Associate Design Director

WHO WE ARE  Hook is a Creative Production Agency. With a collaborative, maker-centric team, and an emphasis on production-led design, we develop creative campaigns, short-form content, and websites for well known brands. Our mission is to integrate creative and production to help grow brands faster. But we believe what’s most important are the people who work with us and the experience they have along the way. We want clients to think of us as the best agency they’ve ever worked with, and we want everyone at Hook to feel like this is the best job they’ve had yet.    WHAT’S AN ASSOCIATE DESIGN DIRECTOR AT HOOK? Hook is seeking a hands-on Associate Design Director to join one of our west coast teams.  Associate Design Directors are experienced leaders who expertly use design to exceed client goals, while working within the guard rails of existing brand marketing strategies. They operate alongside creative and motion teams, providing a client-facing fluency in visual languages, to produce industry-leading advertising content for both static and animated mediums.  They are driven experts with a passion for making premium, ground-breaking work and a commitment to fostering the talents of the employees they collaborate with. They are fearless executors who elevate the work into uncharted creative territories without hesitation. They’re fundamentalists when it comes to digital design, but approach projects with rational and innovative mindsets, always mindful of how it looks and how it works.  Associate Design Directors are ready for hands-on projects at every stage of the life cycle, from brainstorming creative concepts with the project team and developing original campaigns, to participating in client presentations and ensuring deadlines are met, to producing functional prototypes and assets all the way to launch. Conceptually speaking, Associate Design Directors have a well established process for concept development including, but not limited to, building visual presentations, storyboards and prototypes to show solutions and context to peers, leadership and clients. Executionally speaking, Associate Design Directors at Hook can confidently execute and scale their concepts. They lend expert-level technical skills and knowledge of the digital production process to pixel-perfect client delivery, on time and on spec. While this role would oversee tactical production workstreams, the primary responsibilities will focus on strategic and conceptual visual design challenges for national and global brands/campaigns. With an existing design team in place, and opportunities to recruit additional talent, previous experience with team and project leadership within a rapid production environment will be a critical skill. Given the close proximity to marketing clients, being an excellent communicator and an overall joy-to-work-with will also go a long way toward success.  As this client is based on the West Coast, this person must have the flexibility to work around PST hours. WHAT YOU’LL DO  Demonstrate a working mastery of visual design and brand systems. Execute and manage original, persuasive, conceptual and visually compelling design work with an expertise in layout, typography, and brand identity design. Lead projects with a focus on complex brand campaigns and storytelling through motion design. Expertise in communicating brand narratives through storyboards and styleframes. Inspire and provide mentorship to design staff toward the goal of accelerating skill progression through a culture of collaboration, experimentation and knowledge sharing. Fluently speak the language of design with both clients and creatives enabling effective feedback and direction. Demonstrate emotional intelligence in all meetings and communications. Work closely with internal staff to ensure design work exceeds client expectations. Maintain and promote an internal awareness of industry design references and standards with a strong focus on processes and tools. Cultivate a sense of ownership that elevates the standards and quality of all work achieved by the designers. Partner with motion leads to streamline processes to create optimal and efficient working environments for the whole team.  Demonstrate an ability to juggle multiple projects at the same time while maintaining clear vision of priorities, overseeing a team of designers and making sure everything is pixel perfect before facing the client.   WHAT YOU’LL NEED 8+ years of experience working in an advertising agency and/or recognized brand Demonstrate a high level of craftsmanship in design, with experience working on design solutions for brand development. Have outstanding communication and presentation skills. Imaginative, collaborative, conceptual and curious. Have an optimistic outlook toward client revisions, knowing when and how to offer opportunities to push boundaries creatively. Generate and maintain enthusiasm for ideas within the agency as they move from concept to execution. While prior experience working directly with tech brands is not a mandatory requirement, it is certainly considered a valuable asset and a significant advantage for potential candidates. Be a master of Photoshop and Illustrator, fluent in Figma, as well as emerging interactive design trends (knowledge of AI image gen tools, Prototyping, Webflow, After Effects and Blender or Cinema 4d a plus). Have an enthusiasm for team leadership and mentorship. While this role will not be asked to manage anyone in the short-term, there will be potential for direct reports long-term. Must have an interest in eventually growing into a people manager.   WHAT ELSE Qualified applicants will include a resume and a statement of interest that lets us learn a little more about you. We are a remote first organization with a “work from wherever (within the US)” approach. We're a collaborative group of people who love the internet and want to create phenomenal work. Company benefits include health, dental, matching 401k, paid vacation and holidays, and more.  At Hook we value what makes everyone different, we look for the best talent no matter the background. We know that great work requires diverse perspectives which is why we strive to create a place of belonging where everyone can express who they are. Come join us! Hook believes in compensation transparency and equity. We’ve designed a 10-level advancement framework that’s applied consistently across disciplines and departments and aligns to location-based salary ranges. This role is leveled as a L7. During the interview process we’ll review your location, skills, experience, and other relevant factors to determine where you fall within our leveling framework and corresponding salary ranges. Please follow this link to learn more.