Lead Creative Art Director – Brand & Experiences

Sports Careers; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 80,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) Creative is a brand-focused, concept-driven team responsible for building and evolving the HSE brand across touchpoints. The Art Director leads creative development, directs a team of designers, and ensures brand standards are applied across campaigns, digital content, and live experiences.

The role blends hands-on design with leadership, translating strategy into strong visual ideas, presenting them clearly, and owning projects from brief through delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multidisciplinary design teams.
• Strong visual judgment with brand systems.
• Experience in sports/entertainment brands preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead development of creative concepts and visual systems across channels.
• Direct and mentor a team of designers, setting priorities and quality standards.
• Provide actionable feedback to elevate work and team performance.
• Translate briefs into compelling visual ideas supporting multiple stakeholders.
• Own initiatives from concept to delivery, ensuring brand alignment and timely delivery.
• Clarify objectives, audiences, messaging, deliverables and success criteria with stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Video, Animation, Digital and other partners for integrated campaigns.
• Present concepts clearly and defend the strategic and creative rationale.

Skills

Creative leadership

Team management

Brand strategy

Art direction

Concept development

Adobe Creative Suite

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Hornets Sports & Entertainment (HSE) Creative is a brand-focused, concept-driven team responsible for building and evolving the HSE brand across touchpoints. The Art Director leads creative development, directs a team of designers, and ensures brand standards are applied across campaigns, digital content, and live experiences.

The role blends hands-on design with leadership, translating strategy into strong visual ideas, presenting them clearly, and owning projects from brief through delivery.