Brand Activation & Event Designer

Cornerstone Technologies•American Fork, UT

About The Position

As a Brand Activation & Event Designer, you will bring brands to life through compelling physical environments including retail pop-ups, brand activations, and events. You'll translate brand strategies into immersive three-dimensional spaces that create memorable consumer connections and drive business results. This role requires someone with a strong understanding of environmental design, retail strategy, and consumer engagement who can balance creative vision with practical execution across temporary and semi-permanent installations.

Requirements

4-7 years of experience in environmental design, retail design, event design, or experiential design
Degree or advanced training in Interior Design, Environmental Design, Architecture, Industrial Design, or related field
Portfolio demonstrating strong work in brand activations, retail spaces, pop-ups, or event environments
Proven experience bringing projects from concept through installation
Experience working with fabricators, production teams, and vendors
Strong presentation skills and experience presenting to clients
Understanding of the experiential marketing industry and agency ecosystem
Mastery of relevant creative tools
Ability to effectively and artistically convey and present ideas in 3D (modeling and rendering software or sketches and material boards)
Proficiency in Figma for presentation decks and collaborative design work
Experience creating technical drawings, floor plans, and elevations
Passion for learning emerging design tools and AI-based software
Expert understanding of environmental and experiential design principles
Deep knowledge of retail design, consumer behavior, and merchandising strategies
Comprehensive understanding of materials, finishes, lighting design, and spatial composition
Strong graphic design skills and understanding of brand identity systems
Excellent aesthetic, eye for detail, color, typography, and styling
Ability to design across various brand aesthetics and adapt to client-specific styles
Understanding of retail environments, pop-up strategy, and temporary installations
Knowledge of consumer engagement tactics and activation best practices
Experience with event design across various scales and formats
Understanding of how physical spaces drive brand awareness and business outcomes
Familiarity with POS materials, signage systems, and wayfinding design
Clear understanding of project budgets and ability to design within financial constraints
Knowledge of fabrication costs, rental vs. custom build decisions, and value engineering
Understanding of installation logistics, timelines, and on-site coordination
Solid comprehension of graphic production processes and file preparation
Ability to balance design ambition with practical execution realities
Creative Innovation - Constantly push boundaries while staying strategically grounded; bring fresh thinking to brand challenges and develop solutions that are both beautiful and effective
Communication - Articulate design concepts clearly and persuasively; present work with confidence; express ideas through compelling visuals and narratives
Urgency - Thrive under tight deadlines; make quick decisions without sacrificing quality; eliminate unnecessary steps while maintaining design excellence
Flexibility - Adapt easily to changing priorities, client feedback, and evolving project requirements; maintain composure when challenges arise
Prioritization/Organization - Manage multiple projects effectively; allocate time and resources wisely; track hours and budgets accurately
Solutions-oriented mindset, approaching obstacles as creative challenges to solve
Knows how to ideate within strategic and budgetary guardrails
Pushes for innovative ideas while understanding when to move forward with agreed direction
Maintains professionalism and positivity under pressure
Works collaboratively while also excelling independently
Committed to creating inclusive, energetic work environments
Understands when to escalate issues to creative leadership

Nice To Haves

Experience with luxury brands, consumer products, or lifestyle brands
Knowledge of sustainable design practices and materials
Experience with trade shows, festivals, or large-scale events
Understanding of digital integration in physical spaces (screens, interactive elements, lighting control)
Experience managing or mentoring junior designers
Ability to travel to site visits and installations (approximately 10-15% of time)
Familiarity with project management tools and processes

Responsibilities

Translate creative briefs and brand guidelines into impactful environmental design solutions for activations, pop-ups, and events
Create comprehensive design packages including sketches, renderings, floor plans, elevations, 2D and 3D visualizations, and presentation decks
Design thoughtful and engaging guest journeys that maximize brand impact and consumer flow
Develop multiple design concepts and solutions that align with brand identity while pushing creative boundaries
Understand how brands translate into physical retail and event spaces, from architecture to finishing details
Create mood boards, material palettes, and styling concepts that bring brand stories to life
Design functional layouts considering traffic flow, space allocation, sightlines, and consumer behavior
Specify materials, textures, finishes, lighting, furniture, fixtures, graphics, props, and decor elements
Understand fabrication methods, rental options, and construction techniques to ensure designs are buildable
Create detailed specifications and documentation for production teams to execute designs
Balance aesthetic vision with structural requirements, safety regulations, and building codes
Work directly with production, fabrication, and graphics teams to vet ideas and understand what's feasible within budgets
Collaborate with vendors, fabricators, and installers to ensure design intent is maintained through execution
Solve design and budgetary challenges while maintaining brand integrity and design excellence
Understand project timelines and installation logistics for temporary activations
Review shop drawings, material samples, and mockups to ensure quality standards
Participate in planning and strategy sessions, contributing insights on spatial design and consumer engagement
Present design concepts with confidence and enthusiasm to internal teams and clients
Develop and maintain strong client relationships through clear communication and creative excellence
Manage client expectations while advocating for design excellence
Identify opportunities for additional projects and scope expansion with existing clients
Collaborate seamlessly with creative directors, account teams, strategists, and production staff
Work on multiple projects simultaneously, managing time effectively and meeting deadlines
Communicate concerns early with a solutions-oriented approach when challenges arise
Participate in new business development efforts including pitch presentations
Mentor junior designers and provide constructive creative direction