Art Director

The Walt Disney Company•Bristol, CT

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Visual Storytelling division of ESPN Creative Studio is a team of creative directors, art directors, animators, concept artists, visual journalists, photo editors, web developers, graphic designers, and strategy producers whose work reaches across every ESPN platform. They lead the creative direction and execution of on-air brand identities for ESPN’s live events and studio shows, are responsible for creative content on ESPN.com and the ESPN app (including photography, illustration, and interactive storytelling), create and produce work for ESPN’s direct-to-consumer business and digital products, and manage the design voice of the ESPN brand. ESPN Creative Studio is looking for an Art Director to join its award-winning Visual Storytelling team. This role serves as a visual architect, engaging in hands-on work to effectively translate brand strategy into compelling visual narratives across all linear, digital, marketing and experientials. The Art Director will collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of designers, photographers, and motion designers, fostering a culture of innovation while maintaining rigorous brand standards. A critical thinker who can communicate and work well with a broad range of collaborators will thrive.

Requirements

Minimum 10 years of professional experience working within a creative studio or media organization.
In-depth skills in creating unique, scalable brand marks and supporting visual assets.
A collaborative attitude and a willingness to hear all perspectives.
Strong grasp of typography, composition, animation, and motion theory.
Fluent with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
Proven project management skills with ability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Reliable work-from-home setup with strong internet connection.
A portfolio demonstrating strong branding work and systems.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of AfterEffects and/or Cinema 4D.
Appreciation for the wonderful world of sports.

Responsibilities

Strong Art Director who relishes pushing oneself and the Creative team beyond the expected.
A passion in narrative and visual storytelling, in branding, and in the digital, linear, and marketing industries.
Ability to build and maintain comprehensive brand guidelines and design systems (including typography, color theory, and grid systems) that scale across different media.
Confidence in articulating creative rationale to senior leadership, defending design choices through the lens of brand strategy.
An enthusiastic brainstormer who comes to creative conversations with ideas and solutions.
Skillful in distilling complex ideas into engaging, unique, and delightful brand stories.
Implement new strategies that improve and optimize existing workflows.
Push for creative excellence and innovation while balancing the priorities of the business.
Creative problem solver that approaches each obstacle with optimism and enthusiasm.
Prepare and present creative to internal and external stakeholders.
Adhere to established team workflows and processes.
Track record of assigning art commissions, researching and maintaining an inclusive network of diverse visual talent for branding projects.