Art Director

People Inc.; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

People Inc. is seeking an experienced Art Director to create fresh content for the Visit California account. You will collaborate with teams to craft magazine layouts and digital design content, focusing on typography, storytelling, and innovative visuals.

The role requires strong design sensibility, ability to lead shoots, manage budgets, and coordinate with editors, photographers, and illustrators. Travel to shoots may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field or equivalent training/experience.
• Minimum 5+ years media design experience.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, Woodwing CMS, AirTable, Slack, Google Docs.

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize visual components of stories and execute from start to finish, including pitches, planning, layouts, and communicating schedules with editors and teams.
• Oversee photoshoots, develop photo orders, build client’s library, and manage digital assets.
• Research images for magazine and digital sections; source global photos.

Skills

Team collaboration

Creativity

Typography

Layout design

Communication

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Woodwing

AirTable

Slack

Google Docs

Job description

Job Description

The Art Director will be responsible for creating fresh and engaging content for People Inc.’s Visit California account. This individual will have exceptional team collaboration, creativity, typography, design sense, troubleshooting, and storytelling skills to create compelling and innovative magazine layouts and digital design content.

Job Title

Art Director

Responsibilities

• Conceptualize the visual components of a story and execute them from start to finish, including formulating pitches, planning photography and illustration, creating story layouts, and communicating ideas and schedules with management, freelance teams, and story editors.
• Work with the client to develop photo orders and oversee photoshoots. Create visually dynamic solutions for onsite and location photography. Build the client’s photo library and grow the PITC digital asset management system.
• Research beautiful and inspiring images for several sections of the magazine and digital tentpoles; find existing photos of locations worldwide.
• Identify and hire appropriate freelance illustrators, stylists, and photographers while adhering to a strict calendar, licensing agreements/releases, and budget.
• Assist with production duties such as schedule tracking, process development, and preparing files for pre‑press and press production.
• Organize, coordinate, and research photos; manage photo and art budgets; seek new local and regional talent.
• Strong design, typographical sensibilities, and graphic/creative problem‑solving for magazine layouts and digital projects.
• Multitask, meet deadlines, and communicate effectively with photographers, editors, art directors, illustrators, photography sources, and the PITC Imaging Center.
• Execute additional duties as requested by Visit California and possible travel.

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field, or equivalent training and/or experience.
• Minimum 5+ years media design experience.
• Thorough knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, Woodwing content management systems, AirTable, Slack, and Google Docs.
• Strong typography and layout design skills – both formatted and unique feature stories.
• Ability to communicate with photo teams, photographers and stylists.
• Ability to create innovative photo plans for photo shoots.
• Adherence to art team guidelines, brand style guides, and departmental processes.
• Capability to work effectively in a team‑oriented environment.
• Attention to detail.

Travel

Approximate 10% travel required.

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is the policy of People Inc. to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Company will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities. Accommodation requests can be made by emailing [e-mail]. The Company participates in the federal E‑Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For further information about the E‑Verify program, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/employees.