--- title: 'Intermediate Designer at AKQA' canonical: 'https://feeny.ai/job/intermediate-designer-akqa-sydney-0m5a4kycy9p4' type: 'job' last_seen: '2026-11-02' --- # Intermediate Designer at AKQA - **Company:** AKQA - **Location:** Sydney, Australia - **Posted:** 2026-10-29 - **Last confirmed live:** 2026-11-02 - **Apply:** https://www.akqa.com/jobs/8311920/?gh_jid=8311920 ## Job description At AKQA we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients. As an Intermediate Designer, you’ll craft high-quality design across the full breadth of creative agency output, spanning print, digital and campaign. Working closely with the Design Lead, Designers, Art Directors and wider multidisciplinary teams, you’ll bring creative direction to life through thoughtful, brand-led work that is as beautiful as it is effective. You’ll explore new ideas, refine the details and create work that is useful, intuitive and culturally resonant. You’ll be a hands-on, generalist designer who brings curiosity and creativity to every brief. From owning design tasks and smaller projects through to final artwork, to contributing ideas within larger campaigns, you’ll build your craft and confidence while delivering work across a range of formats. You’ll collaborate openly, embrace feedback and take increasing ownership of your work as you develop towards a Senior Designer role. Beyond day-to-day design delivery, you’ll contribute to the wider creative culture of the studio. You’ll share ideas and knowledge, explore emerging technologies and AI-enabled tools, and help showcase the quality and impact of our work through new business pitches, case studies and portfolio pieces. ## ROLE REQUIREMENTS - Design and deliver high-quality work across print, digital and campaign, translating creative direction into polished, on-brand outputs - Interpret briefs and explore creative routes, bringing considered ideas and experimentation to each project - Own design tasks and smaller projects from concept through to final artwork and production-ready files - Apply strong typography, layout and attention to detail across all deliverables - Work accurately within established design systems and brand guidelines, contributing to the development and maintenance of brand assets - Collaborate with Art Directors, Strategists, Technologists, Copywriters and Delivery teams, contributing ideas to creative sessions - Present and explain design work clearly in internal reviews, responding positively to feedback and refining work with care - Manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively, communicating blockers or concerns early - Support client presentations, reviews and workshops, building confidence in presenting work and rationale - Embrace new technologies, platforms and AI-enabled tools to elevate creative craft and improve delivery - Contribute design work and ideas to new business pitches, proposals, case studies and portfolio pieces - Share knowledge and techniques with the wider team, taking ownership of your development towards a Senior Designer role ## QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS - Solid experience as a designer in an agency or studio environment, with a portfolio spanning print, digital and campaign work - Strong design craft, typographic sensibility and a keen eye for layout, detail and consistency - Able to translate briefs and creative direction into thoughtful, well-executed, brand-led design - Confident working within design systems and brand guidelines, with experience preparing production-ready artwork for print and digital channels - Curious and inventive, with a willingness to explore different creative approaches rather than defaulting to familiar solutions - Collaborative, generous and open to feedback, with a genuine desire to learn and grow - Clear communicator who is building confidence in presenting and explaining creative decisions - Organised and reliable, able to manage competing priorities and deliver quality work to agreed deadlines - Interested in emerging design, technology and cultural trends, with an openness to AI-enabled tools and new ways of working - Proficient in industry-standard design tools, including Adobe Creative Suite and Figma We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process. AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers. ## About WPP WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit [WPP.com](http://wpp.com/). ## About AKQA ## Company Overview - **One-liner**: AKQA is a creative agency that combines imagination and technology to design and build transformative products, services, and experiences for the world’s most respected brands. - **Entity Type**: Private subsidiary (owned by WPP plc) - **Headquarters**: Not explicitly stated on company site; widely reported as London, UK (global presence across 19 countries and 30 locations) - **Founded**: 1995 - **Founders**: Not publicly available on company site ## Core Business - **Primary industry/industries**: Creative agency, digital agency, innovation consultancy, experience design - **Target customers**: B2B, enterprise clients (global organisations and institutions) - **Mission or purpose statement**: “Create a better future” – the company states its primary motivation is to imagine and create what matters next, using imagination, technology, craft and speed to make a positive difference in people’s lives. ## Products & Services AKQA operates through several specialised companies and practices: - **Experience Design**: Designing digital products, services, and interfaces that are intuitive, beautiful, and culturally resonant. - **Brand, Industrial Design and Architecture**: Creating brand identities, physical products, and spatial experiences. - **App Development (ArcTouch)**: Building mobile and connected applications for clients. - **Brand Experience and Communications (Made)**: Developing brand storytelling, campaigns, and communications strategies. In addition, AKQA offers consulting, engineering, and innovation services as part of its core agency offering. ## Market Standing - **Valuation/Market Cap**: Not disclosed (private subsidiary of WPP plc, a public company with a market cap of ~£9B as of mid-2025) - **Key Metric**: Total funding not applicable (subsidiary); revenue not publicly disclosed for AKQA standalone. WPP’s Global Integrated Agencies segment (which includes AKQA) reported £12.3B in revenue for 2024. - **Notable Investors/Partners**: Parent company WPP plc; long-term clients include many of the world’s most prestigious organisations (specific names not listed on site). - **Growth Signals**: - 83 Agency of the Year awards - 616 Cannes Lions won in the last decade, including multiple Grand Prix awards (Innovation 2025, Glass 2024, Digital Craft 2023, Design 2021) - Ranked 9th Most Loved Workplace in the World by Newsweek - Named Campaign’s 2023 Digital Agency Global Network of the Year - Winner of Fast Company World Changing Ideas Awards (2021, 2022, 2024) - Led Gartner’s independent evaluation of Global Marketing Agencies for four consecutive years ## Competitive Advantages - **Award-winning creative culture**: Consistently recognised at the highest levels of global creative competitions (Cannes Lions, D&AD, Webby Awards). - **Global scale with local depth**: 30 studios across 19 countries, enabling seamless cross-border collaboration – over 70% of clients work with teams in multiple regions. - **Long-term client relationships**: Trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, with a focus on enduring partnerships rather than project-based work. - **Multidisciplinary expertise**: Combines strategy, design, engineering, and communications under one roof, allowing for integrated, end-to-end solutions. - **Culture of innovation**: Emphasis on disciplined experimentation and “zero-to-one” breakthroughs rather than incremental change. ## Strategic Focus - **Continuing to lead at the intersection of imagination and technology**, with a strong focus on AI, digital craft, and emerging technologies. - **Becoming the employer of choice** in the creative and innovation industry, as stated on the company’s careers page. - **Driving growth for society, clients, people, and values** – the company describes itself as “ambitious, growth-oriented” with a commitment to sustainability and equity. - **Expanding its global footprint** and deepening capabilities through its specialised companies (ArcTouch, Made, etc.). ## Why Work Here - **Culture highlights**: Recognised as a Great Place to Work and a Best Workplace for Innovators by Fast Company. Newsweek ranked AKQA the 9th Most Loved Workplace in the World. - **Employee Resource Groups**: Active communities including WE (Women’s Empowerment), BOLD (LGBTQIA+), MIND (mental health), API (Asian & Pacific Islander), and a DEI Council. - **Learning and development**: AKQA Insight platform offers talks and courses from internal and external experts; formal training programs and WPP Professional Development are available. - **Mental health and physical wellbeing**: Resources include yoga, meditation, self-care resources, and a focus on disease prevention and resilience. - **Remote/hybrid policy**: Not explicitly stated on site; the company has physical studios worldwide and emphasises in-person collaboration, though some flexibility may exist depending on role and location. - **Purpose-driven work**: The company’s stated goal is to “create a better future,” and it backs this with sustainability initiatives and community engagement (e.g., Future Lions competition, Future Academy internship program). - **Diverse and inclusive environment**: The company is committed to “fostering a varied and equitable work environment” and takes active steps toward equity and representation. ## Sources 1. [AKQA Careers Overview](https://www.akqa.com/careers/) 2. [Working at AKQA](https://www.akqa.com/careers/working-at-akqa/) 3. [AKQA Companies](https://www.akqa.com/companies/) 4. [AKQA Culture](https://www.akqa.com/culture/) ## Other roles at AKQA - [Senior Technical Delivery Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-technical-delivery-manager-akqa-melbourne-zmg8ehnyvd6j) — Melbourne, Australia - [Lead / Principal AI Engineer](https://feeny.ai/job/lead-principal-ai-engineer-akqa-london-qg2jfj24rdpy) — London, United Kingdom - [Associate Strategy Director](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-strategy-director-akqa-london-671xxwcv8n9h) — London, United Kingdom - [Senior Project Manager](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-project-manager-akqa-berlin-b401z3d988dz) — Berlin, Germany - [Senior Art Director](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-art-director-akqa-paris-6chy0ayp6qxv) — Paris, France - [Strategy Director, CRM & Loyalty](https://feeny.ai/job/strategy-director-crm-loyalty-akqa-melbourne-fcy19fbajxvj) — Melbourne, Australia - [Group Account Director](https://feeny.ai/job/group-account-director-akqa-seattle-sjmw34656hrs) — Seattle, WA - [Creative Director (Copywriter)](https://feeny.ai/job/creative-director-copywriter-akqa-london-pe339bb05jtw) — London, United Kingdom - [Senior Product Designer](https://feeny.ai/job/senior-product-designer-akqa-gothenburg-sweden-stockholm-n3f7pqxztx2b) — Gothenburg Sweden Stockholm, Sweden - [Associate Design Director, Product](https://feeny.ai/job/associate-design-director-product-akqa-amsterdam-0gvzhay0nytc) — Amsterdam, Netherlands