Art Director, Motion

About the role

Thinkingbox is actively seeking an Art Director to join The Heist, our dedicated studio for motion design, live action, and post-production. In this capacity, you will own the visual identity of projects that span social media content, commercials, and large-scale experiential campaigns. The role demands a rare combination of hands-on craft and strategic leadership as you guide complex creative workflows. You will be responsible for translating abstract ideas into cohesive visual languages that resonate across diverse audiences. This position is ideal for a professional who thrives on balancing detailed execution with big-picture creative oversight. You will play a key role in shaping how brands move, breathe, and connect visually. Success in this role will be measured by the clarity of your artistic direction and the quality of the work produced by your team.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Conceptualize and define the visual language for motion projects across a variety of media and formats.
• Translate abstract campaign goals into compelling storyboards and detailed styleframes that set clear aesthetic and motion standards.
• Lead the production of 2D and 3D motion graphics, ensuring every deliverable meets a consistently high bar for quality and polish.
• Collaborate closely with producers and creative directors to build robust campaign narratives that align with business objectives.
• Conduct thorough reviews of team work, providing specific and actionable feedback that drives measurable project improvements.
• Recruit, manage, and direct small to mid-sized creative teams, fostering an environment of accountability and excellence.
• Contribute directly to business development efforts by crafting high-impact pitch decks and sophisticated creative treatment documents.
• Track and analyze emerging industry tools and trends, integrating relevant insights to enhance internal creative processes and standards.
• Serve as the primary visual authority for projects, making final decisions on composition, pacing, and overall artistic integrity.
• Ensure all creative assets are delivered on schedule and adhere to the established brand guidelines and technical requirements.
• Mentor junior animators and designers, helping them grow their technical skills and artistic judgment within a production context.
• Facilitate cross-functional communication to ensure that creative, production, and technical teams remain aligned throughout each project phase.
• Maintain a living archive of style guides and motion templates to ensure consistency and efficiency across future campaigns.
• Evaluate project outcomes post-delivery, identifying lessons learned and opportunities to refine the team's creative methodology.

Requirements

• Possess a minimum of 7 years of professional experience working in animation or motion design roles.
• Have at least 1 year of experience in a leadership or senior capacity, demonstrating the ability to guide others effectively.
• Present a portfolio that showcases advanced art direction across a wide range of platforms, genres, and visual styles.
• Demonstrate expert level proficiency in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and the full Adobe Creative Suite, including After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere.
• Show a strong, intuitive grasp of foundational design principles such as typography, color theory, and visual storytelling.
• Prove you can mentor junior staff members while simultaneously managing complex production timelines under pressure.
• Exhibit a meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to delivering work that meets rigorous technical and aesthetic standards.
• Communicate effectively in a fast-paced, collaborative environment where feedback is frequent and iterative.
• Hold the right to work in the United States and be able to perform the essential functions of the role in the Chicago office.
• Understand that this position requires a high degree of self-motivation, discipline, and reliability.

Nice to have

• Hands on experience with Houdini, XParticles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter.

Practical notes

• Office schedule requires presence Monday through Thursday in the office, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.
• Benefits package includes 401k matching, comprehensive extended health coverage, and flexible time off for both vacation and sick leave.
• The office environment provides dog-friendly facilities, catered lunches, and unlimited snacks and coffee to support daily workflow.
• Employees have access to industry events, professional development opportunities, and structured employee recognition programs.
• Flex work arrangements and travel options may be available depending on project and performance requirements.
• The successful candidate will be expected to adhere to project deadlines and participate in occasional after-hours support for major campaign launches.
• This role operates in alignment with the studio policies and procedures defined by The Heist team at Thinkingbox.