Senior Art Director

Overview

Who We Are: At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

The Senior Art Director is a pivotal creative leader responsible for conceiving, developing, and executing innovative and visually compelling advertising campaigns across multiple channels. This role demands a highly skilled and experienced professional with a strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design sensibility, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate complex marketing objectives into captivating visual narratives. The Senior Art Director will collaborate closely with copywriters, account teams, strategists, and production partners to deliver groundbreaking ideas, ensuring brand consistency, creative excellence, and successful execution of high-complexity, integrated 360° campaigns, including production and post-production oversight.

Conceptualization & Ideation:

• Lead visual conceptualization and development of integrated advertising campaigns, from brief to final execution, working closely with a Senior Copywriter.
• Generate fresh, original, and strategically sound visual ideas that effectively communicate client messages and achieve campaign objectives.
• Actively participate in brainstorming sessions, contributing innovative concepts and pushing creative boundaries.
• Develop mood boards, storyboards, visual mock-ups, and presentations to effectively communicate creative concepts to internal teams and clients.

Design & Execution:

• Execute high-quality visual designs across diverse media, including digital (social media, display, web, video), print (magazines, OOH), broadcast (TV, online video), experiential, and integrated campaigns.
• Maintain a high level of craft and attention to detail in all design outputs while adhering to brand guidelines and pushing creative limits.
• Oversee and provide direction to junior designers, illustrators, photographers, and external vendors to ensure visual consistency and quality.
• Manage production and post-production processes for campaigns, ensuring final deliverables meet the highest creative standards.
• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies, and best practices in advertising and visual communication.

Strategic Thinking & Client

Collaboration:

• Translate marketing strategies and client briefs into compelling visual solutions that resonate with target audiences.
• Present creative concepts confidently and persuasively to clients, articulating the rationale behind design choices and incorporating feedback effectively.
• Collaborate closely with account teams, strategists, and project managers to ensure creative solutions align with client goals, timelines, and budgets.
• Understand client business objectives and market landscapes to inform creative decisions.

Leadership & Mentorship:

• Act as a creative leader within the agency, inspiring and motivating junior team members.
• Provide constructive feedback and mentorship to junior art directors and designers, fostering their professional growth.
• Champion creative excellence and maintain high standards for all visual output.
• Contribute to a positive, collaborative, and innovative team culture.

Project Management & Production:

• Manage multiple high-complexity projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Oversee the production process for visual assets, working closely with producers, photographers, videographers, and retouchers…