Art Director

Recess Studios is a leading multidisciplinary creative agency with offices in Portland, OR, New York City, and Los Angeles, CA. We specialize in designing and constructing immersive experiences, enhancing global brands through innovative content and digital solutions, and engaging audiences with comprehensive 360-degree marketing strategies. Our team thrives in a collaborative environment that challenges the conventional, pushing creative boundaries to exceed client expectations.

Position Summary:

We are hiring an Art Director who is fluent in creative strategy, design, culture, and is invested in challenging the status quo. This person has expertise in leading teams to conceptualize extraordinary ideas and translating them to stories that resonate directly with the vision our clients have for shaping industries.

The ideal candidate is an interdisciplinary thinker with creative (visual, photo, film, and design) expertise who will be responsible for deciphering our client’s goals alongside the strategy director and account team, and leading teams through research, ideation and concept development and execution. The Art Director will be responsible for creating and executing creative ideas across various new and existing clients, in various channels and using each client’s distinctive visual style. As an Art Director, you have crafted quality work in the spaces of advertising, social media, conceptual campaigns, product launches, branding, photography, film and video. You believe in the power of a great idea, and you can tackle any job with a strategic point of view and excellent craft. You know how to tell integrated stories, across all platforms. You have a pulse on creative trends and a curiosity for constant growth. You excel at building strong cross-functional relationships in a fast paced organization. Your creative sensibility leads your team to new, fresh execution on every project. You will be tasked with upholding the Recess Standard.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute concepts that align with the creative brief
• Being a hands-on creative in addition to overseeing projects from concept to completion, internally and with external vendors
• Crafting campaigns and presentations to visual excellence
• Create concepts in all media for both strategic integrity and powerful art direction to persuade and create change
• Be able to ideate with a partner, as well as independently
• Work in partnership with agency disciplines and Clients to create work that is visually pleasing, compelling, inspires action and is aligned to business strategy
• Implement client and internal feedback with ease and in a timely manner
• Contributing creative ideas that generate added client activity and lead to more client success beyond normally scheduled projects
• Inspire other creatives to build beautiful work they are proud of, identify strong creative ideas, and support them through strategic argument.
• Develop and own the creative development and provide guidance and direction for visual and experiential design on integrated cultural campaigns as well as branding and narrative strategy for clients
• Support the creative process to generate big ideas that are tangible and actionable including the creation of presentations
• Develop a collaborative and meaningful relationship with our partners and clients, working closely to innovate their brand, campaigns and drive awareness
• Develop partners and clients that will help us generate new business opportunities and relationships
• Manage, mentor and provide guidance to teams and colleagues and be an invested contributor to a culture of compassion and collaboration within the company
• Provide the strategic vision of the department and agency and lead in achieving goals and identifying growth opportunities
• Remain current with visual and storytelling trends
• Lead in cultivating an authentic, compassionate and equitable culture within our agency

Qualifications:

• 4-6 years of creative management experience
• A portfolio that demonstrates creative strategy and execution across integrated marketing featuring digital, social, packaging, and experiential marketing
• A comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem of an integrated cultural campaign and how a narrative (or concept) unfolds within each area such as digital, experiential, social media, OOH, etc.
• A leader in guiding teams through the various stages of creative ideation from ambiguity to final concepts
• An adept storyteller and presenter
• Experience with budgeting and profitability tracking.
• Communicates plainly and directly—with efficiency and insight.
• The ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultures, ages, and economic backgrounds
• A keen appreciation and understanding of various cultures
• Experienced with Keynote and Adobe Creative Suite and ability work within Google Suite

Benefits:

• Salary: $70,000 - $90,000
• Medical, dental & vision insurance
• Life Insurance
• Competitive company Holidays
• Flexible PTO
• WFH Flexibility
• 401K w/ Company match