SR Art Director - CGI

thelab; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

thelab seeks a Senior Art Director – CGI to lead creative direction and execution of CGI content across client campaigns within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled ecosystem. You will mentor CGI artists, shape visual standards, and drive innovations that balance artistic excellence with production efficiency.

You will collaborate with creative, production, technology, and client teams to deliver high-impact CGI solutions while staying aligned with brand guidelines and evolving AI-enhanced workflows.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Arts, Computer Graphics, Animation, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of experience in CGI, digital design, advertising, or creative production.
• Proven experience leading creative teams and delivering large-scale CGI projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional art direction and photorealistic CGI work.

Responsibilities

• Lead the creative direction for CGI projects from concept through final delivery.
• Define the visual style, quality standards, and creative vision for digital content across client accounts.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Account Teams, Production, and AI Developers to deliver innovative solutions.
• Provide art direction and mentorship to CGI artists across modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
• Review creative work throughout production, providing clear and constructive feedback to ensure high quality.

Skills

CGI Art Direction

Team Leadership

Creative Direction

Collaboration

AI-enabled tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design / Digital Arts / Computer Graphics / Animation

Tools

Autodesk Maya

Blender

Cinema 4D

3ds Max

Adobe Creative Cloud

Substance 3D Suite

Job description

Position Summary:

The Senior Art Director – CGI leads the creative vision and execution of CGI content across client campaigns, ensuring exceptional visual quality, brand consistency, and production excellence. Working within HOME, Wellcom's AI-enabled production ecosystem, this role partners with creative, production, technology, and client teams to develop innovative CGI solutions that blend artistic direction with emerging technologies.

As a senior creative leader, you will oversee the development of high-impact visual assets, mentor CGI artists, and help shape the evolution of AI-enhanced creative workflows. You will ensure that technology supports—not replaces—creative excellence while driving innovation across the production pipeline.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the creative direction for CGI projects from concept through final delivery.
• Define the visual style, quality standards, and creative vision for digital content across a variety of client accounts.
• Collaborate with Creative Directors, Account Teams, Production, and AI Developers to deliver innovative, client-focused solutions.
• Provide art direction and mentorship to CGI artists across modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering, and compositing.
• Review creative work throughout production, providing clear and constructive feedback to ensure the highest standards of quality.
• Partner with HOME development teams to evaluate AI-enabled creative tools and identify opportunities to enhance CGI workflows.
• Ensure consistency with client brand guidelines while encouraging creative innovation.
• Balance creative excellence with production efficiency, timelines, and business objectives.
• Present creative concepts and visual solutions to internal stakeholders and clients.
• Stay informed on emerging CGI technologies, rendering techniques, and AI advancements that can strengthen creative production.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Arts, Computer Graphics, Animation, or equivalent professional experience.
• 8+ years of experience in CGI, digital design, advertising, or creative production.
• Proven experience leading creative teams and delivering large-scale CGI projects.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional art direction and photorealistic CGI work.
• Deep understanding of composition, lighting, color theory, typography, and visual storytelling.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced production environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience within advertising agencies, creative production studios, or retail and e-commerce production environments.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted creative workflows and emerging generative AI technologies.
• Experience collaborating with production, technology, and software development teams.
• Knowledge of virtual production, real-time rendering, or interactive media.
• Experience mentoring multidisciplinary creative teams.
• Understanding of production pipeline optimization and workflow automation.

Technical Skills:

Creative & CGI

• Autodesk Maya
• Blender
• Cinema 4D
• 3ds Max
• Adobe Creative Cloud
• Substance 3D Suite

Rendering & Visualization

• Arnold
• V-Ray
• Redshift
• Unreal Engine
• Physically Based Rendering (PBR)
• HDRI Lighting

Production & Collaboration

• Creative direction
• Art direction
• Creative reviews
• Production workflows
• Brand systems
• Digital asset management

Emerging Technologies

• AI-assisted creative workflows
• Prompt engineering (preferred)
• Workflow automation
• Familiarity with HOME AI tools and production technologies

Success in This Role:

A successful Senior Art Director – CGI will:

• Deliver world-class CGI that elevates client brands and creative campaigns.
• Inspire and mentor creative teams while fostering collaboration across disciplines.
• Balance artistic excellence with production efficiency and scalability.
• Identify opportunities to integrate AI into CGI workflows while preserving creative integrity.
• Help shape the future of HOME by championing innovation, quality, and continuous improvement across AI-enabled creative production.