Art Director

Aquent; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Subsidized health plans

Free online training (Aquent Gymnasium

Paid time off

Job summary

Aquent Talent is seeking a visual leader to guide AI-assisted image creation for a major enterprise. You will shape visual identity, craft photorealistic imagery, and ensure brand fidelity across digital, e-commerce, and omnichannel campaigns.

Lead end-to-end studio workflows, collaborate with design leads and AI engineers, and translate strategic briefs into production-ready assets while maintaining high-quality standards under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• 4–6+ years in a visual leadership role (Photography Art Director, Senior Graphic Designer or Brand Designer).
• Strong portfolio demonstrating photography, lighting, and composition.
• Experience with Generative AI tools for creative workflows.

Responsibilities

• Translate briefs into cohesive visual worlds for digital, e‑commerce, social, and in‑store touchpoints.
• Direct AI-generated imagery with professional studio-level precision.
• Develop concepts, styling, and shooting-ready assets within AI workflows.
• Refine outputs with retouching and compositing to align with brand standards.
• Collaborate across design leads, creative directors, and AI toolmakers.

Skills

Creative leadership

Photography/Art direction

Brand design

Generative AI enthusiasm

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Figma

Job description

About the Role

Join a pioneering team at a leading global enterprise that is revolutionizing the customer experience through cutting-edge visual innovation. This organization is at the forefront of integrating advanced technology to craft engaging, high-quality visual content that captivates millions of customers daily across diverse platforms. As a strategic partner dedicated to connecting top talent with influential clients, we are seeking an innovative visual leader to drive the future of visual storytelling within this dynamic environment.

Are you ready to redefine what's possible in visual content creation? We are seeking an exceptional creative professional who will be instrumental in shaping the visual identity of a major enterprise. In this groundbreaking role, you will lead the charge in harnessing the power of AI to produce stunning, brand-right imagery for digital platforms and omni-channel campaigns, directly impacting how millions of customers perceive and interact with products. This is an unparalleled opportunity to blend your artistic mastery with innovative AI tools, creating photorealistic and elevated visual worlds at an enterprise scale. You will be the visionary behind AI-assisted image creation, transforming strategic concepts into captivating visuals and establishing new benchmarks for craft and brand fidelity.

Key Responsibilities

• Translate strategic briefs into compelling, cohesive visual worlds for digital, e-commerce, site modules, social, and in-store touchpoints.
• Apply deep expertise in photography principles—including camera mechanics, lighting logic, lensing, framing, and composition—to direct and execute AI-generated imagery with the precision of a professional studio shoot.
• Act as an end-to-end studio practitioner, developing creative concepts, styling products within AI generation workflows, composing scenes, and delivering polished, production-ready assets.
• Utilize advanced retouching, compositing, and image-editing skills (Adobe Photoshop) to refine AI outputs, integrate product photography, and eliminate generic "AI aesthetics" in favor of authentic, commercially viable artwork.
• Manage creative projects through rapid production cycles (2-4 week campaign turnarounds), consistently delivering high-quality, brand-aligned work under pressure.
• Serve as the creative translator between design leads, creative directors, and technical AI toolmakers, ensuring precise execution of creative vision within generative systems.
• Safeguard brand standards and visual consistency across high-volume image batches, maintaining cohesive lighting, product accuracy, and brand identity.
• Thrive in a collaborative, agile team culture that values continuous learning, experimentation, and peer-to-peer teaching.
• Demonstrate resilience and openness to constructive feedback, navigating the iterative nature and heightened scrutiny common in commercial AI imagery.
• Apply primary node-based and studio AI tools (e.g., Weave, Figma, and related creative engines) to generate, refine, and iterate campaign imagery.
• Collaborate with technical AI specialists to test prompt strategies, reference inputs, and workflow enhancements that boost production speed and image fidelity.
• Provide hands-on feedback to technical toolmakers to refine UI, prompt controls, and generation templates for daily studio use.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 4-6+ years of hands-on professional experience in a visual leadership role such as a Photography Art Director, Senior Graphic Designer, or Brand Designer within an advertising agency, brand studio, or commercial production environment.
• A demonstrated background in photography, lighting, visual composition, design, or fine arts, evidenced by a strong portfolio.
• Practical experience and strong enthusiasm for Generative AI tools, with a focus on real-world creative applications.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator), with robust skills in image compositing, layout, and retouching.
• Proficiency in Figma and familiarity with design system workflows.
• Strong understanding of retail visual strategy, customer psychology, and omni-channel asset requirements (digital, site imagery, e-commerce).
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Art Direction, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or equivalent practical industry experience.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with node-based or generative systems (e.g., Figma Weave, Weavy, or similar UI-based AI generation platforms).
• Previous experience in an agency or post-production studio environment handling fast-turnaround campaign work.
• A personal creative practice (photography, digital art, design) demonstrating a contemporary aesthetic eye.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.