Art Director - Southern Shirt

Are you a visionary artist with the power to transform ideas into captivating visuals?

If you're a creative leader ready to make your mark in the world of art direction, we have an exciting opportunity for you. Join the SSCO team as an Art Director and bring your artistic prowess to the forefront of our dynamic and innovative creative department.

This role is ideal for a creative leader with a proven track record in art direction, brand management, and team leadership. You will play a crucial role in bridging the creative and marketing realms, ensuring a seamless alignment between our seasonal collections and marketing materials, as well as fostering productive collaborations with external content creators, designers, and vendors.

Responsibilities

Strategic Direction:

• Develop and execute creative strategies to visually communicate brand identity, values, and the products we offer.
• Define and implement creative strategies that enhance our brand's visual presence and storytelling abilities.

Market Analysis:

• Conduct seasonal market research and trend analysis to drive continuous improvement and innovation in design.
• Stay current with fashion/industry trends and incorporate them into the brand's creative vision.

Creative Leadership:

• Oversee the creation of digital and print materials, including website design, social media content, email campaigns, and advertising materials.
• Lead and mentor the design team, cultivating a culture of creativity and providing clear direction, inspiration, and mentorship.

Brand Management:

• Set and maintain brand standards, ensuring that all creative materials align with brand identity.
• Review and approve all design materials to maintain quality and brand standards.

Creative Storytelling:

• Cultivate fresh and innovative concepts, translating them into compelling visual stories, utilize dynamic visual elements to weave compelling narratives through our marketing materials.
• Oversee the creation of design elements, incorporating color, typography, layout principles, and understanding of customer preferences to deliver materials catered to the specific marketing uses and social media platform.

Collaboration:

• Collaborate closely with fashion designers and sales teams to visually represent clothing concepts, key features/benefits, and product story.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand design needs and deliverable deadlines.

Seasonal Marketing:

• Set the creative direction for seasonal campaigns, look books, product catalogs, and marketing material - encompassing fonts, themes, colors, etc. to maintain consistency and cohesiveness across all marketing materials.
• Develop mood boards and design guidelines for collections and campaigns.

Photoshoots:

• Oversee photo/video shoots, ensuring the creation of visual content that aligns with brand messaging and campaign objectives.

• Collaborate with content creators and creative team to develop photo/video "shot lists" to proactively ensure the capturing of content needed to create related marketing materials.

Vendors and Content Creators:

• Work closely with external content creators and designers to execute creative projects and campaigns.
• Collaborate with external vendors to procure deliverables, ensuring that all materials meet campaign initiatives and brand quality standards.

Project Management:

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and resources are allocated efficiently.
• Manage the budgetary aspects of all creative projects.

Technical Proficiency:

• Demonstrate mastery in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite to execute high-quality designs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field.
• Proven experience as an Art Director or in a similar role.
• Bonus points for experience as an Art Director within the apparel and fashion industry.
• Portfolio showcasing a variety of creative projects, focusing on branding, graphic design, and visual storytelling.
• Experience working with photographer, content creators, and planning photo/video shoots.
• Solid understanding of design principles, typography, color theory, and visual aesthetics.
• Proficient in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to effectively guide and inspire a team.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple deadlines.
• Up-to-date knowledge of industry trends and a passion for staying ahead of the curve in the field of design.
• Strategic thinking and a keen eye for detail.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
• A commitment to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and creativity.
• Willingness to explore new creative avenues and push the boundaries of design conventions.

Benefits

• Passionate Team: You'll be working with a group of like-minded trend-setters who share your love for what we do.

• Room to Grow: We're all about professional development and growth. Your creative ideas will be valued.
• Creative Freedom: We encourage you to think outside the box and bring your innovative ideas to life.
• Competitive Benefits: We offer competitive compensation, benefits, and perks to keep you happy and motivated.

Benefits Include:

• 401K Retirement with employer matching
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and Holidays
• Professional Growth Plans
• Performance Bonus Opportunities
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Continued Education Allowances
• Company Sponsored Luncheons and Events
• Generous Employee Discounts on SSCO Product
• Fun, Collaborative Work Environment with Great People!