Art Director, Nail Brand

Kiss Products, Inc.; Port Washington (NY); On-site; USD 69,000 - 137,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium medical insurance

401(k) savings plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Job summary

Kiss Products, Inc. is seeking an Art Director to lead visual art direction for Kiss and Impress nail brands.

You will develop on-trend lifestyle and still-life concepts for press-on nails and oversee shoots from concept to final retouching, collaborating with Brand, marketing, and multimedia teams. The role requires 7–10 years in art direction for beauty or consumer brands, a strong portfolio, and proficiency with Adobe CC and Figma.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years of professional experience in art direction, with a focus on photography and visual direction for beauty, cosmetics, nail, fashion, or consumer product brands.
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Photography, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.
• Experience leading photoshoots on set, including concept development, moodboards, shot lists, model and styling direction, and image selection.
• Portfolio demonstrating lifestyle and still-life photography direction, such as model images, product and package shots, and close-up or hand imagery.
• Experience providing retouching direction, including writing retouching notes and managing outsourced retouchers through final approval.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom) and Figma or similar tools for moodboards, layouts, and image review.

Responsibilities

• Lead the visual art direction for Kiss and Impress nail brands across digital and print.
• Set on-trend lifestyle and still-life concepts for press-on nails; guide moodboards, shot lists, and lighting.
• Direct photoshoots on set with photographers; align with Brand, marketing, and product teams.
• Write retouching notes and oversee outsourced retouchers to final approval.
• Coordinate with Brand Design Teams 1 and 2 to ensure consistent photography across channels.

Skills

Art direction

Photography direction

Moodboards

Photoshoot direction

Adobe Creative Cloud

Figma

Brand storytelling

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design/Visual Communication/Photography/Fine Arts

Tools

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Lightroom

Figma

Job description

Job Description Summary:

The Art Director leads the visual art direction for the Kiss and Impress nail brands within the Nail Division. The most critical part of this role is to set, plan, and direct on-trend lifestyle and still-life photography concepts for press-on nails, including models, packaging, and hand shots, based on the Brand team’s marketing campaign direction and nail tip designs. After retouching direction, the Art Director delivers the final assets to the Design team. To do this, the role collaborates with the in-house multimedia team, the Brand team, and Brand Design Teams 1 and 2, providing competitive, aesthetic visual assets grounded in the brand guidebooks across digital and print.

Job Description:

Key Responsibilities

Visual Art Direction and Concept Development – 30%

• Lead the visual art direction for the Kiss and Impress nail brands, ensuring photography and visual assets reflect brand identity and Nail Division business goals.

• Set and plan on-trend lifestyle and still-life photography concepts for press-on nails, taking into account the Brand team’s marketing campaign direction and nail tip designs.

• Translate campaign and product goals into clear visual direction based on the brand guidebooks.

• Create moodboards and shot lists for photoshoots and visual asset production.

• Direct visual assets for digital and print, including model images, package creative shots, and hand shots.

Photoshoot Direction and Production – 30%

• Art direct photoshoots on set in partnership with the photographer, covering models, nail designs, styling, props, composition, and lighting.

• Participate in shoot kickoff discussions and align the Brand team (marketing and product) and the in-house multimedia team on concept, schedule, and deliverables.

• Communicate internally on shoot status, direction, and changes to keep stakeholders aligned.

• Select final images with a focus on nail design accuracy, product visibility, package color accuracy, and brand consistency.

Retouching Direction and Quality Control – 15%

• Write clear retouching notes and provide direction when retouching is outsourced, reviewing revisions until final approval.

• Perform final quality control on all photographic assets for color accuracy, nail and product detail, skin tone, and overall image quality.

• Organize and name final assets so the Design team, as well as web, e-commerce, and marketing teams, can use them right away.

Cross-Functional Collaboration and Creative Leadership – 15%

• Collaborate with the in-house multimedia team’s photographers, the Brand team’s marketing and product managers, and the Design team’s package and web designers to create brand visual assets.

• Work regularly with graphic and web designers on Brand Design Teams 1 and 2, providing art direction and feedback so photography is applied effectively across packaging, PDPs, banners, and campaigns.

• Report directly to the Creative Director, presenting concepts, shoot plans, and results for review and approval.

Brand Consistency, Trend Research, and Visual Standards – 10%

• Maintain visual consistency across Kiss and Impress imagery according to the brand guidebooks.

• Research beauty, nail, fashion, and social trends, and apply them to photography direction to keep brand visuals fresh and competitive.

• Contribute to the evolution of brand photography standards and reference libraries.

Required Qualifications

• 7–10 years of professional experience in art direction, with a focus on photography and visual direction for beauty, cosmetics, nail, fashion, or consumer product brands.

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Photography, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

• Experience leading photoshoots on set, including concept development, moodboards, shot lists, model and styling direction, and image selection.

• Portfolio demonstrating lifestyle and still-life photography direction, such as model images, product and package shots, and close-up or hand imagery.

• Experience providing retouching direction, including writing retouching notes and managing outsourced retouchers through final approval.

• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Lightroom) and Figma or similar tools for moodboards, layouts, and image review.

• Strong understanding of composition, lighting, color, typography, and visual storytelling across digital and print.

• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to align cross‑functional teams across creative, marketing, product, and multimedia.

• High attention to detail in color accuracy, product visibility, image quality, and final asset readiness.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in the fashion and beauty industry.

• Press-on nail photography art direction experience, including model, package creative, and hand shots.

• Experience creating visual assets for e‑commerce, DTC, Amazon, retailer, social, and print channels.

• Experience working with in‑house multimedia teams and external photographers, retouchers, and creative vendors.

• Experience building or applying brand guidebooks and photography style guides.

• Ability to translate market and social trends into practical, brand‑aligned creative concepts.

Language Proficiency

• English proficiency is required for day‑to‑day communication, project coordination, feedback review, and cross‑functional collaboration.

• Korean proficiency is preferred for communication with internal stakeholders.

Travel Expectations

• Regular travel is not expected for this role.

• Occasional travel may be required for off‑site photoshoots, meetings, training, or other work‑related tasks as needed.

Physical Requirements

• Perform primarily computer‑based creative work in an office or hybrid work environment, with on‑site presence at photoshoots as needed.

• Use a computer, design software, keyboard, mouse or tablet, and digital collaboration tools for extended periods.

• Occasionally handle, organize, or review product samples, nail products, packaging, printed materials, and photoshoot assets.

People-Management Scope

• Operate as an individual contributor with no direct people‑management responsibility.

• Report directly to the Creative Director of the Nail Business Division Design Team.

• Provide art direction and creative guidance to designers on Brand Design Teams 1 and 2, and coordinate with the multimedia team, Brand team, and external vendors.

Benefits

• Premium Medical Insurance Coverage

• 401(k) Savings Plan

• Paid Time Off (PTO) based on seniority

• Paid Holidays

Additional Workplace Offerings (subject to change or eligibility.)

• Annual Bonus Plan

• Onsite Employee Fitness Center with Indoor Racquetball Court and Yoga Room

• Summer Fridays

• Complimentary Gourmet Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

• Relocation Support for New Hires

• Work Anniversary Recognitions

• Congratulatory & Condolence Gifts

• Employee Referral Bonus Program

• License/Certification Reimbursements

• Corporate Employee Discounts

• Visa Sponsorships (100% paid by the company) i.e., New H-1B, H-1B Transfer, O-1, and Green Card

• Commuter Support (Shuttle Bus Program and EZPass Support)

• Vehicle Perks

Qualification(s):

Education(s):

Bachelor of Arts (B.A): Visual Communication

Work Experience:

Experience Range III: 4 - 8 years of relevant experience or industry exposure in a related field 

Skill(s):

Art Direction, Photography Direction

Language(s):

English

Certification(s):

Not Applicable

The anticipated compensation range is

69,000.00 - 137,000.00 USD Annual

Actual compensation will be determined based on various factors including qualifications, education, experience, and location. The pay range is subject to change at any time dependent on a variety of internal and external factors.

Kiss Nail Products, Inc., KDC GA Corp., Ivy Enterprises, Inc., AST Systems, LLC, Red Beauty, Inc., or Dae Do, Inc. (collectively, the “Company”) is an equal‑to me? (??)