Senior Art Director

This senior art director role centers on print focused retail and brand design, blending hands-on design and concept development with direction of photoshoots in a hybrid arrangement. The position is based in Chicago, with potential bases in Boston or New York City, and offers a salary range of USD 89,775 to 103,215 per year.

Responsibilities

• Develop concepts that align with client business objectives and brand strategies.
• Produce production-ready assets for retail campaigns, including POS/POP displays, banners, signage, endcaps, window clings, tentcards, and related in-store materials.
• Drive or support design execution from concept through delivery, ensuring accuracy, clarity, and polished results at every stage.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams such as production, design, copy, and client stakeholders to bring concepts to life.
• Lead project teams, mentor junior designers, and support the creative process across all production phases.
• Maintain meticulous attention to detail, QA designs for visual accuracy, brand alignment, and campaign consistency.
• Present work clearly, articulating design rationale and tradeoffs to stakeholders.
• Manage multiple concurrent projects and campaigns while prioritizing timelines and incorporating feedback efficiently.

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in art direction or design with a focus on retail, in-store, or shopper marketing concepts, ideally within an advertising agency, in-house agency, or consultancy.
• Bachelor's degree in graphic design or a related field preferred; relevant experience may substitute.
• Proven experience designing and concepting print-focused shopper marketing and retail campaigns, including in-store collateral such as POS, POP, displays, and banners.
• Direct collaboration with clients to present work, explain creative decisions, and workshop iterative changes on ongoing projects.
• Experience art directing photoshoots and integrating high-end photography into marketing displays and materials.
• Experience extending physical retail and shopper campaigns into the digital space is preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with 3D or rendering tools is a plus.
• Strong eye for high-end photography and design, with expertise in layout, typography, color, composition, and current design trends.
• Understanding of the print production process, including substrates and die lines, is highly preferred.
• Ability to work with a high level of ownership, autonomy, and accountability.
• Skill in receiving and synthesizing feedback quickly while preserving design integrity.
• Experience collaborating within cross-functional, multi-disciplinary teams on shopper-focused campaigns.
• Strong sense of urgency with the ability to work quickly, efficiently, and accurately within tight and evolving deadlines.
• Flexible and adaptable, capable of managing multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities.
• Highly collaborative yet able to work independently when needed.
• A portfolio showcasing print focused brand, retail, and shopper marketing campaigns and assets is REQUIRED and must be submitted with the application.

Technologies

• Adobe Creative Suite
• 3D rendering tools

Role Details

• Location: Hybrid work arrangement in Chicago, IL, with possibilities to base in Boston or New York City.
• Compensation: USD 89,775 - 103,215 per year
• Minimum experience: 5 years
• Education: Bachelor's degree preferred