Art Director, Owned Brands (Contract)

3 Months, ~30 hrs./wk. | Hybrid | Bentonville, AR

Overview

Our in-house brands live on shelves, in tackle boxes, and in the gear bags of people who spend their weekends outdoors. Every package and product graphic has to stand out in the aisle, stay true to its brand, and hold up on the factory floor. We're looking for an experienced Art Director to take product and packaging design from first concept all the way to production-ready artwork across our portfolio of owned brands.

This is a three-month contract role at approximately 30 hours per week, reporting to the Creative Director. You'll translate brand strategy and approved creative direction into compelling, consistent work that supports product launches, retail opportunities, and business goals, while keeping creative development on schedule against the product development calendar.

If you bring strong design judgment, know how physical product gets made, and love juggling multiple brands without losing the identity of any one of them, this role is for you.

Why Nile Commerce?

At Nile Commerce, we help brands win wherever customers shop, online or in-store. Our creative team builds the visual identity that makes our owned brands recognizable on the shelf, on the screen, and in the field.

Our culture is built on three core values: Launch into the Deep: pursue excellence relentlessly; Go One More Mile: stay disciplined, keep commitments, and push through setbacks; and Give More Than You Receive: build lasting relationships through humility, gratitude, and generosity.

Responsibilities

Creative Execution and Brand Consistency

Partner with the Creative Director to understand each brand’s positioning, audience, visual identity, and creative priorities.
Translate the strategic vision into thoughtful design concepts and finished work, maintaining a distinct and consistent identity for each brand.
Present concepts, explain design decisions, and incorporate feedback throughout development. Align with the Creative Director at key milestones and secure approvals before moving work into production.

Packaging and Apparel Design

Develop and execute packaging and product designs, including product graphics, color direction and supporting visual assets.
Create concept boards, mockups, and presentations that clearly communicate design direction to internal teams and external partners.
Carry approved concepts through design development, refinement, and final production artwork, accounting for materials, printing and decoration methods, cost considerations, and manufacturing requirements.
Review layouts, dielines, proofs, and samples for accuracy, consistency, and alignment with approved creative direction.

Creative Workflow and Product Development Calendar

Keep creative deliverables on track against the product development calendar, including concept reviews, artwork approvals, artwork production, and launch deadlines.
Manage multiple projects across brands and categories, balancing creative quality with available time and resources.
Communicate project status, identify missing information or dependencies, and flag scheduling risks early. Recommend adjustments when priorities or deadlines compete.
Maintain organized working files, approved assets, and production documentation to support clear, accurate handoffs.

Category and Trend Research

Collaborate with the Creative Director to research category trends, consumer preferences, competitive products, and assortments across key retail accounts.
Monitor relevant developments in packaging, apparel, graphics, color, materials, and product presentation.

Collaboration and Business Alignment

Partner with cross-functional teams to align creative decisions with business goals, product positioning, and channel requirements.
Gather input early in the design process and help turn business objectives into clear creative solutions.

Required Qualifications

Demonstrated professional experience in art direction or senior design, supported by a strong portfolio of relevant consumer brand work.
Fluency in how physical product gets made: packaging engineering, tooling, materials, factory capacity, and how costing decisions shape creative choices.
Strong command of design principles: layout, typography, color, balance, composition, and design trend direction.
Proficiency in relevant Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Practical knowledge of production artwork, packaging dielines, print processes, and apparel decoration methods.
Strong organizational skills and experience managing concurrent projects, review cycles, and deadlines.
Ability to independently execute design work, take ownership of deliverables, and collaborate closely with the Creative Director and the broader team.
Clear and professional communication skills, attention to detail, and the ability to incorporate feedback while maintaining the quality and intent of the work.
Color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors accurately).

Preferred Qualifications

Category experience in outdoor sports, hunting/shooting, fishing, travel/luggage or adjacent consumer verticals.
Familiarity with retail account needs, merchandising priorities, and e-commerce creative requirements.
Experience collaborating with manufacturers, printers, apparel decorators, and other production partners.
Bachelor’s degree in Design or related field.

Apply today with your portfolio and help us build packaging and products that earn their place on the shelf and in the field.

Nile Commerce

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