Senior Art Director

At 500 Degrees, we keep our consumers hungry for more. We create immersive retail experiences that build lasting connections every step on the path to purchase. Whether it's merchandising, in-store signage, OOH, or digital marketing, our creative approach will drive action and inspire loyalty. We move quick with a fire under our feet.

We are looking for a Senior Art Director to join the team in our Columbus, Ohio office. As a Senior Art Director at 500°, you will play a key role in the visual concepts and development of merchandising, marketing, and promotional communications in support of our big brand, industry-leading clients. The ideal candidate thinks conceptually, takes direction and defend their work, while bringing contagious energy, and maintaining consistency of the art. You understand that killing ideas is just as important as developing the concept, finishing projects that engage people and make them react.

What You'll Do:

• Provide art direction and thought leadership; Conceptualize and oversee the development of visual elements that convey the desired message and meet client objectives
• Oversee and actively work on multiple projects at once, ensuring deadlines are met and the creative vision is maintained throughout the project
• Regularly research and recognize market trends, customer-centric design, and the competitive landscape
• Present creative concepts to clients with confidence and clarity, effectively communicating the design decisions and addressing client feedback
• Utilize client creative briefs to develop new design concepts and strategies; expected to look beyond the brief when necessary to independently problem-solve
• Ensure brand consistency across all design deliverables, adhering to brand guidelines and maintaining agency quality standards
• Utilize strategic insights to inform creative concepts and translate into visual design
• Collaborate and communicate design concepts with the internal creative team to build a culture of innovation, excellence, and accountability
• Review all assigned key project deliverables and all creative briefs to ensure expectations and timelines are met
• Develop creative ideas, concepts, campaigns, and insights that will drive exceptional work, and exceed client expectations
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior members of the creative team, fostering a positive and collaborative team environment
• Execute design work as needed

What You'll Need:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or a related field preferred; and/or equivalent work experience
• 6 years of experience within a design/advertising/marketing agency environment
• Advanced knowledge of Adobe CS and Keynote (you’ll be creating presentations)
• QSR/food photography experience
• Ability to persuade and influence conversations and project direction
• Demonstrated and applied understanding of customer mindset and path-to-purchase across multiple channels
• Must have a portfolio of projects across print and digital
• Must possess a mastery of typography, color, shape, and design
• Knowledge of the production process, including proofing
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong presentation skills
• Must have direct client-facing experience
• Exceptional attention to detail
• Ability to multi-task and move quickly if needed
• Animation, motion graphic, or video creation skills are nice to have
• Illustration skills are an added bonus

*500° is an equal opportunity employer and fully supports and maintains compliance with all state, federal, and local regulations