Art Director

As a member of the Barbarian Creative department you will influence changes in consumer behavior through ideas, creativity and the use of interactive media. You will make a difference to digital communications, marketing, advertising and inspire the best global brands.

Art Director (Design) a rare breed of creative who has a relentless desire to originate and craft digital design to an industry leading standard. Predominantly design-led role focused on the craft. Mentoring / Managing designers on a project by project basis Delivering work that responds to creative briefs which are purely design led.

Benefits of Working at Barbarian:

At Barbarian, we consider our people to be our greatest asset. We have benefits and policies in place to create an inclusive and inspiring environment.

• Unlimited PTO
• Mental health support
• Comprehensive medical benefits
• Competitive Parental Leave that gives you time to bond with your family.
• Flexible work set-up, remote and hybrid working is available and encouraged.
• $250 stipend to outfit your remote working space.
• 401k matching, 50% up to the first 3%
• 3% certification, which means we promote and pay everyone equally
• $5,000 employee referral bonus
• Financial incentive for new business introductions

Key Responsibilities:

• Works across a variety of projects for one key client or across multiple clients.

• Work with User Experience (XD) experts, using a strong understanding of UX principles and techniques with the ability to contribute to user journeys, wireframes, and working UE prototypes.

• Work across a variety of channels including web, mobile, service and product design, interactive retail environments and gaming.

• Using excellent knowledge of all aspects of user-centered design daily, including everything from typography to grid layout and from interaction principles to interface design best practices across desktop, tablet, mobile devices and all screens.

• Leads by example to inspire creative colleagues to originate pioneering ideas that conceptualize world-class solutions. Plays a lead/guiding role in brainstorming or idea generation and communicates ideas and thoughts clearly.

• Originate, influence and craft extraordinary work from both yourself and others who work with you.

• Ensure a high level of internal and external client satisfaction.

• Ensure a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Establishes and manages the art direction, style and tone of communication. Proposes and delivers world-class executions of innovative interface design and interaction design experiences across all digital platforms.

• Work on design-led projects; responsible for managing and mentoring junior members of the team.

• Influence trends in digital design. Seek to set the benchmark on which future projects will be delivered. Design to very high standards.

• Listens to and responds to creative briefs, understanding where/if there are gaps. Knows what questions to ask during the briefing session in order to act upon it, understands how to respond to a brief.

• Helps develop and works into an already existing strategic direction.

• Provides assets to relevant disciplines to implement designs. Provides visual QA comments to, and carries out consultation with, Client Services, Technology and project management teams throughout the project.

• Is able to manage the design ideas and work on pitch presentations.

Key technical competencies

Creative Briefs: Listens to and responds to a brief, understanding where/if there are gaps. Knows what questions to ask during the briefing session in order to act upon it, understands how to respond to a brief.

Idea generation: Leads by example to inspire creative colleagues to originate pioneering ideas that conceptualize world class solutions. Plays an active role in brainstorming or idea generation and communicates ideas and thoughts clearly.

Creative craft skills: Establishes art direction, style and tone of communication. Proposes/delivers world-class executions of innovative interface design and interaction design experiences across all digital platforms.

Supplier management skills: Provides assets to relevant disciplines to implement designs. Provides visual QA comments to, and carries out consultation with, Client Services, Technology and project management teams throughout the project.

Creating award entries and case studies: Responsible for creation of award entries and case studies of key projects, ensuring they are distributed across the business to relevant people (e.g. client team, Creative Directors, and Business Development teams).

New business development: Contributes to ideas and creative work for new business pitches and creative workshops.

Barbarian Creative Competencies

Innovation: Displays an enthusiasm for creating pioneering ideas and is excited by the challenge of moving in new (and potentially more difficult) creative directions. Able to understand the value of analyzing what has worked in the past and applying these learnings to future thinking.

Service: Able to balance specific client demands with project realities and can reliably close the loop on all open issues in a timely manner. Has a strong sense of personal responsibility for their work and that of their teammates and will proactively provide assistance (no matter the situation) to ensure delivery of highest quality work within required timeframes.

Craft: Possesses a strong bias to action and is able to consistently deliver high quality work within required timeframes. Goes the extra mile to ensure deliverables meet the highest standards and strives for creative perfection. Is positive, upbeat and committed to their working life and makes a positive contribution to team morale.

Thought: Has the ability to think issues through before acting and knows when to escalate. Possesses strong listening skills and asks open-ended questions to ensure full understanding. Able to present information effectively via multiple channels and is at ease presenting ideas or solutions in team meetings or the occasional larger group setting.

Qualifications and experience

• Proven experience working as an Art Director is required.

• Experience working in a creative/agency environment is advantageous.

• Passionate, driven, obsessed about the craft itself.

• A degree in Design, Interaction Design, Visual Studies or other design-related field preferred. • Proven creative success working in collaborative multi-functional teams.

• Strong information presentation (visual and written) skills.

• Extensive experience using the most common software

• Expert knowledge of the craft skill of digital design.

Location: NYC, hybrid

Salary range: $70K-$90K

The starting salary will match the skills and experience in the role assessed during the interview process.

Barbarian is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We strongly support diversity in the workforce.

Barbarian