Experiential & Set Designer

Location: Manchester (Denton)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Job Type: Full Time, Permanent

Create Experiences That People Remember

Visual Architects is an award-winning creative production company delivering immersive environments, experiential activations, festivals, live events, branded experiences, hospitality projects and large-scale installations across the UK and Europe.

We are looking for an Experiential & Set Designer to join our growing creative team.

This is not a traditional interior design role.

We are looking for someone who can take a client’s brief and transform it into an exciting concept, compelling visual story and creative proposal that helps us win work.

You’ll combine creative thinking, experience design, storytelling and visualisation skills to develop memorable environments and experiences that inspire clients and bring ideas to life.

Whether it’s a festival activation, immersive brand experience, Christmas installation, corporate event, themed environment or hospitality space, you’ll play a key role in shaping the creative vision behind the project.

The Role

As an Experiential & Set Designer, you will work closely with our Client Account Managers and Creative Team to develop concepts from initial brief through to proposal stage.

You’ll be responsible for creating engaging visual presentations, mood boards, renders and design concepts that support the sales process whilst ensuring projects remain commercially viable and deliverable.

A key part of the role will be understanding and creatively utilising Visual Architects’ extensive inventory of décor, props, furniture, scenic elements and structures. We don’t simply rent products; we reimagine them to create unique experiences for our clients.

We are looking for somebody who loves generating ideas, solving creative challenges and creating concepts that excite both clients and colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

Desarrollo de conceptos creativos

• Interpret client briefs and identify opportunities to create memorable experiences.
• Develop original concepts for events, activations, immersive environments and installations.
• Create mood boards, creative narratives and visual storytelling elements.
• Generate innovative ideas that align with client objectives and budgets.
• Participate in brainstorming sessions and creative workshops.

Proposal Design & Visualisation

• Produce visually compelling presentations and pitch materials.
• Create high-quality renders, layouts and concept visuals.
• Translate ideas into engaging proposal documents.
• Support Client Account Managers in developing winning pitches.
• Refine concepts based on client and internal feedback.

Asset-Led Design

• Develop a thorough understanding of Visual Architects’ inventory and asset library.
• Incorporate existing décor, props, furniture and scenic assets into proposals.
• Reimagine and repurpose existing stock in creative ways.
• Create concepts that maximise asset utilisation whilst maintaining originality.
• Identify opportunities for new asset development and investment.

Picking Lists & Design Documentation

• Produce detailed picking lists for proposed projects.
• Specify décor, scenic elements and inventory requirements.
• Work closely with warehouse, procurement and production teams to ensure feasibility.
• Support accurate project costing and budgeting.

Collaboration

• Work closely with Client Account Managers, Production and Delivery teams.
• Participate in project reviews and creative development meetings.
• Support project handovers to operational teams.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of proposal quality and creative standards.

What We’re Looking For

Essential Experience

We would love to hear from candidates with backgrounds in:

• Experiential Design
• Diseño de eventos
• Set Design
• Scenic Design
• Exhibition Design
• Activaciones de marca
• Live Events
• Festivales
• Creative Production
• Visitor Attractions
• Themed Environments

Skills & Attributes

• Strong creative thinking and concept development skills.
• Ability to transform a brief into a compelling visual proposal.
• Excellent visual communication and presentation abilities.
• Strong understanding of experiential and environmental design.
• Commercial awareness and understanding of project budgets.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong collaboration and communication skills.

Software Experience

Experience with some or all of the following:

• SketchUp
• Enscape
• Blender
• Cinema 4D
• Adobe Creative Suite
• AutoCAD

Portfolio quality and creative thinking are more important to us than proficiency in any single software package.

What Success Looks Like

• Creating concepts that excite clients and increase proposal win rates.
• Producing high-quality presentations and visualisations.
• Maximising the creative use of existing company assets.
• Delivering accurate picking lists and proposal documentation.
• Consistently generating fresh and innovative ideas.
• Contributing to a culture of creativity and continuous improvement.

Why Join Visual Architects?

At Visual Architects, you’ll have the opportunity to work on a huge variety of projects across events, festivals, hospitality, experiential marketing, interiors and immersive environments.

You’ll be part of a team that doesn’t just design ideas—we build them.

This is an opportunity to see your concepts move from mood board to reality, working alongside talented creatives, fabricators, project managers and production specialists to create experiences that leave a lasting impression.

If you’re passionate about creating environments, telling stories through design and developing ideas that people remember, we’d love to hear from you.