Freelance Art Director – Hybrid Jhb – 2-Week Contract – R30,000 Project Fee

About the Role

Our client is seeking an visionary and experienced Art Director to lead the visual direction for their projects in Sandton. This role is paramount in shaping the aesthetic and conceptual integrity of our creative output within the arts and entertainment sphere. You will guide a team of designers and artists, translating strategic objectives into compelling visual concepts that captivate audiences. The ideal candidate possesses a sophisticated design sensibility, strong leadership qualities, and a proven ability to manage complex creative projects from inception to execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee the visual style and creative direction for all projects, ensuring brand consistency and impact.
• Lead and mentor a team of graphic designers, illustrators, and other creative professionals.
• Collaborate with marketing, production, and content teams to align visual concepts with project goals.
• Present creative concepts and final designs to stakeholders, effectively communicating the vision and rationale.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources to ensure efficient delivery of creative assets.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, or a related creative field. Master's degree is a plus.
• Minimum of 8 years of experience in art direction or a senior design role, with a strong portfolio showcasing diverse projects in the arts and entertainment industry.
• Proven leadership experience managing creative teams and projects.
• Expertise in design principles, typography, color theory, and visual communication.
• Proficiency in industry-standard design software and a strong understanding of production processes.

Benefits

• Highly competitive salary and potential for profit sharing.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and retirement benefits.
• Opportunity to shape the creative vision for a leading arts and entertainment organization in Sandton.
• Access to ongoing professional development and creative training.
• A stimulating, collaborative, and innovative work culture.

Location

Johannesburg, Bryanston
Work model: Hybrid (3 days in-office, 2 days from home)
Salary: Up to R70 000 CTC (depending on experience)

About our client

A mid-large, fully integrated agency with a strong reputation for multi-award-winning creative work is looking for a Senior Art Director to join their team. This is a rare opportunity to lead highly conceptual work on a blue-chip financial services account, one of the agency's flagship client relationships. Over two decades in, they're still growing, still winning awards, and still hiring people who are exceptional at what they do.

Why you'd want to work here

• Multi-award-winning agency, ranked among South Africa's top independent shops
• Over 20 years in the game and still growing
• A high-performing team of good, kind people with zero ego
• Idea meritocracy: the best thinking wins, whoever it comes from
• Genuine respect for work-life balance

What the job involves

• Leading the conceptual direction on a blue-chip financial services account, from big idea to finished craft
• Developing innovative, insight-led creative concepts that drive real business results
• Bringing through-the-line campaigns to life across digital, social and traditional platformsDefining and protecting the visual aesthetic of campaigns from concept through execution
• Presenting and selling ideas confidently to senior clients and internal teams
• Leading brainstorms and conceptualisation, and mentoring junior and mid-weight designers
• Managing multiple projects and deliverables simultaneously without dropping quality
• Compiling and delivering client-ready presentations
• Participating in new business pitches
• Partnering with strategy, client service and other disciplines to shape campaign thinking

What you need to be considered

• 6+ years' experience in an advertising or brand agency, with strong conceptual credentials
• Financial services or corporate brand experience strongly preferred
• A portfolio link must be included with your CV. No portfolio, no response. We want to see strong conceptual, through-the-line campaign work, ideally including corporate or financial services brand work
• Confident presenting to senior clients and stakeholders
• Strong craft and design skills across Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Keynote
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A relevant tertiary qualification in design, advertising or a related field
• Have led creative on a blue-chip or listed financial services brand before
• Have award show recognition (Loeries, Cannes or similar)
• Have experience managing or mentoring a small creative team

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