Senior Art Director- Full Time - Mission Minded

Mission Minded is a strategy and creative agency focused on delivering bold and innovative design solutions for nonprofits, foundations, and independent schools. We're seeking an Senior Art Director with a versatile creative skillset, including UI/UX expertise, excellent client presentation skills, and a passion for pushing creative boundaries.

About You: 

You are a creative visionary with a knack for transforming complex ideas into captivating visual designs. Your expertise and ability to present and articulate design concepts make you a trusted advisor to the Creative Director and our clients. You thrive on pushing the boundaries of creativity and are passionate about collaborating with other team members in the interest of pushing the work. Your excellent communication skills and strategic mindset enable you to collaborate effectively with various teams and deliver high-quality results. You're organized, proactive, and dedicated to continuous learning and improvement.

About Us:

• We're deeply committed to creating an inclusive environment where diverse voices partake in all aspects of our company and have been actively working on overall DEI internal practices for several years. You can learn more about our commitments here.
• We've been a virtual office since our founding in 2002. We know how to create a strong culture remotely, and we're energized knowing that every person who joins our small company contributes to that culture. We successfully create opportunities for connections with colleagues in many ways.
• We take our company values seriously and invite you to discuss them with any of our employees throughout the hiring process. You can learn more about them here.
• We've developed a very strong reputation in the nonprofit community. Much of our business comes through referrals from previous clients. We're proud of that. So we set high standards for our work, and we're very committed to excellent customer service.

Key Responsibilities:

Art Direction:

• Create design directions, including visual identities (logo, font, color palettes, photo direction, graphic elements), print materials, digital assets, and web design. This includes multiple design options for Round 1, then refining the selected direction for subsequent Rounds through to Final.
• Present initial design concepts to the Creative Director, discussing design rationale and working through any feedback before presenting to the client.
• Lead brainstorming sessions and adapt design approach to fit different project needs.

Client Interaction:

• Present and articulate rounds of design effectively to clients.
• Capture client feedback, both in the presentations and after they share their feedback in writing, and incorporate insights into actionable design improvements for the subsequent round.
• Manage project timelines, meetings, and workflow to ensure timely delivery.

Team Collaboration:

• Collaborate and guide other FT designers, acting as a creative sounding board that encourages creative exploration.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director, design team, and strategists to ensure cohesive and high-quality outcomes.
• Provide guidance and feedback to the core internal team to ensure strategic alignment and adherence to best practices.

Organizational Support:

• Support the internal team by developing marketing materials and case study assets as needed.
• Contribute to process improvements and participate in ongoing professional development.

Qualifications:

• Minimum seven to ten years of proven experience as a Senior Art Director or similar role with a portfolio showcasing strong visual design capabilities. This includes exceptional design understanding and application of typography, color, composition, visual hierarchy, and the ability to create and present multiple design concepts.
• Adept at website design including UI/UX best practices, ADA compliance, and mobile-first design. Exploring and presenting different web design solutions
• Exceptional client presentation skills, including the ability to confidently speak to the design rationale behind creative decisions and how that rationale connects to the brand strategy.
• Proficient in the Google suite, especially in Google Slides where all creative presentations are created and shared.
• Proficiency in design tools (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Figma).
• Excellent communication and organizational abilities.
• The motivation to work well both independently and collaboratively with teams.