Art Director

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Barrows has a singular focus: to move retail forward. What started nearly 30 years ago in South Africa has grown into a global enterprise with 700+ employees operating across 3 continents.

We’re a group of designers, thinkers, makers, and innovators, united in our obsession with improving how people shop and interact with brands. We are an entrepreneurial, people-first company where every team member possesses the ability to carve their own path.

Our client roster is as diverse as it is exciting, including AB InBev, Unilever, Ford Motors, Reckitt, and General Mills, among others. As the worlds of digital and physical retail continue to merge, we work tirelessly to answer one question: what’s next?

THE ROLE

Barrows is seeking an Art Director with a passion for retail and shopper experiences to develop high-impact ideas for global brands across a range of industries. You will partner with the strategy team to develop shopper marketing concepts and graphic designs for integrated shopper marketing programs and experiential retail designs. A deep understanding of activating in these channels will be critical to success. You will work closely with creative and strategy leadership to unlock big ideas that engage shopping audiences and produce compelling content that supports our clients’ stories. You will lead other members of the creative team, see projects through from start to finish, and sell creative concepts to clients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Own projects to completion with minimal direction and oversight
• Support in the development and execution of creative concepts and projects
• Generate exploratory mood boards by gathering literature and internet references
• Work quickly, independently, and with a can-do attitude
• Define and drive overall aesthetics for project
• Lead creative ideation and brainstorms
• Know and understand client businesses and Barrows retail strategy
• Liaise with lead creative/strategist and account team to ensure project flow
• Liaise with production on pricing, edits, and printing
• Solid technical skills and excellent sense of aesthetics
• Proven track record of delivering outstanding creative
• Lead and influence team to direct their work
• Formulate and articulate creative vision to team and to clients
• Follow process
• Exhibit expertise in local retail market, convergence of digital and physical worlds, and provide creative and design recommendations that adhere to these spaces
• May supervise graphic designers

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design or related field
• 6-8 years of experience
• Portfolio of prior professional work (shopper is a must)
• Solid understanding of FMCG shopper marketing
• Shopper activation experience preferred
• Elevated understanding of the retail trade environment, including omnichannel and physical/digital retail integrations
• Experience presenting and successfully selling creative concepts; articulate creative vision to both team and clients
• Proven experience in creating standout creative work
• Knowledge of Barrows ways of working
• Understanding of pricing in execution of creative concepts
• Ability to drive client solutions through ambiguity
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Lead and influence team to direct their work
• Copywriting skills preferred

Barrows