Freelance Design Director – Brand & Experiential

Complex; New York (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 138,000; Full time

Job summary

Complex is seeking a freelance Design Director to elevate the Branded Art and Design team. You will lead concepting, art direction, and execution across digital, print, and experiential campaigns, shaping visuals from ideation to finished products.

You will mentor designers, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and ensure brand integrity across all channels for ComplexCon and other major campaigns.

Qualifications

• Minimum 6-8 years of graphic design experience and art direction within the last 3-4 years at an agency, media publisher, or in-house brand.
• Fluent knowledge of current design trends across digital, print, experiential, and product.
• Strong understanding of pop culture, fashion, music, events and streetwear movements.

Responsibilities

• Craft thoughtful executions from forward-thinking video, photo, and social campaigns to immersive events.
• Lead and mentor design teams, guiding internal and external designers towards high-quality visuals.
• Translate brand guidelines into iconic visuals across digital and physical media.
• Present concepts to senior leaders and clients, securing buy-in and direction.
• Collaborate with product, experiential, and account teams to deliver end-to-end campaigns.
• Ensure on-brand tone, timing, and quality across all deliverables.

Skills

Graphic design

Art direction

Brand storytelling

Time management

Communication

Collaboration

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Photoshop

Illustrator

After Effects

Figma

SketchUp

ReadyMag

Google Slides

3D rendering

Job description

Complex is seeking a freelance Design Director to elevate the Branded Art and Design team. You will lead concepting, art direction, and execution across digital, print, and experiential campaigns, shaping visuals from ideation to finished products.

You will mentor designers, collaborate with cross-functional partners, and ensure brand integrity across all channels for ComplexCon and other major campaigns.