Freelance Experiential Creative Director

Aquent (United States); New York (NY); On-site; USD 96,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Aquent is seeking a freelance creative leader to transform client briefs into groundbreaking experiential events. You will shape strategic and creative vision for major brand campaigns, guiding attendee journeys and immersive environments from concept to pitch.

Collaborate with a world-class team to win new business, design mood boards and visual identities, and supervise external partners to ensure consistent brand storytelling across deliverables.

Qualifications

• 7–10+ years in experiential marketing or event creative direction, in a related agency environment.
• Proven ability to independently develop original experiential concepts from brief through pitch and execution.
• Strong portfolio showing storytelling and live event production.
• Experience managing budgets within defined limits and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams.

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 meaningful engagement moments from arrival to departure.
• Identify opportunities for storytelling, tech integration, immersive environments, and interactivity.
• Establish creative direction and visual identities, mood boards, and branding concepts.
• Provide art direction to designers and external partners to ensure brand consistency.
• Lead client-facing proposals and pitch presentations, translating ideas into compelling narratives.
• Partner with sales, production, and content teams to ensure concepts are viable and timely.

Skills

Experiential marketing

Brand experience design

Storytelling

Pitch & presentation

Independent concept development

Portfolio of work

Job description

Aquent is seeking a freelance creative leader to transform client briefs into groundbreaking experiential events. You will shape strategic and creative vision for major brand campaigns, guiding attendee journeys and immersive environments from concept to pitch.

Collaborate with a world-class team to win new business, design mood boards and visual identities, and supervise external partners to ensure consistent brand storytelling across deliverables.