Creative Director, Art Direction

Creative Director, Art Direction

The Creative Director, Art Direction plays a critical role in shaping Athleta's visual identity—bringing to life powerful, human-centered stories rooted in movement, style, and performance. This role leads the art direction of all Athleta location and studio photography and video, creating concepts and translating them into elevated, product-forward narratives that span brand campaigns, digital channels, social media, packaging, and in-store environments. You will partner closely with the creative leadership team to define the creative approach for each season, producing emotionally resonant, premium imagery that reflects Athleta's values, purpose, and always-on brand platform. This position requires exceptional conceptual thinking, a refined visual eye, operational excellence, and a proven ability to deliver world-class storytelling at scale.
What You'll Do
Lead On-Set Art Direction
Lead art direction for all on-set location and studio photography and video for women's and girls' apparel, ensuring premium quality and alignment with Athleta's brand standards.
Oversee shot execution—including composition, lighting, framing, casting considerations, styling POV, and prop integration.
Build and deliver mood boards, creative decks, shot lists, and direction documents that guide photographers, stylists, producers, and on-set crews.
Direct live shoots with clarity and purpose, ensuring every image reflects Athleta's elevated aesthetic and brand values.
Ensure all production aligns to budget, timing, and quality benchmarks.
Drive Conceptual Storytelling
Create compelling seasonal concepts based on seasonal marketing briefs, in partnership with editorial, styling and marketing leads
Translate seasonal concepts into cohesive, elevated and aspirational product stories
Push creative boundaries to deliver fresh, innovative content that resonates across brand channels.
Ensure storytelling ladders up to Athleta's purpose-driven platform, weaving performance, style, innovation, community, and culture into imagery.
Create breakthrough, emotionally resonant imagery across brand channels
Own End-to-End Creative Production
Communicate clearly and confidently with photographers, directors, videographers, stylists, models, agency and production partners to align on creative vision.
Work with producers, PMs, and DAM teams to ensure seamless workflow
Manage shot lists, timelines, and budgets across high-volume production
Elevate processes, tools, and systems to drive creative efficiency and scale
Ensure on-set teams are accountable for delivering final assets that meet the brief and uphold Athleta's standards of excellence.
Collaborate Across the Brand
Partner with marketing, agency partners, merchandising, styling, and retail teams
Present creative direction to leadership and cross-functional partners
Align on-set crews to deliver premium imagery that brings concepts to life
Lead + Mentor
Support and coach creative team members
Foster a culture of innovation, curiosity, and high craft
Who You Are

A strong portfolio demonstrating world-class art direction for location and studio photography + video, particularly in women's fashion, lifestyle, social or performance categories.
8+ years of experience creating for commercial studios, in-house or agency, fashion and consumer goods, retail, or e-commerce industries is a must.
Expert understanding of composition, lighting, color, movement, and emotional storytelling.
Deep understanding of photography and videography, lighting, composition, color, movement, and storytelling
Experience in high-volume, fast-paced production environments
Strong conceptual, communication and presentation skills
Ability to lead, inspire, and influence cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with Capture One + DAM systems and Figma.
Retail/e-comm experience is a plus
Benefits at Athleta

Merchandise discount for our brands: 50% off regular-priced merchandise at Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta, and 30% off at Outlet for all employees.
One of the most competitive Paid Time Off plans in the industry.*
Employees can take up to five "on the clock" hours each month to volunteer at a charity of their choice.*
Extensive 401(k) plan with company matching for contributions up to four percent of an employee's base pay.*
Employee stock purchase plan.*
Medical, dental, vision and life insurance.*
See more of the benefits we offer.
*For eligible employees
Gap Inc. is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace free from harassment and discrimination. We are committed to recruiting, hiring, training and promoting qualified people of all backgrounds, and make all employment decisions without regard to any protected status. We have received numerous awards for our long-held commitment to equality and will continue to foster a diverse and inclusive environment of belonging. In 2022, we were recognized by Forbes as one of the World's Best Employers and one of the Best Employers for Diversity. Salary Range: $175,000 - $227,500 USD Employee pay will vary based on factors such as qualifications, experience, skill level, competencies and work location. We will meet minimum wage or minimum of the pay range (whichever is higher) based on city, county and state requirements.