Design Director, Exhibits, Houston

Salary:	$125K+ Dependent on Experience
Location:	Houston
Type:	Full-Time On-Site
Position:	Design Director

Emerge XP is leading the search for a Design Director to oversee 3D exhibit design and creative development for an established organization specializing in custom trade show exhibits, branded environments, and experiential installations.

The strongest creative leaders know how to push an idea further. They also know exactly what it takes to bring that idea to life.  This is a hands-on creative leadership opportunity for an accomplished exhibit design professional who brings exceptional design judgment, technical expertise, and the ability to get the best work out of a talented team. You'll lead the creative department, establish design direction, mentor and develop designers, and remain actively involved in high-profile concepts, client presentations, and complex design assignments. The right person understands that exceptional design needs to deliver on every level: visually, strategically, structurally, and financially.  

Why This Role

This is an opportunity to lead the creative conversation while remaining connected to the work itself.  You'll have the ability to influence creative standards, elevate the quality of the team's output, develop emerging talent, and bring new thinking to projects across custom exhibits, branded spaces, and experiential environments. Just as importantly, you'll work closely with sales, estimating, project management, production, and fabrication teams, giving you a direct connection between the creative vision and how that vision is ultimately executed. For an established design leader who loves the creative process, understands the business behind great design, and enjoys helping talented people do their best work, this role offers a compelling combination of leadership, collaboration, and hands-on creative involvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction and execution of custom trade show exhibits, branded environments, corporate interiors, and experiential installations
• Oversee the 3D design team, establishing clear creative standards and maintaining a consistently high level of design quality
• Translate client objectives, brand strategies, and complex project requirements into compelling creative concepts
• Remain hands-on with high-value projects, major client presentations, and technically demanding design assignments
• Guide projects from initial discovery and conceptual development through design refinement, production, and final execution
• Lead, mentor, and develop designers, encouraging stronger creative thinking, technical skills, accountability, and professional growth
• Review concepts, renderings, layouts, and design presentations to ensure consistency, quality, and alignment with client objectives
• Present creative concepts directly to clients and senior stakeholders, articulating both the design vision and the strategic reasoning behind it
• Partner closely with Account Executives, estimating, project management, engineering, and fabrication teams to balance creative ambition with practical execution
• Ensure design decisions account for construction methods, structural limitations, material selection, production budgets, timelines, and installation requirements
• Manage creative resources and priorities across multiple simultaneous projects while maintaining quality and deadline expectations
• Establish and refine departmental design processes, creative workflows, and best practices
• Encourage fresh perspectives, thoughtful experimentation, and the integration of emerging design technologies and materials
• Serve as a creative authority during client discovery meetings, design reviews, proposal development, and major presentations
• Foster a collaborative environment where creative excellence, technical credibility, and shared accountability are part of the team’s everyday approach

Requirements

• 5+ years of progressive experience in senior 3D design or creative leadership within custom trade show exhibits, experiential design, branded environments, or related physical spaces
• Demonstrated success leading, mentoring, and developing designers while maintaining strong creative and technical standards
• Strong portfolio showcasing sophisticated exhibit design, branded spaces, experiential environments, and successfully executed projects
• Advanced proficiency in 3ds Max for 3D modeling, AutoCAD for technical layouts and detailing, and V-Ray for photorealistic rendering, materials, and lighting
• Strong understanding of exhibit architecture, spatial planning, brand communication, visual design, and the relationship between creative concepts and physical environments
• Practical knowledge of custom millwork, construction materials, fabrication techniques, structural considerations, and production limitations
• Familiarity with exhibit rigging requirements, electrical layouts, and modular exhibit systems such as Aluvision and Octanorm
• Experience translating complex client requirements into designs that balance creative impact, functionality, budget, and build-ability
• Confident client presentation skills, with the ability to communicate creative concepts and defend design decisions with clarity and credibility
• Strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills, with the ability to work effectively across sales, project management, estimating, fabrication, and installation
• Experience managing multiple design priorities and resources in a deadline-driven environment
• A degree in design, architecture, visual arts, experiential design, or a related discipline; equivalent professional experience will be considered
• Experience with Vectorworks, SketchUp, or other rapid conceptual design tools is valued
• Existing relationships within the Houston experiential design, event production, or architectural fabrication community are a plus
• A leadership style that combines creative confidence, genuine curiosity, technical depth, and the ability to inspire exceptional work from others