Motion Art Director — Lead Creative & Team Mentor

The Heist; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

In-office Monday-Thursday

Remote Fridays

Dog-friendly office

401k matching

Unlimited coffee

Health benefits

Team-building events

Paid vacation

Office lunches

Company swag

Job summary

The Heist in Chicago is seeking an Art Director, Motion to lead with vision across a range of motion design projects. In a hybrid role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including storyboarding and directing motion designers.

You’ll mentor junior talent, collaborate with creative directors and producers, and push creative boundaries while delivering high-caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, and experiential campaigns.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in motion design or animation, with leadership exposure.
• Strong visual storytelling, typography, color theory, and design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead concept development and the realization of creative direction for motion projects
• Create styleframes and storyboards that define tone, motion language, and aesthetic
• Oversee/guide and participate in the execution of 3D/2D motion graphics, ensuring quality and cohesion
• Collaborate with creative directors, producers, and designers to shape campaign narratives
• Give thoughtful and actionable feedback that elevates the work
• Direct small to mid-size teams of animators and designers across various projects
• Contribute to pitch decks, treatments, and new business efforts when needed
• Stay ahead of industry trends, tools, and techniques to continuously elevate our creative output

Skills

Art direction

Leadership

Motion design

Storyboarding

Cinema 4D

Redshift

After Effects

Team mentorship

Tools

Cinema 4D

Redshift

After Effects

Illustrator

Photoshop

Premiere

Houdini

XParticles

Marvelous Designer

Substance Painter

Job description

The Heist in Chicago is seeking an Art Director, Motion to lead with vision across a range of motion design projects. In a hybrid role, you’ll take ideas from concept to execution, including storyboarding and directing motion designers.

You’ll mentor junior talent, collaborate with creative directors and producers, and push creative boundaries while delivering high-caliber 3D and 2D content for social, branded, and experiential campaigns.