Join Van Wyck & Van Wyck as a Creative Director (Brand Events) in New York, NY (onsite). This senior, hands-on role leads the creative vision and execution for brand events and experiential work, guiding concept development through on-site delivery with clarity, rigor, and a strong point of view.
What you can expect
In this position, you will set and maintain the creative vision and aesthetic standards for the brand events practice. You will translate client stories, audience, and objectives into original, memorable concepts, then shape the guest journey through space, materials, lighting, scale, and detail. You will also direct design presentations and buildable documentation, partnering with Project Managers and Designers to protect the concept while balancing cost, schedule, and production realities.
From load-in through strike, you will serve as the lead creative voice on-site, supporting confident decision-making and steady execution. The team environment emphasizes professional development and collaboration, with benefits designed to support health, commuting, and everyday work-life needs.
Responsibilities
- Set and maintain the creative vision and aesthetic standards for Workshop’s brand events practice.
- Lead concept development from the initial brief through final execution, contributing original ideas at every stage.
- Translate each client’s story, audience, and objectives into concepts that are original, memorable, and specific to the experience.
- Shape the guest journey through space, storytelling, materials, lighting, scale, and detail.
- Create and direct presentations, renderings, floor plans, elevations, and visual materials that communicate design intent with clarity.
- Stay engaged with developments across design, architecture, fashion, interiors, art, technology, and experiential environments.
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers with varied backgrounds and skill sets.
- Establish creative standards, review processes, workflows, and expectations for quality.
- Conduct design reviews and provide thoughtful, direct feedback to strengthen both the work and the individual.
- Assess team capabilities, allocate creative resources, and create opportunities for growth.
- Oversee multiple creative projects from concept through installation while maintaining quality across concurrent timelines.
- Direct on-site creative execution from load-in through strike, translating concepts into buildable realities through production-ready documentation.
- Partner with Project Managers and Designers on design budgets and informed decisions about cost, schedule, and production feasibility.
- Source and direct fabricators, craftspeople, lighting designers, rental houses, and specialty suppliers.
- Anticipate challenges early and guide solutions before they affect quality, schedule, budget, or the guest experience.
- Present concepts confidently to clients, executive stakeholders, and internal teams, then refine based on feedback while protecting the original idea.
- Build trusted client relationships through responsiveness, professionalism, discretion, and attention to detail.
- Lead creative presentations for active projects, pitches, and new business opportunities.
- Help shape Workshop’s creative identity, point of view, and reputation within the experiential events industry.
Requirements
- Seven to ten years of experience in event design, experiential design, environmental design, or a closely related creative discipline, including at least five years with direct, hands-on responsibility for concept development, production, installation, and on-site execution in an event design studio, experiential agency, production company, or similarly rigorous environment.
- Experience leading, mentoring, and developing creative professionals with different backgrounds and skill levels.
- A strong personal aesthetic and the ability to define and hold a creative point of view across complex, multi-element projects.
- Deep working knowledge of spatial design, fabrication, materials, finishes, lighting, production, and guest experience.
- Experience managing creative timelines, reviews, approvals, priorities, and multiple concurrent projects.
- Strong presentation skills, written and verbal, including proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint and experience presenting creative work to clients and senior stakeholders.
- Ability to work extended hours when events require it and willingness to travel for site visits, installations, and events.
Technologies
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Adobe Creative Suite
- InDesign
- Illustrator
- Photoshop
- SketchUp
- AutoCAD
- Vectorworks
Benefits
- Discretionary PTO policy
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage
- FSA and HSA options
- Retirement benefit with discretionary employer match
- One Medical and Talkspace memberships
- Cell phone reimbursement
- Pre-tax commuter benefits
- Annual gym reimbursement
- Professional development opportunities
- Team building and volunteer opportunities
- Dog-friendly office in the heart of Chelsea
Within the first year
- Earn trust as the creative leader for Workshop’s brand events practice.
- Deliver original work that reflects Workshop’s standards and can be executed with rigor.
- Strengthen and develop the design team through clear direction, constructive feedback, and consistent expectations.
- Improve creative workflows and communication across design, production, and project management.
- Contribute meaningfully to Workshop’s creative evolution and new business growth.
Pay and benefits at work
This position offers an annual base salary range of $175,000 to $225,000. Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, education, and other job-related factors permitted by law.
Preferred qualifications
- Experience with several of the following is strongly preferred: Adobe Creative Suite (including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop), SketchUp or other 3D rendering software, AutoCAD, Vectorworks, or comparable drafting software, developing floor plans, elevations, renderings, and production drawings.
- Complementary experience in architecture, interior design, theater, scenic design, lighting, exhibition design, or floral design.
