Junior Art Director

Wanderlust & Co.; Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 89,000 - 134,000; Full time

Job summary

Wanderlust + Co is seeking a Junior Art Director to help shape the brand's collection and creative direction. You will lead trend research, concept development, and sourcing while presenting ideas to the CEO for review and refinement.

You will also oversee the design team's output to ensure consistency with the approved brand direction, with final sign-off resting with the CEO. The role requires strong Adobe Creative Suite skills and a collaborative, fast-paced mindset, focused on delivering

Qualifications

• 6–10 years of design, art direction, or content creation experience (prior art direction preferred).
• Strong trend research and concept development skills.
• Ability to translate research into clear, presentable proposals for leadership.
• Experience coordinating creative timelines and budgets.
• Familiarity with visual merchandising principles a plus.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator.

Responsibilities

• 60% – Research, concept and proposal development for seasonal collections.
• Develop mood boards, concept decks, and visual proposals for upcoming launches and present to the CEO.
• Source materials, references, and design inspiration to support new concepts.
• Collaborate on visual merchandising directions with the CEO; final VM sign-off rests with the CEO.
• Source materials, props, and vendors for visual merchandising execution with options for final approval.
• Support creative concepting for photoshoots, lookbooks, campaigns, and collateral in line with brand direction.
• 40% – Creative quality oversight and team coordination.
• Review design outputs for brand consistency and quality, ensuring adherence to approved direction.
• Coordinate timelines and deliverables across the design team to meet launch schedules.
• Manage budgets related to creative production within approved limits.

Skills

Art direction

Concept development

Trend research

Visual storytelling

Brand consistency

Presentation to leadership

Team collaboration

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Illustrator

Job description

Wanderlust + Co is a dynamic and forward-thinking jewellery brand committed to celebrating meaningful designs and jewel things that are kind to your skin and planet. We are a fast growing, high-energy team with a passion for what we do.

As Junior Art Director, you will support the CEO in shaping the brand's collection and creative direction. You will lead the groundwork — trend research, concept development, and creative sourcing —and bring proposals to the CEO for review and refinement. You will also oversee the creative output of the design team to keep it consistent with approved brand direction. This role does not hold final decision-making authority over collection direction or visual merchandising execution; that authority sits with the CEO.

Job Responsibilities (including but not limited to) –

60% – Research, Concept & Proposal Development

• Conduct trend, market, and competitor research to inform seasonal collection concepts and creative direction
• Develop concept decks, mood boards, and creative proposals for upcoming launches and collections, and present these to the CEO for review, refinement, and final decision
• Source creative references, materials, and design inspiration to support new collection concepts
• Bounce ideas on visual merchandising direction with the CEO ahead of rollout; final VMdecisions andsign-off remain with the CEO
• Source materials, props, and vendors required for visual merchandising execution (displays, fixtures, decor), bringing options to the CEO for final approval
• Support the creative concepting of photoshoots, lookbooks, campaigns, EDMs, trade and press kits, and other brand collateral in line with approved brand direction

40% – Creative Quality Oversight & Team Coordination

• Review and monitor the creative output of the Senior Visual Designer and Graphic Designer for brand consistency, quality, and adherence to approved creative direction (this is a creative quality-control function, not a people-management or line-reporting relationship)
• Coordinate creative timelines and deliverables across the design team so launches, photoshoots, and campaigns stay on schedule
• Manage budget and expenses related to creative production — photography, videography, post- production, and collateral prints — within approved limits

Qualifications Needed –

• 6–10 years of experience in design, art direction, or content creation, including at least 2 years in art direction capacity
• Jewellery or fashion accessories background strongly preferred; strong candidates from broader fashion or lifestyle backgrounds will also be considered
• Strong research and conceptual skills — able to translate trend and market research into concrete, presentable creative proposals
• Working understanding of visual merchandising principles (prior ownership of a VMfunction is not required)
• Experience sourcing materials, props, or vendors for visual merchandising or retail display execution; jewelry/collection material sourcing is not required, as that remains with the Merchandising function
• Strong software skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator); video/motion tools plus
• Comfortable presenting concepts and proposals directly to senior leadership
• Exceptional eye for design and detail, translating research and ideas into clear visual concepts

These are a few key elements expected in order for you to excel in this role –

• Genuinely curious about design trends, fashion, and jewellery, with a research-first mindset
• Comfortable proposing ideas and taking direction/refinement from leadership, rather than owning final creative sign-off
• Team player with an open, honest, and straightforward communication style
• Highly committed, proactive, and comfortable in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

Location