Director of Design & Creative Production

The Art Institute of Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead SAIC's design function, translating marketing objectives into strategic creative work that supports enrollment, advancement and institutional priorities.

You will oversee the design team, guide projects from concept through delivery, and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure consistency of the brand across print and digital media.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, communication design, visual communication, art, marketing, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in graphic design, creative direction, marketing communications, or a related creative field.
• Demonstrated experience leading creative projects from concept through completion, including project planning, production, and delivery.
• Experience working in an institutional, agency, higher education, arts, cultural, or similarly complex environment preferred.
• Experience developing, managing, and evolving brand guidelines and visual standards for a complex organization.
• Demonstrated skill in managing and mentoring designers or other creative professionals.
• Strong knowledge of design principles and aesthetic judgment.
• Experience with integrated print and digital design.
• Print production expertise, including QA and vendor coordination
• Experience developing workbacks, timelines, and project workflows, including Asana
• Strong communication and collaboration with stakeholders
• Process improvement and ability to manage multiple projects

Responsibilities

• Provides senior creative direction for brand, marketing, admissions, advancement, and institutional initiatives, developing concepts and visual approaches that support project goals.
• Leads the design team’s creative process from concept through completion, providing guidance, feedback, and quality control to ensure work meets a high standard of design and aligns with SAIC’s visual identity.
• Manages and mentors design staff, including assigning work, balancing workloads, establishing expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and supporting professional development.
• Owns project management and creative operations for the design team, establishing priorities, assignments, workbacks, timelines, milestones, and processes to ensure projects are delivered on schedule and within budget.
• Manages the day-to-day coordination and execution of design projects, working with internal partners, vendors, agencies, and other creative contributors to ensure projects have the information, resources, approvals, and timelines needed to move forward.
• Leads or contributes hands-on design for complex and high-priority projects across print and digital media, including campaigns, advertising, environmental graphics, merchandise, social media, and other marketing and communications materials.
• Oversees creative production and ensures the quality and accuracy of final deliverables, including print specifications, file preparation, proofs, vendor coordination, digital production, and quality assurance.
• Supports the development and evolution of SAIC’s brand guidelines, visual standards, templates, and identity systems, and work with internal partners to promote consistent application of the brand across projects and platforms.
• Manages freelance designers, agencies, vendors, and other external creative partners as needed, including providing creative direction, coordinating deliverables, reviewing work, and ensuring projects remain on scope and schedule.
• Develops and improves creative processes, project-management tools, templates, and workflows that increase efficiency, clarify responsibilities, reduce unnecessary review cycles, and support the team’s ability to manage a high volume of work.
• Stays current with design practices, production methods, emerging technologies, and trends in higher education, art and design, marketing, and communications, and apply relevant knowledge to SAIC’s creative work.

Skills

Leadership

Creative direction

Project management

Brand stewardship

Collaboration

Communication

Mentoring

Print & digital design

Education

Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, communication design, visual communication, art, marketing, or related field

Tools

Asana

Job description

The Art Institute of Chicago is seeking an Associate Director of Design and Creative Production to lead SAIC's design function, translating marketing objectives into strategic creative work that supports enrollment, advancement and institutional priorities.

You will oversee the design team, guide projects from concept through delivery, and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure consistency of the brand across print and digital media.