ASSOCIATE ART DIRECTOR JOB DESCRIPTION

Every strong creative has a natural ceiling without clear direction above them. The Associate Art Director is the role that removes that ceiling - translating brand strategy and campaign briefs into visual frameworks that concept artists, copywriters, and production teams can actually execute against. This position owns the creative output for a defined channel set, ranging from seasonal campaign shoots to multi-channel digital toolkits, within an in-house brand team or agency environment. Seniority here is earned, not inherited.

As the Associate Art Director, you shape the visual language of campaigns and branded content from initial concept through final production, ensuring every asset aligns with the brand's established guidelines and channel-specific standards. You work within a creative department alongside senior art directors, copywriters, graphic designers, and production partners, with output spanning digital, print, social, email, and photography-driven channels.

Career Impact: Ownership of seasonal campaign toolkits and multi-channel brand assets builds a portfolio depth that distinguishes candidates at the Art Director level within agency and in-house markets.

Business Impact: The visual consistency and on-brief execution this role delivers directly determines how clearly a brand communicates to consumers across retail, digital, and social touchpoints.

Growth Opportunity: Experience managing retouching workflows, directing photo and video shoots, and mentoring junior designers creates the cross-disciplinary range required to advance to Art Director or Creative Director.

• Define the visual direction for assigned campaigns by translating approved briefs into concept references, moodboards, and composition sketches.
• Partner with copywriters, graphic designers, and production teams to ensure all creative assets are brand-aligned across digital, email, print, and social channels.
• Art direct photography and video shoots, working with photographers, stylists, producers, and models to execute approved concepts.
• Drive the post-production process including retouching review, edit feedback, and mechanical approvals to final delivery.
• Present and defend creative concepts to senior stakeholders, rationalizing design rationale against brief objectives and brand standards.
• Mentor junior designers and artists through regular feedback, benchmark-setting, and day-to-day creative guidance.
• Monitor campaign asset performance data and usability feedback to inform the direction of future creative iterations.
• Maintain accurate creative reference files and ensure on-time delivery of all project assets within established production schedules.

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or equivalent work experience.
• 5 or more years of art direction or design experience, with a portfolio demonstrating multi-channel campaign work spanning digital, social, and print.
• Demonstrated ability to translate brand strategy and stakeholder briefs into original visual concepts across seasonal and always-on campaigns.
• Proficiency in typography, layout hierarchy, composition, and color theory as applied to both digital and print media.
• Experience art directing photo and video productions, including on-set decision-making, casting input, and post-production review.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to rationalize creative decisions to senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners.
• Proven organizational ability to manage multiple concurrent projects against hard production deadlines.

• Experience building or maintaining full brand identity systems including logo usage, graphical guidelines, and branded templates for internal and external use.
• Background in hand-coding HTML emails and building responsive landing pages to production standards across major email clients.
• Familiarity with retail execution requirements and pre-press production standards for print advertising.
• Prior experience in fashion, apparel, or lifestyle brand environments with exposure to global seasonal toolkit production.

• On-brief rate: percentage of delivered assets approved without substantive revision in first review.
• Shoot-to-final turnaround time, measuring efficiency of post-production review and retouching cycles.
• Asset delivery timeliness: proportion of project deadlines met within the agreed production schedule.
• Brand consistency score across channel audits, reflecting adherence to typographic and visual guidelines.
• Volume and depth of junior designer feedback cycles completed per quarter, as a measure of mentorship output.
• Typical tools: design and layout (commonly Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop); motion and retouching (commonly After Effects, Capture One).

• Base Salary Range: $75,000 to $110,000 annually, depending on market and seniority.
• Bonus: Discretionary annual bonus, typically 5 to 10 percent of base salary.
• Equity: Uncommon at this level; occasionally offered at in-house brand roles.
• Health Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage; employer contribution varies by company size.
• PTO: 15 to 20 days annually, plus standard US public holidays.
• Common Perks: Remote or hybrid flexibility, professional development budget, creative software subscriptions.

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Reasonable accommodations are available to applicants with disabilities throughout the hiring process and in the workplace, consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. Employment in this role is contingent on successful completion of a background check. All applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. Consideration for employment is extended to all qualified individuals without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

The Associate Art Director owns creative leadership for internal and external asset quality across Marketing, Development, Social Media, Digital Media, Web, Email, and Video for Jagex's intellectual properties. Working alongside Art Directors and Marketing and Game Development teams, the role delivers content that upholds the game's artistic vision and raises the standard of all outward-facing creative output.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and mentor the Creative Team, providing leadership, artistic direction, and guidance.
• Collaborate with Art Directors to champion new creative approaches and cultivate fresh, innovative ideas.
• Work with clients from agreed briefs, including setting delivery dates, scheduling, and art direction for completed work.
• Partner with Marketing and Game Development teams to develop creative strategies, concepts, and artistic direction for all initiatives.
• Act as brand watchdog, ensuring consistent quality and branding across all communication channels.
• Inspire and motivate the Creative team, fostering a positive work environment while improving workflow and process.
• Evaluate team skill sets and implement training opportunities to improve work output quality.
• Move projects through the entire creative process, including concepting, direction, and production.
• Cultivate internal and external client and contractor relationships.
• Build a solid internal creative process in collaboration with Brand Managers and Marketing Leads.
• Provide monthly and quarterly Creative Services budget and resource information.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of experience leading a creative team; game industry experience preferred.
• Strong leadership ability with a desire to continue growing as an artist and leader.
• Ability to give and receive clear, precise feedback.
• Knowledge of technical art standards and capabilities across outward-facing platforms (Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter, etc.).
• Master-level proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and delegation skills with ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Ability to influence and gain buy-in across leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Knowledge of technology trends and platforms; RuneScape experience is desirable but not essential.

Reporting to senior creative leadership, the Associate Art Director shapes digital campaign concepts from strategy to execution across social, digital, and cross-channel platforms. Partnering with creative directors, copywriters, design teams, and brand managers, the role builds brand guidelines and steers creative direction that connects customer-focused storytelling to measurable campaign outcomes.

Primary Duties

• Collaborate with creative directors, senior art directors, copywriters, and design teams to develop digital campaign ideas, gather information, and review design specifications.
• Build brand guidelines and translate strategy into concepts across campaign, digital, social, and newer digital arenas.
• Present and defend work to peers, stakeholders, and senior executives, clearly rationalizing design rationale.
• Respond to performance data such as metric tests and usability studies to steer future creative direction.
• Distill complex creative concepts into understandable design solutions for stakeholders.
• Ideate and create fresh, customer-focused digital campaigns across multiple channels and platforms.
• Understand, question, and sharpen stakeholder briefs to deliver optimal campaign outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with writers, editors, media managers, and brand managers to deliver results.

Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Visual Design, Visual Communication, Graphic Design, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of proven work experience in respective fields.
• Strong portfolio with examples across social, digital, and multi-channel campaigns.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in design principles including typography, composition, colour theory, and their application.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign with experience in digital platform and cross-platform design.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.
• Fluent in English with ability to pitch ideas to internal and external stakeholders.

Sitting at the intersection of brand strategy and visual design, the Associate Art Director leads the scaling of AbCellera's graphical language through signature motifs, bespoke iconography, and differentiated artistic treatments across print, digital, and environmental applications. Operating across internal teams and external collaborators including photographers, videographers, and fabricators, the role shapes brand identity outputs that differentiate the organization in its market.

Duties

• Participate in the artistic conception and execution of all designed materials including presentations, videos, emails, landing pages, social media, and internal materials.
• Mentor a team of designers through complex design challenges, conduct regular check-ins, and contribute to performance reviews and goal-setting.
• Identify opportunities to differentiate the visual brand, conducting pitching and visioning sessions with executives and scientists across multiple disciplines.
• Provide expert guidance to project managers on optimizing creative workflows, tools, and technologies.
• Provide artistic direction to external collaborators including photographers, videographers, interior designers, and fabricators for environmental and physical design elements.

Requirements

• University degree or college diploma in graphic or media design with minimum 4 years of art direction and 10 years of agency or in-house graphic design experience.
• Portfolio demonstrating mastery in brand identity development including original logo design, brand books, branded templates for print and digital, and commercially applied digital content across multiple channels; includes hand-sketched mock-ups demonstrating ideation and concepting process.
• Understanding of color profiles and file formats for print, web, and video workflows; basic knowledge of HTML and CSS strongly desired.
• Expert in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; proficient in PowerPoint, Acrobat, Excel, Word, and Google Suite.
• Detail-oriented with a meticulous eye for gaps, and impeccable spoken, written, and proofreading skills in English.

Embedded within the creative department, the Associate Art Director delivers marketing materials spanning concept, photography selection, and campaign development across multiple simultaneous deadlines. Working closely with the creative team, the role builds compelling visual content that advances the business's creative output and supports growth objectives.

Core Functions

• Create and design marketing materials for various campaigns.
• Brainstorm and concept ideas with the creative team.
• Determine appropriate photographs, art, or design elements to use.
• Revise and redevelop marketing materials and campaigns based on feedback.
• Multitask across several deadlines simultaneously and ensure timely delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• BFA preferred, ideally in Visual Communications, Advertising, or Design.
• 2+ years of experience concepting in an agency or design-forward environment.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating attention to detail and conceptual thinking.
• Fluent in design and animation with strong proficiencies in Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, and After Effects.
• Positive, coachable attitude with eagerness to learn and explore diverse design options.
• Photography skills are a strong bonus, as much content is produced in-house.

A key member of the marketing and creative department, the Associate Art Director leads the visual communication of monthly digital marketing stories from concept through production across digital, email, and all brand channels. Collaborating across creative, marketing, and project management teams, the role ensures cohesive, on-brand asset delivery that supports consistent messaging and high creative standards.

Functions

• Lead development and execution of visual communication for monthly digital marketing stories in collaboration with Marketing and Creative Directors.
• Pull concepts and inspiration for monthly stories and share with teams for consistency across all channels.
• Take ownership of projects from concept through production while collaborating with creative and marketing teams.
• Support the team on a day-to-day basis to ensure all creative meets brand standards and is delivered on time.
• Collaborate with creative and marketing team members to produce compelling assets across digital, email, and all channels.
• Partner with Project Management to ensure team utilization and prioritization.
• Ensure high standards of quality across all work so that it is cohesive, consistent, and on brand.

Experience & Qualifications

• BFA or BA in Graphic Design.
• 7+ years of relevant work experience.
• Extensive knowledge of best practices for web, print, and retail execution.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite with strong technical skills and digital asset creation.
• Strong typography, layout, hierarchy, and branding skills with an eye for detail.
• Strong collaboration skills within the creative team and cross-functional teams with ability to iterate quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Based in LA.

Consistent visual quality across a game's art, narrative, and technology depends on the Associate Art Director, who develops and communicates artistic vision for environment or character ownership areas within the game development team. Based within a collaborative studio structure and working alongside concept artists, fellow directors, and cross-discipline teams, the role validates in-game content and ensures a unified, high-quality direction across all art outputs.

Accountabilities

• Work closely with the Art Director to help develop and communicate the artistic vision of the game.
• Brainstorm and research to set the artistic direction for environment or character areas of ownership.
• Collaborate with concept artists to translate ideas into references and moodboards.
• Present and explain concepts to artists to connect them to the vision and orient their work.
• Regularly meet with the team to give and receive feedback, set benchmarks, and balance artistic and technical constraints.
• Team up with other directors to review and validate in-game content for quality and visual consistency.
• Monitor overall progress to ensure art, narrative, design, and tech remain mutually supportive.

Technical Qualifications

• Degree in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Multimedia, or equivalent.
• Around 5 years of art-related experience in the video game industry plus 2 years of leadership.
• Solid understanding of art fundamentals including lighting, composition, architecture, and anatomy, as well as broader artistic and video game culture.
• Knowledge of game engines such as Unity or Unreal, 2D tools such as Photoshop, and 3D software such as Maya, 3DS Max, or ZBrush.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and cross-departmental communication skills.
• Open-minded and receptive to new ideas across all disciplines including programming, design, and animation.

As the Associate Art Director, this role plans and executes art, design, and visual elements for direct marketing materials serving a portfolio of higher education clients across direct mail, email, landing pages, and social media display ads. The creative services team relies on this work to optimize client response rates, maintain production quality, and deliver campaigns built on proven direct marketing principles.

Activities

• Research and develop understanding of assigned clients including school history, objectives, messaging, and brand assets.
• Create and execute art and design for direct marketing materials including mail, email, webpages, and social media display ads to meet client objectives.
• Build emails and landing pages using HTML and CSS following best practices for performance across all clients, browsers, and devices.
• Work within marketing automation platforms and content management systems to build templates and configure functionality.
• Collaborate with account teams, copywriters, and digital teams to ensure quality and timely delivery of innovative campaigns.
• Prioritize work per established deadlines and maintain accurate creative reference files for assigned clients.
• Stay current with emerging technologies, trends, and direct marketing principles.

Position Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 1 year of work or internship experience in a marketing or advertising environment.
• Knowledge of HTML email best practices, hand-coding responsive websites, graphic optimization, web animation, and direct marketing principles; familiarity with print production, postal regulations, animation, video design, and Adobe After Effects or Premiere is a plus.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Acrobat, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), Macintosh OS, Microsoft Word, and project management systems.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines independently.
• Effective communication and teamwork skills with a passion for design and willingness to collaborate and learn.
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in support of EAB's DE&I Promise.

Associate Art Director shapes and executes content through photography and video, working in close collaboration with the Creative Director/Brand President to deliver creative briefs, oversee retouching, and guide post-production across still and motion projects. The work directly supports brand integrity by ensuring all visual content adheres to guidelines and reflects a strong, consistent aesthetic across all channels and production partners.

Operational Focus

• Work closely with the Creative Director to understand brand vision and prepare comprehensive creative briefs for internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in creative briefings and partner with internal clients to ensure project briefs align with overall brand strategy.
• Art direct product and model photography and video, concepting imagery and communicating vision through sketch, storyboard, and swipe.
• Collaborate with producers and photographers on set to make selects and keep post-production moving efficiently.
• Drive retouching and video editing processes, providing timely feedback and collaborating with external partners on complex imagery.
• Perform light retouching and basic editing for in-house needs and provide direction on regional location photography.
• Ensure all content adheres to brand guidelines and attend weekly production meetings to review shot lists and timelines.

Knowledge Skills & Abilities

• 6–8 years of related experience with a strong background in concept development, art direction, and production; photography background a plus.
• Ability to make quick edits to motion content and perform basic image retouching.
• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and CaptureOne; After Effects or motion graphics tools a plus.
• Strong visual design aesthetic aligned with brand creative vision; entrepreneurial spirit with ability to adapt quickly to shifting priorities.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills with strong attention to detail and deadlines.
• Understanding of and alignment with Le Labo culture and brand manifesto; some travel required.

The Associate Art Director delivers global seasonal Sell-In shoots, ad campaigns, and collection launches from concept research through final retouched execution for Levi's creative team. Working alongside copy, graphic designers, photographers, stylists, and production teams, the role ensures brand-consistent visual output across all media while mentoring designers and leading presentations to senior stakeholders.

Key Deliverables

• Guide the creative development process for global seasonal Sell-In shoots and toolkits.
• Develop ad campaigns and seasonal collection launches including concept research, location and casting, composition design, and set design.
• Partner with copy and graphic designers to ensure all creative is brand-aligned and communicates a consistent message.
• Assist with layout for all media, catalog shoot images, and create selects decks following final concept approval.
• Art direct assigned photography and video production shoots, working with photographers, stylists, producers, and models.
• Oversee the retouching process and review all mechanicals through to final execution, ensuring brand vision is delivered.
• Mentor designers through consistent development and lead presentations with clear verbal and visual communication.
• Stay current with cultural trends in fashion, design, film, art, and media relevant to Levi's and demonstrate global cultural awareness.

Professional Experience

• Bachelor's degree or advanced degree in Graphic Design or related field from an arts college or accredited university.
• 5+ years of experience as an Art Director or Junior Art Director, including retail, fashion, or apparel brand experience in an internal or agency environment.
• Passion for fashion and knowledge of social trends; strong POV on creative talent, agencies, fashion brands, and designers.
• Must have experience leading photo and video shoots with strong understanding of photography, digital, and print production processes; knowledge of web, pre-press, and advertising best practices a plus.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat; SketchUp or other 3D applications a plus.
• Strong typographic and graphic design skills with ability to think conceptually and translate creative direction into visual references.

Reporting to the Creative Director, the Associate Art Director leads the full design process for approximately 8–11 trade hardcover titles per list across the Norton and Liveright imprints, spanning poetry, fiction, and non-fiction. Partnering with freelance designers, the Trade Art Studio Manager, Art Rights Coordinator, and editorial and production staff, the role builds a cohesive cover design output that meets weekly and seasonal deadlines across a high-volume publishing program.

Role Responsibilities

• Manage the full design process from launch to pre-press for approximately 8–11 trade hardcover titles per list across Norton and Liveright imprints spanning poetry, fiction, and non-fiction.
• Art direct freelance designers and design original covers, determining in collaboration with the Creative Director the split between freelanced and in-house work.
• Meet weekly and seasonal deadlines by presenting work for approval in art meetings.
• Work with the Trade Art Studio Manager and Art Rights Coordinator to ensure proper font and art rights clearances.
• Maintain clear communication with editorial and production staff on a regular basis.
• Provide support and collaboration to design and art direction staff as needed.

Background & Experience

• At least 6–7 years of work experience, with most years at a publisher or in a freelance capacity working with publishers preferred.
• Strong portfolio showing versatility of style, proficiency across multiple genres, exceptional typographic sensibility, and original design executions.
• Must be comfortable, efficient, and an effective communicator in a remote work environment.
• Employment eligibility to work with W.W. Norton & Company in the US is required.
• Must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment; reasonable accommodations made for disabilities, sincerely held religious beliefs, or other conditions protected by applicable law.

Embedded within a AAA game development studio, the Associate Art Director owns the art vision, schedule, and quality standards for a team of individual contributors and leads across concept, character, environment, VFX, UI, and rendering disciplines. Working closely with the Art Director, Production, Design, and Engineering teams, the role enables the studio to ship high-quality console titles by maintaining visual consistency and supporting artist development at every level.

Areas of Ownership

• Establish and clearly communicate the art vision to the team.
• Provide written and illustrated guidelines that communicate art vision for current projects with the Art Director.
• Collaborate with Design, Engineering, and Art teams to make recommendations on overall art vision and ensure art priorities are effectively defined.
• Provide day-to-day artistic feedback and mentorship to individual contributors and leads, and review and approve assets for quality and visual consistency.
• Work closely with Production to identify and track risks, and assist in the creation and management of the art schedule and resource plans.
• Assist the Art Director with one-to-ones, performance evaluations, bonus reviews, and career growth plans.

Education & Experience

• 5+ years of experience at a senior level in AAA games development with at least one shipped AAA console title.
• Outstanding portfolio demonstrating high-quality, realistic 3D work with experience defining artistic vision.
• Broad knowledge spanning concept, character, animation, environment, VFX, UI, lighting, shading, and rendering disciplines.
• Thorough understanding of interactive entertainment methodology and the video game production pipeline.
• Experience collaborating with and leading teams alongside Senior and Executive level leadership.
• Excellent decision-making capabilities with outstanding written and verbal communication skills and ability to foster a collaborative team environment.