Senior Lead Art Director

Laceless Design; Zürich; On-site; CHF 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

On is seeking a highly experienced Art Director - Sneakers to shape industry-leading creative across global sneaker and lifestyle campaigns. You’ll collaborate with Creative Directors and Copywriters to translate strategy into bold concepts with exceptional craft and cultural relevance.

You bring 6+ years in global advertising or lifestyle marketing, a deep love for sneaker culture, and an ability to lead cross‑functional teams through fast-paced briefs from concept to final rollout.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in global advertising, sneaker, or lifestyle campaigns.
• Strong visual storytelling across film, digital/social, OOH, and editorial fashion.
• Deep understanding of global digital journeys, hype culture, and brand touchpoints.
• Proven ability to navigate stakeholder environments and deliver creative and commercial results.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Copywriters to concept and execute innovative campaigns across all channels.
• Confidently present creative ideas based on strategy, cultural insights, and consumer behavior.
• Deliver concepts, films, OOH, digital, and 360 campaigns with obsessive craft on ambitious timelines.
• Uphold and evolve On's distinctive visual identity, while building our lifestyle and sneaker positioning.
• Lead creative in the Sneaker category to success, fostering bravery and dedication within the team.
• Manage multiple high-priority campaigns simultaneously, making sound creative decisions independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Exemplify leadership in creative, championing the On Spirit, and actively contributing to company culture.

Skills

Art direction

Visual storytelling

Campaign concepting

Brand storytelling

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Tools

Film

Digital/Social

OOH

Editorial fashion

Job description

In short

At On, we believe in the power of storytelling. Whether it's celebrating the influence of global sneaker culture, the passions of our street-level communities, or the design innovation behind our footwear – our stories captivate and inspire. Our Creative Studio is at the heart of it all, shaping campaigns that leave a lasting impact. We’re looking for a highly experienced visual storyteller to craft art direction and concept industry-leading creative across our global sneaker and lifestyle campaigns.

As Art Director - Sneakers, you’ll work closely with Creative Directors and Copywriters to deliver impactful concepts and stories across channels. The ideal candidate is an expert conceptual thinker and visual artist with a deep understanding of channel best practices and streetwear culture. You strive for creative excellence in every brief, and thrive in a fast-paced environment. You enter the creative process with foresight, identifying potential issues before they arise. You have a love of craft, are deeply immersed in global subcultures, and know what drives both hype and authenticity. You confidently navigate the creative journey from beginning to end: from strategic foundations, to conceptual development and production, all the way to the final rollout.

The Art Director - Sneakers will report to the Head of Creative - Sneakers in the Creative Studio.

Your mission

• Partner with Copywriters to concept and execute innovative campaigns across all channels, bringing big ideas to life for everything from sneaker launches to brand-building lifestyle campaigns.
• Confidently present creative ideas based on strategy, cultural insights, and consumer behavior.
• Deliver concepts, films, OOH, digital, and 360 campaigns with obsessive craft on ambitious timelines.
• Uphold and evolve On's distinctive visual identity, while building our lifestyle and sneaker positioning.
• Lead creative in the Sneaker category to success, fostering a sense of bravery and dedication within your team.
• Manage multiple high-priority campaigns simultaneously, making sound creative decisions independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Exemplify leadership in creative, championing the On Spirit, and actively contributing to company culture.

Your story

• A dynamic, experienced art director with 6+ years of experience as a creative on global advertising, sneaker, or lifestyle marketing campaigns, either brand side or at an agency.
• A passionate visual storyteller with a portfolio spanning film, digital/social, OOH, editorial fashion, and disruptive brand activations.
• A deep understanding of global digital user journeys, hype culture, and how to leverage touchpoints to drive meaningful action and community engagement.
• Experience challenging the status quo and navigating complex stakeholder environments to deliver creative and commercial results. Comfortable leading high-impact initiatives that significantly influence the business and brand trajectory in the lifestyle space.
• You know how to lead and inspire within your team, identify underlying issues and root causes, and seek solutions to problems.
• You have a deep love for, and extensive experience in, global sneaker culture, streetwear, fashion, art and design.

What We Offer

On is a place that is centered around growth and progress. We offer an environment designed to give people the tools to develop holistically – to stay active, to learn, explore, and innovate. Our distinctive approach combines a supportive, team-oriented atmosphere with access to personal self-care for both physical and mental well-being, so each person is led by purpose.

On is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a work environment that is fair and inclusive, where all decisions related to recruitment, advancement, and retention are free of discrimination.