Art Director

Primary Function

The Art Director must be an accomplished designer with vision, initiative, and autonomy who can act as creative partner, internal critic, and sounding board. As a member of the Brand team, the Art Director executes the Barnes Foundation’s brand strategy and ensures consistency across media by managing the design of print and digital materials for marketing, education, and membership. As head of the Design department, the Art Director oversees the work of the Senior Designer and manages the departmental budget.

The Art Director oversees concepting and design of exhibition graphics and other collateral for special exhibitions and works with the Director of Design and Publications and Production Manager to ensure that books and catalogues meet the highest standards.

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field with five years’ design experience required, including experience in a museum or other cultural institution.
• A strong record of outstanding design practice and a sophisticated visual sensibility.
• Ability to think strategically and to work across a range of projects, including print collateral, digital collateral, book and catalogue design, and identity design.
• Excellent typographic skills and an understanding of visual systems. Demonstrated ability to successfully translate complex ideas into compelling, communicative visuals.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills. Ability to build good working relationships with internal clients and team members, and to give and receive constructive feedback.
• Proficiency with design software and an understanding of Web interface design, HTML coding, and CSS. Highly skilled in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, multi-page layout, and all print production techniques.
• Demonstrated effectiveness ensuring that print and digital materials reflect an organization’s brand identity and support its diversity and outreach goals.
• Experience managing other design professionals.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare complex files for print production, review and comment on printer’s proofs, and press check projects with a keen eye for detail. An understanding of production requirements for digital media formats to be used in websites, email, video, and other digital communication.
• Ability to develop and monitor budgets and work closely with the Production Manager to establish priorities and schedules.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate the efficacy of graphic design projects and adjust and innovate accordingly.

Clearances:
Criminal Background-National

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential job duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

• Approximately 80%+ of time is spent seated while working at a desk.
• Ability to occasionally transport up to 25 lbs. of files, equipment or supplies.
• Ability to move to access files, equipment or supplies.

• This position requires extended time on the computer.

• Clearly communicate in person, by phone, and by video conference.
• Communicate with others in conversational and written English.

• Position operates in hybrid work setting comprised of the Barnes’ Philadelphia campus and remote work setting indicated by the employee at their documented home address.
• Position requires extended time on the computer.

• Collaborates with leadership on the design direction of all institutional materials to ensure consistent storytelling and brand focus across all channels.
• Directs and implements design of all digital and print projects—from ads to brochures and signage to ephemera—handling them from project request to final product at a high level of competence and creativity.
• Meets with department heads and/or project managers as necessary.
• Provides design concepts for presentation, and oversees the execution of design concepts by junior team members.
• Designs projects personally or oversees the work of internal and/or external…