Creative Director [AQ-26187]

Aquent; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent seeks a visionary storyteller to shape strategic and creative direction for major brand campaigns in a dynamic freelance-style collaboration. Design immersive attendee journeys that captivate audiences and drive real business impact in live events and experiential marketing on a global scale.

Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to move from concept to pitch, winning new business and delivering exceptional experiences.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in experiential marketing or related agency environment.
• Ability to independently develop original experiential concepts from brief to pitch.
• Deep understanding of attendee journeys, branding, spatial design, and live event production.
• Experience delivering concepts within defined budgets with cross-functional collaboration.
• Strong storytelling, presentation, and communication skills with a standout portfolio.
• Portfolio demonstrating your role in concept development.

Responsibilities

• Lead creative ideation and concept development for high-profile client RFPs and programs.
• Develop cohesive event themes, narratives, and attendee journey strategies.
• Collaborate with production leads to map engagement moments from arrival to departure.
• Identify opportunities for storytelling, technology integration, and immersive experiences.
• Establish creative direction and visual identities, including mood boards and branding concepts.
• Provide art direction to designers and external partners to ensure brand consistency.

Skills

Experiential marketing

Event creative direction

Brand experiences

Storytelling

Portfolio development

Job description

Partnering with Aquent, a premier global business travel and event services organization, we are looking for a visionary storyteller who can turn a blank canvas into an unforgettable, immersive brand experience. In this dynamic freelance role, you will have the unique opportunity to shape the strategic and creative vision for major brand campaigns, designing meaningful attendee journeys that captivate audiences and drive real business impact. By joining forces with a world-class creative and production team, your innovative ideas will define the future of live events and experiential marketing on a global scale.

The Opportunity

This is your chance to dive deep into major client RFPs, defining overarching event themes, visual identities, and interactive touchpoints that elevate the entire attendee experience. From initial concept to final pitch, your strategic thinking and artistic direction will play a pivotal role in winning new business and delivering exceptional live events. You will collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams to bring fresh, innovative ideas to life, making a tangible impact on how audiences connect with world-class brands.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead creative ideation and concept development for high-profile client RFPs, proposals, and confirmed programs, translating business objectives into original experiential concepts.
• Develop cohesive event themes, creative narratives, and strategies that seamlessly connect across the entire attendee journey.
• Collaborate closely with production leads to map out meaningful moments of engagement from arrival to departure.
• Identify innovative opportunities for storytelling, personalization, technology integration, immersive environments, and interactive experiences.
• Establish creative direction and event visual identities, including mood boards, branding concepts, environmental design, and experiential touchpoints.
• Provide art direction and guidance to graphic designers, creative freelancers, and external partners to ensure brand consistency across all deliverables.
• Lead the creative development of client-facing proposals and pitch presentations, translating complex ideas into compelling visual and written narratives.
• Partner with sales, production, and content teams to ensure concepts are strategically relevant, financially viable, and operationally achievable.
• Present and articulate creative concepts confidently to internal stakeholders and clients, explaining the strategic thinking behind your recommendations.

Required Skills & Experience

• 7 to 10+ years of experience in experiential marketing, event creative direction, brand experiences, or a related creative agency environment.
• Proven ability to independently develop original experiential concepts from initial client brief through creative pitch and execution.
• Deep understanding of experiential strategy, attendee journey mapping, branding, environmental design, and live event production.
• Experience developing creative concepts within defined budgets while collaborating with multidisciplinary production and design teams.
• Exceptional storytelling, presentation, and communication skills, with a strong portfolio demonstrating original creative thinking and executed experiences.
• A portfolio that showcases your individual role in developing concepts, illustrating the creative journey from brief to final execution.

Client Description

This is a W2 full-time, contract role with benefits.