Art Director, Media (Temp to Staff)

The Art Director, Media is responsible for leading the ideation, development and execution of impactful design solutions for a diverse range of interdisciplinary projects within physical environments. In this media focused position, the Art Director provides a progressive point of view on design excellence with skills and experience in motion, graphic design, and software development. They collaborate with the Creative Directors to support the creative vision on projects and direct design teams towards cutting edge visual experiences. While reporting to the Director of Visual Experience Design (VXD) this role has co-oversight and close collaboration with the Director of Media Production as they will be a key member of a project team throughout all phases.  

Requirements

• Art direct and cohesively design across a range of projects from concept to production and installation (e.g.) large scale exhibition motion graphics, media programs; interactive installations, parametric design systems, web and mobile based applications and more. 
• Lead and maintain strong design direction while collaborating across multidisciplinary teams — Visual Experience Design, Physical / Exhibit Design, Content, Project Management/Producers, and Creative Technology
• Visualize and expand established design systems across media (linear, animation and VFX, UI, etc).
• Drive motion design development, iterate quickly, and push conventions. 
• Develop, maintain and enhance the creative vision in close collaboration with Creative Directors, Director of Visual Experience Design and the Director of Media Production. 
• Understanding and establishing pipelines of work for asset production; pipelines of work with motion assets and software, prototyping and pre-vis, and media production through installation and launch, all with a fidelity needed for effective team collaboration at each phase
• Oversee and collaborate on live-action working with Directors, VFX supervisor, and casting
• Oversee and occasionally direct audio production; talent casting, sound design, music development, and in-studio sessions.
• Oversight and mentorship of junior designers and animators
• Coordinate with project team members to clarify and aggregate all design dependencies (hardware and software specs, content specs, architectural specs, etc.) 
• Bring new approaches to the creative process, ideation, and design strategy;inspire creative work across disciplines 
• Flag stumbling-blocks and offer solutions 
• Provide accurate time estimates and expectations for yourself and designers on a project, including strategic project planning and accurate bidding with Producers/Project Managers
• Manage multiple projects, establish expectations for designers, and ensure deadlines are met 
• Establish conceptual frameworks to solve complex design challenges 
  

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong strategic and conceptual skills 
• Skilled and experienced in creating and leading 2D and CG motion design, animation, editing, and 3D pipelines, and VFX and post-production.  
• Excellent typographic and graphic design skills
• Excellent technical, organizational and time management skills
• The ability to collaborate in teams, work autonomously, take direction from creative leadership and translate goals into actionable items for team members 
• Progressive understanding of UX, GUI and interaction design as well as the workflow of time-based media 
• Progressive understanding of technical art workflows and look development for real time CG animation and game engine development. Software (Unity and/or Unreal) pipeline experience, a plus
• Experienced in structuring and holding working sessions and presentations to clients and teams, providing feedback and direction clearly and confidently with considerations or alignment to budgets and creative vision.
• Accomplished in establishing complex design systems for digital and built environments 
• Experienced in establishing motion guidelines and style guides 
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

Education/Experience:

• A design degree (motion design, animation, VFX, graphic, interaction, or a related field) 
• Minimum experience of 7+ years, or an outstanding demonstration of experience 

Additional Requirements: 

• Travel required (domestic and global)
• Must be able to work on site in our NYC Studio (hybrid)
• Must reside in the NY/TriState Area
• Must be eligible to work in the United States
• Live-action supervision (creative and/or VFX) experience, a plus

Benefits

Salary Range: 100K to 130K Commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Local Projects offers to its Full-Time staff Health/Dental/Vision, FSA, 401k, access to short-term and Long Term Voluntary Disability Insurance and Life Insurance as well as a generous PTO package.

Local Projects is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our collaboration with each other and the experiences we create together greatly benefit from a range of perspectives, which can only come from diversity of all types, across all disciplines, at all levels of the studio. Achieving true diversity and inclusion is the right thing to do. It is also the smart thing for our business. So we strongly encourage women, veterans, people with disabilities, people of color, and gender nonconforming candidates to apply.

Local Projects is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of an individual's sex, age, race, color, creed, national origin, alienage, religion, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation or affectional preference, gender identity, and expression, disability, genetic trait or predisposition, carrier status, citizenship, veteran or military status and other personal characteristics protected by law. All applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to legally protected characteristics.