3D Experiential Designer

Position Type: Full-time

Location: Hybrid in NYC (Preferred) or Los Angeles

Reports to: Creative Director

About the Agency

As an immersive design studio, Pinch activates big ideas, bold thinking, and beautiful design for culture-driven brands. Emphasizing tactility, materiality, and the five senses, Pinch creates experiences and environments that engage on multi-sensory and emotional levels. Co-founded by friends and industry veterans, Pinch acts as the creative counterpart to LA-based production

house Salt.

From the outside, we’re a creative powerhouse, pairing strategic design with production expertise to flawlessly execute next level experiences. Inside, we’re a radically compassionate company, burning down traditional agency norms by centering people and giving creativity the space and support

to thrive.

We spark curiosity, foster community, and inspire action with the potency of a Pinch.

Position Overview

The 3D Experiential Designer is central to conceptualizing, visualizing, and executing immersive brand experiences that live in the physical world. The ideal candidate is both a visionary thinker and a hands-on designer, able to translate strategy and brand identity into innovative environments, installations, and spatial storytelling.

You will collaborate with cross-disciplinary teams—graphic designers, art directors, producers, creative technologists, and fabricators—to develop concepts that not only inspire but also align with real-world production and budgetary considerations. Our workflow is 3D-centric, so the ability to quickly model, design, detail and visualize at a high quality level is key.

This is an opportunity to help shape the way people interact with brands, through unforgettable, immersive experiences.

Skills & Expertise

Creative Contribution

• Collaborate with Art Directors, Creative Directors, and cross-disciplinary teams to conceptualize and develop spatial design solutions
• Contribute to brainstorming and ideation sessions, bringing innovative and on-brand ideas to the table
• Translate brand guidelines and strategy into physical environments using mood board research and other methods to communicate the approach
• Balance creativity with practicality, ensuring designs are both innovative and feasible within production and budgetary constraints

Concept Development & Design

• Design immersive environments for a variety of experiential touchpoints, including events, pop-ups, retail, trade shows, and installations
• Develop 3D models, renderings, and animations that bring concepts to life for internal and client presentations
• Integrate 2D and digital design elements into 3D spatial systems, ensuring cohesive and layered guest journeys
• Stay current on materials, fabrication methods, technologies, and design trends to keep work fresh and forward-thinking

Client Engagement & Collaboration

• Present design concepts with clarity and confidence to both internal teams and clients
• Partner with producers, fabricators, and vendors to maintain design integrity through production and onsite execution
• Participate in client walkthroughs and site visits, providing solutions and adjustments in real time
• Collaborate with creative, strategy, account, and production teams to ensure work aligns with client objectives and larger project goals
• Support new business pitches with compelling visuals, renderings, and presentations

Core Competencies

• Expertise in 3DS Max, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Suite; familiar with emerging tools and AI design platforms a plus
• Strong portfolio showcasing experiential/environmental design across events, retail, pop-ups, or installations
• Exceptional spatial design skills, with a deep understanding of architecture, fabrication techniques for events, materials, lighting, furniture, and décor
• Strong technical ability to produce renderings (Enscape & D5 preferred), elevations, and production-ready 3D models
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, able to articulate ideas visually and verbally
• Strong organizational and time-management skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines.
• Solutions-oriented mindset, with the flexibility to adapt quickly onsite and collaborate across disciplines
• Passion for human-centered design, crafting guest journeys that prioritize emotion, interaction, and impact
• Familiarity with emerging technologies (AI, AR/VR, parametric design tools) a plus

Onsite Responsibilities

• Gain a clear understanding of all team roles and responsibilities prior to and upon arrival onsite
• Contribute to the onsite production deck, ensuring accuracy and alignment with installation requirements
• Oversee installation of creative elements—including 3D builds, fabrication, furniture, and décor—while fostering strong vendor relationships
• Maintain awareness of the full production schedule and ensure creative execution aligns with overall project timelines
• Collaborate with creative and production teams to proactively identify and resolve concerns with a solutions-oriented mindset
• Take a hands-on approach to project delivery—leading by example and contributing wherever needed to bring the vision to life
• Provide oversight and support for styling and décor to ensure design integrity throughout the installation
• Adapt floorplans, footprints, or layouts as needed to address real-time onsite requirements
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., IP, LP, Fabrication teams) to implement necessary adjustments and refinements

Qualifications

• 5-8 years’ of experience in Architecture, Retail Design, Experiential/Environmental Design, or a related creative field (agency experience strongly preferred)
• 4 Year College Degree in Graphic Design, Advertising, Visual Communication or related course of study
• Expertise in 3DS Max, Rhino, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, and Google Suite; familiar with emerging tools and AI design platforms a plus
• Proven ability to translate brand identities into compelling 3D environments that integrate architecture, graphics, lighting, and technology
• Strong portfolio showcasing ability to create immersive, experiential, and brand-forward design work with high-quality 3D models, renderings, animations, and detailed documentation (floorplans, elevations, fabrication drawings, etc.)

Travel & Mobility

• Ability to travel 25%
• Ability to work irregular hours in addition to normal business hours, to include nights, weekends and holidays as needed

PINCH’S CORE VALUES YOU:

• Joy Begets Creativity: In the heat of the project, can we find moments of fun and levity? When stressed, anxious about succeeding, or frustrated with process, good ideas are hard to come by. Great ones, nearly impossible. You help contribute to a creative and positive work environment by being collaborative, open to ideas, and treating team members with respect.
• Go Beyond the Ask: At face value, many projects seem destined to produce uninspiring results. We ask ourselves, can the core goals be hijacked –hopefully with a core client as an accomplice– to ensure we can create stories that are interesting, cool, or even fun. Let’s give clients what they need, but are unable to articulate and opening them up to possibilities that they may not have imagined. You help facilitate this discovery process by pushing the work by being inquisitive, keeping yourself up-to-date with cultural trends, and expressing your point of view.
• Never Arrive: Stagnation kills creative (and companies). Brands need to grow and evolve, teams need to grow and evolve, companies need to grow and evolve. Can we push ourselves and our clients to stay ahead of the current, to realize that success always needs to evolve beyond what we know or feel comfortable with. You contribute to the growth and success of the team by holding yourself to a high standard of excellence and taking risks.
• Human Beings Feelings: “Feel Something.” A fundamental need for human beings is to connect with something that feels magical and special. This comes through moments which move us emotionally, and separate us from daily concerns. You keep Pinch accountable to its values by keeping our “why” at the forefront of your work.