Art Director

As the Art Director at Catbird, your primary responsibilities include partnering with our Chief Creative Officer to maintain the brand’s creative vision and visual identity. You'll oversee the in-house art department, manage graphic designers and photography teams, and ensure timely project delivery. Conceptualizing campaigns, planning photoshoots, and collaborating with multiple teams to integrate the brand's vision into all channels are essential parts of your role. This position also requires you to develop strong photography and video language that resonates across platforms.

To join Catbird as an Art Director, you should have at least 5 years of experience in a relevant field, preferably in luxury, jewelry, or fashion. Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills are crucial for managing timelines and a team effectively. You'll also need proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, a strong sense of aesthetics, and familiarity with web design and usability. Previous experience in styling, photography, and project management will give you the edge we’re looking for.

At Catbird, we foster a warm and casual work environment where authenticity is celebrated. As the Art Director, you'll engage in collaboration, feedback, and creative brainstorming with a diverse team dedicated to producing quality work. We emphasize treating everyone with respect and kindness and offer a culture of inclusion, making it an inspiring place for those who want their creativity to flourish.

Alongside a competitive salary ranging from $100,000 - $125,000 a year plus bonus, Catbird offers a robust benefits package. You can expect healthcare coverage, uncapped vacation days, 401(k) with profit sharing, parental leave, and a professional development stipend. Additional perks include a generous employee discount, discounted Citi Bike memberships, and regular company events that foster team bonding and community.

Team collaboration is of utmost importance for the Art Director position at Catbird. You'll work closely with various departments, including marketing, e-commerce, and product design, to ensure a unified brand vision across all projects. Your ability to work collaboratively while also taking the initiative demonstrates the flexibility and communication skills that are essential for success in this role.

In your response, highlight how your creative process begins with understanding the brand's vision and goals. Discuss how you like to brainstorm concepts with your team, engage in research for inspiration, and develop mood boards or sketches that reflect the project’s direction. Emphasize the importance of collaboration and feedback in fine-tuning ideas.

When answering this question, focus on specific examples of how you've managed a creative team in the past. Discuss your approach to leadership, communication, and how you motivate your team to meet deadlines while fostering a positive work culture. Highlight strategies like regular check-ins or feedback sessions to ensure everyone is heard and aligned.

Share how you actively seek out design inspiration through various platforms, previews from fashion weeks, and insights from industry thought leaders. Mention how you value feedback from team members and are open to experimenting with new techniques that resonate with trends while remaining true to the brand's aesthetic.

Select a specific campaign you've led, explaining your role in conceptualizing and executing it from start to finish. Discuss the thought process behind the design elements, target audience, and how you measured the campaign's success, highlighting any positive feedback or results achieved.

In your answer, emphasize your organizational skills and tools you use for project management. Talk about how you prioritize tasks, delegate responsibilities, and set checkpoints to ensure that everything stays on track. Mention examples of how you’ve dealt with unexpected challenges effectively.

Describe your belief in the power of visual storytelling and how you incorporate it into branding projects. Discuss how you convey emotions and messages through design elements, and share examples of how this approach has resonated with audiences in previous work.

Explain your philosophy on feedback and its pivotal role in enhancing projects. Illustrate how you foster an environment where team members feel comfortable sharing suggestions, and how you incorporate constructive criticism into your creative process, ensuring each iteration is stronger than the last.

In this answer, list the design software you are proficient in, like Adobe Creative Suite, and any other tools that enhance your workflow. It’s helpful to mention how you leverage these tools to execute your design concepts effectively and how you stay adaptable to new technologies.

Share a specific example, focusing on the challenges faced and the solutions you implemented. Discuss the lessons learned, how you communicated with your team, and your proactive steps to course-correct and ensure future projects are successful.

Tailor your response to reflect your passion for luxury design and sustainable crafting. Discuss how Catbird’s values align with your creative ambitions, and express your enthusiasm for contributing to a brand deeply rooted in ethics and craftsmanship, helping to shape its visual identity as it evolves.