Creative Director, Motion - The Heist

Thinkingbox•Chicago, IL

3d•$160,000 - $175,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Heist, a motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, is seeking an exceptional, hands-on Creative Director, Motion, to lead a team of motion designers in Toronto. This role involves crafting visually stunning 2D and 3D motion graphics and animation for high-impact marketing campaigns. The Creative Director will report to the Director of Animation and work on advertising projects for a diverse range of clients, ensuring creative vision aligns with client goals. Responsibilities include hands-on creation, storyboarding, collaboration with the animation team, and client-facing interactions.

Requirements

A portfolio showcasing a refined taste in motion design in 2D and 3D across varied marketing and campaign styles.
A desire to further your skills driven by your own curiosity.
8+ years of experience in a motion design role, with 3+ years in a leadership or senior capacity.
Strong proficiency in Cinema 4D and Redshift.
Demonstrated ability to create clear storyboards and refined styleframes that align with campaign goals.
Mastery of the Adobe Suite (After Effects, Premiere, Photoshop, Illustrator) and a thorough understanding of the animation pipeline.
Strong design sensibilities, demonstrating the ability to merge aesthetic and technical skills.
Working knowledge of Figma.
Strong organizational skills, with a solution-oriented approach to creative and technical challenges.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of XParticles, Marvelous Designer, and/or Houdini is a big plus.

Responsibilities

Lead and inspire a nimble team of motion designers and guiding projects with a strong creative direction.
Be hands on and demonstrate intention when needed, be it in design or animation.
Develop clear storyboards and polished styleframes that convey the narrative and aesthetic of each campaign.
Oversee and participate in creating campaign assets, including 2D and 3D animation, ensuring all work aligns with brand guidelines and art direction.
Provide clear, actionable feedback to team members, fostering growth and maintaining the highest quality of work.
Engage directly with clients, interpreting their needs and providing creative insights throughout the project lifecycle.
Collaborate with the motion team to adopt new processes and workflows that meet the unique demands of each marketing campaign.
Contribute to project budgeting and resource planning to ensure efficiency.