Design Manager

What the work is

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. Qualifications And Experience Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field with a minimum 6 years of relevant experience, including at least 2 years in a lead or supervisory design role. OR High School or Vocational Certificate with a minimum 9 years of creative design experience, with a proven ability to lead complex brand projects. Technical And Creative Skills Essential Tools and Capabilities Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, and XD or Figma. Experience in campaign design, motion graphics, signage systems, and branded event materials. Strong layout and typography skills for print and digital applications. Working knowledge of environmental design and production processes, including vinyl applications, exhibition graphics, and displays. Familiarity with digital asset management systems and version control for large brand teams. Preferred Skills Experience in motion graphics, environmental media, or 3D signage visualisation. Arabic language proficiency. Design experience within airport, aviation, hospitality, or infrastructure environments. Confidence in presenting to senior stakeholders and guiding constructive creative feedback.