Creative Associate / Spatial Designer

JOB AD HERE

Role: Creative Associate / Spatial Designer

Full time - 37.5 hrs per week

Location - Leeds City Centre (in-person role, remote option not available)

Salary - £30,000 - £40,000 p/a

Deadline Wednesday 7th May, 12pm

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About Us

Where design meets drama. NEWSUBSTANCE is a multidisciplinary creative studio at the intersection of arts, entertainment and culture. For 20 years, we have been orchestrating physically-led, technology-enhanced spectacles that compel audiences and capture imaginations.

More About Us

About The Role

We're looking for a Creative Associate / Spatial Designer who will craft innovative, spatially driven solutions that push creative boundaries across our diverse portfolio. You will explore, develop, and refine designs that focus on physically-led, technology-enhanced experiences.

This role is ideal for someone with experience designing for live performance, immersive spaces, or exhibitions - or for a designer looking to transfer their skills into this exciting field.

We work across global entertainment, events and the arts, and we’re looking for someone who is as passionate about the creative industries as we are!

Key Responsibilities

Creative & Concept Development:

• Contribute to ideation and creative concepts, in response to briefs.
• Conduct thorough research (visual and textual) to establish a strong foundation for creative development.
• Participate actively in creative discussions, contributing ideas and shaping project direction.
• Develop design concepts from pre-concept through to final design packages, responding to feedback iteratively.
• Use a variety of techniques to communicate design ideas, including hand sketching, storyboarding, 2D drafting, 3D modeling, or physical model-making.
• Support the team in modeling digital models and visualisations to bring creative concepts to life.
• Prepare high-quality presentation documents (mood boards, decks, mood reels) to visually and verbally convey concepts.

Collaboration & Project Support:

• Attend project meetings and workshops, contributing creative insights.
• Document key points and actions during creative sessions for future reference.
• Support internal and client-facing design presentations, ensuring clarity and professionalism.
• Collaborate with freelancers to develop visuals aligned with creative concepts.
• Assist in maintaining department organisation, including filing systems, templates, and case studies.

This role is based in our Leeds City Centre studio and requires an in-person presence.

Who We're Looking For

Essential Skills:

• Minimum 5 years experience, education or training in spatial, set design, and/or architecture.
• Demonstrable creativity, curiosity and talent for spatial design.
• Strong communication skills, in written, visual and verbal form.
• A proactive approach, with the ability to take initiative and contribute actively to a collaborative team.
• Evidence of creative design thinking and ability to take a concept or brief and develop it into a specific form, with careful consideration for material use.
• Expertise in 3d modelling software (preferably Rhino), and other design tools (preferably Illustrator and Photoshop).
• Ability to perform efficiently in a fast-paced, deadline oriented environment.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills.
• Flexible approach to work and willingness to assist the wider team when needed.

Beneficial Skills:

• Ability to render visuals to support design proposals.
• Proficiency in Figma Slides and Figma Jam.
• Proficiency in video and motion software.
• Understanding of emerging AI tools (eg: Midjourney, Runway).
• Awareness of sustainable approaches to design.
• Understanding of universal design and how to integrate accessibility considerations into proposals.
• Proficiency in additional 3d software such as Blender or Grasshopper.

What We Offer

• A key role within a globally recognised creative studio
• Exposure to exciting, high-profile projects across a range of industries
• A supportive, collaborative and inspiring studio culture
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Company MacBook