Business Development Creative Lead

This is the Senior Creative Lead seat for the entire company. You own what Displate looks like, what it stands for, and how that standard holds across every product, team, and market. Based in Orlando, you'll build Displate's US creative studio from the ground up while setting the creative direction for our established European design operation. The operational infrastructure is already there - you bring the vision and the standard. Your immediate product focus: Limited Editions, collectibles, and packaging. The highest-visibility, highest-margin lines in the portfolio. Getting creative right here is a business imperative. You'll start hands‑on — producing, directing, and building the team at the same time. As the org scales, the balance shifts from making to leading. The path is intentional. We're looking for someone who's done this before, or is clearly ready to.

Responsibilities

7–10+ years as an illustrator, designer, or art director with a strong portfolio of published product artwork, licensed IP, or entertainment design

3–5+ years leading creative teams across multiple product lines, geographies, or studios

Deep experience with licensed IP (entertainment, sports, gaming, anime) and navigating licensor approval processes

Expertise in digital illustration and visual storytelling for physical products: prints, collectibles, limited editions, packaging

A track record of building creative systems — style guides, workflows, quality standards — that scale

Print production and color management experience is a strong plus

Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite; proficiency in Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, or equivalent

A natural cross‑functional connector who can hold the creative point of view in a licensor meeting, a retail planning session, and a C‑level review

Entrepreneurial mindset — you build structure in ambiguity and move fast

Genuine passion for pop culture, sports, anime, gaming, or collectibles

Own the creative vision and quality standard for Displate's art production globally

Lead concepting and execution for Limited Edition drops, collectibles, and retail packaging

Produce hands‑on work while progressively shifting toward full creative direction as the team grows

Develop and maintain style guides, design systems, and quality standards across the portfolio

Manage licensor submission and approval processes for all US‑originated artwork

Build the Orlando studio from scratch — workspace, tooling, asset management, team

Hire and mentor a starting team of 2–3 designers (first hire: Sports Designer)

Partner with the European studio operations lead to align creative direction across time zones

Run regular creative reviews across both studios to raise the output standard company‑wide

Act as the creative voice in Licensing, Sales, Retail, and Marketing conversations — upstream, not just at brief delivery

Partner with the Sports Category Manager on fast‑turnaround moments content tied to live events

Collaborate with Retail and B2B teams on packaging, PDQ displays, and retail‑specific creative for Limited Edition and collectibles lines

Report directly to C‑level leadership

Benefits
Stay vibrant with a private health plan and life insurance for you and your closed ones.

20 or 26 paid vacation days, whenever you need them.

Any courses and conferences you need to learn, grow, and supercharge your skills – they’re on us.

Work flexible hours and balance your schedule your way.

All the pro tools you need to shine. Do you prefer MacBook or Lenovo?

No better way to start your Displate adventure than a free metal poster of your choice!

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