Job Description
Art Director – (17476-1)
Employment Type: Freelance
An established organization in the consumer retail industry is seeking an experienced Art Director to shape compelling retail storytelling and immersive brand experiences. This Level 4 role supports the development of scalable creative concepts across physical and digital customer touchpoints.
General Information
- Location: Beaverton, OR (hybrid)
- Engagement: Initial 3-month contract with anticipated quarterly extensions
- Reason for Opening: Project support
- Team: Brand Story Design
About The Role
The Art Director will lead retail-focused design projects from early concept through implementation. This individual will combine strategic storytelling, hands-on visual design, and cross-functional collaboration to create engaging customer experiences across environmental graphics, fixtures, materials, displays, and digital elements.
The ideal candidate is a creative leader with a strong ability to translate brand strategy into cohesive, consumer-centered retail environments. They are comfortable managing several initiatives at once while maintaining a high bar for design quality, consistency, and execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development of innovative retail storytelling, displays, and digital design solutions.
- Create and evolve evergreen retail concepts, visual direction, and implementation standards.
- Develop immersive retail environments that support customer engagement and brand strategy.
- Ideate, illustrate, present, and refine design concepts from initial development through production.
- Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing creative quality, timelines, and budgets.
- Partner with internal teams, agencies, and vendors to ensure consistent execution of creative intent.
- Provide design direction, mentorship, and development support to junior designers.
- Create clear presentation materials and production-ready design files as needed.
- Apply emerging technology, interactive design, and experiential thinking to retail environments.
Collaboration
Reporting to a senior creative leader, the Art Director will work closely with cross-functional partners and external collaborators to deliver high-impact retail experiences. This role provides creative leadership while supporting delivery against established processes, schedules, budgets, and brand standards.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years of experience in brand, graphic, environmental, or retail design.
- At least 3 years of experience leading or managing creative teams.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating concept development, visual communication, creative sophistication, and retail storytelling.
- A portfolio is required for review.
- Experience designing retail environments, concepts, and programs.
- Ability to sketch, storyboard, and visually communicate ideas during concept development.
- Strong presentation, facilitation, written communication, and stakeholder-management skills.
- Ability to communicate complex creative concepts to senior creative and business audiences.
- Adaptable and collaborative approach, with the ability to uphold creative quality in changing conditions.
Education
Bachelor’s degree preferred in Graphic Design, Architecture, Interior Design, or a related discipline. Equivalent education and professional experience will be considered.
Required Skills
- Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign
- Keynote
- Art direction and storyboarding
- Graphic design
- Environmental and retail design
- Interactive and print design
Preferred Skills
- After Effects and Premiere Pro
- Miro and Figma
- SketchUp and Unreal Engine
- Furniture design
- Digital and experiential design
Preferred Background
- Retail story design and retail storytelling experience.
- Experience supporting international retail or consumer-brand environments.
- Interest in evolving trends across technology, art, interaction, design, and customer experience.
