Art Director

• Promotes continual creative improvement and contributes to a culture of collaboration
  and accountability.
• Builds and fosters a design organization, instilling a culture of innovation, excellence, and passion, and delivering well-built and thoughtfully designed products for consumers.
• Collaborates with product development and editorial and balances product line and releases against perceived value by customer and production creative leader costs, art, copy and pricing.
• Leads designers to deliver high-quality, on-brand creative solutions and produces outstanding creative projects and products.
• Plays the lead role in the concepting of projects, new products, and brands, including brainstorming, developing ideas, designing, presenting, and building the foundation of a project.
• Expands the team’s understanding of greeting card fundamentals and how to apply current trends to increase product salability.
• Coaches and leads the team in trend and market research, forecasting and analyzation, along with the potential application to new products, brands, and customer trend presentations.
• Stays up to date with current design and cultural trends.
• Designs consistent, cohesive, on-brand work.
• Drives and executes the overall visual design strategies.
• Executes project’s phases of design, production, edits, and final execution.
• Uses strategic, analytical, and creative skills to collaborate with cross-functional department leaders to develop creative briefs and execute on projects.
• Collaborates constantly with Product Development and Sourcing Teams, and through strong relationships with other functions and leadership, deeply influences the design trajectory of each brand within the organization.
• Assists in coordinating and communicating with freelance resource pool that supports in-house staff.
• Oversees timelines and deliverables to ensure they are met.
• Supports the Sales Team through custom projects, sales presentation, and product strategies.
• Assists the VP of Brand & Product in developing and managing the budget.

• Leads, Manages, and holds the team accountable.
• Leads/Manages Creative Product Designers.
• Supports, encourages, coaches, and maintains accountability to ensure success for the creative team members and for the organization.
• Serves as back-up to VP of Brand & Product for product reviews and other responsibilities, as requested.

• Identifies, understands, and communicates micro and macro trends and implements them within creative strategies and the design process.
• Stays abreast of relevant trends in copy, design, illustration, typography and color, and finds ways to incorporate them into creative briefs and new concepts
• Conducts research on competitors and keeps in touch with marketing and creative trends.
• Conducts domestic and international trend research, creating reports and presenting research to internal partners for use in creative briefs and key account presentations.

Executing Needs and Gathering Relevant Art

• Creates the aesthetic of the design/project.
• Sources new art content and pitches concepts to clients.
• Finds resources that are appropriate to the brand/completion of the project.
• Manages and executes the project vision to design execution and when needed, communicates ideas/vision in a clear and concise way.
• Maintains a good sense of on-brand aesthetic when selecting artwork.
• Creates concepts, designs and layouts based on knowledge of design.
• Reviews work, troubleshoots, and cross-functionally communicates to meet the needs of the internal and external client.

• Reviews project process and presents solutions for constant improvement in the organization’s creative quality, capabilities, and processes.
• Contributes strategic and creative solutions using a strong sense of design.
• Compares creative vision along with consumer marketplace trends (sales).
• Coordinates and directs the overall visual aspects of a project with the team to accomplish a unified goal.
• Executes final product samples and provides feedback when necessary.
• Executes graphic design and production design and mockup and executes designs through final production as needed.

• Assists with design of in-house projects from inception to production.
• Brainstorms and creates mockup of design ideas and layouts based on knowledge of layout principles and artistic design concepts.
• Packages and formats art for release to the Production Team, printers, vendor partners, and relevant FTP servers.
• Resolves any artwork issues that arise during creative span. Partners with Production Team to resolve technical issues.
• Maintains understanding of Color Management standards and digitally manipulates images to ensure colors are optimized for reproduction processes.
• Maintains an ongoing, thorough knowledge of manufacturing processes.

• Manages creative capacity planning and calendar in collaboration with Product Development team.
• Oversees project deliverable timelines and product margins.
• Manages team timelines and projects efficiently and is comfortable with shifting priorities and project scopes.

• Presents and selects artwork for product releases through internal illustrations and design concepts or external licensed artwork.
• Independently extends design concepts across channels and formats – from conceptual mockups to final production.
• Works with editors and copy writers to create innovative concepts, as well as completes greeting card packages and caption and line balances.
• Maintains creative standards for the creative department while driving constant improvement in the organization’s creative quality, capabilities, and processes.
• Contributes new designs/concepts as needed.
• Understands the needs of custom product lines for various customers/brands/lines through collaboration with Key Account Sales Director(s).
• Desires to learn and explore new tools and technology as they become available to help promote efficiencies and/or growth opportunities.
• Develops, conceptualizes, and brainstorms new ideas and creative concepts for individual products as well as new product line and brand introductions.

• Communicates and builds relationships with outside artists—through email, video conference calls, and on-site or off-site visits (tradeshows).
• Works with VP of Brand & Product to build close partnerships with external artists and studios to evolve the Convivial Brands product lines and brands.
• Creates effective processes alongside Marketing PM and VP of Brand & Product for internal and external communication to artists and art houses.

• Adjusts artwork from artists to meet DDI and customer needs.
• Works with PD team to ensure contracts are complete and artist codes are applied in NAV with Finance Team.

• Adheres to all Convivial Brands Policies and Procedures.
• Always conducts self in a manner consistent with Convivial Brands’ Core Values.
• Maintains a positive and respectful attitude with all contacts.
• Consistently reports to work on time and prepared to perform the duties of the position.
• Meets productivity standards and performs duties as workload necessitates.
• Maintains the privacy of all company proprietary information.
• Treats visitors, vendors, customers, and team members with respect and dignity.
• Able to safely perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Must maintain a score of Y on the GWC rating scale.

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or other related field; or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• At least 10 years of experience in the social expression product or giftware industry and graphic design experience with a proven knowledge and expertise in product development, project execution, preferably within the context of consumer product goods.
• Experience in social expression, stationery, or gift industry, or a closely related category is preferred but not required.
• At least 5 years of experience managing and leading a team.

• Critical competencies and required experience for this role include product design leadership, new product development, and creative services team development and management.

• Must be a self-starter and problem solver, capable of functioning in a dynamic, fast paced, change oriented environment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to connect, motivate, and work with employees at all levels, interacting effectively with senior management and staff to carry out the organization’s mission and objectives.
• Ability to understand and assess business priorities and act accordingly.
• Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.

• Ability to be influential and to effectively and quickly build relationships that establish trust, respect, competence, and confidence.
• High-level knowledge of, and passion for trend, color, design and consumer insights.
• Superb interpersonal, presentation, verbal/written communication, and listening skills.
• Proficiency in design software programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign.