Creative Director (Print, Digital, Apparel, Patterns)
Location: Metro Raleigh Area
Schedule: Full-time, hybrid (on-site 3–4 days per week)
Salary: $110,000–$130,000
About the Role
We’re seeking a hands-on Creative Director to shape and execute a cohesive brand vision across product, print, packaging, merchandising, and storytelling. This role combines creative strategy with direct design execution, guiding seasonal concepts and original artwork from inspiration through production.
The ideal candidate is an accomplished designer and creative strategist who balances brand identity, customer insights, emerging trends, and business goals while mentoring a creative team.
What You’ll Do
- Develop seasonal creative direction, including concepts, color stories, print directions, artwork themes, and visual references.
- Research trends across fashion, accessories, gift, home décor, lifestyle, and retail, translating relevant insights into commercial opportunities.
- Personally create and refine original artwork, prints, patterns, graphics, colorways, typography, and production-ready files using Adobe Creative Suite.
- Bring a cohesive visual identity to products, packaging, catalogs, merchandising, trade shows, photography, and digital content.
- Guide artwork through development and production, reviewing revisions, samples, colorways, and final files.
- Partner with leadership, product development, sourcing, marketing, and sales to align creative work with seasonal priorities and business goals.
- Provide briefs, direction, and constructive feedback to designers and freelance partners; mentor team members and manage creative resources.
- Help develop campaigns and creative direction for digital marketing, email, paid advertising, social media, and brand collaborations.
- Manage creative priorities, timelines, workflows, and handoffs while maintaining high standards for quality and brand consistency.
What You Bring
- 8–10+ years of progressive design and creative experience in consumer products, lifestyle, fashion, accessories, gift, home décor, or retail, including experience leading creative initiatives or teams.
- A strong portfolio showcasing hands-on design, original artwork and print development, seasonal direction, and cohesive brand work.
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and a willingness to work directly in design files.
- Knowledge of artwork development, production requirements, and the details needed to bring creative work to market.
- Experience directing and mentoring designers and managing freelance creative partners.
- An understanding of wholesale, specialty retail, and direct-to-consumer business models.
- Strong project management, communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.
- A bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Visual Communications, or a related field is preferred.
