Design Director

AbelCine

$170K — $185K *
Media
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Design, Visual Communications, Film, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
  • 8+ years in design, art direction, or multimedia creative roles
  • Strong portfolio in video, motion graphics, and digital design
  • Expertise in concept development, production, and cross-platform content delivery
  • Deep understanding of visual design principles and user engagement
  • Experience interpreting complex concepts visually
  • Proven leadership in managing creative teams and external partners

Responsibilities

  • Lead creative vision across multimedia projects including video and digital campaigns
  • Develop innovative concepts that align with business goals and enhance brand identity
  • Translate complex topics into engaging visual narratives
  • Direct multimedia production and maintain high design quality
  • Collaborate with various teams to deliver integrated creative solutions
  • Present concepts and designs to senior leadership effectively
  • Mentor team members and foster a collaborative studio environment

Benefits

  • Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans
  • Disability benefits (short-term & long-term)
  • 401(k) with employer match
  • Paid time off for caregiving and personal leave
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options
  • Commuter benefits and gym membership discounts
  • Employee Assistance Program and life insurance
  • Access to professional development resources
Full Job Description
The Design Director will provide creative leadership across a wide range of multimedia initiatives, ensuring all work is visually sophisticated, strategically aligned, and consistent with the client's brand standards. This individual will collaborate closely with designers, producers, editors, motion designers, marketing teams, content strategists, and external agencies to develop engaging creative solutions that communicate complex business concepts through compelling visual storytelling.

The ideal candidate is an experienced creative leader with a strong background in art direction, motion design, video, and brand development. They are equally comfortable developing big-picture creative concepts and providing hands-on guidance throughout execution.Key Responsibilities
Creative Leadership & Art Direction
  • Lead the creative vision and art direction for video, motion graphics, digital campaigns, executive communications, event media, and social content.
  • Develop innovative creative concepts that align with business objectives and elevate the client's visual identity.
  • Translate complex business and financial concepts into clear, engaging, and visually compelling narratives.
  • Ensure consistency across all creative deliverables while maintaining the highest standards of design quality.
Multimedia Design & Production
  • Direct the creation of brand videos, social media assets, executive presentations, campaigns, internal communications, and event content.
  • Guide concept development, storyboarding, visual systems, animation, and final production.
  • Provide hands-on creative support for presentations, key visuals, and high-profile projects when needed.
  • Establish scalable design templates, motion standards, and creative best practices.
Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
  • Partner closely with Creative, Marketing, Production, Events, and Content teams to develop integrated creative solutions.
  • Present creative concepts and design rationale to senior leadership and stakeholders.
  • Lead creative reviews, workshops, and project presentations.
  • Coordinate with project managers and creative operations to ensure projects remain on schedule and within scope.
Team Leadership
  • Mentor designers, editors, motion artists, freelancers, and external creative partners.
  • Provide thoughtful creative direction and constructive feedback throughout the design process.
  • Foster a collaborative, creative studio culture focused on continuous improvement.
  • Help develop workflows that improve efficiency, consistency, and quality.
Innovation
  • Stay current with emerging trends in visual storytelling, motion design, digital media, AI-powered creative tools, and social platforms.
  • Recommend new techniques and technologies that strengthen the team's creative capabilities.
Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree in Design, Visual Communications, Film, Motion Design, Advertising, Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent experience)
  • 8+ years of experience in design, art direction, or multimedia creative roles
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in video, motion graphics, digital design, social campaigns, and integrated creative work
  • Expertise in concept development, storyboarding, production, post-production, and cross-platform content delivery
  • Deep understanding of typography, composition, color theory, visual hierarchy, branding, and user engagement
  • Experience translating complex business or technical concepts into compelling visual communications
  • Demonstrated success leading creative teams and managing external agencies or vendors
  • Excellent presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Premiere Pro, After Effects), Figma, and PowerPoint
  • Familiarity with video formats for social media, paid media, events, and executive communications
  • Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Engagement Details:
  • Engagement: Full-Time Employment
  • Classification: Exempt
  • Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
  • Location: On-Site - Midtown, New York, NY
  • Compensation: $170,000 - $185,000 + Comprehensive Benefits Package
Perks & Benefits:
  • Highly subsidized medical, dental, and vision plans (individual, dependent, and family coverage)
  • Short-term & long-term disability benefits
  • 401(k) with employer match (up to 2% of annual pay)
  • Paid time off, including caregiving and personal leave options
  • Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for healthcare & dependent care
  • Supplemental health insurance coverage
  • Commuter benefits & gym membership discounts
  • Employee Assistance Program & life insurance
  • Equipment borrowing program + discounts on gear purchases
  • Access to professional development resources

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