Experiential Creative/Design Lead (freelance)

JOB TITLE: Experiential Creative/Design Lead (freelance)

DEPARTMENT: Creative

REPORTS TO: Group Creative Director

LOCATION: West Coast

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an experienced experiential leader capable of translating strategy into executable live experiences while balancing creative ambition, operational realities, venue constraints, and budget requirements. The ideal candidate can concept, visualize, and lead, but also understands how experiences are actually built, operated, and scaled across multiple markets.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Lead execution of experiential creative development across several product workstreams
• Develop event concepts that balance creative impact with executional feasibility
• Partner closely with Production, Strategy, Creative Leadership, and Account teams throughout development and execution
• Provide clear creative direction to internal designers, production designers, and external partners
• Advise and guide guest experience, environmental storytelling, and spatial design across the program
• Build scalable creative systems that can adapt across multiple venues, markets, and budget levels.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Budget & Feasibility Awareness

A successful experiential creative leader develops concepts that are both creatively compelling and aligned with the available budget framework.

Expected behaviors:

• Design concepts within established budget parameters
• Understand the difference between rental, off-the-shelf, and custom-fabricated solutions
• Evaluate cost versus guest impact when making creative decisions
• Identify major cost drivers early in concept development
• Partner proactively with Production when concepts require additional investment or infrastructure

Spatial Design & Guest Experience

Experiential creative work extends beyond objects and graphics. It requires understanding how guests move through and interact with a space.

Expected behaviors:

• Design for guest flow, not just aesthetics
• Consider entry, circulation, gathering areas, and exit paths
• Identify potential pinch points and operational challenges
• Maintain awareness of capacity, sightlines, accessibility, and flexibility
• Balance visual impact with functional event operations

Concept Development Standards

Creative concepts should be developed with enough fidelity to allow meaningful production evaluation.

Expected behaviors:

• Include dimensions for custom elements
• Define materiality and finish assumptions
• Provide sourcing references for off-the-shelf items whenever possible
• Clearly identify custom fabrication assumptions
• Distinguish between inspiration and intended execution
• Visuals and mockups presented at scale, inclusive detailed floorplans and consumer flow charts

Venue & Production Awareness

The ideal candidate understands how venue realities influence creative decisions.

Expected behaviors:

• Design around venue constraints rather than assuming ideal conditions
• Develop concepts with a clear understanding of the infrastructure required to execute them, and evaluate those requirements alongside budget, venue constraints, and guest experience.
• Default to practical solutions unless venue-specific opportunities have been confirmed

Leadership & Mentorship

This role is expected to help elevate experiential capability across the broader creative organization.

Expected behaviors:

• Mentor designers and creatives who are continuing to build experiential skillsets
• Establish clear creative processes and standards
• Serve as the primary experiential creative authority for the program
• Help bridge the gap between traditional campaign thinking and experiential execution

Success Looks Like

• Creative concepts that can be executed substantially as designed
• Fewer production revisions driven by feasibility concerns
• Stronger integration between Creative and Production teams
• Faster decision-making and concept development
• Consistent guest experiences across multiple markets and venues
• Continued growth of experiential capability within the agency.
• A team player whose qualities and motivations align with our agency’s core values – fearless, integrity, advocacy, impact, ingenuity and foresight.

WHAT WE OFFER

• Comprehensive benefits package designed to support your well-being.
• Recharge and unwind with a generous time-off policy.
• Stay connected with a mobile stipend.
• Secure your financial future with a 401k and company match.
• Make a difference through community involvement with time and financial matching.
• Set goals and track progress through annual performance reviews.
• Learning and development.

ABOUT R&R PARTNERS

At R&R Partners, we don’t just solve problems—we redefine them. As a fiercely independent, full-service agency with over five decades of experience, we partner with the boldest minds and most innovative creators to tackle challenges others won’t dare touch. Our hybrid workforce spans 20+ states and Mexico City, blending diverse disciplines like government affairs, creative, media and crisis consulting to deliver groundbreaking solutions for some of the world’s most iconic brands.