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Visual Design Creative Director

The Art Institute of Chicago
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Introduction

The Art Institute of Chicago shares its singular collections with our city and the world. We collect, care for, and interpret works of art across time, cultures, geographies, and identities, centering the vision of artists and makers. We recognize that all art is made in a particular context, demanding continual, dynamic reconsideration in the present. We are a place of gathering; we foster the exchange of ideas and inspire an expansive, inclusive understanding of human creativity.  

Position Summary

The Experience Design team is the creative studio at the heart of the museum, hosting a multidisciplinary team of visual designers, architects, video and audio producers, developers, project managers and integration specialists. The Visual Design team is responsible for all things visual in the museum—ranging from exhibits, to print materials, digital products, environmental and service design, and brand.

ABOUT THE POSITION
The Creative Director is responsible for leading the design practice — encompassing digital, environmental, and visual identity design — at one of the largest fine arts museums in North America. The creative director guides the process through the many stages of design, starting with research and prototyping, and moving through to production, documentation, and iteration.
The design team works across media at the museum, covering the physical environment, with print, environmental design, and wayfinding, as well as the digital environment of UX and UI for the web, apps, and interactives. With a digital ecosystem that welcomes millions of users every year, the position requires a mastery in digital practices, such as product design, design systems, agile development, and an understanding of the basics of web technology. The Art Institute of Chicago welcomes over 1.5 million visitors in person every year, who explore over a million square feet of gallery space. The creative director is a world-class professional knowledgeable about physical environments and understands that every piece of media—whether it’s a gallery design or a menu—is an expression of our brand and values.
As a leader in the museum, the creative director cultivates and guides creative staff, always looking for innovation and the best solution to a design challenge. As a thought leader in the field, the director is active in the industry, sharing ideas, recruiting talent, and representing the museum on a global stage. The creative director is a visionary with a passion for how design can express an idea and how that idea can impact the visitor experience. 

RESPONSIBILITIES:
  • Manage creative staff and creative culture. As a manager, the creative director is responsible for supporting and sustaining an environment where creativity can thrive. This involves supervising a staff of designers and production staff, providing thoughtful feedback, active listening, advocating for the team, promoting collaboration across departments, and supporting the team with professional development opportunities. Reviews applicant materials to identify candidates for interviews; conducts candidate interviews; provides recommendations as part of the hiring process.
  • Advocate for consistent processes. The creative director comes to the table with a proven creative process that will adapt to the needs of the museum. The process is well documented, adaptable, and scalable.
  • Cultivate the museum’s visual language. The design team should be equipped with an expansive visual vocabulary that finds the best solution for the design challenge. The creative director helps to cultivate a language that includes (but is not limited to) iconography, illustration, interactives, infographics, gifs, timelines, maps, typography, color, page harmony, and time-based media. In addition, the creative director is responsible for monitoring the brand’s visual application, while growing, scaling, and innovating with the brand language as the museum evolves.
  • Embrace design for the physical and the digital realm. The director should have a strong understanding of identity and narrative design for both 3D and digital spaces. For environmental graphic design, this includes conceptual thinking, visual ideation, prototyping, content research, and production for 3D spaces. For digital design, this includes a strong fluency with wireframing, prototyping, and digital integration.
  • Establish a strong environment for collaboration. Working across departments, partners with curators, educators, publishers, and exhibit designers to find the best visual expression for an idea. The director instills confidence and inspiration with collaborators, while delivering great ideas on time and budget.
  •  Represent the museum with thought leadership. The creative director is a leader on a global level, learning from innovators around the world and bringing back the best ideas. The director represents AIC’s design program at conferences, online and in the community.


Qualifications

  • 5-10 years in a design leadership position, ideally with experience in the non-profit or cultural sector. Higher level education degree in design or related practice.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage creative staff and processes. Minimum 2 years supervising design staff required.
  • Excellent communication skills. Whether through written or visual language, a proven ability to communicate ideas economically and effectively.
  • Demonstrated self starter who takes initiative and acts independently.
  • Software skills: Adobe creative suite, especially illustrator, photoshop, and indesign. Figma or sketch for digital design. In-depth knowledge of resources for typography, color, and grid systems. Light familiarity with 3D tools, such as Sketchup, is a plus.


Benefits

We offer a competitive, comprehensive benefits package:
  • 5+ weeks of paid time off
  • Paid holidays (up to 14 days)
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • Generous parental, caregiver, and medical leave benefits
  • Competitive retirement plan (up to 9% matching contribution)
  • Tuition remission and Tuition Exchange Program
  • Great employee discounts
  • Complimentary general admission to participating cultural institutions


Apply at:
https://hrweb.artic.edu/psp/HRPRODE/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM_FL.HRS_CG_SEARCH_FL.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST_FL&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=11357&PostingSeq=1

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