Associate Design Director

Advent • Nashville, TN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The primary goal of the Associate Design Director is to cast the strategic and creative vision for the project(s), and to lead/participate in the execution of that vision. This role is responsible for establishing, developing, refining and championing the strategic and creative vision throughout the entire life cycle of the project(s). The ideal candidate must demonstrate strong creative problem solving skills and vision casting, consistently high-quality ideation, and excellent creative technical ability in 2D and 3D design. The role requires the ability to lead complex and architecturally integrated projects, concept ideation, and creative output including visual mood boards/inspiration, high-level conceptual ideas, and 2D and 3D design execution. The Associate Design Director must balance multiple projects/clients, advocating for creative quality while managing client, schedule, and budgetary needs. Strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively and persuasively articulate creative intent, are essential. Collaboration and design management skills for leading and working with an interdisciplinary team are also key. An Associate Design Director has strong creative vision and execution skills, with an aptitude for directing as much as creating. They should be able to manage/design 5-10 overlapping projects of medium scope and complexity, directing 1-2 designers as needed, and should split time between directing and designing (60-40).

Requirements

• Must be a creative problem solver who demonstrates strong technical ability in 2D and 3D design.
• Must excel at thinking divergently, exploring many ideas and/or executions early in the creative process.
• Must demonstrate some architectural awareness and construction understanding in order to effectively cast vision and lead some complex, architecturally integrated projects.
• Must have strong communication skills to effectively articulate creative intent to internal team members and external clients/partners.
• Must demonstrate time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines consistently.
• Must have design management and collaboration skills to effectively lead, manage and collaborate with an interdisciplinary project team.
• Must demonstrate care for and attention to details large and small.
• Must be a self starter with an aptitude for learning quickly.
• A bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Environmental/Spatial Design, Interior Design, Architecture and/or other relevant design field is required.
• 5-10 years of relevant design experience is required.
• A portfolio demonstrating the previously mentioned design capabilities in graphic design, industrial design, environmental/spatial design, exhibit design, interior design, architecture and/or other relevant design field(s) is required.

Nice To Haves

• A sense of humor is preferred, but not required.
• A minimum of one (1) interesting hobby also preferred, but not required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Story Team for all discovery, including leading some client interviews and performing relevant research prior to conceptual design.
• Establish the strategic and creative vision for the project that captures client and audience needs, visual direction and audience journey.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to create audience journey maps, inspiration/ mood boards, story maps and other design narrative collateral that articulate that creative vision.
• Lead and collaborate on the design and development of new concepts that solve client problems and capture powerful storytelling through graphics, form, material and space to realize the creative vision.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to champion creative solutions while balancing budgetary and schedule needs when appropriate.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) and any freelance talent to deliver the design output that best visualizes creative intent and conceptual designs (Photoshop renders, photo-realism renders, hand sketches and/or digital sketches).
• Lead client presentations, including creation of presentation decks, and co-presenting with the Experience Designer(s) when appropriate.
• Lead and collaborate on the refinement of concepts and further executions of the creative intent based on client feedback and through collaboration with the Experience Designer(s) and Delivery Team.
• Collaborate with architecture and interiors partners on space planning, schematic design, FFE, lighting, etc. to define the creative intent.
• Collaborate with both the internal team and external construction partners and subcontractors to coordinate all integration requirements such as blocking, power, data and other inputs as needed to uphold the creative intent.
• Lead/manage the art direction of production designers and collaborate with the Delivery Team to ensure consistency with the approved concepts and that the project implementation quality meets the standard set by the creative intent.
• Work with the Project Manager(s) to define clear and reasonable schedules for creative deliverables, advocating for creative needs while respecting client objectives.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to meet those agreed upon deadlines.
• Lead and collaborate with the Project Manager(s) to foster strong client and partner relationships, including the management of client expectations when appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Delivery Team (Project Manager(s), Project Engineer(s), Technical Designer(s), Installers, and Vendor Partners) to creatively solve for budgetary, schedule, install or other constraints while upholding the quality of the creative intent.
• Attend and contribute to Live Creative Sessions with the client by ideating, sketching, asking good questions, seeking insights and solving problems.
• Assist the Design Director with planning and execution of these sessions.
• Provide constructive creative feedback, direction and support to the Experience Designer(s) when appropriate to foster a strong creative and collaborative environment within the project team.

Benefits

• Advent, LLC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level