[FT, Hybrid, Chicago, IL] - Creative Director, Visual Design @ The Art Institute of Chicago

[Abigail Jackson Smith]

Questions? Feel free to email me! abi...@peopleovereverything.com

Apply here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3338501258

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Title: Creative Director, Visual Design

Team: Experience Design

Reports To: Executive Creative Director, Experience Design

Primary Location: Chicago, IL

MISSION

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.

VALUES

All staff members are expected to embrace the museum’s commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable institution and to adhere to the museum’s shared values.

• Our museum reflects and deepens our collective humanity; the arts are integral to an inspired and just society.
• We respect and acknowledge each of our colleagues’ contributions and expertise across all roles within our organization.
• We share in the responsibility to create an antiracist culture built on equity, inclusion, and justice for all, acknowledging that these efforts are intersectional and ongoing.
• We encourage and advance a culture of hospitality, empathy, and gratitude for each visitor, supporter, and member of our staff.
• We embrace innovation and foster change with a progressive understanding of—and obligation to reconsider—our past.
• We sustain an open and dynamic civic platform, inviting and advancing the diverse perspectives of our city, staff, visitors, and supporters.

ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT

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 Creative 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 Creative 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 Creative Director represents AIC’s design program at conferences, online and in the community.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Being present on-site for installations and key stakeholder work sessions and meetings
• Holding or operating ladders or small step-stools to take measurements or aid in installations
• Transporting materials to be installed around areas of the museum (may include rolls of vinyl or medium-to-large pieces of signage)

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.
• 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.

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

The Art Institute of Chicago is an equal opportunity, equal access employer fully committed to achieving a diverse and inclusive workplace. We believe in a staff culture that benefits from a wide range of experience, backgrounds, and career paths, and we encourage nontraditional candidates to apply.

APPLY

Apply via LinkedIn or by emailing the following materials to he...@peopleovereverything.com with 'AIC - Creative Director' in the subject line:

• Your CV / Resume / Portfolio / LinkedIn link
• A cover letter telling us about yourself and why you are interested in this role