Art Director

24 Seven Talent; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

24 Seven Talent seeks a senior designer for an in-house creative team on a contract basis, covering an employee leave. This senior designer will work hands-on and set visual direction across channels including retail, digital, and in-store materials.

Role can be fully remote or hybrid in Chicago with in-office Wednesdays. Start around Oct 28–29, duration through January/February 2027, 40 hours weekly, typically 9am–5pm CT.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of graphic design and/or art direction experience.
• Strong conceptual design skills from blank page to visual direction.
• Retail and/or retail marketing experience preferred.
• Advanced Photoshop skills for compositing and image manipulation.
• Portfolio showing campaign development across digital and traditional channels.
• Experience leading or mentoring other designers.
• Able to balance hands-on work with big-picture thinking.
• Able to work independently while collaborating with a larger team.

Responsibilities

• Take briefs from concept through visual development and set direction.
• Develop visuals and campaign concepts for retail, marketing, and initiatives.
• Translate concepts across digital, social, email, web, print, and store assets.
• Work within brand guidelines while adding fresh ideas.
• Create and refine imagery in Photoshop for polished compositions.
• Collaborate with designers and production artists to ensure consistency.
• Provide creative guidance to other designers as needed.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising, Brand, Marketing, Copy and cross-functional partners.

Skills

Conceptual design

Strong portfolio

Art direction

Mentorship / leadership

Independence + collaboration

Retail marketing experience

Photoshop advanced skills

Tools

Photoshop

Job description

Role: Associate Design Director / Senior Graphic Designer

Location: Fully Remote OR Chicago, IL (Hybrid – Wednesdays in office)

Start: October 28–29

Duration: Through January/February 2027

Hours: 40 hours/week, Monday–Friday, approximately 9am–5pm CT

Pay Rate: $40–$50/hr.

Our client is looking for a senior-level Designer / Art Director to join their in-house creative team on a contract basis, covering an employee leave. This person will be a hands-on designer and conceptual creative thinker who can take a project from a blank-page brief, develop the overarching visual direction, and help bring that vision to life across multiple channels.

The creative team supports a wide variety of projects across the organization, with a strong focus on retail marketing, seasonal campaigns, product collections, and brand initiatives. Projects may span digital, web, email, social, in-store print, flyers, signage, promotional materials, swag/giveaways, and occasional packaging.

Key Responsibilities:

• Take creative briefs from initial concept through visual development, establishing strong creative and design direction.
• Develop key visuals and campaign concepts for retail, marketing, and broader business initiatives.
• Translate concepts across digital, social, email, web, print, in-store, and other customer touchpoints.
• Work within established brand/style guidelines while bringing fresh ideas and creative thinking to each project.
• Create and manipulate imagery and assets in Photoshop to develop polished, compelling compositions.
• Partner closely with designers and production artists to hand off creative direction and ensure consistency through execution.
• Provide creative guidance and mentorship to other designers as needed.
• Collaborate with Visual Merchandising, Brand, Marketing, Copy, and other cross-functional partners.

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of graphic design and/or art direction experience.
• Strong conceptual design skills with the ability to take a brief from a blank page through a fully realized visual direction.
• Retail and/or retail marketing experience strongly preferred.
• Advanced Photoshop skills, particularly around compositing, image manipulation, and building visuals from multiple assets.
• Portfolio demonstrating campaign development across a mix of digital and traditional channels.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or providing creative direction to other designers.
• Comfortable balancing hands-on design execution with higher-level conceptual thinking.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating within a larger creative team.

Nice to Have:

• Cannabis industry experience is a plus, but not required.
• Basic animation/motion design experience for digital signage, such as kinetic typography or other light motion work.

This person will report to the Director of Design and Creative Services and work closely with a creative team of approximately 10, including designers, production designers, and copywriters.