Freelance Design Director

Complex•Los Angeles, CA

About The Position

Complex is a leading platform for global youth culture and music lifestyle, integrating content, commerce, and live experiences. We are seeking a freelance Design Director to elevate our Branded Art and Design team. This role involves cross-functional collaboration with branded content, account management, product, and experiential teams to ideate and execute a wide range of deliverables, from digital content to live events. The ideal candidate is a creative visionary with expertise in graphic design, social design, display media, print collateral, merchandise, and experiential concepting, capable of translating cultural insights and brand guidelines into compelling visual expressions across all mediums. This individual should be self-motivated, collaborative, and driven by curiosity to push creative boundaries.

Requirements

Minimum 6-8 years of graphic design experience and art direction experience within the last 3-4 years at an agency, culturally-adjacent media publisher, or in-house brand.
Expert in latest Mac software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects), Google Slides, Figma, ReadyMag, SketchUp or other experiential 3D render software.
Impressive, wide-ranging portfolio (brand, print, event, editorial and product is a plus).
Working knowledge of current AI render platforms.
Ability to composite in 2D is a must.
Strong understanding of the Complex brand, its IP, and maintaining its tone of voice in branded work.
Excellent communication skills: written, verbal, interpersonal.
Strong time management skills and ability to pivot between projects.
Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Background in 3D rendering is a major plus.
Passion for materials within tangible design for apparel, packaging, print, and experiential builds.

Responsibilities

Craft thoughtful executions from forward-thinking video, photo, and social campaigns to immersive events, working cross-functionally with Branded Production and Publishing teams, Experiential Producers, Product, Web Development, and Account Managers.
Elevate content on a variety of platforms, acting as a player-coach who can both execute design work and guide partnering designers.
Create engaging designs with a strong focus on Art Direction, demonstrating an ability to composite in 2D.
Execute within design and production workstreams in a fast-paced environment, maintaining the Complex brand's tone of voice in branded work.
Mentor and lead by conceptualizing and pitching work to internal and external teams.
Collaborate with design leaders, account managers, experiential, and product teams to create a visual roadmap for deliverables.
Take projects from concept to launch, creating within existing workflow systems while integrating brand guidelines and the Complex visual identity.
Pitch and sell work to senior leadership and brand clients as necessary.
Translate larger campaign initiatives and creative into display and social deliverables.
Conceptualize and execute physical brand experiences, from pop-up activations to large-scale events like ComplexCon.
Design limited-edition merchandise drops and collaborations, bringing a fashion sensibility to product storytelling.
Conduct research to identify problems and validate designs.