Lead Creative Designer

Job Title: Lead Creative Designer – Environmental Graphics

Department: Design / Creative

Reports To: Steve Sims, Art Director

Location: Houston, TX (77086)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Hardman Signs is a national leader in architectural signage and environmental graphics. We design, manufacture, and install high-impact signage solutions for commercial, healthcare, hospitality, and mixed-use projects across the country. We pride ourselves on blending strong creative concepts with practical, buildable solutions.

Role Summary

We are seeking a Lead Creative Designer to bring strong conceptual thinking and design leadership to our environmental graphics and wayfinding projects. This role is ideal for a seasoned designer who excels at translating brand stories into physical spaces and can lead creative direction from concept through implementation. You will work closely with clients, sales, project managers, and our fabrication team to deliver compelling, brand-aligned signage and environmental graphics solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative concept development for environmental graphics, wayfinding systems, and branded environments.
• Translate client brands into thoughtful, impactful physical applications across interior and exterior spaces.
• Create high-quality design presentations, renderings, and design intent packages for client meetings and proposals.
• Collaborate with sales and project teams to develop creative solutions that balance design vision with manufacturing and installation realities.
• Provide creative direction and guidance on projects, ensuring design integrity from concept through final installation.
• Stay current with design trends, materials, and fabrication techniques in the architectural signage and environmental graphics industry.
• Mentor and support junior designers on creative approach and presentation standards when needed.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of our creative process and design standards.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of professional experience in environmental graphic design, wayfinding, or architectural signage design.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, brand-to-space application, and high-quality presentation skills.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and experience with 3D modeling/rendering tools (SketchUp, Revit, or similar) is a plus.
• Excellent understanding of how design translates into manufacturing and installation.
• Strong communication and presentation skills with the ability to confidently lead client-facing creative discussions.
• Experience working in or with architectural, design, or signage/fabrication environments preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, or a related field.

What We Offer

• Opportunity to work on a wide variety of high-profile architectural signage and environmental graphics projects.
• Collaborative team environment with strong creative and technical support.
• Competitive compensation and benefits package.
• Growth opportunities within a growing national company.