Art Director, Motion

About the role

Thinkingbox is looking for an Art Director to join The Heist, our dedicated studio for motion design, live action, and post-production. You will guide the visual identity of projects ranging from social media content to large-scale experiential campaigns while managing a team of animators and designers. This position requires a balance of hands-on creative execution and high-level project leadership.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Develop creative concepts and define the visual direction for motion projects.
• Produce storyboards and styleframes to establish aesthetic and motion standards.
• Supervise the production of 2D and 3D motion graphics to ensure high quality.
• Partner with producers and creative directors to build campaign narratives.
• Provide constructive feedback to team members to improve project outcomes.
• Manage and direct small to mid-sized creative teams.
• Support business development by contributing to pitch decks and creative treatments.
• Monitor industry developments to improve internal creative processes.

Requirements

• 7+ years of professional experience in animation or motion design.
• 1+ to 2 years of experience in a leadership or senior capacity.
• A portfolio showcasing advanced art direction across various platforms and styles.
• Proficiency in Cinema 4D, Redshift, and the Adobe Creative Suite including After Effects, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Premiere.
• Strong grasp of design fundamentals, including typography, color theory, and visual storytelling.
• Ability to mentor junior staff while managing production timelines.

Nice to have

• Experience with Houdini, XParticles, Marvelous Designer, or Substance Painter.

Skills & tools

• Cinema 4D
• Redshift
• Adobe Creative Suite
• Motion design leadership
• Storyboarding and styleframing

Practical notes

• Office schedule: Monday through Thursday in-office, with optional remote work on Fridays.
• Benefits include 401k matching, comprehensive extended health coverage, and flexible time off for vacation and sick leave.
• Office perks include dog-friendly facilities, catered lunches, and unlimited snacks and coffee.
• The company provides access to industry events, professional development, and employee recognition programs.
• Flex work and travel options are available.