Art Director

Varsity Brands•Indianapolis, IN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Art Director serves as a visual force behind Varsity Yearbook’s marketing and customer-facing creative. This role helps shape the look and feel of the brand across digital, print, packaging, campaigns and experiences. As a key member of the creative team, the Art Director plays a significant role in developing and executing visual concepts that are fresh, strategic and on-brand. Reporting to the Director of Brand, Campaigns and Customer Engagement, the Art Director collaborates closely with marketers, writers, designers and product teams to bring ideas to life and ensure every piece of creativity reinforces our brand identity. From major product launches and national campaigns to sales resources and customer materials, these individual touches every project and leads with a deep understanding of design craft and storytelling.

Requirements

Deep understanding of design principles, typography, layout, and storytelling
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign); familiarity with Figma or similar tools a plus
Excellent mindfulness and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Collaborative spirit with a high standard for quality and creativity
Excellent diligence and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Collaborative spirit with a high standard for quality and creativity
Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Visual Communication, or related field
5–7 years of experience in design or art direction, preferably in an in-house or agency setting
Strong portfolio highlighting brand systems, campaign creative, and multi-format design execution

Nice To Haves

Yearbook experience a plus – whether as student, adviser or similar
Experience in education, youth media, publishing, or ed-tech is a plus

Responsibilities

Define and evolve the Varsity Yearbook visual identity across all formats and channels.
Develop brand-aligned creative concepts and executions for marketing campaigns, product launches, events and more.
Maintain consistency in design, typography, color and visual standards across all deliverables.
Function as a brand guardian, ensuring all creativity reflects the quality, energy and tone of Varsity Yearbook
Lead the design process from concept to final execution for high-visibility campaigns and materials.
Collaborate with writers, marketing leads, and other stakeholders to translate strategic goals into compelling visual solutions.
Contribute to the development of customer-facing digital and print materials, including emails, social media, brochures, signage, product interfaces, and training tools.
Review and refine work produced by other designers and external partners to maintain quality and brand alignment.
Partner closely with product marketing, field marketing, and content teams to support integrated campaigns and launches.
Contribute to brainstorming and creative planning sessions across the marketing team.
Provide design expertise and support across departments, including sales and operations, as needed.
Help evolve and improve design workflows, asset organization, and project intake.
Stay current on design trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate the creative standard.
Support the mentoring and development of junior designers or freelancers as needed.
Engage directly with yearbook advisers and student staff through design critiques, providing expert feedback to elevate their work.
Represent the brand and creative team in local and regional customer workshops, supporting direct learning and inspiration.
Serve as a creative mentor during in-person and virtual training events, helping customers improve their design skills and understanding of visual storytelling.
Collaborate with the marketing and customer experience teams to ensure customer-facing design support aligns with brand standards and product capabilities.