Experiential Art Director

Position Type: Full-time

Location: Los Angeles or NYC | Remote

Reports to: Creative Director

Position Overview

The Art Director shapes the creative vision for immersive, brand-driven experiences. Part conceptual thinker, part design leader, and part hands-on maker, this role guides projects from big ideas to final execution making sure every detail feels cohesive, impactful, and innovative.

As an Art Director, you’ll turn brand strategy into dynamic 2D and 3D design systems, inspire and mentor creative teams, and partner closely with production and fabrication to bring ideas to life. You’re a visual storyteller who blends bold creativity with strategic purpose, creating experiences that connect across environments, installations, and integrated activations.

Skills & Expertise

Creative Leadership

• Translate client brands into compelling, interactive experiences that elevate strategic objectives
• Lead and inspire design teams, setting a high standard of creativity, craft, and innovation
• Provide clear art direction, to team members while fostering career growth and accountability
• Adjust feedback and approach based on project needs and designer skill sets

Concept & Design Excellence

• Develop inventive, on-brand concepts and creative solutions across 2D, 3D, and digital touchpoints
• Create high-quality sketches, elevations, mock-ups, decks, and presentations that meet or exceed client expectations
• Shape thoughtful guest journeys, spatial narratives, and branded experiences with strategic intent
• Balance creative ambition with client guidelines, budgets, and production feasibility

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with Creative Directors, Production, and Account teams to ensure alignment and flawless execution
• Build and maintain strong client relationships, presenting creative work with clarity and confidence
• Communicate project changes and updates effectively across teams, ensuring deadlines and deliverables are met
• Collaborate with graphics production and creative technology teams to resolve design and budgetary challenges while upholding creative integrity
• Contribute to planning and strategy sessions, helping to define project vision and approach
• Work closely with production teams to assess feasibility and deliver creative solutions within scope and budget

Core Competencies

• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite, Google Suite, and strong knowledge of 2D/3D design tools; familiarity with emerging technologies and AI-based software (e.g., Firefly, Gemini)
• Excellent design taste, typography, color, composition, and brand systems expertise
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to inspire clients and partners through storytelling and visuals
• Demonstrated understanding of the following: color theory and color relationships, typographic terms and specifications, print production processes and techniques and photographic processes
• Knowledge of experiential design principles, including spatial flow, materiality, and the guest journey

Onsite Responsibilities

• Arrive with a clear understanding of all team roles, responsibilities, and workflows to ensure seamless collaboration
• Contribute to and maintain accuracy of the onsite production deck, validating all creative and installation details
• Oversee installation of creative elements — including 3D builds, fabrication, furniture, and décor — while cultivating strong vendor and partner relationships
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the full production schedule, ensuring creative deliverables align with broader project timelines
• Proactively identify and resolve concerns in partnership with creative and production teams, offering solutions that balance design integrity with feasibility
• Lead by example with a hands-on approach, stepping in where needed to bring the project vision to life
• Provide oversight and creative input for styling and décor to ensure consistency with the overall design intent
• Adapt floor plans, spatial footprints, and layouts in real time to address onsite needs or evolving requirements
• Partner with IP, LP, and Fabrication teams to implement adjustments and ensure cohesive execution across disciplines

Qualifications

• 3(+) years of design experience in an agency setting
• Associates degree in Advertising, Communication Design, or Visual Arts. Bachelor’s degree highly preferred, or 6–8(+) years’ of related experience in agency setting
• 1-2 years of supervisory experience
• Travel & Mobility
• Ability to travel 25%
• Ability to work irregular hours in addition to normal business hours, to include nights, weekends and holidays as needed

PINCH’S CORE VALUES + YOU:

Joy Begets Creativity: In the heat of the project, can we find moments of fun and levity? When stressed, anxious about succeeding, or frustrated with process, good ideas are hard to come by. Great ones, nearly impossible. You help contribute to a creative and positive work environment by being collaborative, open to ideas, and treating team members with respect.

Go Beyond the Ask: At face value, many projects seem destined to produce uninspiring results. We ask ourselves, can the core goals be hijacked –hopefully with a core client as an accomplice– to ensure we can create stories that are interesting, cool, or even fun. Let’s give clients what they need, but are unable to articulate and opening them up to possibilities that they may not have imagined. You help facilitate this discovery process by pushing the work by being inquisitive, keeping yourself up-to-date with cultural trends, and expressing your point of view.

Never Arrive: Stagnation kills creative (and companies). Brands need to grow and evolve, teams need to grow and evolve, companies need to grow and evolve. Can we push ourselves and our clients to stay ahead of the current, to realize that success always needs to evolve beyond what we know or feel comfortable with. You contribute to the growth and success of the team by holding yourself to a high standard of excellence and taking risks.

Human Beings Feelings: “Feel Something.” A fundamental need for human beings is to connect with something that feels magical and special. This comes through moments which move us emotionally, and separate us from daily concerns. You keep Pinch accountable to its values by keeping our “why” at the forefront of your work.