Art Director

Supercharge your career in a dynamic urban setting at a thriving independent ad agency known for high-powered thinking and award-winning creative.

Our recently renovated loft space is a highly collaborative work environment in the heart of Chicago’s buzzing River North entertainment district. Surrounded by dining, shopping, and easy transit…enjoy urban working at its finest. Brainstorm with colleagues at an outdoor lunch cafe or mull over your strategic approach to user-centric web design over an afternoon latte. Renew your professional passions for stunning graphic design, clean typography, and dynamic visual artistry as part of our ‘exceptional’ agency culture — one that proudly rewards hustle, guts, and instinct.

You’ll be teaming up with savvy marketing specialists and gifted creative minds as you tackle design assignments of all types — brand development, ad campaigns, digital and UX design, social media marketing, direct response…even video, and more. Enjoy the motivating ambience of our open-concept floor plan as you help us design and build highly strategic marketing programs for our growing roster of on-demand clients.

BRING YOUR ‘A GAME’ TO PLAN B

We’re a fast-flying, full-service ad agency seeking exceptionally talented art directors and total team players to help our clients take on the world. If you fancy yourself a visual problem solver who can concept in any medium, or a multi-disciplinary design maven who can art direct the printed page in InDesign as skillfully as a web page in Sketch…we’d love to get to know you.

Do you thrive on variety? No two weeks are ever the same here. Whether it’s a :06 pre-roll video or TikTok-inspired digital campaign, a mobile-first landing page promoting a hybrid supercar, dimensional mailer celebrating the important work of health care workers, an average month here is sure to bend your brain in many directions at once. So limber up and let’s do this!

As Art Director, you’ll be counted on as a strategic-thinking member of the creative team. Here’s a taste of what awaits.

This Art Director role is primarily an on-site position at our Chicago River North location. Regularly attending work in-person (5 days a week, M-F) is essential for the success of the company, our clients, and the entire Plan B team.

We are officially a B Corp! (see: https://www.thisisplanb.com/sustainability/)
We recognize the critical difference today’s companies can (and must) make with regard to corporate responsibility and environmental sustainability. The values of conservation and efficiency have long been core to Plan B’s cultural and operational foundation, and are even more of a priority today in light of how much our world is changing.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design mobile-first digital experiences, including websites, landing pages, emails, e-newsletters, microsites, digital display ads
• Design more traditional media including, but not limited to: print ads, brochures, booklets, fliers, TV commercials, billboards, and more – according to strategic plans provided by the account executive, and by assignment from the creative director.
• Meet with client service team members and interactive marketing personnel to ensure coordination between traditional and interactive advertising and marketing efforts.
• Provide sound visual concept solutions that specifically solve business problems.
• Work with the development team to understand the opportunities and limitations of the digital solutions proposed and produced by the creative department.
• Collaborate with other art directors, copywriters and additional designated “team” personnel in production of creative materials.
• Collaborate with account and creative leads in selection of design elements (papers, vendors, models, freelancers, talent, and outside sources) needed to fulfill production.
• Meet assigned deadlines with a smile
• Maintain strong working knowledge of computer design software and hardware, striving to stay current in level of knowledge and abilities.
• Work to remain current with trends in the digital art direction space, from new methodologies and tools to best practices.
• Work with production personnel (digital, print, and/or video), providing complete input and instruction/supervision to smoothly complete production of approved design.
• Review all production materials on assigned projects and sign off prior to final production
• Assist with new business presentations as requested by the agency marketing director/creative director/production manager.
• Keep senior art director/creative director informed of need to upgrade design-related computer hardware/software

REQUIREMENTS

• A passion for exceptional ideas and an almost-annoying commitment to quality
• A killer design portfolio
• Minimum 4+ years of graphic design experience art direction role
• Strong analytical ability and strategic thinking skills
• Willing to share your point of view (with written & verbal communication skills to back it up)
• Appetite for problem solving and love for fast-paced environments
• Experience working on/managing various creative campaigns in parallel

LOCAL CANDIDATES ONLY. Talented and motivated Art Directors in the Chicago area who meet the above requirements, and who have the work to back up their candidacy, should send a brief cover note, resume and portfolio to artdirector2023@thisisplanb.com or by filling out the form below.