Art Director (6 month contract) - Situation Group

Situation, a leading digital-first agency building passionate communities for live experience-based clients like WICKED on Broadway and The Metropolitan Opera, is looking for a freelance Art Director (AD) to join our team. In this role, you'll lead the creation of high-level designs and oversee all visual aspects for our Disney and major ticketed attractions clients. You'll report to the Senior Creative Director and collaborate closely with our Client Services and Media teams. This is a 6-month freelance contract, from October 2024 to March 2025. Final candidates will be invited to participate in two interviews.

What You’ll Do

The Art Director will lead the creation of high-level designs and project visuals, including print materials, out-of-home advertising, digital media creatives, logos, video slates, and social media assets. Combining art direction with hands-on expertise, the ideal candidate will showcase advanced design and oversight skills, along with exceptional attention to detail in their day-to-day work. They will build strong, direct relationships with clients during meetings and presentations.

With a keen eye for detail, a natural curiosity, and a drive to innovate, the Art Director has a deep understanding of global brand cohesion. They know how to bring visuals to life in a way that is striking, dynamic, and effective in telling our clients’ stories.

This role will be based out of our offices located in midtown Manhattan, where we are currently working remotely two days and in-office three days per week. 

Requirements

This role blends hands-on execution with art direction responsibilities.

Execution (70% of Responsibilities):

• Brainstorm creative concepts with Creative Directors, copywriters, and designers, and produce initial visual iterations.
• Work as a high-level, hands-on designer, closely guiding creative ideas through every stage of production.
• Oversee pre- and post-print production comps and layouts, sign off on mechanicals, review match prints, and attend press checks.
• Conduct internal creative reviews to minimize mistakes and reduce rounds of iteration.

Leadership (30% of Responsibilities):

• Workflow: 
• Ensure creative goals are clear, projects have adequate time allocated, and timelines align with designers’ needs.
• Attend daily forecast meetings to determine schedules and resources.
• Set priorities, drive projects forward, and continuously analyze and optimize throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee freelance design support on final design execution, ensuring consistency across designers and client projects.
• Client Relationships: 
• Present creative ideas to internal teams, clients, and partners, effectively selling concepts both internally and externally.
• Collaborate with Client Services and Creative teams to build lasting client relationships.

Benefits

• Salary: $100/hr, commensurate with experience
• 8+ years of relevant experience at a creative agency (entertainment-focused preferred), studio or television network:

• 4+ years managing creative resources
• 3+ years client-facing responsibilities, including participating in pitches
• Advanced design skills in print and digital, including photo retouching and compositing
• A deep understanding of the how technical factors affect designing for both the digital space and traditional (print) space
• A good barometer and appreciation of the “why” in order to get to the “how”
• A portfolio of past creative in lead and hands-on roles
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
• Knowledge of After Effects and Cinema 4D a plus
• Eagle-eye for details like spotting alignment issues and inconsistencies
• Strong sense of typography and visual hierarchy
• Dynamic and confident presentation skills to pitch ideas clearly and effectively
• Troubleshoot and problem solve efficiently, intelligently and with positivity
• Manage multiple projects in a fast-paced creative environment
• Knowledge of printing processes and principles

Our Company

We are Situation, a digital-first agency that builds and drives passionate communities to meaningful action. We partner with live experience-based brands like NFL, WICKED on Broadway, The Metropolitan Opera, and Cirque du Soleil.

Situation is part of Situation Group, a digital-first collective of award-winning advertising agencies.