About State of Tomorrow
State of Tomorrow is a design-driven innovation agency based in Amsterdam. We help organisations like Elsevier, ANWB, Heijmans and Schiphol imagine and realise their desired future. We work at the intersection of strategy, design and emerging technology — translating future visions into tangible digital products, brand identities, user experiences and speculative futures.
Our work spans the full spectrum of digital design: from building the total online presence of major brands, to developing award-winning websites, to creating concepts for new brand identities in the context of digital innovation. Not innovation theatre. Real work that ships, gets used, and wins recognition.
We’re part of nlmtd: a collective of organisations focused on building the future and helping companies navigate the big transitions of this time
We’re looking for a Digital Design Director. A senior creative leader who combines art direction and hands-on design skills with strategic vision.
Someone who sets the creative standard for digital products, user experiences, brand identities and speculative futures — and who leads by making, not just managing.
You have a trackrecord of shaping the total online presence of major brands, developing award-winning digital work, and creating compelling visual concepts for brand identities. You know how to guide clients through ambiguity, shape strong creative directions and elevate teams along the way. You’re as comfortable in the boardroom as you are refining pixels with designers and developers.
You use AI naturally throughout your creative workflow — not as a gimmick, but as a serious design accelerator. And you speak Dutch as we serve both international as Dutch clients.
What you do
Set the creative direction through art direction and hands-on design.
You define the visual quality and design language across projects. You sketch, prototype, direct and build — leading by example and craft, not just feedback.
Lead digital product and brand design projects from vision to delivery.
You shape digital products, user experiences, websites and brand identities from early exploration to concrete delivery, together with clients and multidisciplinary teams.
Create concepts and visual narratives.
You develop strong creative concepts, future scenarios and compelling visual stories that help clients move forward. You think in systems, screens and experiences.
Build award-worthy digital experiences.
You push for work that stands out. You have an eye for the total online presence of a brand and the ambition to create digital work that sets a benchmark.
Facilitate workshops and co-creation.
You lead sessions with clients, teams and stakeholders, creating momentum, alignment and energy.
Drive new business.
You help turn opportunities into proposals, pitches and long-term client relationships.
Raise the creative bar.
You coach designers, challenge thinking and help shape the creative reputation of State of Tomorrow.
Your profile
You are first and foremost a designer with exceptional taste and strong art direction skills. You combine deep expertise in digital product design, UX/UI, brand identity design and visual storytelling with broad curiosity across culture, business and technology
You are:
A maker and art director;
you lead through craft, set the visual standard, and get your hands dirty
A digital design expert;
experienced in designing digital products, user experiences, websites and brand identities
Strategically sharp;
able to translate complexity into clear creative direction
Visually exceptional;
you think through systems, screens, stories and experiences
Fast and entrepreneurial;
comfortable moving between vision and execution
Client-facing;
you enjoy building with clients, not just presenting to them
A facilitator;
able to guide workshops, conversations and creative processes
Curious about the future;
from AI and emerging tech to shifts in culture and society
A team builder;
you help designers grow through feedback, direction and trust
Opinionated;
you challenge assumptions and push work further
Your toolbox
- 8+ years of experience in digital design, branding or UX within an agency, studio or innovation environment
- Strong portfolio demonstrating art direction, digital product design, brand identity work and/or award-winning websites
- Proven experience shaping the total online presence and digital design language of major brands
- Excellent presentation and communication skills
- Experience leading multidisciplinary creative teams and designprojects
- Deep understanding of UX/UI, interaction design, design systems and responsive webdesign
- Strong feel for brand identity, visual storytelling and conceptual design in a digital context
- Fluent use of tools such as Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and AI tools like Midjourney, Runway, ChatGPT, Claude or similar
- Ability to judge where AI adds value and where human creativity matters more
- Fluent in Dutch and English
Success in this role
You create digital work that is visually distinctive, strategically strong and raises the bar for the studio. Where clients see you as a trusted creative partner with a clear design vision. You build a portfolio of work that wins recognition and strengthens State of Tomorrow’s reputation in digital design and branding. You identify and grow new business opportunities and your projects are commercially healthy and creatively ambitious. Your team becomes stronger designers through your leadership and art direction
What we offer
- A multidisciplinary team of strategists, designers and makers
- Complex innovation and design challenges for leading organisations
- Freedom, autonomy and trust
- A hybrid working culture
- A strong network through nlmtd
- Space for experimentation, development and new ideas
- A great office in Amsterdam
- 25 holidays per year
- Salary between €6,000 – €7.500 per month, depending on experience (excluding holiday allowance, pension and bonus opportunity)
Interested?
Send us your portfolio, background or simply a strong introduction.
We’re not looking for a standard profile. We’re looking for someone who shapes what’s next, by design.
PS While we appreciate the interest, we are not seeking support from external recruitment agencies for this role.
