Art Director (Mid-Weight)

Be part of a bold new chapter in content creation through a ground-breaking collaboration between M&S and The Production Factory. Together, we’re launching a dynamic new creative hub at the iconic Big Sky Studios – a purpose-built space to spark imagination, foster creativity and deliver excellence. This is more than a job; it’s a rare opportunity to help shape the visual identity of one of Britain’s best loved brands.

The role will report to the Head of Production and Operations.

Working between The Production Factory and M&S, you will push creative boundaries while hitting commercial expectations and maintaining the core M&S brand identity. You will act as a creative brand guardian for M&S, working as part of a collaborative team with a clear mantra: this is not fashion ecomm as we know it. You will ensure that the output of work is continually meeting expectations, shot count, creative guidelines and quality. A confident fashion creative.

Key Responsibilities:

• On set art direction on M&S fashion model sets at the studios, acting as creative brand guardian working closely with M&S internal creative team to deliver to their brief.
• Shooting menswear, womenswear (lingerie) and kidswear.
• Build a keen understanding of the M&S visual identity and brand guidelines, ensuring this is always reflected in the on-set art direction.
• Create moodboards as and when required, to continue to evolve the vision of .com imagery – ensuring references on set are relevant and up to date.
• Brief on-set teams with the creative vision, including photographers, freelance art directors, hair and make-up.
• Provide clear feedback to on-set teams and give final approval on hair and makeup, lighting and props, ensuring both adhere to the overall M&S brief.
• Support and nurture freelance art directors on set, ensuring shoots are on brief, hitting the brand vision, imagery selections/crops that creatively tell our product stories.
• Attend daily PPMs with on-set crews and production leads.
• Work with the Creative Lead and M&S imagery teams to evolve the freelance talent roster, building a pipeline of fresh, relevant talent and a reliable freelance network to build our collated environments.
• Review fashion rails with the on-set stylist to create stories and inspire the art direction (working closely with the internal M&S styling team).
• Attend monthly site walks of ‘New In’ on M&S.com, collaborating with the M&S imagery team on what is and isn’t working.
• Work with the production and M&S imagery teams to brief props and set builds.
• Keep abreast of creative trends, continuously looking for disruptive and innovative ideas and concepts.
• Provide retouching notes to a suitable level that delivers consistency & flag ongoing retouch/output quality issues with the production team.
• Step up and support the Creative Lead in their absence, as required.

Skills:

• Mid-weight in level with around 5 years of experience working as a fashion art director for brands, editorial or agency work.
• This role is a mix of commercial and editorial vision. E-commerce experience is a plus.
• Experience overseeing a team and working collaboratively with creative teams.
• An interest in fashion, design, emerging trends and technology.
• An eye for discovering up-and-coming talent to bring into the business.
• Strong portfolio of art direction and design.
• Confident using the Adobe suite.
• Confident directing and briefing photographers, videographers and stylists.
• A natural team player who’s also able to deliver feedback and constructively challenge.
• A multi-tasker who enjoys overseeing multiple sets and creative requests, and embraces a challenge in a fast-paced environment.

Working for Us:

• Great workplace at a new state-of-the-art content studio in the heart of London.
• Free home cooked lunches with a changing menu delivered by our talented in-house chefs.
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.
• Company Pension scheme.
• Family is massively important to us, so we have a broad range of family-friendly working policies in place, including enhanced leave options.

As an equal opportunities employer, The Production Factory is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.