Art Director — T: The New York Times Style Magazine MENA
- Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Posted yesterday
About the role
Overview
ITP Media Group is hiring an Art Director to lead the visual identity and design execution of T: The New York Times Style Magazine MENA across print, digital, social, video, audio, and live experiences. Reporting to the Editor‑in‑Chief, the Art Director will drive the visual agenda, translate editorial ideas into striking, culturally resonant design, and uphold world‑class standards in line with the global T brand while building a distinct regional aesthetic.
Key Responsibilities
Visual Vision & Brand Stewardship
Working with our Group Art Director, define and codify T MENA’s visual language across all platforms—typography, colour, grid, photography, illustration, motion, and UI/UX—balancing global T guidelines with a distinctive MENA sensibility.
Own and maintain brand style guides, design systems, and component libraries for print and digital; ensure consistent application across English and Arabic outputs (RTL considerations, bilingual typography).
Partner with the Editor‑in‑Chief on cover concepts, tentpole packages, and signature franchises; champion visual excellence and originality.
Editorial Design & Production
Lead issue design from flatplan to final files: pacing, visual hierarchy, typography, image selection, and layout craft for a monthly print cadence.
Oversee digital design for feature templates, social franchises, newsletter layouts, and article packaging on .com; ensure responsive, accessible, and on‑brand execution.
Manage prepress and print production with our production team: colour management (CMYK conversions, ICC profiles), retouching standards, proof reviews, paper stock recommendations, and press sign‑off.
Photography, Shoots & Visual Commissioning
Commission and direct photographers, stylists, set designers, illustrators, and retouchers across fashion, portraiture, art/design, and still life.
Build shoot treatments and storyboards; lighting, styling, and composition meet T standards.
Maintain a best‑in‑class roster of regional and international visual talent; source fresh voices and experimental approaches.
Cross‑Platform Motion & Social Aesthetics
Set motion guidelines for video opens, lower thirds, kinetic type, and graphic packages; partner with video leads on story packaging and color grading.
Create social‑first visual systems (Reels/Shorts, carousels, Stories, TikTok) that translate T’s refinement into high‑impact, platform‑native design.
Oversee podcast identity systems (cover art, episode templates, waveform/video art) and live/experiential branding for talks, salons, and exhibitions.
Collaboration, Church & State
Collaborate with the Deputy Editor on schedules, flatplans, and delivery milestones; ensure flawless handoffs between editorial, design, photo, and production.
Partner with commercial, priva agency, and partnerships teams on branded content and special projects—within licensor guidelines.
Present creative to internal stakeholders and clients with clarity and conviction; adapt feedback without compromising craft.
Operations, Budget & Asset Management
Implement efficient workflows, file architectures, store and label clearly in our DAM (digital asset management) system for images, layouts, and motion assets.
Maintain rights and clearances documentation for imagery, artwork, fonts, and music; coordinate with legal/standards when needed.
Talent Leadership & Culture
Foster an inclusive, experimentation‑friendly culture that prioritizes craft, originality, and regional representation.
Run portfolio reviews and contribute to talent scouting across the region.
Innovation & Benchmarking
Track global design trends, print/digital craft, emerging tools (e.g., Figma components, generative/assistive AI, color pipelines), and apply learnings judiciously.
Pursue visual benchmarks—awards, showcases, exhibitions—that raise T MENA’s profile and influence.
Qualifications
8–10+ years in editorial/brand art direction with a portfolio of landmark covers/features and cross‑platform systems (print, web, social, motion).
Mastery of typography and grid systems; fluency in photographic direction, image editing, and art production.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom), Capture One; working knowledge of After Effects/Premiere or equivalent motion tools; Figma or similar for digital systems.
Strong prepress knowledge (color management, retouch supervision, proofing, press checks) and digital accessibility best practices.
Experience commissioning and directing photographers/illustrators; robust network in MENA and internationally.
Familiarity with Arabic typography and RTL layout a strong plus; bilingual English/Arabic advantageous.
Exceptional collaboration, presentation, and stakeholder management skills; calm under pressure, detail‑obsessed, deadline‑reliable.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Visual quality and consistency across all platforms; achievement of recognized design benchmarks/awards.
Exceptional visual packaging across site and social; growth of visual franchises.
Strength and diversity of contributor network; talent development within the art team.
Client/stakeholder satisfaction on branded and white‑label projects delivered with editorial integrity.
Engagement of social and video content including dwell times, shares