Art Director

Art Director – (17476-1)

Employment Type: Freelance

An established organization in the consumer retail industry is seeking an experienced Art Director to shape compelling retail storytelling and immersive brand experiences. This Level 4 role supports the development of scalable creative concepts across physical and digital customer touchpoints.

General Information

Location: Beaverton, OR (hybrid)

Engagement: Initial 3-month contract with anticipated quarterly extensions

Reason for Opening: Project support

Team: Brand Story Design

About the Role

The Art Director will lead retail-focused design projects from early concept through implementation. This individual will combine strategic storytelling, hands-on visual design, and cross-functional collaboration to create engaging customer experiences across environmental graphics, fixtures, materials, displays, and digital elements.

The ideal candidate is a creative leader with a strong ability to translate brand strategy into cohesive, consumer-centered retail environments. They are comfortable managing several initiatives at once while maintaining a high bar for design quality, consistency, and execution.

Key Responsibilities

Lead the development of innovative retail storytelling, displays, and digital design solutions.

Create and evolve evergreen retail concepts, visual direction, and implementation standards.

Develop immersive retail environments that support customer engagement and brand strategy.

Ideate, illustrate, present, and refine design concepts from initial development through production.

Manage multiple concurrent projects while balancing creative quality, timelines, and budgets.

Partner with internal teams, agencies, and vendors to ensure consistent execution of creative intent.

Provide design direction, mentorship, and development support to junior designers.

Create clear presentation materials and production-ready design files as needed.

Apply emerging technology, interactive design, and experiential thinking to retail environments.

Collaboration

Reporting to a senior creative leader, the Art Director will work closely with cross-functional partners and external collaborators to deliver high-impact retail experiences. This role provides creative leadership while supporting delivery against established processes, schedules, budgets, and brand standards.

Required Qualifications

8+ years of experience in brand, graphic, environmental, or retail design.

At least 3 years of experience leading or managing creative teams.

Strong portfolio demonstrating concept development, visual communication, creative sophistication, and retail storytelling.

A portfolio is required for review.

Experience designing retail environments, concepts, and programs.

Ability to sketch, storyboard, and visually communicate ideas during concept development.

Strong presentation, facilitation, written communication, and stakeholder-management skills.

Ability to communicate complex creative concepts to senior creative and business audiences.

Adaptable and collaborative approach, with the ability to uphold creative quality in changing conditions.

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred in Graphic Design, Architecture, Interior Design, or a related discipline. Equivalent education and professional experience will be considered.

Required Skills

Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign

Keynote

Art direction and storyboarding

Graphic design

Environmental and retail design

Interactive and print design

Preferred Skills

After Effects and Premiere Pro

Miro and Figma

SketchUp and Unreal Engine

Furniture design

Digital and experiential design

Preferred Background

Retail story design and retail storytelling experience.

Experience supporting international retail or consumer-brand environments.

Interest in evolving trends across technology, art, interaction, design, and customer experience.