Mediabistro, Inc is hiring: Art Director in Richmond
Mediabistro, Inc, Richmond, WV, United States
Shape the visual identity of Virginia's premier lifestyle magazine.
Virginia Living
is seeking a seasoned, imaginative Art Director to lead design across our award-winning print publication and digital platforms — bringing to life our coverage of food, culture, people, destinations, homes, gardens, and more. This is a hands-on creative leadership role for someone who thrives on variety: from conceptual photography and illustration direction to typography, layout, and marketing materials. You'll have true creative ownership while working alongside a close-knit, passionate team dedicated to showcasing the best of Virginia.
What You'll Do Creative Direction Set and advance the visual direction for each issue, ensuring cohesive, high-quality storytelling across all editorial content
Contribute story ideas and evaluate them for editorial relevance, freshness, and alignment with the
Virginia Living
brand
Identify and assign the right photographers, illustrators, and stylists for each story; negotiate fees and manage contracts through to execution
Art direct photo shoots with an exacting eye for quality, mood, and brand consistency
Scout locations, source archival material, and build strong relationships with editorial subjects and the broader Virginia community
Design & Production Design compelling layouts and shepherd them through the full production cycle in close collaboration with the editorial team.
Maintain expert knowledge of offset printing; execute preflight tasks and press checks
Oversee placement of advertisements in marketing vehicles and ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints
Maintain organized workflow on the company server
Leadership & Operations Meet regularly with the Publisher and Editorial team to review budgets, story ideas, and art direction
Manage the art budget with fiscal discipline and adherence to schedules and deadlines; generate and process purchase orders accurately and on time
Proactively identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, streamline production processes, and elevate team output
Collaborate closely with the Associate Art Director, providing guidance and creative support
Onboard new artists by coordinating W-9 and direct deposit forms; maintain and update the comp list each issue
Resolve any budget discrepancies in coordination with the Accountant
What You Bring At least 5 years of high-level design experience at a magazine, ad agency, or communications organization — luxury lifestyle or regional media experience strongly preferred
Exceptional design and art direction skills, with the confidence to articulate creative rationale and bring others along on the vision
Proven experience directing photographers, illustrators, and stylists, with a strong network of creative talent
Deep command of typography, photography, and illustration with a refined, editorial aesthetic
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite — particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator — in a Mac environment; working knowledge of MS Office
Experience managing art budgets with transparency and accountability
A proactive, process-oriented mindset: you anticipate production challenges before they arise, continuously refine how the team works, and think strategically about what's next
Demonstrated ability to translate print design for digital platforms and web
Knowledge of offset printing, including preflight and press checks
Branding and marketing experience, with a natural instinct for brand stewardship
Strong familiarity with Virginia — its culture, communities, landscape, and character
Outstanding communication and collaboration skills; a collegial, team-first working style
Meticulous attention to detail, balanced with the big-picture creative vision to lead
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design or a related field
The Details Reports to:
Editor-in-Chief, Madeline Mayhood
Location:
Richmond, VA — full-time, onsite/hybrid
Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:30 pm, with additional hours as needed
Compensation:
Competitive
Vacation:
2 weeks paid vacation + 8 paid holidays annually
To Apply Please submit a cover letter and résumé — including links to your portfolio or website — to Madeline Mayhood at Careers@CapeFear.com. Include
"ART DIRECTOR POSITION"
in the subject line, and note where you saw this posting. To learn more, visit
VirginiaLiving.com
or pick up a copy at Barnes & Noble. No phone calls, please. Principals only — recruiters and unsolicited service providers, please do not contact us.
Virginia Living
is seeking a seasoned, imaginative Art Director to lead design across our award-winning print publication and digital platforms — bringing to life our coverage of food, culture, people, destinations, homes, gardens, and more. This is a hands-on creative leadership role for someone who thrives on variety: from conceptual photography and illustration direction to typography, layout, and marketing materials. You'll have true creative ownership while working alongside a close-knit, passionate team dedicated to showcasing the best of Virginia.
What You'll Do Creative Direction Set and advance the visual direction for each issue, ensuring cohesive, high-quality storytelling across all editorial content
Contribute story ideas and evaluate them for editorial relevance, freshness, and alignment with the
Virginia Living
brand
Identify and assign the right photographers, illustrators, and stylists for each story; negotiate fees and manage contracts through to execution
Art direct photo shoots with an exacting eye for quality, mood, and brand consistency
Scout locations, source archival material, and build strong relationships with editorial subjects and the broader Virginia community
Design & Production Design compelling layouts and shepherd them through the full production cycle in close collaboration with the editorial team.
Maintain expert knowledge of offset printing; execute preflight tasks and press checks
Oversee placement of advertisements in marketing vehicles and ensure brand consistency across all touchpoints
Maintain organized workflow on the company server
Leadership & Operations Meet regularly with the Publisher and Editorial team to review budgets, story ideas, and art direction
Manage the art budget with fiscal discipline and adherence to schedules and deadlines; generate and process purchase orders accurately and on time
Proactively identify opportunities to improve creative workflows, streamline production processes, and elevate team output
Collaborate closely with the Associate Art Director, providing guidance and creative support
Onboard new artists by coordinating W-9 and direct deposit forms; maintain and update the comp list each issue
Resolve any budget discrepancies in coordination with the Accountant
What You Bring At least 5 years of high-level design experience at a magazine, ad agency, or communications organization — luxury lifestyle or regional media experience strongly preferred
Exceptional design and art direction skills, with the confidence to articulate creative rationale and bring others along on the vision
Proven experience directing photographers, illustrators, and stylists, with a strong network of creative talent
Deep command of typography, photography, and illustration with a refined, editorial aesthetic
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite — particularly InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator — in a Mac environment; working knowledge of MS Office
Experience managing art budgets with transparency and accountability
A proactive, process-oriented mindset: you anticipate production challenges before they arise, continuously refine how the team works, and think strategically about what's next
Demonstrated ability to translate print design for digital platforms and web
Knowledge of offset printing, including preflight and press checks
Branding and marketing experience, with a natural instinct for brand stewardship
Strong familiarity with Virginia — its culture, communities, landscape, and character
Outstanding communication and collaboration skills; a collegial, team-first working style
Meticulous attention to detail, balanced with the big-picture creative vision to lead
Bachelor's or Master's degree in Graphic Design or a related field
The Details Reports to:
Editor-in-Chief, Madeline Mayhood
Location:
Richmond, VA — full-time, onsite/hybrid
Hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:30 am–5:30 pm, with additional hours as needed
Compensation:
Competitive
Vacation:
2 weeks paid vacation + 8 paid holidays annually
To Apply Please submit a cover letter and résumé — including links to your portfolio or website — to Madeline Mayhood at Careers@CapeFear.com. Include
"ART DIRECTOR POSITION"
in the subject line, and note where you saw this posting. To learn more, visit
VirginiaLiving.com
or pick up a copy at Barnes & Noble. No phone calls, please. Principals only — recruiters and unsolicited service providers, please do not contact us.