Art Director (6-Month Contract, Contract-To-Hire)

The Vida Agency•Seattle, WA

10h

About The Position

We are seeking an Art Director to serve as Vida's creative lead, setting the visual direction and creative standards for the agency. This role involves leading Vida's internal brand development, including agency marketing materials, website, social media, thought leadership content, and new business presentations. The Art Director will develop compelling visual concepts and creative strategies that align with client objectives and campaign goals, lead brainstorming sessions, and collaborate with copywriters, strategists, and account teams to develop integrated creative solutions. This position requires presenting creative concepts and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders with confidence and clarity, providing art direction to designers, photographers, videographers, and other creative vendors, and ensuring all visual communications maintain brand consistency and meet the highest creative standards. The role also involves staying current on design trends, multicultural marketing best practices, and emerging technologies, and championing Vida's creative reputation in the marketplace through award submissions, speaking opportunities, and industry engagement. Additionally, the Art Director will be responsible for hands-on design and production, creating layouts, graphics, and visual assets using Adobe Creative Suite, developing design systems, style guides, and brand guidelines, art directing photoshoots and video productions, producing presentation materials, and managing multiple projects simultaneously. This role also includes managing a small team of freelance graphic designers. Project management and collaboration are key, involving close work with account services, account management, and project management teams, coordinating with external vendors, reviewing and providing feedback on work from junior designers and freelancers, managing creative timelines, and participating in client meetings and new business pitches. A strong emphasis is placed on cultural intelligence and inclusive design, applying culturally relevant insights, collaborating with community partners, and championing inclusive design practices that reflect VIDA's commitment to respectful cultural practices.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or related field
Minimum 5-7 years of professional experience in graphic design and art direction
At least 2-3 years of experience in an agency setting or similar fast-paced creative environment
Proven portfolio demonstrating strong conceptual thinking and exceptional design execution across multiple platforms
Experience managing creative teams or providing art direction to designers and vendors
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator required; After Effects, Premiere Pro preferred)
Expert proficiency in Figma
Strong understanding of typography, layout, color theory, and composition
Knowledge of print production processes, specifications, and best practices
Proficiency in digital design including web, social media, and mobile applications
Strong conceptual thinking with ability to develop big ideas that translate across multiple touchpoints
Excellent visual storytelling abilities
Ability to balance creativity with strategic objectives and client needs
Strong aesthetic sensibility and attention to detail
Ability to work in various design styles appropriate to different brands and audiences
Creative problem-solving skills
Excellent presentation skills with ability to articulate and defend creative concepts
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Ability to provide constructive feedback and mentor junior designers
Collaborative approach with ability to work effectively across disciplines
Client-facing skills with ability to build trust and manage expectations
Leadership presence while maintaining a hands-on, team-player mentality
Adaptability & Flexibility: Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously and shift priorities as needed in a fast-paced environment
Time Management: Strong organizational skills with ability to meet tight deadlines without compromising quality
Cultural Awareness: Sensitivity to cultural differences and commitment to inclusive, authentic representation
Resourcefulness: Ability to find creative solutions within budget and timeline constraints
Growth Mindset: Eagerness to learn new skills, tools, and approaches
Commitment to Equity: Demonstrated commitment to social justice and culturally intelligent marketing practices
Accountability: Takes ownership of work quality and project outcomes
Professional Maturity: Ability to accept feedback, iterate on concepts, and maintain positive attitude under pressure
All candidates must submit a portfolio demonstrating: Conceptual thinking and strategic visual solutions, Hands-on design execution across multiple platforms (print, digital, social, video), Range of styles and approaches, Work from concept through final execution

Nice To Haves

Experience with multicultural marketing or diverse audience engagement preferred
Experience with motion graphics and video editing preferred
Understanding of photography and art direction for photoshoots
Familiarity with design systems and brand identity development
Examples of multicultural or diverse audience work (preferred)

Responsibilities

Serve as Vida’s creative lead, setting the visual direction and creative standards for the agency
Lead Vida's internal brand development, including agency marketing materials, website, social media, thought leadership content, and new business presentations
Develop compelling visual concepts and creative strategies that align with client objectives and campaign goals
Lead brainstorming sessions and collaborate with copywriters, strategists, and account teams to develop integrated creative solutions
Present creative concepts and recommendations to clients and internal stakeholders with confidence and clarity
Provide art direction to designers, photographers, videographers, and other creative vendors
Ensure all visual communications maintain brand consistency and meet the highest creative standards
Stay current on design trends, multicultural marketing best practices, and emerging technologies
Champion Vida's creative reputation in the marketplace through award submissions, speaking opportunities, and industry engagement
Design and execute high-quality deliverables across multiple platforms including print, digital, social media, video, and experiential
Create layouts, graphics, and visual assets using Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects)
Develop design systems, style guides, and brand guidelines for client campaigns
Art direct and participate in photoshoots and video productions as needed
Produce presentation materials, pitch decks, and client-facing documents
Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines
Manage a small team of freelance graphic designers to help execute any work that cannot be completed by the art director
Work closely with VP of account services, account management and project management teams to understand project scope, timelines, and budgets
Coordinate with external vendors including printers, photographers, videographers, and production companies
Review and provide feedback on work produced by junior designers and freelancers
Manage creative timelines and ensure deliverables are completed on schedule and within budget
Participate in client meetings, status updates, and campaign debriefs
Contribute to new business pitches and proposals
Apply culturally relevant insights to creative work, ensuring authenticity and resonance with diverse audiences
Collaborate with community partners and cultural consultants to ensure appropriate representation
Champion inclusive design practices that reflect VIDA's commitment to respectful cultural practices
Understand and incorporate cultural nuances in visual communications for multilingual and multicultural communities
Other tasks as assigned