Recess Studios is a brand agency built to challenge the expected. With offices in Portland and New York, we deliver end-to-end brand solutions, foundational development, consistent application across every touchpoint, and strategic amplification that drives impact. Our multidisciplinary team imagines worlds, crafts honest narratives, and creates experiences at the intersection of culture and commerce. We prize Good Honest Work by Good Honest People, building lasting partnerships through clear standards, tidy operations, and results that exceed expectations.
JOB OVERVIEW
Recess Studios is seeking a Freelance Art Director to partner with our internal creative, strategy, and account teams on a project basis. This role is ideal for an experienced creative leader who is fluent in creative strategy, design, culture, and storytelling, and who thrives in fast paced, collaborative environments.
The Freelance Art Director will be responsible for leading creative ideation and execution across a range of clients, channels, and deliverables. You will translate client goals and strategic insights into strong visual systems and integrated creative concepts, guiding work from early concept through final execution. This role is hands on and requires both big picture thinking and strong craft.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Develop and execute creative concepts that align with approved briefs and strategic direction
- Serve as a hands on creative while overseeing projects from concept through completion, in partnership with internal teams and external vendors
- Craft campaigns and presentations with a high level of visual polish and narrative clarity
- Create concepts across media with strong art direction and strategic integrity
- Ideate collaboratively with creative partners as well as independently
- Partner closely with strategy, account, and client teams to deliver work that is visually compelling and aligned to business objectives
- Incorporate client and internal feedback efficiently and thoughtfully
- Contribute proactive creative ideas that expand client opportunities beyond scoped projects
- Inspire and support other creatives by identifying strong ideas and helping articulate their strategic value
- Lead creative development and provide direction for visual and experiential design across integrated campaigns, branding, and narrative systems
- Support the generation of big ideas that are tangible and actionable, including presentation development
- Build strong working relationships with clients and partners to innovate brands, campaigns, and awareness efforts
- Remain current on visual, cultural, and storytelling trends
- Uphold and contribute to the Recess creative standard and collaborative culture
QUALIFICATIONS
- A comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem of an integrated cultural campaign and how a narrative (or concept) unfolds within each area such as digital, experiential, social media, OOH, etc.
- A leader in guiding teams through the various stages of creative ideation from ambiguity to final concepts
- An adept storyteller and presenter
- Communicates plainly and directly—with efficiency and insight.
- The ability to work effectively with people of diverse cultures, ages, and economic backgrounds
- A keen appreciation and understanding of various cultures
- Experienced with Keynote and Adobe Creative Suite and ability work within Google Suite
ENGAGEMENT DETAILS
- This is a freelance, project based role with variable scope depending on client and studio needs.
- Compensation will be hourly or project based, commensurate with experience and scope of work.
- Remote work is acceptable, with availability during core collaboration hours required.