[Hiring] Freelance Associate Director - Creative @Dept

Role Description

The Associate Director, Creative is a visual visionary and a tactical leader. You are responsible for defining the aesthetic direction of our key accounts and ensuring that every touchpoint, from social content to large-scale integrated campaigns, is visually stunning and strategically sound.

In this role, you bridge the gap between "the big idea" and "the beautiful execution." You are a master of craft who can still design or art direct high-stakes work, but you are equally focused on mentoring a team of designers and art directors to elevate their visual output.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the visual evolution of brands, overseeing art direction for pitches and flagship projects.
• Guide a team of junior to mid-level Art Directors and Designers, providing specific, craft-based feedback.
• Take ownership of the visual narrative across multi-channel campaigns, ensuring a cohesive look and feel.
• Lead the visual side of production, from selecting photographers and directors to overseeing color grading and motion design.
• Act as the visual authority in client meetings, presenting design systems and art direction with passion and clarity.
• Partner with Creative leadership to evolve design workflows, establish quality standards, and identify new tools.
• Foster an inclusive, design-forward culture that encourages experimentation and shared learning.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in art direction or design within a creative agency or high-growth brand environment.
• Mastery of art direction, layout, typography, and integrated visual storytelling across various platforms.
• Experience leading small teams or overseeing the work of freelancers and junior creatives.
• Expert-level knowledge of Figma, Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.), motion design, or AI image generation.
• The ability to ensure that every visual choice serves the client’s business goals and brand identity.
• The ability to articulate complex visual concepts to non-visual stakeholders and clients.

Benefits

• DEPT® is an equal opportunity employer (EOE).
• Commitment to an inclusive and barrier-free recruitment and selection process.
• B Corp-certified company passionate about purpose-driven work.
• Flexible salary based on relevant experience, expertise, physical location, and organizational impact.

Company Description

DEPT® is a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, our 4,000+ specialists deliver growth invention across Brand & Media, Experience, Commerce, CRM, and Technology & Data. We’re 50|50 tech and marketing, partner-led, and first to move. Clients include Google, Lufthansa, Coach, eBay, and OpenAI.