Design Manager- Wayfinding

Company Description THE ONE OFF is an interdisciplinary design agency in Mumbai created through a joint venture between Bentel Associates and The One Off (UK), specializing in customer-centric experiences. The team blends graphic, interior, and digital communication to build distinctive brand identities, environments, and campaigns. Using market analysis and insights into evolving customer attitudes, the agency develops bold, commercially focused creative solutions.

Role Description The Design Manager – Wayfinding will lead the design and execution of wayfinding and signage systems for retail, commercial, and mixed-use environments in Mumbai. This full-time, on-site role involves translating brand and spatial strategies into clear navigational experiences, overseeing concept development, detailed design, and implementation coordination. The role includes collaborating closely with architects, interior designers, graphic designers, and clients to ensure consistency, usability, and visual clarity across all touchpoints. The Design Manager will manage project timelines, resources, and quality control, prepare presentations and design documentation, and liaise with vendors and fabrication partners to deliver accurate, durable, and cost-effective solutions. The role also requires staying current with global wayfinding trends, materials, and technologies, and mentoring junior designers to maintain high creative and technical standards.

Qualifications

• Strong wayfinding and signage design skills, including spatial planning, information hierarchy, and user-centered navigation principles.
• Proficiency in design and documentation tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, and CAD or similar software) for concept development and production-ready artwork.
• Experience collaborating with multidisciplinary teams (architecture, interiors, graphics, digital) and coordinating with vendors, fabricators, and other external partners.
• Solid project management abilities, including scoping, scheduling, resource planning, and overseeing multiple projects from concept to installation.
• Strong visual communication, typography, and layout skills with an eye for detail, consistency, and brand alignment.
• Ability to conduct and interpret user and market research to inform wayfinding strategies and design decisions.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to explain design rationale clearly to clients and internal stakeholders.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Graphic Design, Environmental/Experiential Design, Communication Design, Interior Design, Architecture, or a related field.
• Prior experience in retail, commercial, or large-scale environment design projects in India or international markets is an advantage.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced agency environment