Art Director, Licensing Design

confidential; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 161,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Generous paid time off

Streaming subscriptions (HBO Max, etc)

Engagement opportunities

Job summary

Skydance seeks an experienced Art Director to lead the visual development of Consumer Products, translating franchise strategy into distinctive, product-ready expression across apparel, packaging, and retail concepts.

You’ll be hands-on from concept to execution, shaping typography, color, illustration, and editorial voice while mentoring junior creatives and directing external partners.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant design and art direction experience.
• Demonstrated success directing and designing style guides and brand systems.
• Excellent portfolio in graphic design, typography, and brand identity.

Responsibilities

• Establish and evolve franchise visual systems and style guides across products.
• Lead concepts from brief through completion, remaining hands-on in design and proof‑of‑concept work.
• Develop editorial concepts, naming, headlines, and short-form brand language.

Skills

Art direction

Brand systems

Typography

Editorial direction

Mentorship

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Storytelling is, and will always be, the heart of what we do at Skydance. Our vision is to build a thriving entertainment ecosystem where stories and worlds are imagined, brought to life and experienced. We create for every age and audience, anchored by the strength of our content and experiences and the depth of our connection with fans. We are creator-first, audience-focused, tech-forward, globally scaled.

Here, you’ll work with talented teams that move fast, think boldly and collaborate with purpose to deliver results. We aim high, champion the best ideas and win together, earning the trust of our employees, creators, partners and audiences every day.

If you’re energized by the opportunity to help build the next-generation global media and entertainment company powered by creativity and technology, we’d be thrilled to welcome you aboard. LET’S GO!

Overview

The Art Director leads the visual development of Consumer Products creative, with style guides and franchise design systems as the primary focus. Translating franchise strategy into distinctive, product-ready expression, the role defines graphic language, typography, color, illustration approach, editorial voice, and application principles across categories.

As both a hands‑on designer and art director, the role takes work from concept through execution. Developing graphics and proof‑of‑concept designs, shaping product and retail applications, directing internal and external creative partners, and presenting recommendations to senior stakeholders. The Art Director leads through creative direction, remarkable craft, and collaboration, while providing clear guidance and mentorship to other creatives.

This is an onsite role at our Los Angeles location.

Responsibilities include but not limited to

• Establish and evolve franchise visual systems and style guides, defining graphic language, typography, color, patterns, icons, badges, composition, illustration direction, and application principles.
• Lead concepts from brief through completion, remaining hands‑on in graphic design, rapid visual exploration, occasional illustration, and polished proof‑of‑concept work.
• Develop editorial concepts, naming, headlines, phrases, and short‑form brand language that strengthen visual ideas and franchise expression.
• Create and art direct apparel graphics and product mockups, packaging, hangtags, retail concepts, logos, marks, and product or franchise lockups as needs require.
• Direct and mentor internal and external creative contributors, including agencies, illustrators, photographers, and vendors. Give actionable feedback, incorporate partner input, and present and defend recommendations

Primary Deliverables

• Comprehensive franchise style guides and modular visual systems
• Graphic systems, typography, illustration direction, and reusable design assets
• Editorial concepts, naming, headlines, phrases, and supporting brand language
• Apparel graphics, product mockups, packaging, hangtags, and retail concepts
• Logos, marks, franchise/product lockups, and rapid visual proofs of concept

Measures of Success

Style guides and visual systems are distinctive, franchise‑authentic, relevant to intended consumers, and usable across product categories. Creative work consistently demonstrates remarkable craft from early concept through final execution. Stakeholders and external partners understand the creative rationale and deliver cohesive work against a clear standard.

Basic Qualifications

• 8+ years of relevant design and art direction experience, ideally spanning style guides, brand systems, and product‑facing creative.

Additional Qualifications

• Demonstrated success art directing and designing style guides, brand systems, or product‑facing creative in entertainment, consumer products, licensing, branding, or agency environments.
• Exceptional portfolio showing graphic design, typography, composition, brand identity, and applications across apparel, packaging, retail, or related consumer connection points.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite; deep illustration sensibility and proven ability to direct illustrators, with hands‑on illustration capability a plus.
• Proven ability to take work from concept through execution, present and defend creative to senior stakeholders, direct vendors and agencies, and provide mindful feedback and mentorship.
• Applicable experience using company‑approved AI‑assisted tools as a thought partner. Using it for creative strategy, mood boards, visual exploration, editorial concepts, short‑form brand language, and illustration direction; while maintaining originality, franchise authenticity, and final craft.

About Skydance

Skydance is a next‑generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct‑to‑Consumer, and TV Media. Skydance's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount, Warner Bros., HBO and HBO Max, Paramount+, Pluto TV, CBS, CNN, CBS Sports, TNT Sports, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, MTV, Food Network, BET, HGTV, and Comedy Central.

Additional Information

Hiring Salary Range: $110,400.00 - 160,600.00. In compliance with local law, we are disclosing compensation, or a range thereof, for roles where legally required. Actual salaries will vary based on a variety of job‑related factors, including but not limited to geographic location, external market data, internal equity, skill set, experience, training, education, and/or performance. Base pay is just one component of our total compensation package. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, short‑ and long‑term incentives, and program‑specific awards. This position is bonus eligible.

What We Offer

• Attractive compensation and comprehensive benefits packages. Check out our full list of benefits here.
• Generous paid time off.
• Complimentary subscriptions to HBO Max, Paramount+, and other Skydance streaming services and digital news products.
• Robust employee engagement opportunities, including access to exclusive screenings and events, speaker series, volunteer activities and more.

Skydance is an equal opportunity employer (EOE)

We embrace the opportunity to build a workforce that reflects a wide array of perspectives, backgrounds and experiences. Being an equal opportunity employer means that we take seriously our responsibility to consider qualified candidates on the basis of merit. In line with the laws of the country or region in which the role is based, this includes consideration without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, physical or mental disability, genetic information, military or protected veteran status, union status or any other category protected by applicable law.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation during the job application and/or recruitment process. You can request reasonable accommodations by calling 212.846.5500 or by sending an email to . Only messages left for this purpose will be returned.