Associate Design Director

Location · Mexico City, Mexico
Employment Type · Full-time employee
Work Model · In-office
Annual Salary · $2,047,799.60–$2,233,963.20 MXN

Who We Are

MATTE is a 360° full-service creative studio at the convergence of hype, storytelling, and design. We bring people together to inspire new ways of engaging, drive long-term progress, and entertain audiences around the world. We help forward-thinking brands and institutions do the same. Our capabilities span strategy and insights, creative development, branding and identity, experiential, web design and development, campaigns, content creation, and full-scale production.

Role Overview

MATTE is seeking an Associate Design Director to lead and mentor our Mexico City design team. This is a full-time, in-office leadership position based in Mexico City, with regular collaboration with New York teams.

You’ll translate creative strategy into visual direction across brand identities, integrated campaigns, digital experiences, content, and experiential projects. You’ll guide the team’s day-to-day design work, give clear and actionable feedback, and help designers strengthen their craft and technical production skills.

This role requires advanced technical design skills and hands-on execution from concept through delivery. You’ll build and review mechanicals, adapt layouts to production specifications, and prepare final artwork. You’ll partner with creative leadership, strategy, production, and account teams throughout each project and work directly with producers and vendors to review proofs and resolve technical issues before files are released.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead visual development and design execution across integrated projects from concept through final delivery.
• Translate creative strategy into clear visual directions and develop brand identities, design systems, campaign toolkits, presentations, and digital and experiential applications.
• Stay hands-on in the design work while setting direction, giving actionable feedback, and mentoring designers.
• Oversee multiple projects and workstreams, maintaining a high standard of craft and visual consistency across digital, social, content, environmental, and physical touchpoints.
• Present design concepts to internal teams, senior leadership, and clients, articulating the thinking behind creative decisions.
• Collaborate with creative directors, art directors, copywriters, strategists, producers, developers, account teams, and external partners.
• Help strengthen the Mexico City design team’s processes, capabilities, and creative culture.
• Stay current on developments in design, culture, technology, AI, and emerging creative tools.
• Lead Mexico City design team.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in design, branding, advertising, or a related creative field.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional visual craft, conceptual thinking, and the ability to build cohesive design systems.
• Advanced technical design and production skills, including the ability to build, review, and release complex mechanicals and production-ready artwork for print, large-format graphics, signage, and experiential applications.
• Experience reviewing vendor specifications and proofs, catching file issues, and guiding designers through final production and handoff.
• Experience leading design across brand, campaign, digital, social, content, and experiential work.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Experience directing and mentoring designers while remaining hands-on in the work.
• Strong presentation and communication skills, including the ability to explain creative decisions to clients and cross-functional teams.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced studio environment.
• Professional fluency in English and Spanish is strongly preferred.
• Experience working with international teams or global brands is a plus