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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead creative projects for premium brands, turning strategy into innovative visual concepts.
- Company: Independent London agency known for its dynamic and collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunities for growth, and a vibrant studio environment.
- Why this job: Join a creative team to shape iconic brand experiences and push boundaries.
- Qualifications: Experience as a Senior Art Director or similar role with a strong portfolio.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements and potential for career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
We are working on behalf of our client, an independent London agency, who is looking for a Senior Art Director/Creative Lead to sit just under the Creative Director. This person will be the one pushing ideas further, bringing original thinking, visual direction and cultural relevance to some very well-known premium brands. If you love ideas, brand worlds, and making things feel both premium and interesting this might be a good fit!
The role
- You’ll work across global drinks and lifestyle brands, taking strategy and turning it into strong creative territories, concepts and visual directions.
- You’ll partner with strategy and design to bring brand platforms, launches, gifting and toolkits to life in ways that feel fresh, on-brand and commercially smart.
- This is less about being the neatest layout designer and more about being the person with the ideas, the references and the vision, who can still communicate that clearly and work with designers to land it.
What you’ll be doing
- Working with creative directors and strategists to turn brand strategy into big, ownable creative territories.
- Developing concepts for brand platforms, launches, gifting, toolkits, education pieces and campaigns.
- Exploring how ideas play out across touchpoints, from decks and guidelines through to POS, activations and content.
- Art directing shoots, visual assets and key visuals where needed.
- Bringing cultural references and fresh thinking into the work, especially around premium and lifestyle audiences.
- Collaborating closely with designers to turn rough ideas into polished, on-brand executions.
- Presenting work internally and externally, telling a clear story from insight to idea to execution.
- Helping raise the creative bar across the studio, especially on originality and distinctiveness.
What you’ll bring
- Experience as a Senior Art Director, senior designer with a strong conceptual bend, or similar creative lead role.
- Strong portfolio across brand, packaging, campaigns or activations, ideally with premium/drinks/lifestyle work in the mix.
- Confident at turning strategy into territories, ideas and visual directions (not just executing someone else’s idea).
- Comfortable working on toolkits, guidelines and “upstream” brand work, not just final campaign assets.
- Able to sketch, mood board and reference clearly, and then guide designers on how to bring it to life.
- A feel for what’s culturally relevant and fresh for premium brands (not just “disruptive for the sake of it”).
- Collaborative, open to building on others’ thinking, and happy in a close, in-studio team.
Salary: £45k–£55k depending on experience
Working pattern: full-time, mainly in the studio (with flexibility when needed and agreed)
Role type: permanent, with room to grow into a bigger creative leadership position if it’s the right fit.
Senior Art Director in London employer: Ruby Magpie
Contact Detail:
Ruby Magpie Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Art Director in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to folks on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on your dream job!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your portfolio! When you land that interview, make sure your portfolio is ready to go. Tailor it to highlight your best work that aligns with the role. Remember, it’s all about showcasing your unique vision and creativity!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be prepared to talk through your ideas and how they relate to the brand's vision. Think of it as storytelling – you want to take them on a journey from insight to execution. Keep it engaging and authentic!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our creative family!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Art Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Portfolio: Make sure to include a strong portfolio that showcases your best work, especially in premium brands and lifestyle projects. We want to see your creative thinking and how you've turned strategy into visually stunning concepts.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Tailor your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience with brand platforms and campaigns. We love seeing how you can bring cultural relevance and fresh ideas to the table.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate a well-structured narrative that tells us about your journey from insight to execution. Show us how you communicate your ideas effectively!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ruby Magpie
✨Showcase Your Creative Vision
Make sure to bring a strong portfolio that highlights your best work, especially projects related to premium brands and lifestyle. Be ready to discuss the thought process behind each piece, focusing on how you turned strategy into creative concepts.
✨Know the Brand Inside Out
Research the agency and its clients thoroughly. Understand their brand values, target audience, and recent campaigns. This will help you tailor your ideas and demonstrate how you can contribute to their vision during the interview.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your ideas and concepts clearly. Use storytelling techniques to explain how your insights led to your creative decisions. This will show that you can effectively communicate with both creative teams and clients.
✨Be Collaborative and Open-Minded
Emphasise your ability to work closely with others, especially designers and strategists. Share examples of how you've built on others' ideas in the past, as this role requires a collaborative spirit to elevate the creative output of the studio.
