Creative Director

📌 Core Information

🔹 Job Title: Creative Director

🔹 Company: Konrad

🔹 Location: San José, Costa Rica

🔹 Job Type: Full-time, Hybrid

🔹 Category: Design

🔹 Date Posted: June 30, 2025

🔹 Experience Level: 5+ years (including 3+ years in a leadership role)

🔹 Remote Status: On-site (Hybrid)

🚀 Job Overview

Key aspects of this role include:

• Strategic leadership and hands-on design practice
• Defining and executing exceptional UX, visual, and interaction design
• Collaborating with clients, cross-functional teams, and designers
• Mentoring and advancing the design practice
• Balancing business goals with user needs and communicating complex concepts clearly

ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance between creative and strategic thinking, as well as excellent communication skills to manage stakeholders and clients effectively.

📋 Key Responsibilities

✅ Design best-in-class experiences and interfaces with high attention to craft, usability, and polish

✅ Deliver thoughtful, pixel-perfect design systems, interactions, and flows in Figma

✅ Set a high bar for design quality across all deliverables and platforms

✅ Apply UX research, usability insights, and product data to refine and evolve designs

✅ Facilitate and lead stakeholder reviews, including feedback prioritization

✅ Navigate ambiguity and complex stakeholder dynamics with clarity and empathy

✅ Lead project teams through discovery, ideation, and execution phases

✅ Align cross-disciplinary teams around a shared product vision and design approach

✅ Identify emerging design trends and best practices for strategic investment

✅ Mentor designers and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and feedback

✅ Support design operations, project scoping, and resource planning when needed

ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of strategic, creative, and operational tasks, requiring a versatile skill set and the ability to adapt to different situations.

🎯 Required Qualifications

Education: Not specified (industry-standard: Bachelor's degree in Design, HCI, or a related field)

Experience: 5+ years in UX/UI design, including 3+ years in a leadership role

Required Skills:

• Expert-level proficiency in Figma and strong skills with prototyping tools
• Ability to synthesize research, data, and business requirements into actionable designs
• Strong communicator with experience presenting to senior stakeholders and clients
• Driven to lead creative workflows, inspire teams, and drive design excellence
• Passionate about collaboration, mentorship, and growing design culture
• Experience in informing project timelines and scope prioritization

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in branding or design operations

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in a related field is typically required for this role. Additionally, experience with specific design tools and a strong portfolio showcasing high-quality work are essential.

💰 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $80,000 - $120,000 USD (based on industry standards for a Creative Director role in Costa Rica)

Benefits:

• Mentorship Program
• Socials, Outings & Retreats
• Culture of Learning & Development
• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits Package
• Flexible Working Hours
• Work from Home Flexibility
• Service Recognition Programs

Working Hours: Full-time (40 hours/week) with flexible working hours and work-from-home flexibility

ASSUMPTION: The salary range is estimated based on industry standards for a Creative Director role in Costa Rica. Benefits are comprehensive and include health, wellness, and work-life balance initiatives.

📌 Applicant Insights

🔍 Company Context

Industry: Konrad is a digital agency and product innovation firm specializing in strategy, design, and technology services for ambitious businesses and brands.

Company Size: Konrad has 501-1,000 employees, providing ample opportunities for collaboration and growth.

Founded: Konrad was founded in 2012 and has since grown to have offices in New York, Toronto, Vancouver, London, Miami, and San José.

Company Description:

• Konrad offers a range of services, including digital marketing, user experience design, digital strategy, and more.
• The company is committed to maintaining a diverse work environment and is an equal opportunity employer.
• Konrad is known for its design-driven approach to building cutting-edge digital solutions and delivering compelling experiences to clients and their customers.

Company Specialties:

• Digital Marketing
• User Experience Design
• Digital Strategy
• Digital Transformation
• Web Application Development
• Mobile Application Development
• Design Thinking
• Customer Experience Design
• eCommerce Strategy
• User Interface Design
• Innovation Strategy
• Content Management Systems

Company Website: konrad.com

ASSUMPTION: Konrad's diverse range of services and expertise allows it to cater to a wide variety of clients and projects, providing designers with ample opportunities to grow and learn.

📊 Role Analysis

Career Level: This role is a senior-level position, requiring significant experience and leadership skills.

Reporting Structure: The Creative Director will likely report directly to the Design Director or a similar executive role and oversee a team of designers.

Work Arrangement: This is a hybrid role, with a mix of on-site and remote work. The exact number of office days required is not specified.

Growth Opportunities:

• Mentorship and leadership opportunities within the design team
• Potential to advance to a Design Director or similar executive role
• Chance to work on diverse projects and expand skill sets

ASSUMPTION: As a senior-level role, this position offers significant growth opportunities, both in terms of career advancement and skill development.

🌍 Location & Work Environment

Office Type: Konrad's San José office is located in the Ofimall San Pedro building, providing a modern and collaborative work environment.

Office Location(s): Ofimall San Pedro, 8vo piso, San José, Costa Rica

Geographic Context:

• San José is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, offering a mix of urban and natural environments.
• The cost of living in San José is generally lower than in major North American cities.
• The city is known for its vibrant culture, including museums, theaters, and festivals.

Work Schedule: The work schedule is full-time, with flexible working hours and the option to work from home.

ASSUMPTION: Working in San José offers a unique blend of urban and natural environments, with a lower cost of living compared to major North American cities. The flexible work schedule and hybrid work arrangement provide a good balance between work and personal life.

💼 Interview & Application Insights

Typical Process:

• Online application submission
• Phone or video screening
• Design challenge or case study presentation
• On-site or virtual interview with the design team and hiring manager
• Final interview with the Design Director or similar executive role

Key Assessment Areas:

• Design skills and portfolio quality
• Communication and presentation skills
• Leadership and mentorship abilities
• Cultural fit and alignment with Konrad's values
• Problem-solving and strategic thinking

Application Tips:

• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, not just the final results
• Be ready to discuss your design approach, rationale, and how you incorporate user research and feedback
• Demonstrate your ability to lead teams, manage stakeholders, and make strategic design decisions

ATS Keywords: Creative Direction, UX Design, UI Design, Visual Design, Interaction Design, Figma, Prototyping, Mentorship, Collaboration, Stakeholder Management, Design Systems, Usability Research, Data Synthesis, Project Management, Design Trends, Continuous Learning

ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will likely focus on assessing the candidate's design skills, leadership abilities, and cultural fit. Applicants should be prepared to discuss their design process, approach to user research, and experience managing stakeholders and teams.

🛠️ Tools & Technologies

• Figma (expert-level proficiency required)
• Prototyping tools (strong skills required)
• Additional tools may be required based on specific projects (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, InVision)

ASSUMPTION: While not explicitly stated, proficiency in industry-standard design tools is essential for this role. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their expertise in Figma and other relevant tools.

👔 Cultural Fit Considerations

Company Values:

• Innovation
• Collaboration
• Quality
• Accountability
• Growth

Work Style:

• Design-driven approach
• Cross-functional collaboration
• Agile and iterative design process
• Focus on user-centered design and usability

Self-Assessment Questions:

• Do you thrive in a collaborative, cross-functional environment?
• Are you comfortable leading teams and managing stakeholders?
• Do you have a strong design process that incorporates user research and feedback?
• Are you open to learning and growing in a dynamic, fast-paced environment?

ASSUMPTION: Konrad values innovation, collaboration, and a user-centered design approach. Applicants should be comfortable working in a cross-functional, collaborative environment and be open to learning and growth.

⚠️ Potential Challenges

• Managing complex stakeholder dynamics and balancing business goals with user needs
• Keeping up with emerging design trends and best practices
• Balancing strategic, creative, and operational responsibilities
• Adapting to a hybrid work arrangement and managing remote team members

ASSUMPTION: This role presents unique challenges, including managing complex stakeholder dynamics, staying current with design trends, and balancing multiple responsibilities. Applicants should be prepared to address these challenges and demonstrate their ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

📈 Similar Roles Comparison

• Compared to other Creative Director roles, this position may require more hands-on design work and less focus on strategic planning and high-level decision-making
• Konrad's focus on user-centered design and collaboration may differ from other agencies or in-house design teams
• Career progression in this role may involve advancing to a Design Director or similar executive role within Konrad or moving to a similar role at another agency or in-house design team

ASSUMPTION: While this role shares similarities with other Creative Director positions, it also has unique aspects, such as Konrad's focus on user-centered design and collaboration. Applicants should research Konrad's design approach and culture to ensure a good fit.

📝 Sample Projects

• Redesigning a complex web application to improve usability and user experience
• Developing a comprehensive design system for a mobile application, including visual design, interaction design, and design tokens
• Conducting user research and usability testing to inform design decisions and iterate on existing designs

ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the range of responsibilities and skills required for this role, from user research and usability testing to visual and interaction design and design system development.

❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview

• Can you describe the design team's structure and how this role fits within it?
• How does Konrad approach user research and usability testing, and how will this role contribute to those efforts?
• What are the biggest design challenges facing the company or industry, and how can this role help address them?
• How does Konrad support the growth and development of its designers?
• What is the expected workload and work-life balance for this role?

ASSUMPTION: These questions are designed to help applicants better understand the role, the design team, and Konrad's culture. Applicants should tailor their questions to demonstrate their interest in and understanding of the role and company.

📌 Next Steps for Applicants

To apply for this position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight your relevant skills and experiences for this role
• Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, not just the final results
• Be ready to discuss your design approach, rationale, and how you incorporate user research and feedback
• Demonstrate your ability to lead teams, manage stakeholders, and make strategic design decisions
• Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application to express your interest and reiterate your qualifications

⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.