Design Director

Newfangled Studios flips the script on remote work. We're a tight-knit crew that thrives despite the distance. From hilarious Slack channels to unforgettable in-person retreats, we connect and celebrate on the regular. Here, you'll feel included and empowered to bring your best self – wherever you call home.

This is a remote position.

Newfangled Studios is a Creative Production Agency crafting social-first, digitally native campaigns for some of the world’s most celebrated brands. We’re searching for an enthusiastic Creative Director of Social Media to bring our social campaigns to the next level. We’re searching for a passionate Design Director to help push our creative to the next level. As a creative leader for our design team, you’ll create world-class designs, illustrations, videos, and large-scale digital campaigns while also working closely as a creative mentor for the designers and illustrators on staff. Most importantly, you’ll help us do work that delivers on the four points of the Newfangled North Star ; Creativity and Innovation, Business Results, Respect & Inclusion, and Forward Progress.

• You’re a creative leader with the ability to inspire and excite the teams you work with.
• You’re an exceptional designer or illustrator with an impressively strong portfolio in one of those two fields.
• You have extensive experience in designing advertising for global brands.
• You’re a strong collaborative problem solver, who thrives at finding clever and exciting creative solutions.
• You have a passion for bringing your designs to life through animation and motion graphics.
• You’re a charismatic presenter, with the ability to to sell a creative idea to a larger team.
• You have at least 5 years of experience in an agency or studio setting, with at least 2 years of art direction experience.
• You’re able to set clear timelines and workflows for teams to deliver designs on time and according to deadlines both internal and external.
• You excel at making jaw-dropping art and can serve as a creative example for those around you.
• You’re not intimidated by fast-paced industry changes in trends and technology. You are excited about new and creative ways to provide value to brands in a post-covid, Gen-AI world.
  

• You will stay current on visual trends and styles, pushing Newfangled designers through feedback and collaboration to create work that’s always show-stopping and relevant.
• You will give clear, actionable feedback for artists on a range of projects, both animated and static, and ensure they have the resources required to achieve those notes.
• You will be an expert on our clients’ brands, ensuring that our work will always be on brand both visually and tonally. In times when work is not properly adhering to the brand, you will be able to give revisions to correct it.
• You will stay up to date on your craft as an expert in design or illustration, ensuring that you are always an exemplary creative example for our staff. 
• You will confidently present work to clients in a way that makes them feel confident in our creative thinking and will keep them coming back to us in the future.
• You will collaborate closely with the Animation Director as leaders of the Motion Graphics team, ensuring that our design work is always considerate of how it will move and vice versa.
• You will respond to client feedback with curiosity and enthusiasm instead of turning defensive and shutting down creativity.
• You will work closely with the designers on staff as a creative leader, mentoring them to do their best work, and pushing them each how they individually need to be pushed.
• You will be responsible for coordinating and presenting creative workshops alongside the Animation Director on topics you collectively think will push the motion graphics team’s creative growth.

• You will serve as the direct manager for our on-staff designers.
• You will have weekly 1on1 meetings with each designer to discuss active projects as well as their creative and professional development.
• You will work closely over time with designers to push them creatively to produce their best work and achieve their career goals at Newfangled.
• You will identify growth opportunities for the artists you manage and will work with them to grow in those areas.
• You will work alongside the Animation Director to find opportunities to improve our workflow through new efficiencies, technologies, products, and best practices.
• You will keep track of the growth of your direct reports to help inform bi-annual performance check-ins that you will be part of leading.
• You will work with producers to help accurately estimate timelines and budgets to inform scope.
• You will work with producers to ensure that jobs are being staffed by the right designers for the task.

• Structured success sharing (bonus) program
• Health, Dental, Vision insurance
• SIMPLE IRA (eligible for company-matching after 2 years of employment)
• Vacation, personal and paid holidays
• Really cool swag and the opportunity to be on our TikTok ;)