Associate Design Director

WHO WE ARE

Based in Nashville, TN, Advent is an experiential creative firm that focuses on experiences that move people. We thrive on the meaningful connections forged at the intersection of dynamic spaces and evocative storytelling. We’re a little bit quirky, but fiercely creative problem solvers, and we relish a good challenge. If you want to hear more from our team about the kind of work we do, check out some of the case studies on our website: www.adventmovespeople.com/projects/

JOB SUMMARY

The primary goal of the Associate Design Director is to cast the strategic and creative vision for the project(s), and to lead/participate in the execution of that vision. If that piques your interest, here’s some more context:

• Responsible for establishing, developing, refining and championing the strategic and creative vision throughout the entire life cycle of the project(s).
• Must demonstrate strong creative problem solving skills and vision casting, consistently high-quality ideation, and excellent creative technical ability in 2D and 3D design.
• Must demonstrate the ability to lead some complex and architecturally integrated projects. Responsible for concept ideation and creative output that includes, but is not limited to, developing visual mood boards/inspiration, initiating high level and divergent conceptual ideas, and executing 2D and 3D design output on some projects.
• Responsible for balancing multiple projects/clients, and advocating for creative quality while balancing client, schedule and budgetary needs. Must demonstrate strong communication skills, including the ability to effectively and persuasively articulate creative intent.
• Must demonstrate collaboration and design management skills for leading and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.
• An Associate Design Director has strong creative vision and execution skills, with an aptitude for directing as much as creating.
• An Associate Design Director has the ability to manage/design 5-10 overlapping projects of medium scope and complexity, directing 1-2 designers as needed, and should split time Directing-Designing, 60-40.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary (All day, every day)

• Collaborate with the Story Team for all discovery, including leading some client interviews and performing relevant research prior to conceptual design.
• Establish the strategic and creative vision for the project that captures client and audience needs, visual direction and audience journey. Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to create audience journey maps, inspiration/ mood boards, story maps and other design narrative collateral that articulate that creative vision.
• Lead and collaborate on the design and development of new concepts that solve client problems and capture powerful storytelling through graphics, form, material and space to realize the creative vision.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to champion creative solutions while balancing budgetary and schedule needs when appropriate.
• Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) and any freelance talent to deliver the design output that best visualizes creative intent and conceptual designs (Photoshop renders, photo-realism renders, hand sketches and/or digital sketches).
• Lead client presentations, including creation of presentation decks, and co-presenting with the Experience Designer(s) when appropriate.
• Lead and collaborate on the refinement of concepts and further executions of the creative intent based on client feedback and through collaboration with the Experience Designer(s) and Delivery Team.
• Collaborate with architecture and interiors partners on space planning, schematic design, FFE, lighting, etc. to define the creative intent. Collaborate with both the internal team and external construction partners and subcontractors to coordinate all integration requirements such as blocking, power, data and other inputs as needed to uphold the creative intent.
• Lead/manage the art direction of production designers and collaborate with the Delivery Team to ensure consistency with the approved concepts and that the project implementation quality meets the standard set by the creative intent.

Secondary (Likely, just depends on the day)

• Work with the Project Manager(s) to define clear and reasonable schedules for creative deliverables, advocating for creative needs while respecting client objectives. Lead and collaborate with the Experience Designer(s) to meet those agreed upon deadlines.
• Lead and collaborate with the Project Manager(s) to foster strong client and partner relationships, including the management of client expectations when appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Delivery Team (Project Manager(s), Project Engineer(s), Technical Designer(s), Installers, and Vendor Partners) to creatively solve for budgetary, schedule, install or other constraints while upholding the quality of the creative intent.
• Attend and contribute to Live Creative Sessions with the client by ideating, sketching, asking good questions, seeking insights and solving problems. Assist the Design Director with planning and execution of these sessions.
• Provide constructive creative feedback, direction and support to the Experience Designer(s) when appropriate to foster a strong creative and collaborative environment within the project team.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & ABILITIES

Primary Softwares (You will definitely use these daily)

Keynote, Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator

Secondary Softwares (You will probably use these sometimes)

Procreate or other digital sketching software, InDesign, Google Suite

Other Softwares (You may or may not find these handy occasionally)

Bim360 / BlueBeam or other architectural collaboration tools, Enscape / 3D Max /

Lumion / Vray or other rendering software, AfterEffects or other animation/motion

media software

Must be a creative problem solver who demonstrates strong technical ability in 2D and 3D design. Must excel at thinking divergently, exploring many ideas and/or executions early in the creative process. Must demonstrate some architectural awareness and construction understanding in order to effectively cast vision and lead some complex, architecturally integrated projects. Must have strong communication skills to effectively articulate creative intent to internal team members and external clients/partners. Must demonstrate time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines consistently. Must have design management and collaboration skills to effectively lead, manage and collaborate with an interdisciplinary project team. Must demonstrate care for and attention to details large and small.

Must be a self starter with an aptitude for learning quickly. A sense of humor is preferred, but not required. A minimum of one (1) interesting hobby also preferred, but not required.

ADDITIONAL INFO

Every job has its pro’s and con’s. While we feel that the opportunities and awesomeness of the job far outweigh the negatives, we want you to know what you’re getting into! People who thrive here have and appreciate:

Curiosity

Eager to learn new skill sets/softwares/disciplines, proactively asks good (re: insightful) questions. The path to success looks different on every project.

Drive

Inspired by fresh challenges and seeks out new opportunities. Tenacious desire to learn and do better work. We believe in finding the best solution, not settling for the first one.

Autonomy

Self-starter who consistently “H.Y.S.” (handles your stuff). Don’t worry, you’ll still interact with the team daily/continuously, but you will be responsible for and trusted with important tasks to accomplish.

Variety / Quick Tempo

High volume, fast paced, divergent concept iteration. Balance overlapping projects and multiple clients. Cons: your favorite projects end far too soon. Pros: if you don’t like one project, you’ll probably have a few more that you do love.

Cool Clients

Respect for (but not intimidated by) very recognizable brands with high expectations.

The Whole Story

Empathizing with clients, their audiences and their stories. Engaging with the full life span of a project from discovery to ribbon cutting. A book’s plot isn’t determined by its first chapter or the last one—it’s built by all the chapters in between.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education

A bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Environmental/Spatial

Design, Interior Design, Architecture and/or other relevant design field is required.

Experience

5-10 years of relevant design experience is required.

Portfolio

Lastly (and most importantly!) a portfolio demonstrating the previously mentioned design capabilities in graphic design, industrial design, environmental/spatial design, exhibit design, interior design, architecture and/or other relevant design field(s) is required. Show off and show out!

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands

• Reaching, standing, walking, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motion.
• Primarily office-based work—exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, sits or stands.
• Close visual acuity to perform activities at distances close to the eye.
• Subject to activities that occur inside and outside, heat and noise.
• When working in the office, not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Travel Requirements

Medium Travel Needs. Typically 12-18 trips per year, 1-3 days per trip.

By nature, this job description cannot be exhaustive: additional responsibilities, duties, skills, efforts, requirements and working conditions may be associated with this job.

Advent, LLC is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We provide equal opportunity to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.