Creative Lead, IP Licensing & Merchandising

Job Description Overview We are looking for a multidisciplinary creative to lead the creative development and visual direction across AirAsia's IP Development, Licensing and Merchandising initiatives. This is a hands-on creative leadership role for someone who can take a business or IP objective, explore what it could become creatively, and translate it into compelling visual concepts, merchandise and consumer experiences. The ideal candidate combines strong creative thinking and design craft with the maturity to independently lead workstreams and guide junior creatives and external partners from concept through execution. This role is ideal for someone who is curious, culturally aware and constantly inspired by design, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle and pop culture, and who enjoys turning ideas into things people want to see, experience and own. Key Responsibilities • Translate business, brand and IP objectives into compelling creative strategy, concepts and visual directions. • Develop and expand ideas through visual concepts, moodboards, storytelling and design, across IP, collaborations, merchandise, campaigns and consumer experiences. • Develop and evolve the visual worlds of AirAsia-owned IPs, ensuring they remain distinctive, relevant and consistent across different applications. • Conceptualise and design merchandise and consumer products across categories including apparel, accessories, collectibles, toys, stationery, lifestyle products and gifts. • Develop key visuals, product concepts, graphics, packaging, mock-ups and other creative materials required to bring ideas to life. • Balance creative ambition with consumer appeal, usability, production feasibility and cost considerations, while providing creative input throughout sampling and production. • Establish and maintain creative standards and visual consistency across AirAsia-owned IPs and relevant merchandise initiatives. • Provide creative direction and constructive feedback to junior creatives, illustrators, freelancers, agencies, vendors, licensees and external partners. • Work with cross-functional teams to translate partnership, licensing and business opportunities into compelling creative concepts and visual proposals. • Present and articulate creative concepts confidently to internal stakeholders and external partners. • Independently manage creative priorities and assigned workstreams from initial brief through final delivery. • Stay connected to emerging trends across design, entertainment, fashion, lifestyle, social media and pop culture to inspire new creative opportunities. Requirements • Approximately 6–8 years of relevant creative experience in brand design, art direction, creative development, advertising, entertainment/IP, merchandise, consumer products or related fields. • A strong portfolio demonstrating creative thinking, visual storytelling and high-quality design execution across different mediums. • Strong conceptual and visual thinking, with the ability to turn open-ended briefs into distinctive creative directions. • Strong understanding of branding, visual identity, typography, composition, colour and contemporary design. • Strong aesthetic judgement and awareness of consumer, cultural and creative trends. • Highly skilled in Adobe Creative Suite and adaptable to other creative tools where required. • Confident in developing, presenting and articulating creative concepts to both creative and non-creative stakeholders. • Able to provide clear creative direction and constructive feedback to junior creatives and external partners. • Mature, resourceful and self-driven, with the ability to independently manage multiple creative projects in a fast-moving environment. Nice to Have • Experience with intellectual properties, entertainment or character-led brands. • Experience in merchandise, consumer product or packaging development. • Illustration or character design experience. • Animation, motion design or 3D capabilities. • Experience working with manufacturers, production vendors, artists or creative agencies. • A strong interest in animation, movies, gaming, music, fashion, lifestyle and pop culture. What Success Looks Like You will become the team's creative lead across IP Development, Licensing and Merchandising, someone who can take a business or IP direction, expand it creatively and turn it into a compelling visual direction. You will be trusted to independently lead creative workstreams, guide junior and external creative resources, maintain the visual integrity of our IPs and ensure strong ideas are carried through consistently from concept to final execution. OUR HIRING PROCESS: - Application Review - Screening Call/Email - Interview & Assessments - Background Verification - Offer Process GET TO KNOW AirAsia Next: AirAsia Next (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd manages intellectual property developed for the group focusing on the creation, management, licensing and enforcement of the airasia brand. Covering a range from trademarks to brand identity, content and merchandise. GET TO KNOW US: Our story begins in 2001 with a dream, two planes and a 40 million ringgit debt. You’ll know us as the ‘Now Everyone Can Fly’ airline (if you don’t, we’re definitely older than you). Today, we’re more than just an airline. We’re Capital A - a world-class brand that wears many hats. Our mission is to connect people and transform lives in Asean. Above all, we’re Allstars. We believe in the unbelievable and we dare to dream. We also believe in celebrating all individuals. So no matter your culture and background or if you prefer aisle seat to window seat, we’re excited to have you onboard. Search Firm Representatives - We do not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs/resumes submitted by search firms to any of our employees without a valid written search agreement in place will be deemed as our sole property. No fee will be paid when a c…