Sr. Designer (Denver, Chicago)

Job Description

Job Description

Motive is an agency and creative studio focusing on the development of integrated creative platforms and executional programs. We're a collective of deep thinkers, artistic mavens, executional top guns and cultural connoisseurs. We are focused on creating relationships through deep levels of engagement between brands and their consumers—relationships that translate into tangible results for our clients. And we do it with sharp creative, across a range of tactical channels.

As pioneers in the area of content, digital consumer engagement, and innovative experiential programs—and award winners in the areas of TV, event, digital and social—Motive has created an environment where team members are given an opportunity to stretch and flex their creative and executional muscles daily. We are a team of hard-working, fast-moving, energetic, passionate, driven, straight-talking creative thinkers. We like being challenged and we love the collaboration necessary to succeed.

If this sounds like a place you would thrive, let's make something happen.

SR DESIGNER

As a Senior Designer at Motive, you will help bring some of the world's most recognizable brands to life across a broad range of creative outputs. From integrated advertising campaigns and brand identity systems to packaging, digital experiences, experiential activations, live events, licensed products, and emerging platforms, you'll be challenged to create compelling work that connects with audiences in meaningful ways.

We're looking for a highly conceptual, detail-oriented designer who thrives in a collaborative environment and is excited to tackle a diverse range of creative challenges. This role requires equal parts creative thinking, design craft, and executional excellence.

You will work closely with Creative Directors, Associate Creative Directors, Art Directors, Writers, Strategists, Account teams, Brand Experience teams, and Production partners to develop and execute breakthrough creative solutions across multiple brands and disciplines.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Concept, design, and execute a wide variety of creative deliverables across branding, advertising, digital, brand experience, commerce, packaging, and content-driven projects.
• Take ownership of projects and design workstreams from concept through final execution, ensuring creative excellence at every stage.
• Contribute meaningful visual ideas, design-driven thinking, and creative solutions during brainstorming and concept development sessions.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, Art Directors, writers, strategists, account teams, and production partners to develop innovative and effective creative work.
• Create thoughtful design systems and visual frameworks that can scale across campaigns, experiences, and brand touchpoints.
• Present work confidently to internal teams and clients, clearly articulating creative rationale and design decisions.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail and meeting deadlines.
• Provide guidance, feedback, and mentorship to junior designers when appropriate, helping elevate the overall quality of work across the team.
• Continuously push creative boundaries, challenge conventions, and inspire those around you to produce stronger work.
• Stay current on emerging design trends, technologies, tools, and cultural movements that influence our clients and audiences.

Candidate Requirements

• 6 - 10 years of design experience, preferably within an advertising, branding, or integrated creative agency environment.
• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong conceptual thinking, visual storytelling, and execution across a variety of mediums.
• Expert understanding of typography, layout, composition, branding, and visual communication principles.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with experience presenting and defending creative work to both internal teams and clients.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Google Workspace and Figma, with After Effects expertise a plus

• Proven ability to independently manage projects from concept through completion while balancing multiple priorities.
• Experience developing visual identities, campaign systems, and integrated brand experiences is highly desirable.
• Illustration, motion design, animation, 3D, AI-assisted creative workflows, or other specialized design skills are a plus.

Portfolio Requirements

• An online portfolio is required. We want to see a website—not PDFs or Word documents—that showcases a diverse range of work, demonstrates strong design craft, and highlights both conceptual thinking and executional excellence.
• Please be sure to include your portfolio link with your application.

Motive is an equal opportunity employer! We believe that a diverse team makes us stronger and smarter.

Motive recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, and other protected status as required by applicable law. We offer an inspiring working environment and great benefits, including health, dental, vision, matching 401-k, flex time off, and more. The starting salary for this position is between $80,000 and $100,000 annually, based on experience.

Motive has a clear vision: to be a creative leader where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay and do their best work. We know our company succeeds by the hard work and dedication of our passionate and creative employees.