Senior Designer, Special Projects

The Role

This is not a traditional design role. We’re looking for a Special Projects Designer.

Special projects are the things we make when Koto is the client. Ideas, thought leadership and events that take our brand somewhere new, and give us a chance to make things we wouldn’t normally get to make. Things like OFF, our growing mix of editorial content and live events. Seasoned, our platform supporting design education, and CcType, our very own type foundry. These are just the beginning, which is exactly where you come in.

You’ll help us define the ideas, the design and art direction that bring these happenings, digitally and physically to life. As we evolve, these things are becoming bigger and more varied. Events, ventures and content with unexpected collaborations.

This is a unique role for someone entrepreneurial, someone who can spot a good idea, push it further, then further again, then turn it into something people notice, share and talk about. Motion skills are nice to have, but not essential.

You will work closely with Jowey Roden, Koto’s Chief Creative Officer; Dan Witchell, Executive Creative Director in London; and our Global Marketing team, while collaborating with creatives across our global studios. Motion skills are welcome but not essential. What matters most is strong ideas, excellent taste, curiosity and the ability to learn quickly.

Here’s a preview of your playground.

Your Responsibilities

1. You partner closely with Koto’s Chief Creative Officer, London’s Executive Creative Director and Global Marketing team to shape how Koto shows up in the world.

2. You bring a clear creative vision to Koto’s brand, developing strong concepts, visual systems and work that strengthens our reputation and supports our ambitions.

3. You co-lead design across special projects such as Seasoned, CcType and the OFF ecosystem, while helping us imagine and launch new ventures, events, collaborations and products.

4. In a team setting, you take projects from first thought to final delivery, moving confidently between concept development, design, art direction and production.

5. You lead the visual output of Koto’s social channels, creating branded content that earns attention, engages the right audiences and works naturally across platforms.

6. You design across a broad range of formats, including brand identity, campaigns, editorial, events, presentations, digital experiences, merchandise and moving image.

7. You bring fresh thinking to studio launches, cultural moments, hiring campaigns and celebrations, turning them into creative opportunities rather than traditional anouncements.

8. You experiment with new tools, formats and production techniques. Motion experience is a plus, but curiosity, initiative and the ability to learn quickly matter more.

9. You work closely with designers, strategists, writers, filmmakers, developers, photographers and external makers, bringing in the right skills to make each idea stronger.

10. You take clear ownership of your work, managing projects with pace and care. You present ideas confidently, respond well to feedback and play an active role in our London studio and wider global team.

Our Responsibilities

1. We will give you meaningful access to your manager and Koto’s creative leadership, supporting your development while giving you room to shape the role and propose new ideas.

2. We will actively reward performance through promotions, pay increases and a discretionary annual bonus of up to 10% of salary.

3. We will ensure Koto is an equal and inclusive environment for every employee.

4. We will support family leave and offer significant paid maternity and paternity policies.

5. We will encourage you to take 25 days of annual leave, alongside UK bank holidays, one additional day for each year of service capped at five days, and our studio closure between Christmas and New Year.

6. We will contribute an additional 3% for anyone joining the Scottish Widows pension scheme.

7. We provide a monthly employee wellness allowance of £75 through Juno.

8. We offer access to YCN and fund relevant training opportunities for employees looking to develop their skills and careers.

9. We reward five years of service with £5,000 and five additional days of holiday. We reward ten years with £10,000 and four weeks of additional holiday.

10. We will give you opportunities to work from and travel to Koto studios globally, with appropriate planning around projects and studio needs.

Our Culture

• At Koto we encourage our team to be 'rationally optimistic**’** about the potential of our work, our clients, their businesses, and the power of brand.

• We pursue the best briefs, want to inspire meaningful work, and for those interested provide an opportunity to make the work of their lives. We are actively cultivating leadership, culture and spaces to encourage this.

• We work in person with an optional WFH day on Friday, and an additional twenty days remote a year. We believe this produces the best work, mentoring opportunities, collective learning and culture.

• We encourage autonomy in each member of our team, allowing them to manage their own time, hours and personal commitments appropriately to complete work.