Senior Art Director
About The Position
Forge, a subdivision of Helios & Partners, is seeking a hands-on, visionary Senior Art Director to bridge brand identity, digital product design (UX/UI), and generative AI workflows. The role leads visual and conceptual execution for high-impact consumer brand launches, working directly with founders and collaborating with distributed creative, strategy, and engineering teams across offices and time zones. The position is based onsite in Santa Monica. The Senior Art Director develops consumer brand identities and digital creative concepts, applies emerging technologies and AI-enabled workflows, and guides projects from concept through launch. The role collaborates with clients, founders, senior leadership, project managers, and multidisciplinary creative teams to deliver commercially aligned, conversion-focused work, maintain brand consistency, and meet project timelines. It also contributes to design systems, processes, and tools that support innovation and streamline collaboration.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Design, Visual Communication, Digital Media, or a related field, or equivalent portfolio-proven experience.
- 4–6 years of experience in a creative agency, brand studio, or high-growth consumer startup, with ownership of end-to-end brand and digital product launches.
- Portfolio demonstrating strategic thinking, strong typography and visual craft, digital product/UX sensibility, and measurable business results.
- Track record of taking complex creative and digital projects from concept to launch in fast-paced environments.
- Strong understanding of design tools, technologies, and methodologies, especially generative AI and codeless environments.
- Expert-level proficiency in Figma, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
- Ability to collaborate asynchronously and synchronously with distributed teams across offices and time zones.
- Commercial mindset and ability to present, pitch, and sell creative ideas to clients and internal stakeholders.
- Passion for innovation and user experience, with a keen eye for detail.
Nice To Haves
- Working knowledge of Premiere and After Effects.
- Experience with generative AI tools including Midjourney, Runway, Pika, and LLMs.
- Experience with codeless environments including Webflow and Framer.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute visual identities, brand systems, and digital creative concepts for consumer brand clients.
- Identify emerging trends and technologies, particularly in generative AI, digital experiences, and no-code/low-code platforms.
- Collaborate with senior leadership and brand operators to align creative execution with commercial and growth goals.
- Experiment with new methodologies, especially AI-driven workflows and codeless environments such as Webflow and Framer.
- Partner with distributed designers, creative developers, UX specialists, and strategists across offices and time zones.
- Encourage a collaborative, low-ego environment focused on rapid prototyping, testing, and growth.
- Provide art direction, visual feedback, and creative guidance to junior creatives and external partners to ensure brand consistency.
- Lead hands-on design and execution of projects, including brand launches and web/app interfaces, ensuring high craft and adherence to timelines.
- Work with project managers to scope creative deliverables, allocate resources, and keep projects on track.
- Collaborate with clients and founders to understand business needs and develop innovative, conversion-focused design solutions.
- Present design concepts, pitch decks, and visual strategies to clients and articulate their commercial value and impact.
- Implement processes, design systems, and AI-enabled tools to enhance creativity and streamline multi-office design workflows.
Benefits
- Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits.
- Access to the latest AI and creative technology stack.
- Creative, fast-paced environment that encourages innovation and provides direct exposure to consumer brand founders.
- Professional development and growth opportunities.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
