Art Director

About Paradowski Creative

Paradowski Creative is an independent full-service agency situated in St. Louis, combining strategy, creativity, technology, and skilled craftsmanship to craft experiences that engage curiosity, encourage participation, and help brands form meaningful connections with their audiences. The agency thrives on collaborative teamwork across disciplines to tackle complex business challenges and produce thoughtful, effective, and carefully-made work. The company values creative experimentation, clear thinking, accountability, strong relationships, and individuals dedicated both to work quality and the process behind it.

Role Overview

The Art Director will apply visual expertise and creative insight across various accounts and project types including brand campaigns, digital experiences, social media content, and print materials. Rather than managing a single account, the role involves collaboration with writers, strategists, and account leads to evolve concepts into finely tuned, strategy-aligned executions. The role emphasizes that good design serves as a connection point between brands and people through purposeful craft rather than mere decoration.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop visual design and oversee art direction for brand campaigns, digital and social media content, and printed materials.
• Interpret creative briefs and strategies into innovative, brand-appropriate design concepts that deliver results.
• Collaborate closely with writers, strategists, and account teams to ensure creative ideas meet real audience needs.
• Confidently present creative work internally and to clients, articulating the rationale behind design decisions.
• Work alongside developers, motion designers, and production teams to maintain design intent through final outputs.
• Participate in feedback exchanges to foster a culture of craftsmanship and constructive critique.
• Mentor junior designers when opportunities arise.
• Adapt style, tone, and focus to suit various accounts and project types.
• Stay updated on current design trends, tools, and emerging technologies such as AI, and integrate learnings with the team.

Qualifications

• At least 3 years of experience in agency or design studio environments.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and other essential design tools.
• A portfolio demonstrating diverse and skilled work across digital, print, and social platforms.
• Ability to think conceptually paired with strong visual execution skills.
• Comfort presenting and defending creative approaches to teams and clients.
• Collaborative approach with flexibility to switch between various accounts and project types.
• Interest and practical use of generative AI tools to enhance the creative workflow, recognizing their supportive role.

Preferred Experience

• Background in UX/web design, motion graphics, or spatial/environmental design.

Success Indicators

• Within first 90 days: Understand account scope and project types; develop relationships with collaborators; deliver on-brand and strategic creative outputs.
• Ongoing: Consistently produce on-strategy and well-crafted work across projects; deliver on deadlines; articulate design decisions clearly in client presentations; maintain quality and consistency across multiple accounts.

Company Culture and Benefits

Paradowski fosters an environment where craft and curiosity guide creative processes. Team members collaborate across disciplines with dedication to both the creative output and how it is achieved. Employees have opportunities to influence the work and grow professionally while enjoying a balance of seriousness about craft and a relaxed work atmosphere.

Paradowski is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex/gender (including pregnancy and related conditions), gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Benefits for eligible full-time staff include multiple medical plans, dental and vision coverage, 401(k) with employer match, paid time off and holidays, parental leave, employer-paid basic life and AD&D insurance, and access to employee wellbeing and professional development resources. Benefit eligibility is governed by plan terms.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States and will be required to complete verification forms as a condition of employment.