Art Director (Fashion)
New Today
Job Details
Position Summary
The Art Director will be the creative leader responsible for owning and elevating the visual
identity of the brand across all channels. This role oversees the concept, execution, and delivery
of fashion photo shoots and creative campaigns, ensuring all imagery, video, and design assets
align with brand positioning, resonate with the target audience, and drive business objectives.
The ideal candidate is a highly creative visual thinker with deep experience in fashion art
direction, photo production, and brand marketing. They should balance artistic innovation with
strategic insight, bringing fresh ideas that push the brand forward while maintaining consistency
and integrity of the visual identity.
Key Responsibilities
Creative Direction & Visual Leadership
Lead the creative vision for all brand photography, video, and campaign assets from concept to completion.
Define and enforce the visual standards of the brand, ensuring cohesion across e-commerce, social media, advertising, retail, and PR.
Develop mood boards, creative briefs, and visual guidelines that inspire internal teams and external partners.
Stay ahead of cultural, fashion, and creative trends to inform fresh, relevant storytelling.
Photo & Video Production Oversight
Own the full lifecycle of photo and video shoots, including casting, set design, styling, and on-set creative leadership.
Direct photographers, stylists, makeup artists, set designers, and other creative partners to achieve the highest level of visual output.
Approve final selects and retouching to maintain brand quality and ensure assets are market-ready.
Team Leadership & Talent Management
Manage and mentor an in-house retoucher, providing creative guidance and feedback to maintain consistent quality standards.
Build, manage, and nurture a network of freelance creative partners, including photographers, stylists, makeup artists, and set designers.
Negotiate contracts and manage relationships with external creative vendors, ensuring collaboration is productive and aligned with brand goals.
Foster a collaborative, professional, and respectful creative environment in line with company workplace conduct and non-harassment policies.
Cross-Functional Partnership
Collaborate with marketing, design, e-commerce, and merchandising teams to align creative direction with business goals.
Partner with leadership to ensure visuals support brand strategy, product launches, and seasonal campaigns.
Present creative concepts and campaign ideas to senior stakeholders for alignment and feedback.
Brand Content & Distribution
Oversee the creation and distribution of content across all channels (social, e-commerce, campaigns, retail, and media partners).
Ensure timely delivery of assets to internal teams and external stakeholders.
Maintain digital asset management systems to ensure all content is accessible, organized, and updated.
Strategic & Operational Management
Manage budgets, timelines, and deliverables for multiple concurrent projects.
Use performance analytics and content engagement insights to refine creative direction and drive results.
Balance creative innovation with consistency in brand representation.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Art Direction, Design, Fashion, Marketing, Communications, or related field (or equivalent experience).
3 - 7 years of experience in art direction within fashion, beauty, or lifestyle brands.
Demonstrated experience leading large-scale fashion photo shoots and creative campaigns.
Strong creative eye with proven ability to translate brand strategy into compelling visual storytelling.
Experience managing retouchers, freelance creatives, and vendor relationships.
Excellent leadership and collaboration skills with the ability to inspire both internal teams and external partners.
Highly organized with strong project management skills; able to balance multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Capture One, and digital asset management systems.
Work Environment
Full-time, in-office role with frequent on-set responsibilities.
Close collaboration with cross-functional teams and direct visibility to senior leadership.
Occasional extended hours required during seasonal campaigns, in accordance with company overtime policy.
Compensation & Benefits
Competitive salary (commensurate with experience).
Eligible for company medical benefits after 30 days of employment.
Paid Time Off and company-recognized holidays.
401(k) retirement plan eligibility after 12 months of service.
- Location:
- Chicago
- Job Type:
- PartTime