Project Based - Senior Art Director

Who are we hiring?

The Sr. Art Director at Sphere is a hands-on craftsperson and innovative thinker with diverse artistic sensibilities and a solid portfolio of work. The ideal candidate is a proven creative with exemplary aesthetics, design and storytelling skills that thrive on the challenge of creating dynamic content for new formats. This role requires a honed eye, a skilled hand and experience in shaping world class design, ideas, and experiences across a range of surfaces that excite global audiences. They have their pulse on visual trends, pop-culture, innovation, and emerging technology and can pitch big ideas that push the edge of what’s possible. Expressing their vision verbally and in presentation format is a must.

As a part of the Creative & Design Services team, they'll be a key contributor to the design and art direction of breakthrough ideas that help define what Sphere is and what it can become. They will collaborate with Experience Designers, Writers, Motion Graphic Artists, Technologists, Content Strategists and other Storytellers on concepts, innovation, creative strategy, and pitches. The role spans across Sphere’s entire creative output, including programming an ongoing content library of art and promotional content, experiential activations, brand design and content for brands on the world’s most dynamic canvas, the Exosphere. Beyond the Exosphere, they will also help create and define content and experiences inside the atrium and the Media Plane, Sphere’s state of the art 16K immersive screen, helping evolve marquee experiences and artist residencies with breathtaking content programming.

What will you do? 

• Lead the visual development and execution of creative concepts and deliverables across Sphere’s entire portfolio of output and experiences, with a strategic approach to art direction, design and innovation.
• Ability to spearhead projects, leading and directing design and animation teams.
• Be a key player in the research, visual development and delivery of creative pitches & proposals for brand partnerships and brand moments.
• Work with the Creative Director to respond to client & stakeholder feedback, fulfill strategic objectives, and help steward the creative excellence of projects.
• Partner with the production team to ensure that concepts and designs are delivered within budget and timescale.
• Champion and support the Design cross-functionally, ensuring design goals, principles and processes are upheld across all projects.
• Be a foundational lead of art direction for the design team, leading a team of exceptionally talented designers.
• Nurture young and upcoming talent, teaching, building and inspiring them to deliver the highest standards.
• Creating bold, iconic concepts and designs for non-traditional, digital and physical installations, experiences and screens.
• Experiential design and deep knowledge of emerging tech and/or real-time content is a huge plus.

What do you need to succeed? 

• 7+ years of director experience in a creative studio or agency, developing innovative and engaging experiential concepts across digital and physical platforms.
• Demonstrated creative and design excellence with career progression in your portfolio.
• Proven track record of working in experiential activations at scale, with experience in artful storytelling content, live events, and immersive experiences with brand and cultural clients.
• Adept at visualizing concepts across a wide range of styles and mediums.
• Advanced proficiency in relevant design software (e.g. Microsoft PowerPoint, Photoshop, Illustrator, Keynote, After Effects, Premiere, and/or 3D software etc.) Unreal knowledge a plus.
• Proven ability in design and art direction, written communication and presentation.
• Articulate and charismatic speaker who can lead discussions and captivate a room.
• Objective listener with the ability to formulate information into concepts, design and innovation that are technically and economically viable.
• Reliable decision-making capabilities, based on solid understanding of how to balance creative expression, pragmatic design, and business needs.
• Strategic and agile thinker who can pivot the creative and evolve design to meet shifting needs.
• A driven “self-starter,” eager to innovate and change the world.

Special Requirements 

• Occasional travel, as needed
• Non-conventional work hours, as needed

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