Associate Creative Director

Chicago, IL (Hybrid) | Full-Time

We're looking for an Associate Creative Director to lead the concepting, direction, and execution of brand and product storytelling across all consumer touchpoints, with a primary focus on direct-to-consumer channels. You'll lead a nimble creative team spanning design, copy, and visual merchandising/styling, ensuring The Tie Bar's brand is expressed consistently and compellingly across digital, retail, and physical experiences.

If you're equally comfortable art directing a photoshoot, mentoring a creative team, developing seasonal campaigns, and optimizing creative for performance, we'd love to meet you.
You'll:

• Lead the development of seasonal campaigns, including concepting, moodboards, and art direction aligned with brand and customer positioning
• Direct photo and video shoots, overseeing concept development, casting, styling, and on-set creative direction
• Manage and mentor a small creative team, providing clear direction, feedback, and professional development
• Collaborate with merchandising and product teams to identify storytelling opportunities that highlight key categories and occasions
• Partner with e-commerce and marketing teams to create high-performing digital assets across email, website, paid media, and social
• Concept and oversee paid social campaigns; analyze performance and iterate creative in partnership with performance marketing
• Guide retail creative and visual merchandising direction to ensure consistency with broader brand campaigns
• Design and oversee brand assets including packaging, lookbooks, presentations, and in-store materials
• Manage relationships with external freelancers, photographers, stylists, and production partners as needed

What We're Looking For

You're a versatile creative leader who understands that great brand storytelling is both beautiful and conversion-minded.

You bring:

• 5-7 years of experience in a creative, art direction, or design role, preferably within men's fashion, accessories, or DTC lifestyle brands
• Excitement to be part of our Chicago-based team, with an appreciation for the city's creative and retail community
• Prior experience managing or mentoring creative team members
• A strong portfolio demonstrating campaign development, brand storytelling, and multi-channel execution with a focus on digital performance
• Experience leading photoshoots and content production with a refined eye for men's styling, composition, and detail
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) and presentation/design tools (Figma, Keynote, etc.)
• Strong understanding of ecommerce best practices and performance-driven creative
• Excellent communication, organizational, and project management skills

Bonus Points If You...

• Have a passion for men's style, tailoring, and occasion-based dressing
• Appreciate classic design with a modern sensibility
• Thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where resourcefulness and agility are essential

Why You'll Love This Role

This isn't a production-only creative position.

You'll be a key steward of the brand-shaping how The Tie Bar shows up across ecommerce, retail, and marketing while leading and developing a small, high-performing creative team. You'll own projects from concept through production, bridging digital and physical brand experiences to create a seamless, omnichannel story.

If you're energized by building brands through elevated, conversion-minded creativity, we'd love to meet you.

Location: Chicago, IL (Hybrid) - on-site as needed,, with flexibility for remote work based on business needs

Travel: 10-20% (photoshoots, production, and store visits)

Ready to lead creative that moves a brand forward? Apply today and share your portfolio-we can't wait to see what you'll build.