Senior Art Director

Akcelo is an independent, award-winning brand experience agency founded in 2019, with 200+ staff across Canada, the US, the UK, and Australia. We build brands for the experience era - creating unique, end-to-end brand experiences that connect across the customer journey. Our integrated in-house capabilities span strategy, creative, design, content, technology, and activation.

The Role

We’re looking for a Senior Art Director to lead and elevate the visual craft of our creative output. This is not a role for someone who just executes, it’s for someone who pushes, shapes and defines the work. You’ll bring bold thinking, sharp design instincts and the ability to turn ideas into iconic executions across brand, digital, content and experience. You’ll collaborate across disciplines, inspire teams and deliver work that people remember.

Key Responsibilities

Creative & Craft

• Lead visual ideation and art direction across campaigns, platforms and experiences
• Develop bold, modern design systems and visual languages
• Push the creative to the highest level of craft and innovation
• Stay ahead of cultural and design trends, bringing fresh thinking into the work
• Proficiency and AI tools for image creation and motion to help drive efficiency, allowing you to spend more time on your craft - constant curiosity and self learning is required due to the speed in which the tools evolve

Team & Leadership

• Collaborate with writers, strategists, designers and producers to create breakthrough ideas
• Mentor and elevate junior creatives and freelancers
• Lead by example, raising the bar across all creative output
• Client & Delivery
• Present work with clarity, confidence and energy
• Own creative quality from concept through to final delivery
• Translate strategy into compelling solutions
• Contribute to new business pitches and proactive ideas

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience (6+ years) as an Art Director or Senior Art Director in an agency environment
• A strong portfolio showcasing craft, innovation and cultural impact (please do not apply without a portfolio website)
• Deep expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and design tools. Figma a must.
• Strong understanding of integrated campaigns across digital, social and brand
• Ability to think conceptually and execute at a high level
• Collaborative mindset with strong communication skills
• Ambition, curiosity and a drive to do the best work of your career

Why Join Akcelo?

Over the last five years we smashed the ceilings created by established agencies and created some larger than life campaigns, innovative retail-tech solutions, threw some epic events, and besides happy clients, we took home the B&T Agency of the Year, Mumbrella’s Experiential Agency of the Year, and a number of APAC Effies.

And we are just getting started. You see, we believe in magic, and value the genuine, the experimental, the limitless, and the imaginative. We make, break and build things, without the fear of failure, and we share our time and our talents. If that is something that excites you too, we want to hear from you!

Our team works collaboratively in office 4 days/week, work from anywhere wednesdays, and some travel within the US and Canada. We offer a competitive benefits package, including 4 weeks vacation, personal/sick days, and a global advantage where after your workplace anniversary, we provide opportunities to work for a week from our Sydney, Australia office; Vancouver, Canada office; or from wherever you want to tack on to your personal travel plans.

Akcelo is committed to nurturing, creating and building a diverse environment. We encourage all applications from diverse backgrounds, identities, beliefs and abilities to apply for this or any role with us. If you resonate with the above, send in your CV, and let’s explore this journey together!