Associate Art Director

At Artemis Ward, the best ideas don't start with a brief — they start with a feeling, a tension, or a question that hasn't been fully formed yet. We're looking for a designer who thrives in that space. You'll take strategic direction and give it its first visual life, translating big ideas into tangible, persuasive concepts that win internal alignment and client buy-in before a single production file is opened. You won't just be executing someone else's vision — you'll be the person in the room who makes the idea real. This position is on-site at either our Washington, D.C. office or New York City office. Core Responsibilities Partner with strategists and creative leads to visually explore the first version of a big idea — moving from a verbal brief to a compelling visual concept with speed, confidence, and a point of view. Create visual sequences and storyboards that map out consumer journeys, video concepts, and digital experiences, using pacing, composition, and hierarchy to tell a story that lands emotionally, not just logically. Establish the aesthetic direction of a project early — curating references, building moodboards, and setting a visual standard that gives the broader creative team a clear, elevated foundation to build from. Lead the visual architecture of our most important strategy presentations, ensuring our thinking always shows up at the level of our work. Build high-fidelity prototypes and mockups of digital products, physical activations, and campaign concepts that make the future feel tangible — and make clients believe it already exists. Brief, guide, and quality-control external design resources — freelancers, illustrators, motion designers, and production partners — translating creative vision into clear, actionable direction and holding the standard through execution. Stay connected to the work after concepts are sold, protecting the integrity of the original idea and ensuring what gets built reflects what was conceived. Leverage AI-assisted design tools and emerging technology to accelerate concepting and prototype ideas faster without sacrificing depth of thinking. Must haves 2–4 years of relevant experience at a creative agency, design studio, or in-house brand team A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking, not just polished execution Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma Ability to move quickly from brief to concept while maintaining a high creative standard Experience building presentation decks that communicate ideas with clarity and visual impact Comfort directing and giving feedback to external creative collaborators Strong instincts for visual hierarchy, composition, and brand voice Nice to haves Experience with motion design or After Effects Familiarity with AI-assisted design tools (Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, etc.) Familiarity with front-end code or low
o-code platforms (e.g., Webflow) to prototype, iterate, and publish designs Background working across brand, digital, social, and experiential formats Video editing experience What we offer At Artemis Ward, we create an environment that uplifts everyone and promotes a healthy balance of work and life. This philosophy is reflected in the benefits we offer, including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance HSA and FSA plan Health and wellness stipend Paid holidays and vacation 401K Compensation Base salary: $65,000–$95,000, depending on experience and skill level. Total compensation includes benefit eligibility, stipends, and retirement contributions. We benchmark our salaries against creative-agency roles in the DC area and national design markets to ensure competitiveness. About Artemis Ward We strive to do good work with good people. We aim to create a fun, equitable, diverse and supportive culture that both represents and gives back to the communities we work in. Artemis Ward is a Certified B Corporation™ — a member of a worldwide network working to create an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economy. #J-18808-Ljbffr