Art Director, Motion - The Heist

The Heist; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-office Monday-Thursday

Remote Fridays

Dog-friendly office

401k matching

Unlimited coffee

Health benefits

Team-building events

Paid vacation

Office lunches

Company swag

Job summary

The Heist in Chicago is seeking an Art Director, Motion to lead with vision across a range of motion design projects. In a hybrid role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including storyboarding and directing motion designers.

You’ll mentor junior talent, collaborate with creative directors and producers, and push creative boundaries while delivering high-caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, and experiential campaigns.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation, with leadership exposure.
• Strong visual storytelling, typography, color theory, and design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development and the realization of creative direction for motion projects
• Create styleframes and storyboards that define tone, motion language, and aesthetic
• Oversee/guide and participate in the execution of 3D/2D motion graphics, ensuring quality and cohesion
• Collaborate with creative directors, producers, and designers to shape campaign narratives
• Give thoughtful and actionable feedback that elevates the work
• Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects
• Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed
• Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate our creative output

Skills

Art direction

Leadership

Motion design

Storyboarding

Cinema 4D

Redshift

After Effects

Team mentorship

Tools

Cinema 4D

Redshift

After Effects

Illustrator

Photoshop

Premiere

Houdini

XParticles

Marvelous Designer

Substance Painter

Job description

Who We Are

Hi! We're The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, the Brief-to-Built agency.

We bring together directors, designers, animators, editors, and technologists to create work that moves. From brand films to broadcast spots to social campaigns and experiential content, our team blends craft and curiosity to push ideas further. Across our studios, collaboration is real, feedback is open, and culture matters. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so.

Who We Are

Hi! We're The Heist, the motion design, live action, and post production studio within Thinkingbox, the Brief-to-Built agency.

We bring together directors, designers, animators, editors, and technologists to create work that moves. From brand films to broadcast spots to social campaigns and experiential content, our team blends craft and curiosity to push ideas further. Across our studios, collaboration is real, feedback is open, and culture matters. We take the work seriously. Ourselves, a little less so.

The Opportunity

We're on the hunt for an Art Director, Motion who can lead with vision, inspire teams, and push creative boundaries across a variety of motion design projects. In this hybrid hands-on and leadership role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including: storyboarding, styleframing, directing motion designers, and overseeing high-caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, commercial, and experiential campaigns.

You’ll collaborate with fellow creatives and cross-functional teams to shape the visual direction of projects that range from digital micro-content to full-length animated pieces. You’ll ensure creative excellence while mentoring junior talent and maintaining efficiency and clarity throughout the production pipeline.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead concept development and the realization of creative direction for motion projects
• Create styleframes and storyboards that define tone, motion language, and aesthetic
• Oversee/guide and participate in the execution of 3D/2D motion graphics, ensuring quality and cohesion
• Collaborate with creative directors, producers, and designers to shape campaign narratives
• Give thoughtful and actionable feedback that elevates the work
• Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects
• Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed
• Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate our creative output

What You'll Bring

• A stunning portfolio demonstrating strong art direction in motion across multiple styles and platforms
• 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation, with at least 1-2 years in a senior or leadership role
• Strong background in visual storytelling, typography, color theory, and design principles
• Expertise in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, Premiere)
• Familiarity with Houdini, XParticles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter is a bonus
• Excellent communication skills - both visual and verbal
• Ability to manage timelines, provide mentorship, and balance hands‑on work with strategic thinking
• A deep passion for craft and a desire to push what’s possible in motion

Additional Info

• Monday - Thursday in office (Fridays are remote optional)
• Flexible time off, including paid vacation and sick days
• Consistent culture and team-building events
• Employee recognition and incentive programs
• Seasonal celebrations and gatherings throughout the year
• Office lunches
• Branded company swag
• Access to industry events, learning opportunities, and non-profit outreaches
• Dog-friendly offices
• Unlimited coffee, drinks, and snacks
• Flex work and travel options
• Comprehensive extended health benefits
• 401k matching

Equal Opportunity

At The Heist, we’re committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and empowered to thrive. We believe that diversity is our creative strength - it's the range of perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds that fuels our best ideas and most innovative solutions. We welcome and encourage applicants of all races, ethnicities, genders, identities, abilities, ages, sexual orientations, and backgrounds to apply. Your voice matters here.

Placement in the salary range will be based on factors such as internal equity, candidate experience, skills, and qualifications relevant to the role. If your compensation expectations fall outside of this range, we still welcome your application.