Creative Designer Principal (Hybrid - Seattle, WA)
Seattle, WA 98101, United States of America
The Principal Designer is a senior creative leader and environmental design authority, shaping the vision, standards, and execution of Nordstrom’s physical brand expression. This role serves as the strategic and technical SME across Creative Marketing, Visual Merchandising (VM), NMG, and Brand partners, with a heightened focus on environmental, 3D, display, and window design. The Principal Designer drives large-scale experiential initiatives, elevates the brand’s aesthetic point of view, taste level, and trend fluency, ensuring that all physical storytelling reflects exceptional design excellence.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the design, development, and execution of environmental, experiential, 3D, display, and window concepts that support merchandising strategies, brand collaborations, events, and Creative Marketing initiatives.
- Serve as the functional SME for environmental, 3D, display, and window design, providing strategic and technical guidance to cross-functional leaders and partners.
- Drive high-impact, large-scale projects with autonomy, establishing creative direction that aligns with business goals, brand standards, and evolving retail trends.
- Influence, refine, and elevate environmental, VM, and experiential design standards to ensure consistency, innovation, and scalability across the organization.
- Apply advanced aesthetic judgment, trend awareness, and high taste level to shape compelling physical storytelling and visual experiences.
- Present complex concepts confidently to all levels of leadership, articulating creative intent, strategic rationale, and business impact with clarity and authority.
- Mentor and coach junior designers and cross-functional partners, strengthening environmental and VM design capabilities across the function.
- Collaborate deeply with Creative Marketing Leadership, VM, NMG, and Brand partners to identify opportunities for impactful physical experiences and display moments.
- Develop original design frameworks and new creative approaches using analytical and evaluative thinking to solve complex environmental and operational challenges.
- Produce detailed drawings, renderings, 3D models, and documentation to support planning, prototyping, and execution of environmental and window concepts.
- Create proposal decks that visually and strategically communicate design direction, enabling alignment across partners and leadership.
- Oversee vendor proposals, specifications, production files, and material guidelines to ensure design intent is preserved through fabrication and installation.
- Evaluate and approve prototypes, ensuring accuracy, quality, and alignment with project goals, timelines, and brand standards.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects with independence, ensuring timely delivery and exceptional creative outcomes.
- Guide and oversee external design, fabrication, or production partners as needed, providing expert review and final approvals.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design, Visual Merchandising, Industrial Design, Architecture, or related field.
- 7–9+ years of progressively responsible experience in environmental, experiential, retail, display, or 3D design, including window design.
- Demonstrated expertise in developing innovative, large-scale experiential, environmental, and display concepts.
- Strong aesthetic sensibility, trend fluency, and high taste level, with the ability to define and uphold elevated physical brand expression.
- Advanced proficiency in Illustrator, InDesign, SketchUp, CAD applications, and other relevant 3D and design software.
- Deep knowledge of VM principles, NDC specifications, materials, fabrication methods, and production processes for 3D and environmental projects.
- Proven ability to manage budgets, timelines, and complex multi-phase projects.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills with the ability to articulate complex creative intent to diverse audiences.
- Strong strategic planning, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
We’ve got you covered…
Our employees are our most important asset and that’s reflected in our benefits. Nordstrom is proud to offer a variety of benefits to support employees and their families, including:
Medical/Vision, Dental, Retirement and Paid Time Away
Life Insurance and Disability
Merchandise Discount and EAP Resources
A few more important points...
The job posting highlights the most critical responsibilities and requirements of the job. It’s not all-inclusive. There may be additional duties, responsibilities and qualifications for this job.
For Los Angeles or San Francisco applicants: Nordstrom is required to inform you that we conduct background checks after conditional offer and consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with legal requirements per Los Angeles, Cal. Muni. Code 189.04 and the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. For additional state and location specific notices, please refer to the Legal Notices document within the FAQ section of the Nordstrom Careers site.
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Pay Range Details
The pay range(s) below has been provided in compliance with state specific laws. Pay ranges may be different for other locations.
Pay offers are dependent on the location, as well as job-related knowledge, skills, and experience.
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