An Art Director at ADVOC8 is a design storyteller and technician who can transform a physical space into a compelling narrative and extend that story into the digital realm. They are design fundamentalists who approach every challenge with equal parts rational thinking and innovative vision. This opportunity is for an early-career art director who’s ready to lead a team of designers into uncharted territory with confidence.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute campaign-level thinking that crafts compelling stories and builds brand identities across experiential touchpoints
• Lead the ideation and design of immersive physical environments that extend seamlessly into digital and social for both proposals and projects.
• Oversee end-to-end creation and production of projects from concepting and spatial design through fabrication and on-site execution with a strong technical
• Collaborate cross-functionally with strategists, creative directors, producers, fabricators, and technology teams to deliver cohesive & impactful multi-sensory brand experiences
• Champion design quality across all deliverables, ensuring visual, spatial, and environmental elements align with brand narratives and client objectives
• Manage a roster of freelance designers across disciplines, guiding them to elevate their thinking and ensuring deliverables meet ADVOC8 standards
• Contribute to the creative future of ADVOC8 through exploring new platforms, talent and processes that continue to elevate our output

Skills and Qualifications

• 6+ years of design experience with a strong portfolio in experiential design spanning brand activations, trade shows, conferences and large-scale live events
• Proven expertise in concepting, event Identity development, spatial storytelling, and graphic design applied to three-dimensional environments
• Deep understanding of end-to-end experiential production process from inclusive graphic design & application, fabrication, environmental graphics, wayfinding and digital integration
• Proficiency in industry-standard tools: Adobe Creative Suite on Mac OSX; experience with spatial/3D tools (SketchUp, Cinema 4D, or similar) and generative AI tools is a strong plus
• Familiarity with prompt engineering, AI image/video generation, and incorporating AI-developed assets into production-ready work
• Demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a team through multiple concurrent projects and tight timelines
• Experience leading junior designers with a genuine interest in developing future creative leaders
• Fresh, innovative thinker who embraces new challenges, emerging technologies, and evolving methods of design
• Self-motivated, positive, and a clear communicator who can juggle multiple workstreams and delegate effectively
• Aligned with and committed to ADVOC8’s core values; represents them in daily work
• • Better Together - Collaborative soul who’s open to new ideas, sharing successes and being part of a team
  • Level Up - High standards, never settling for the status quo or what we did last time
  • Hustle Smarter - Entrepreneurial, roll-up-your-sleeves spirit, tempered by the courage to identify smarter ways of doing things
  • Celebrate Differences - Highly empathetic personality who values individual perspectives 
  • Outcome Over Income - Extensive experience and demonstrated success in client relationship management
  • Protect the Respect - Navigates conflict with an emphasis on transparency and diplomacy
  • Engineer Exceptional Value - Inspired by outside-the-box thinking that yields outstanding ROI for our clients and projects
  • Embrace Change - Recognize situations that require flexibility and craft creative solutions on the fly

Other Requirements

• Successful completion of a background check

A Note on AI-Assisted Design

To ensure we’re exploring the frontier of what's possible in design, ADVOC8 actively explores AI-powered tools as part of our creative process, from ideation and spatial concepting to asset generation and rapid prototyping. Candidates with hands-on experience integrating AI tools (e.g., Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, Stable Diffusion, RunwayML, or similar) into their design workflow are strongly preferred. We're looking for someone who views AI not as a shortcut, but as a creative collaborator that accelerates the path from concept to execution.

BENEFITS

• Collaborative and creative work environment
• Competitive base salary, with additional performance-based incentives
• Health Insurance: 100% coverage of base level medical insurance plus buy up options to meet the needs of you and your family
• Health Insurance: Dental and vision insurance
• 401k, FSA, and stipend for mobile phone usage
• Professional development and training reimbursements
• Flexible work schedule
• Unlimited vacation and personal time
• Paid parental leave and Grandternity Leave
• Fully remote company

We have transitioned from a once Washington D.C.-based agency to being Washington, D.C.-born. This position is not location-based, though travel will occasionally be required for project work and team offsites. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S.; at this time, we are not able to provide sponsorship.

At ADVOC8, building an inclusive team that celebrates our differences is integral to our success. We strongly encourage people from underrepresented groups to apply even if you don’t meet all qualifications.

At ADVOC8, we are committed to fostering transparency and equity in compensation. The salary range provided for this position reflects the base salary offered to a successful candidate based on their experience, qualifications, and internal compensation structures.

Please note that this salary range is subject to change based on evolving market conditions, company budget, and other factors, and does not include potential bonuses, benefits, or other forms of compensation. Final compensation may vary depending on the candidate's negotiation, location, and the specific role's requirements.

We believe in fair pay for all employees and encourage candidates to engage in open conversations with us regarding compensation expectations during the hiring process.

ADVOC8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to achieving a diverse workforce, and prohibits discrimination and harassment: ADVOC8 is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions at ADVOC8 are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, neurodivergence, marital status, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, veteran status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law. ADVOC8 will not tolerate discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics.

About ADVOC8

At ADVOC8, we create experiences that build trust, shift minds and win hearts. Our special sauce? Chemistry, collaboration and an endless supply of curiosity. We're a team of strategic thinkers, creative problem-solvers, thoughtful storytellers and logistical magicians expertly bringing ideas to life from strategy and creative through to production and execution. We work with brands, nonprofits and associations to create experiences that make an impact. And we do this all in a flexible 'work from anywhere' environment where we celebrate differences and encourage each of our 'advocates' to bring their unique perspectives to the table each and every day.