(Associate) Creative Director (Design/Motion)

twentysix; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Mentorship programs

Job summary

AKQA in Amsterdam is seeking an Associate Creative Director (Art/Design) to lead and inspire a team across CGI, motion design, and interactive media. You will direct CGI artists, shape concepts, and ensure cinematic, technically precise outputs that move brands globally.

Based in a studio that blends craft with strategy, you’ll collaborate with engineers, designers, and clients, push AI-enabled workflows, and mentor teams to deliver award-winning work while maintaining the highest creative

Qualifications

• Proven experience at Associate Creative Director level in art/design leadership.
• Track record delivering award‑winning work across European and global markets.
• Hands‑on craft in compositing, grading, and finishing.
• Experience with AI production and prompt-based workflows.

Responsibilities

• Lead autonomous teams to deliver cinematic vision and storytelling.
• Direct art directions for production and motion graphics.
• Collaborate across disciplines to integrate creativity with strategy.
• Present ideas clearly to clients and senior stakeholders.

Skills

Art direction

CGI production

Motion graphics

Team leadership

Creative storytelling

AI workflows

Client collaboration

Tools

Adobe Premiere

After Effects

DaVinci Resolve

Job description

The Creative team at AKQA (part of WPP) applies artistry and craftsmanship to strategic insight, bringing to life beautiful and technologically innovative ideas that move the world. From a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, our creatives are innately curious and strive to transform client challenges into groundbreaking, design-led solutions.

As an Associate Creative Director (Art/Design) in our Amsterdam studio, you’ll inspire and lead a team to craft visually striking concepts and executions across CGI, motion design, and interactive media. With a foundation in art direction and deep expertise in production, you will direct specialized CGI artists and guide cross-disciplinary teams to create cinematic, technically precise, and emotionally-resonant work. From large-scale digital platforms and motion-led brand systems, to experimental storytelling powered by emerging tools, you’ll push the boundaries of what’s possible in digital creativity.

You’re a visionary creative leader who thinks like a filmmaker, builds like a technician, and creates like a storyteller, bringing together craft, innovation, and strategy to shape work that influences culture and elevates global brands.

As part of the AKQA team and based in our Amsterdam studio, you’ll work in an environment that fosters a dynamic and inclusive culture, enabled by our multidisciplinary approach and supported by some of the brightest minds in their field. You will report to the Creative Director and collaborate closely with team leads across the studio to continually inspire, innovate, and deliver work of the highest standard.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Deliver and lead award‑winning work that meets client needs while influencing culture, blending art direction, design craft, and innovative use of technology.
• Direct and Lead autonomous teams to bring cinematic vision, technical precision, and emotional storytelling into every project — thinking like a filmmaker, building like a technician, and creating like a storyteller.
• Establish and direct creative foundations in concepting art directions for production and motion graphics, ensuring ideas are strategically sound and visually compelling.
• Ability to direct specialised CGI artists across animation, modelling, rigging, lighting, and compositing to maintain creative cohesion and quality.
• Apply craft knowledge across CGI workflows, including modelling, lighting, animatics, grading, and retouching.
• Provide hands‑on expertise in retouching, compositing, grading, and finalising large‑scale projects, guiding teams through complex production pipelines.
• Implement advanced workflows such as EXR and ACES to ensure colour accuracy, consistency, and creative control.
• Contribute to and lead the development of creative briefs, collaborating with clients and strategists to define opportunities and deliver visionary outcomes.
• Collaborate across disciplines — including design, UX, and development — to integrate creativity, craft, and strategy seamlessly into final outputs.
• Creatively lead new business pitches, presenting ideas and executions with confidence and clarity to global clients.
• Explore and implement AI‑assisted workflows (e.g., ComfyUI with open‑source models, LoRa training, Google partnerships) to push creative boundaries.
• Demonstrate proficiency in editing (Adobe Premiere, After Effects), motion retouching (DaVinci), and emerging AI generation tools.

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Proven experience at Associate Creative Director level or in a comparable art/design hybrid leadership role, with a strong background in both concepting and execution.
• A demonstrated track record of leading award‑winning creative work across European and global markets, showcasing the ability to deliver at scale and on an international stage.
• You have experience with AI production using state of the art models, knowing the pros and cons of each and what model to use, when to use what, and how to use each through JSON‑based prompting - and how to put different outputs together.
• Strong foundation in art direction and motion graphics, coupled with advanced CGI production knowledge across the full pipeline, from modelling to post‑production.
• Hands‑on craft expertise in compositing, grading, retouching, and finishing, with the ability to dive into details and elevate the final quality of work.
• Sharp eye for art direction, visual storytelling, and design excellence, ensuring all work meets the highest aesthetic and conceptual standards.
• Experienced in building and maintaining client relationships, growing partnerships through trust, creativity, and consistent delivery of exceptional results.
• Exceptional communicator with the ability to craft and deliver compelling presentations, clearly articulating creative vision, rationale, and executional guidelines.
• Recognised for representing your agency publicly—through talks, mentorship, or thought leadership—and inspiring both peers and the next generation of creatives.

Explore our extensive range of benefits here

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting‑edge media intelligence and data solutions, world‑class creativity, next‑generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.