Hybrid, Associate Art Director - Zales & Banter

Reporting to the Creative Director, this role is for someone who can move fluidly between art directing photo and video shoots and rolling up their sleeves to design across our marketing channels. You'll partner closely with the Creative Director and Copywriter to shape campaign concepts from the first spark of an idea through to polished brand execution. You’ll be creating mood boards to mechanicals and translating brand marketing strategy into work that’s beautiful, smart, and built to perform.
Key Responsibilities

Help concept, plan, and execute on‑set art direction for campaign and product shoots across both brands — from casting and styling references to set design, lighting mood, and post‑production direction.
Partner with the Creative Director and Copywriter to develop campaign territories, taglines, and visual platforms that flex across the everyday elevated Zales register and the high energy Banter voice.
Build polished, presentation‑ready decks and creative pitches for internal leadership, cross‑functional partners, and external brand collaborators.
Design and adapt assets across channels from digital, social, email, paid media, in‑store, and OOH — ensuring every touchpoint feels cohesive and elevated.
Maintain and evolve the visual identity for both brands, keeping work distinct, consistent, and unique from other competitors.
Think strategically: bring a point of view, navigate brand tensions, and stay attuned to cultural trends and competitive landscape to keep Zales and Banter’s creative fresh, relevant, and authentic.
Work alongside brand marketing, merchandising, digital, and social partners to deliver creative that’s both gorgeous and grounded in business goals.
Help prep decks, wardrobe and styling notes, retouching markups, and shot lists that keep productions running smoothly.
Champion best practices in adhering to brand guidelines including craft, typography, design, and campaign storytelling.
Act as an adaptable collaborator who approaches feedback with openness and drives alignment and momentum across teams.
Take a solution‑oriented approach when partnering with peers and leadership, contributing new ideas while aligning on creative direction.
Demonstrate professionalism, flexibility, and respect for leadership decisions while balancing creative point of view to drive shared success.
Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts, Design, Photography, Advertising, Visual Communications, or a related field.
5+ years of art direction and/or design experience, ideally in retail, fashion, beauty, or lifestyle brands (in‑house or agency).
A portfolio that shows real range: strong photo/video art direction, polished multi‑channel design, and presentation and pitch work that wins a room.
Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and presentation tools (Keynote/PowerPoint), Figma for web design, and motion skills are a plus.
Ability to shift between an elevated, emotional aesthetic and a bold, trend‑forward one — sometimes in the same day.
A self‑starter who can take a loose brief and run with it, owning projects end to end with minimal hand‑holding.
On‑set experience and comfort directing photographers, stylists, and crew.
Sharp instincts for typography, layout, color, and composition.
A collaborative spirit, strong organizational skills, and the ability to juggle multiple projects against deadlines.
Benefits

Premium Healthcare Coverage – comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans.
401(k) with company match.
Generous time off – robust PTO package, plus company holidays.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion programs.
Career growth & development – leadership development, mentorship, continuous learning.
Exclusive perks – wellness programs, employee discounts, and more.

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