Job Role:
At Studio 360, we are more than just a design studio, we serve as the creative and technical engine behind Azizi Developments. Since our establishment in 2017, our multidisciplinary team has delivered innovative solutions in architecture, engineering, interiors, landscape, and MEP across a diverse array of sectors, including residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and master planning. With three offices and a shared passion for excellence, we merge creativity, precision, and a human-centric approach to bring visionary projects to life. We lead in digital transformation by integrating advanced technologies and Building Information Modelling (BIM) at every stage of our design and delivery process. At Studio 360, you will be immersed in a dynamic environment where bold ideas, collaboration, and innovative tools converge to shape the skylines of tomorrow.
Responsibilities:
The Concept Design Manager Special Projects & Hospitality is responsible for leading the creative vision and conceptual development of high end residential, hospitality, and special projects, transforming client aspirations into distinctive, innovative, and commercially successful design concepts. The role drives the design process from project inception through concept approval, ensuring each project reflects exceptional design quality, strong narrative, and a clear understanding of the client's objectives, brand, and market positioning. Working closely with clients, operators, consultants, and multidisciplinary teams, the Concept Design Manager leads design strategy, spatial planning, materiality, FF&E direction, and the overall creative development of each project. The role champions design excellence, innovation, and attention to detail while guiding the team in producing compelling presentations, mood boards, concept packages, and high-quality visual communication. The position requires exceptional conceptual design ability, creative leadership, and presentation skills, together with a strong understanding of luxury residential and hospitality design trends, user experience, and spatial planning. The successful candidate will inspire multidisciplinary teams, mentor designers, facilitate design workshops, and confidently communicate and defend design ideas to clients and senior stakeholders, ensuring every project achieves the highest standards of creativity, functionality, and design excellence.
- Lead and inspire senior, intermediate, and junior designers, fostering creativity, innovation, collaboration, and professional growth while maintaining the Studio's design excellence and quality standards.
- Lead the creative vision and conceptual development of projects, transforming client briefs, brand standards, and operational requirements into distinctive, innovative, and commercially successful design concepts.
- Develop compelling design narratives, spatial planning strategies, mood boards, material palettes, FF&E concepts, bespoke design elements, and visual storytelling that define each project's unique identity.
- Work closely with the Interior Design Manager to ensure the successful development and delivery of concept designs in line with the Studio's quality standards and project objectives.
- Work closely with the Interior Design Technical Manager and technical design team to ensure concept designs are coordinated, technically feasible, buildable, and maintain the approved design intent throughout the project lifecycle.
- Guide and review the development of concept presentations, hand sketches, diagrams, renderings, and visual communication material to clearly communicate design intent to clients and stakeholders.
- Provide creative leadership throughout the design process, ensuring consistency of design language, materiality, proportions, detailing, functionality, and user experience across all project stages.
- Maintain a strong understanding of construction methods, detailing, materials, building systems, and multidisciplinary coordination to support informed design decisions while preserving the integrity of the design concept.
- Demonstrate excellent hand sketching and visual communication skills to rapidly develop, explore, and communicate design concepts throughout the creative process.
- Demonstrate advanced proficiency in hand sketching and industry-standard design, visualization, and documentation software, including Revit, AutoCAD, SketchUp, InDesign, Photoshop, AI-assisted visualization tools, and other relevant applications.
- Demonstrate excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, forward planning, workflow management, and the ability to effectively mentor and develop design teams.
- Develop strong professional relationships with clients, operators, consultants, suppliers, contractors, and internal multidisciplinary teams.
- Manage the preparation of the overall materiality and FF&E concept direction, creative vision, and design strategy for interior design projects in accordance with the project brief and applicable Brand Standards and Guidelines.
- Lead the sourcing and selection of furniture, finishes, fixtures, decorative lighting, artwork, accessories, and bespoke design elements to support the overall design vision while obtaining costs and coordinating budgets.
- Survey project sites where required to assess existing conditions and inform conceptual layouts, spatial planning, and design development.
- Supervise design quality throughout the concept, design development, delivery, and site implementation stages, ensuring the approved design intent is successfully executed.
- Oversee the architectural design process, ensuring all design solutions align with the approved concept, client expectations, operational requirements, and project objectives.
- Work closely with architects, engineers, lighting designers, specialist consultants, and contractors to coordinate design details and integrate technical requirements without compromising the creative vision.
- Manage material selections and project costs to ensure the design intent is maintained while meeting project budgets and commercial objectives.
- Provide guidance to the interior design team and external disciplines on materiality, FF&E strategy, design language, and overall creative direction throughout all project stages.
- Review, comment on, and approve physical material, finish, and FF&E samples throughout the design process to ensure consistency with the approved concept and desired quality standards.
- Lead multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination throughout all design stages to ensure seamless integration of architecture, interior design, MEP, lighting, signage, AV, acoustics, and specialist consultant requirements.
- Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously while balancing design quality, client expectations, commercial objectives, project schedules, and team resources.
Requirement:
- BS in Design, Interior Design or Architecture is preferred
- 12-20 years of experience in creative conceptual design in UAE/International hospitality, of high end residential and special projects.
