Art Director [AQ-21043]

Aquent is partnering with a globally recognized leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment, a brand synonymous with innovation and inspiring athletes worldwide. This is a unique opportunity to join a team that is constantly pushing the boundaries of design and consumer experience.

We are seeking a visionary to dramatically shape the future of consumer retail experiences. This is an unparalleled opportunity to spearhead the development of groundbreaking retail concepts, transforming how consumers interact with a beloved global brand. You will be at the forefront of creating immersive environments and compelling storytelling that not only elevates brand perception but also drives significant consumer engagement across a vast retail landscape. Your innovative spirit and leadership will directly influence how millions connect with the brand, making a tangible difference in its global presence and consumer journey.

What You Will Do

• Lead projects from initial concept through to final delivery, creating innovative and original retail displays and digital solutions for diverse retail environments.
• Provide essential leadership development and design direction to junior-level designers, fostering a culture of creative growth and excellence.
• Collaborate extensively with both internal and external teams to skillfully manage multiple projects, ensuring creative intent, timelines, and budgets are consistently met through best practices.
• Craft, refine, and evolve compelling non-seasonal retail storytelling narratives across the entire portfolio of retail stores.
• Develop comprehensive creative direction for design development and establish clear implementation standards to ensure consistent execution across all projects.
• Oversee a team, guiding them to develop tailored approaches for each project that expertly balance consumer needs, brand integrity, and business partner objectives.
• Effectively communicate and present complex design concepts, producing compelling presentation materials and necessary project production files.
• Drive design excellence and cultivate collaboration across multiple simultaneous projects, delivering holistic creative solutions that align with long-term strategic goals.
• Leverage a proven track record of innovative use of emerging technology to build impactful spaces that significantly enhance consumer engagement and interaction.
• Work across a broad spectrum of design subject areas, including Environmental Graphic Design, Fixtures, Materials, and Digital design.
• Ideate groundbreaking creative concepts, visually illustrate your ideas, and maintain a hands-on approach as you lead projects to completion.
  
  

Your Expertise

• Minimum of 8 years of brand design experience, demonstrating creative sophistication in concepts and design/visual communications, including at least 3 years of management experience.
• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in graphic design, architecture, interior design, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong retail industry experience, particularly with retail environments, concepts, and programs.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including meeting facilitation and presentations, with the ability to convey complex topics to senior creative teams.
• Proficiency in sketching design ideas and visually communicating concept development through ideation.
• A passion for current trends in Technology, Design, Art, Interactive, and Experience Design.
• A proactive, “can-do” attitude with a proven ability to adapt to changing business needs while consistently maintaining creative quality.
• A positive spirit and a sense of humor.
• A strong portfolio showcasing your work is required for review.
  
  

Must-Have Skills

• Illustrator
• Photoshop
• InDesign
• Keynote
  
  

Nice-to-Have Skills

• After Effects
• Premiere
• Miro
• Figma
• SketchUp
• Unreal Engine
  
  

Client Description

Global leader in athletic footwear, apparel, and equipment. Our client focuses on innovation, performance, and marketing, partnering with top athletes and teams. The company emphasizes sustainability and digital advancements to enhance the sports experience.