Art Director - RPM

Art Director

Reports to Steven Tartick, ECD



THE OPPORTUNITY:

RPM is a dynamic new full-service ad agency with a bold vision for the live entertainment space. Our team of experienced industry professionals aims to create a trust-filled partnership with clients, focusing on clear communication, streamlined workflow and creative that captures the imagination. We are looking to expand our team with people who share this passion for the new and uncharted. Clients include the Broadway shows Hamilton, Chicago, Waitress, Moulin Rouge!, The Cher Show, Burn This, plus Second Stage Theater, American Ballet Theatre and Blue Man Group.



THE ROLE:

The Art Director is our chief designer, responsible for our creative team's visual executions from concept to final execution. Lead among the responsibilities is the design of branding and key art for world-class live entertainment. This includes creating top-level campaign design, ensuring that the brand’s look and feel translates across digital, A/V, out-of-home, print and social content. Many projects will require the Art Director to personally create sophisticated comps, while at other times they will manage a team of designers to execute work fully to their standards. The Art Director will report to the Executive Creative Director and work hand-in-hand with the copywriter on campaign strategy and development.



THE RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Design industry-leading brands for our live entertainment clients

- Utilize strategy to create thoughtful, unexpected and effective key art that can fluidly span across all mediums

- Present new campaigns to clients

- Work directly on the design of major advertising collateral across all clients

- Frequently review materials before they leave the door, ensuring high quality and brand consistency

- Provide leadership and training throughout the creative department

- Educate and advocate across the entire agency on design best practices

- Create and maintain style guides



REQUIREMENTS:

- 5+ years in design, ideally in an agency environment as a Senior Designer or Art Director

- Expertise in Photoshop and related Adobe tools, with an emphasis on print-ready poster design

- Experience presenting creative to clients

- Ability to create high-quality comps in a timely manner

- Experience collaborating on digital and A/V projects

- Interest in New York theater, arts and culture scene

- A true problem solver who is able to anticipate roadblocks and offer solutions

- Late-night, early-morning and weekend work will be required at times



YOUR TYPICAL DAY AT THE OFFICE:

After catching up on some emails and Slacks, you check in with the Production Manager and Junior Designer on the latest round of edits for a new out-of-home ad campaign that's releasing later that day. After providing some feedback, you head to your weekly meeting with the Executive Creative Director to talk through this week's priorities. There's a lot in store: The photographer for Sunday's shoot needs some lighting reference, a logo redesign for a long-running show is just getting started with an external designer, and a key art presentation for an upcoming Broadway play needs to be completed. You head out to lunch before tackling these projects. The afternoon is largely spent on the key art exploration, with a few hours spent designing a handful of comps. You end the day with calls to the logo designer and a client before making your way home.



HOW DO YOU DEFINE SUCCESS?

A successful Art Director at RPM will move the live entertainment industry forward with sharp design savvy and progressive creative thinking. Clients will enjoy collaborating on innovative campaigns with the AD, and fellow RPM employees will find this person thoughtful and solution-oriented. This position will require dedicated work in a fast-moving environment, and the successful AD will thrive by balancing the practical needs of the agency with their artistic vision.