)

• Shape ELLE’s visual identity and creative direction across print, digital, social, photography, video, events, and emerging formats.
• Lead a team of three designers, providing creative direction, mentorship, feedback, and support while fostering a collaborative and ambitious creative culture.
• Direct the design of the print magazine, including covers, editorial pages, and other high-profile visual executions.
• Partner with photography, art, editorial, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, branded content, and contributor teams to develop cohesive and compelling work.
• Develop visually ambitious stories and packages incorporating photography, illustration, infographics, motion, video, and other storytelling formats.
• Conceptualize and execute creative direction for fashion shoots, editorial initiatives, and special projects that elevate ELLE’s visual point of view.
• Establish and maintain visual systems, style guides, and design templates that create consistency while allowing for innovation across platforms.
• Manage projects from concept through production, balancing long-term creative strategy with hands-on design and execution while meeting demanding deadlines.

Qualifications (What We’re Looking For)

• 10+ years of professional editorial design experience across print and digital, ideally within a consumer fashion, luxury, media, or lifestyle brand, or equivalent experience.
• Proven experience shaping the visual identity of a consumer editorial brand, including magazine cover design and high-profile editorial work.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and developing a creative team, with a thoughtful and collaborative approach to people management.
• Strong understanding of fashion, luxury, editorial storytelling, and contemporary visual culture, with a sophisticated and distinctive design sensibility.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with editorial, photography, fashion, market, digital, social, marketing, and other cross-functional teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, with experience using WoodWing and Figma.
• Exceptional production skills, attention to detail, organization, and ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• A collaborative, open-minded leadership style, with the confidence to advocate for creative expertise while empowering others to do their best work.
• This position is based in New York and operates on a hybrid schedule.