Associate Director, Visual Design (Digital & E-Commerce)

WHY DEPT®?

We are a Growth Invention company built to help the world’s most ambitious brands grow faster. Operating at the intersection of technology and marketing, we create what is next by pioneering ideas, acting fast, and moving further because standing still just is not in our DNA.

We are drawn to people who stay curious, move with intent, and never stop inventing. Our culture runs on three values: better together, relentlessly curious, and get sh*t done. It is how we work, how we grow, and how we make things that matter.

At DEPT®, you will find the freedom to explore, the space to collaborate, and the trust to make a real impact for our clients, for each other, and for the world we are helping to build.

THE ROLE:

Associate Director, Visual Design (Digital & E-commerce)

The Associate Director, Visual Design, is a cornerstone of our creative leadership, tasked with defining the Digital North Star for an iconic American modern luxury brand. This isn't just a role for a master craftsperson; but for a strategic visionary who can translate business objectives into world-class visual ecosystems, content narratives and e-commerce experiences. You won't just meet benchmarks; you will redefine them.

You will sit at the intersection of storytelling, culture and performance-driven commerce, ensuring that every touchpoint—from immersive landing pages to the checkout flows are cohesive, future-proof, and disruptive. You are expected to be a "force multiplier", elevating the output of every designer you touch through rigorous critique, high-level systems thinking, and an unwavering commitment to craft.

As part of the creative leadership team, you will play a crucial role in executing the digital strategy for this account. You’ll ensure that short-term wins never compromise the long-term future-thinking of the brand.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Closely collaborate with multidisciplinary teams of talented people.
• Set the overarching visual strategy and design principles that guide the entire creative department across all touchpoints (digital, brand, and product).
• Oversee the evolution of our global design systems, ensuring they are scalable, accessible, and reflect the highest level of visual sophistication.
•  Act as a primary creative partner to C-suite executives and key client stakeholders, using design as a lever to solve complex business challenges.
• Partner with cross-functional leaders to ensure technical feasibility and strategic alignment from ideation to launch.
• Serve as an evangelist for design excellence both internally and externally, staying ahead of industry trends and emerging technologies (AI, spatial design, etc.) to keep the agency/company at the cutting edge.
• Refine design workflows and philosophies to improve the quality of output while maintaining organizational agility and profitability.
• Bring a fresh, insightful point of view that inspires both the internal team and the client, putting the team and client first.
• Generate strategic insights and moodboards to facilitate creative innovation.
• Drive complex digital projects from kick-off to completion, ensuring the team's deliverables exceed client expectations and stay within budget and deadlines. 
• Establish project direction, craft guidelines, and assist with production as needed.
• Identify key client decision-makers and leverage excellent interpersonal skills to grow and maintain these relationships, collaborating across all internal departments and external stakeholders to achieve desired results.
• Actively contribute to the design discipline through mentoring, conversation, and proposing ideas to elevate company operations and improve processes.

WHAT YOU BRING:

• 8+ years of experience in visual and interactive design for global brands, with at least 4 years in a dedicated leadership position in either agency or in-house teams.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Design, Visual Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Strong knowledge and experience in global websites, emails and digital marketing. 
• Experience working with brands in the fashion, beauty or luxury category.
• Experience with art direction and content creation for global brands.
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