At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the creative vision for Boden Womenswear and shape seasonal campaigns.
- Company: Boden, a stylish and inclusive fashion brand with a fun culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous clothing allowance, 30% discount, and 25 days holiday.
- Other info: Join a diverse team that values creativity, collaboration, and individuality.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in fashion while leading a creative team.
- Qualifications: Extensive experience in art direction, especially in fashion, and strong leadership skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Stylish, grounded, uplifting – these values live through everything we do at Boden. Without the collaboration, honesty and friendship between our teams, we wouldn’t be where we are today. We curate a world of beauty that’s ethical, inclusive – and importantly – good fun. We inspire you to live your best life. We are Boden.
As Lead Art Director, you’ll shape and lead the creative vision for Boden Womenswear, defining how the brand shows up across every channel. This is a senior leadership role with real influence, owning the look, feel and storytelling of our womenswear output and ensuring it feels modern, elevated and unmistakably Boden. Reporting to the Associate Creative Director, you’ll work in close partnership with Design, Brand, Marketing and Production to lead everything from big seasonal campaign concepts to daily creative delivery. You’ll lead and develop the Art Direction team, alongside managing freelance talent, and collaborate closely with Shoot Production and Project Management to bring ideas to life. You’ll bring a confident point of view, a deep understanding of womenswear, and the ability to balance creative ambition with commercial impact, always keeping the Boden woman at the heart of what you do.
Please include your up-to-date portfolio when applying – applications without one cannot be considered.
What You Will Do
- Define and own the creative vision for Boden Womenswear, ensuring consistency, quality and creative excellence across all channels.
- Lead the development of seasonal campaign concepts and visual storytelling, from initial idea through to execution across print, digital, social and film.
- Art direct key shoots (on set or remotely), setting the creative standard and elevating the final output.
- Shape and maintain a clear, cohesive creative point of view across all womenswear content.
- Partner closely with Brand, Marketing and E‑commerce to deliver compelling content that builds brand love and drives commercial performance.
- Work alongside Shoot Production and Project Management to ensure shoots are creatively ambitious, well‑planned and delivered on time and within budget.
- Lead casting and talent selection, ensuring models authentically reflect the Boden woman and brand values.
- Sign off imagery selection, retouching and post‑production, maintaining exceptional creative standards throughout.
- Communicate creative direction clearly through mood boards, shoot decks and presentations, confidently presenting to senior stakeholders.
- Champion the Boden customer, keeping her front and centre in every creative decision.
- Stay culturally and creatively curious, with a strong awareness of womenswear fashion, photography, art and visual culture.
What We Are Looking For
- Extensive experience as an Art Director, with significant time operating at a senior or lead level, ideally within fashion or lifestyle.
- A strong and established creative network across photography, styling, casting, HMU and production, with the ability to leverage these relationships effectively.
- Proven experience leading large‑scale fashion shoots and seasonal campaigns, including social‑first content.
- A confident and inspiring people leader, experienced in managing, mentoring and developing creative teams.
- Deep understanding of womenswear fashion, styling, casting and visual storytelling.
- High proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign) and Capture One.
- Comfortable managing multiple workstreams in a fast‑paced, commercially driven environment.
- A clear creative point of view with strong aesthetic judgement and attention to detail.
- Collaborative, open and engaging – able to bring teams together around a shared vision.
- A strategic thinker who can balance creativity with commercial objectives.
- An excellent communicator and presenter, comfortable influencing at senior level.
- Calm under pressure, highly organised and passionate about delivering beautiful, impactful creative.
Our Behaviours
- We keep things simple. We say what we mean, keep each other in the loop, and follow through on what we’ve said we’ll do.
- We care about doing a good job – and we care about each other.
- We’re always kind, often honest, and we push for high standards without making it heavy.
- We know what we’re good at, we lean on each other when needed, and we show up as a team – taking ownership and getting things done together.
What We Offer
- Competitive salary & targeted annual bonus scheme.
- Generous Boden clothing allowance!
- 30% discount on all current clothing ranges.
- 25 days of Holiday annually, plus Bank Holidays.
- Online portal with an array of discounts on retail & entertainment.
- Virtual GP Service for you and your household!
- Free onsite parking and subsidised café.
We want Boden to be the place everyone wants to work. Friendly, open and tolerant. A best‑of‑British company with diverse teams, equal opportunities, and fair working and recruitment practices. We believe in hiring the best person for the job, whoever they are, helping them thrive in it and celebrating their individuality. We would like to encourage people from a diverse range of backgrounds to apply for our roles. If you need any reasonable adjustments or additional support during your application process, please do not hesitate to let us know.
Lead Art Director - Womenswear employer: FashionUnited Group
At Boden, we pride ourselves on fostering a vibrant and inclusive work culture that champions creativity and collaboration. As a Lead Art Director in our Womenswear division, you'll not only have the opportunity to shape the brand's visual narrative but also benefit from a competitive salary, generous clothing allowance, and a supportive environment that encourages personal and professional growth. With a commitment to diversity and employee well-being, Boden is dedicated to making your experience both meaningful and rewarding.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Art Director - Womenswear
✨Tip Number 1
Get your portfolio in tip-top shape! Since you’ll need to showcase your best work, make sure it’s up-to-date and reflects your unique style. We want to see how you can bring the Boden vision to life!
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with other creatives in the fashion industry, attend events, and don’t be shy about reaching out on social media. Building relationships can open doors for collaborations and opportunities.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by knowing Boden inside out! Familiarise yourself with our brand values, recent campaigns, and what makes us tick. This will help you show how you can contribute to our creative vision.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Boden family. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Art Director - Womenswear
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio:Make sure to include your up-to-date portfolio when you apply. It's a must-have for us to see your creative flair and how you’ve brought ideas to life in the past!
Tailor Your Application:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to align your experience and skills with what we’re looking for in the Lead Art Director role. Show us how you embody our values and can elevate Boden Womenswear.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value honesty and collaboration, so don’t be afraid to share your unique perspective and how you can contribute to our team culture.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Boden!
How to prepare for a job interview at FashionUnited Group
✨Showcase Your Creative Vision
As a Lead Art Director, it's crucial to demonstrate your unique creative vision during the interview. Prepare to discuss your portfolio in detail, highlighting projects that align with Boden's stylish and uplifting ethos. Be ready to explain how your work reflects a modern and elevated aesthetic, and how it resonates with the Boden woman.
✨Know Your Audience
Understanding Boden's target audience is key. Research the brand's values and recent campaigns to show that you can create content that builds brand love. During the interview, share insights on how you would approach seasonal campaigns and visual storytelling that authentically reflects the Boden woman.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role involves leading a team, be prepared to discuss your experience in managing and mentoring creative teams. Share specific examples of how you've inspired collaboration and driven high standards in past projects. Highlight your ability to balance creativity with commercial objectives, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Effective communication is essential for this role. Practice presenting your ideas clearly, using mood boards or shoot decks if possible. Be confident in sharing your creative direction and how you would communicate it to senior stakeholders. This will showcase your ability to influence and engage others around a shared vision.
