Art Director

About SPOKE

SPOKE is a menswear brand dedicated to offering men a considered yet effortless style, emphasizing genuine quality, easy styling, and exceptional fit. Located in Richmond near London, the brand prides itself on its commitment to ‘Ridiculously Well Fit’ or money back, earning a devoted customer base.

Role Overview

We seek an Art Director to lead and own the creative visual output of our brand campaigns and ecommerce photography from start to finish. This is an active creative position requiring hands-on involvement throughout the entire process—from concept and direction to shooting and post-production. The role involves close partnership with the VP of Brand Marketing and a small in-house creative team, including a Creative Producer who oversees logistics, enabling you to focus on creative work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the creative development of seasonal and long-lasting campaigns, shaping projects from initial ideas through to final execution.
• Transform brand strategies and positioning into compelling visual narratives with clear and confident direction.
• Direct still and video shoots in both studio and on-location settings, paying close attention to intricate creative aspects.
• Create and manage shot lists, mood boards, and direction documents that establish the visual and creative tone for every shoot.
• Maintain high standards by continuously evaluating work quality and confidently asserting when improvements are necessary.
• Oversee ecommerce photography shoots with the same rigor as campaigns to ensure uniformity and high quality, as the website is the primary customer interface.
• Develop and sustain a distinctive visual language for product photography, including lighting, styling, composition, and mood.
• Collaborate closely with photographers and stylists to produce a coherent and scalable image library.
• Critically review image selections, ensuring every photograph merits inclusion in the collection.
• Work alongside the Lead Digital Designer and copywriter to ensure creative coherence across campaigns and channels.
• Provide clear briefs and assets to the broader team to empower them to deliver their best work.
• Contribute actively to cultivating a creative culture that reflects the brand values of substance, ease, and wit.

Candidate Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of experience in art direction, preferably within in-house fashion or lifestyle brands; agency experience also considered.
• A compelling portfolio showcasing campaign concept development and expertise in ecommerce or product photography direction.
• Strong visual judgment with a clear aesthetic perspective, committed to maintaining quality standards.
• Ability to sustain high output with energy and resilience for multiple projects beyond headline campaigns.
• Well-organized, proactive, and composed under pressure with effective prioritization skills.
• A collaborative team player with excellent communication skills, able to work efficiently in a close-knit team environment.
• Adaptable to a dynamic direct-to-consumer setting where priorities may evolve rapidly.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience directing menswear or tailoring photo shoots.
• A genuine enthusiasm for menswear fashion.
• Knowledge of ecommerce image standards and post-production processes.
• Familiarity with motion or video direction is a plus.

Employee Benefits

• Private healthcare plan.
• Pension scheme participation.
• Opportunities to work from home.
• Access to training and professional development.