about MOONCAT
mooncat was made for the others. the misfits. the dreamers. you. the products we dream up aren’t your basic nail polish. every shade is a work of wearable art. a vessel for self-expression with the power to transport you to another space + time. ready to abandon the ordinary?
we’re a band of creative misfits. a collective of unconventional thinkers + strategic risk takers who thrive on ideating + executing innovative ideas that challenge the status quo. our team’s made up of perpetually curious cats. self-starters who enjoy rolling up our sleeves to nimbly execute something awesome together.
check us out on mooncat.com or @mooncat on instagram
about the role
we’re looking for a hands-on, taste-driven freelance art director to lead and elevate our brand’s visual storytelling. you’ll play a key role in bringing our campaigns and content to life, including concepting shoots, leading photoshoots, directing talent, and crafting an emotionally resonant visual identity across channels.
this is a hybrid creative/production role: you’re as comfortable moodboarding and styling as you are leading a photographer or directing models on set. you’ll help define the next chapter of our brand’s look and feel—and ensure we show up in a way that’s consistent, premium, and human.
what you’ll do
on-set creative direction
- direct photographers and models during shoots
- lead the creative flow on set including styling, lighting direction, framing, and energy for product still life and on model campaigns.
- ensure content feels premium, cinematic and emotionally grounded (not just transactional or trendy)
ongoing content development
- help shape evergreen marketing content (social, email, website) with a strong eye for storytelling and aesthetic consistency
- source and partner with creatives to bring concepts to life, ex: photographers, videographers, animators, illustrators.
- support the creative and marketing team with art direction for launch and evergreen campaigns across photo, video, and design needs.
- partner with internal teams to build out multi-channel storytelling
- provide direction to external vendors on content projects
visual direction & concepting
- lead the visual concepting process for photo and video shoots, from campaign launches to building evergreen brand visual stories.
- create detailed moodboards, reference decks, and shot lists that align with the brand’s emotional tone
- translate brand strategy into visual themes and storytelling moments
collaboration & systems
- work closely with the creative director to evolve the brand’s visual language
- collaborate with our brand marketing and product teams to ensure creative supports business goals
- establish our in-house photo studio alongside photographer, including lighting, equipment, prop sourcing, process design
- maintain visual standards and consistency across campaigns, platforms, and content types
what you bring
- 4–8 years of experience in art direction, ideally with small, founder-led or craft-driven brands in jewelry, fragrance, fashion, or beauty
- a strong portfolio that shows you can direct and style both product-focused shoots and model-based/editorial shoots
- proven ability to highlight products for sellability. you know how to make texture, detail, and finish shine on camera
- strong understanding of color, lighting, and composition, especially in visually sensitive categories like beauty and packaging
- confident directing models, photographers, stylists, and set teams to bring an emotional and elevated vision to life
- resourcefulness: able to create premium, cinematic content with small teams and limited resources
- comfortable balancing structured campaign work with fast-turn content needs
- available to be regularly on-site in jersey city/metro nyc
bonus
- experience with motion/video content or directing short-form brand films
- a personal passion for visual storytelling
- a strong point of view on how visual details build brand identity and emotional resonance
- knowledge and understanding of graphic design and design tools
culture
- kindness + empathy
- adaptability & flexibility–comfort with fast-paced, rapid change
mooncat is an equal opportunity employer — we believe being successful is directly tied to creating a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive environment.
