Founding Director of Design, AI Experiences

Electronic Arts creates next-level entertainment experiences that inspire players and fans around the world. Here, everyone is part of the story. Part of a community that connects across the globe. A place where creativity thrives, new perspectives are invited, and ideas matter. A team where everyone makes play happen. Who we are The future of entertainment is interactive, and our Ventures Group plays an important role in this future by building content, culture, and community that take us Beyond Gaming. We empower audiences to Play, Create, Watch, and Connect across our amazing franchises and experiences, including The Sims, Madden NFL, EA SPORTS FC, Apex Legends, and Battlefield. We're a multi-functional group, with world-class expertise in building fandom, driving interactive storytelling, and positioning our franchises at the center of the broader entertainment ecosystem. What We're Building Project Air is a new kind of mobile platform — part creative stage, part storytelling tool, part social experience — powered by AI and real-time interaction. Imagine the creative freedom and discovery of TikTok, the emotional texture of Pixar, and the emergent storytelling of the Sims, fused into something entirely new.
We're building a space where people don't just watch or post — they create, perform, and co-invent new characters, stories, and worlds. It's expressive, emotional, and deeply interactive. The Role As our Founding Design Director, you'll lead the creative direction of the entire product — from UI to motion to brand identity. You'll be the first design hire, responsible for shaping the soul of Project Air and building a design team from the ground up. You'll work closely with product, engineering, and marketing leaders to define the vision, prototype novel experiences, and launch a groundbreaking mobile app. This is a rare opportunity to invent a new design language for a new medium — with the backing of EA, but the autonomy of a startup. Responsibilities:

• Set the creative and brand direction for Project Air, from visual identity to voice and tone.
• Lead end-to-end product and interaction design, crafting UI that balances utility, delight, and motion.
• Build the motion and storytelling system that makes the experience feel alive — using tools like Rive, After Effects, or SwiftUI.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, and Research to prototype real-time, AI-powered experiences.
• Shape how the brand shows up across marketing, social, and the App Store — in partnership with Comms and Marketing.
• Build and mentor a multidisciplinary design team, fostering a culture of craft, creativity, and speed.
• Define and evolve design rituals (critiques, reviews, hiring) that scale with the team.
• Represent Project Air as a creative ambassador, helping to attract world-class collaborators and future talent.

 

Qualifications:

• 10+ years experience in digital product design, with real impact on mobile UX and shipped products.
• Experience leading early-stage design teams or serving as a founding/solo designer.
• Fluency in motion and UI design, using tools like Figma, Rive, After Effects, Lottie, or SwiftUI.
• A sharp eye for storytelling, pacing, and emotional design.
• Strong instincts in brand and identity systems — across both product and marketing.
• Curiosity for new creative technologies — AI, real-time systems, mobile-native formats.
• Strategic clarity, with the ability to influence product direction and executive thinking.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS The ranges listed below are what EA in good faith expects to pay applicants for this role in these locations at the time of this posting. If you reside in a different location, a recruiter will advise on the applicable range and benefits. Pay offered will be determined based on a number of relevant business and candidate factors (e.g. education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, geographic location, or business needs).  PAY RANGES * California (depending on location e.g. Los Angeles vs. Sacramento) * $185,300 - $278,800 USD In the US, we offer a package of benefits including paid time off (3 weeks per year to start), 80 hours per year of sick time, 16 paid company holidays per year, 10 weeks paid time off to bond with baby, medical/dental/vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) to regular full-time employees. Certain roles may also be eligible for bonus and equity.