At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the visual identity of creator media brands and build engaging brand worlds.
- Company: Dynamic media and investment company focused on uplifting stories and communities.
- Benefits: Creative freedom, collaborative environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Join us in a role that encourages experimentation and collaboration.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping unique visual languages for innovative media brands.
- Qualifications: Experience in art direction, strong creative vision, and passion for culture.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
We are a media and investment company, and we are on a mission to elevate the stories, build the communities, and support the founders that inspire a happier, healthier humanity. We scale creator‑led media, ventures and communities.
ROLE MISSION
The Art Director translates FlightStory’s creator media brands into a visual language that creates an unmistakable on‑brand experience across every touchpoint, every team, and every piece of work that leaves this building. You report into the Brand Strategy Director, who is responsible for the creator media brand’s origin, brand strategy, and creative direction. You take that brief and make it come to life in the world. We want someone who brings their own ideas and pushes back on ours. Not someone who only nods and executes. This is the first time we’re hiring for an Art Director which means you’ll need to be comfortable building from near‑zero. In short, you’ll be able to deliver huge impact with lots of opportunity to experiment and create.
KEY OUTCOMES
Every creator media brand needs a brand world built on the values, principles, and vision of the creator behind it. It’s essential to us that ‘brand’ isn’t just guidelines or an aesthetic, it’s a decision making framework. You’ll be part of building the brand worlds from the start, defining the art direction and building the visual language that everything else will follow from. The art direction that you deliver must create the conditions for ‘yes’, just as much as ‘no’.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Execute and own the visual identity work for all new FlightStory media brands that brings the brand worlds to life across every single touchpoint, working with the Brand Strategy Director to translate the ‘what and who’ the brand is, into the ‘how’ the brand comes to life.
- Build living brand playbooks that every team can actually work from. Not a 40-page PDF that lives in a folder no one opens.
- Implement the AI and self‑serve infrastructure that removes low‑complexity work from the design team’s plate entirely. Templates, brand-trained models, the lot.
- Be fluent in tools like Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, and excited by new AI tools that can help improve our design workflows.
- Develop and lead the Designers (Senior to Midweight) across the new media brands.
- Be genuinely curious about culture, not just design. You model the behaviour, to always be looking for inspiration outside of competitors and brand work.
YOU'LL THRIVE HERE IF
- Where others see a brand, you see a world. What it sounds like, feels like, what it would never do. You don’t start from the logo. This is reflected in your portfolio where we can see how you have made decisions to get to the final output.
- Where others collect references on Pinterest, you’ve been down a rabbit hole about the design of Tokyo vending machines, or the visual language of 90s rave flyers, or why certain fonts feel like a specific decade.
- Where others wait to be briefed, you show up with a perspective already formed. You’ve been thinking about this media brand since the last meeting ended.
- You can art direct a shoot, brief a motion designer, and design a label.
- You geek out on typography, colour palettes, visual framing.
- You understand that the creator is the brief. You can sit with someone, find the thing they care about most, and translate it into a visual language.
- You’ve worked out how to use AI as a taste amplifier, not a shortcut.
- You know that speed is no longer the superpower, but knowing what good looks like is.
- You’re not precious about your ideas. You like the back and forth. You find it genuinely energising when someone challenges you to make something better.
- You love killing the guesswork, using data to push your creative limits (you’re all in on experimentation).
- You have experience working with creators, talent, high profile individuals or brands.
IDEAL BACKGROUND
You’re a creative leader with an obsession for creating things that people genuinely want to spend time with. You’re also open‑minded, curious, and excited to explore ideas that others have. This is what we mean in practice:
- You have your own ideas and you’ll push back when something isn’t right.
- You might have come up through brand design at a creative agency.
- Or you might have been the in‑house art director who built a creative platform for an artist or creator from scratch from the ground up.
- Or you could be a curious magpie who ended up in design because you couldn’t stop noticing things.
Art Director in London employer: FlightStory
At FlightStory, we pride ourselves on being an innovative media and investment company that fosters a vibrant work culture where creativity thrives. As the first Art Director in our team, you will have the unique opportunity to shape brand identities from the ground up, collaborate with passionate individuals, and leverage cutting-edge AI tools to enhance your design processes. We are committed to employee growth, offering a dynamic environment that encourages experimentation and the exploration of new ideas, making it an exciting place for those looking to make a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Art Director in London
✨Show Off Your Skills with a Killer Portfolio
As a graphic designer, your portfolio is your secret weapon! Make sure it's not just a collection of your work but showcases your creative process too. Use platforms like Behance or Dribbble to share your designs and gain visibility within the design community.
✨Get Involved in Design Meetups
Networking is key in the design world! Check out local design meetups or workshops where you can connect with other creatives and potential employers. This is a goldmine for finding unadvertised job openings at companies like FlightStory.
✨Tailor Your Applications
When you’re applying for a full-time role at a creative company like FlightStory, don’t go for a one-size-fits-all approach. Ensure your application highlights specific projects or styles that align with their brand image, showing that you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Leverage Social Media
Don't underestimate the power of social media in landing your dream design job! Share your work on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest, and engage with accounts from your desired companies—this could put you on their radar before they start hiring.
We think you need these skills to ace Art Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Portfolio:Your portfolio is your visual CV! Make sure to include a link to your best design projects that showcase your creativity and versatility. Tailor it to include works that relate to the kind of design work FlightStory does, so they can see you in action.
Tailor Your CV for Design:When crafting your CV, highlight your design skills and software proficiencies, like Adobe Creative Suite or Sketch. Mention any relevant experience you have with branding, UI/UX design, or typography, as we want to see how you fit in with the creative team at FlightStory.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:In your cover letter, share your design philosophy and what excites you about working at FlightStory. Let us know how you approach your design projects and any specific campaigns or themes that resonate with you, showing we’re not just a good fit but a perfect match!
Highlight Collaboration Skills:As a graphic designer, you often work with various teams and stakeholders. In your application, mention experiences where you've collaborated with others to bring a project to life, whether it's with clients, writers, or developers. This shows you can thrive in a team environment, which is key at FlightStory.
How to prepare for a job interview at FlightStory
✨Get Your Portfolio Ready
Your portfolio is your secret weapon in graphic design interviews! Make sure it's showing off your best work, with a variety of styles and projects that highlight different skills — from branding to digital illustration. Be prepared to talk through each piece, focusing on your creative process and the tools you used.
✨Know Your Design Tools Inside Out
Familiarity with software like Adobe Creative Suite is a must! Brush up on your skills with Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, as interviewers might dive into specific technical questions or ask for your workflow. If you’ve worked with any innovative tools or techniques, don't hesitate to showcase that expertise!
✨Prepare for Design Challenges
Some companies may throw a design challenge your way during the interview! This might involve sketching out ideas or solving a branding issue on the spot. Practising these quick thinking exercises beforehand can help us show off our creativity and adaptability.
✨Passion Counts
For a full-time position, showing genuine enthusiasm for design is key! Talk about your inspirations, the projects you're excited about, and why you're drawn to FlightStory. They want to see not just a skilled designer, but someone who'll bring passion and fresh ideas to the team.