Senior Art Director

Who are we hiring?

The Sr. Art Director at Sphere is a hands-on craftsperson and innovative thinker with diverse artistic sensibilities and a solid portfolio of work. We are looking for a proven creative with exemplary aesthetics, design and storytelling skills that thrives on the challenge of creating dynamic content for new formats. This role requires a honed eye, a skilled hand and experience in shaping world class design, ideas, and experiences across a range of surfaces that excite global audiences. You have a pulse on visual trends, pop-culture, innovation, and emerging technology. and can pitch big ideas that push the edge of what’s possible. Expressing your vision verbally and in presentation format is a must.

As a part of the Creative & Design team, you’ll be a key contributor to the design and art direction of breakthrough ideas that help define what Sphere is and what it can become. You’ll collaborate with Experience Designers, Writers, Motion Graphic Artists, Technologists, Content Strategists and other Storytellers on concepts, innovation, creative strategy, and pitches.

The role spans across Sphere’s entire creative output, including programming an ongoing content library of art and promotional content, experiential activations, brand design and content for brands on the world’s most dynamic canvas, the Exosphere. Art content is how we promote our brand, creating innovative experiences and programming, designed to create high engagement, viral moments and attract other collaborators and creators. Brand experiences enable us to collaborate with the world’s top brands to explore and create new forms of artful storytelling, amplifying brand moments both on-ground and on social.

Beyond the Exosphere, you will also help create and define content and experiences inside the Atrium and the Media Plane, Sphere’s state of the art 16K immersive screen, helping evolve marquee experiences and artist residencies with breathtaking content programming.

What will you do?

• Lead the visual development and execution of creative concepts and deliverables across Sphere’s entire portfolio of output and experiences, with a strategic approach to art direction, design and innovation
• Be a key player in the research, visual development and delivery of creative pitches and proposals for brand partnerships and brand moments
• Work with the Creative Director to respond to client and stakeholder feedback, fulfill strategic objectives, and help steward the creative excellence of projects
• Partner with the production team to ensure that concepts and designs are delivered within budget and timescale
• Champion and support design efforts cross-functionally, ensuring design goals, principles and processes are upheld across all projects
• Supervise concept artists, visual and graphic designers, and illustrators
• Be a foundational lead of art direction, spearheading projects while leading and directing teams of exceptionally talented designers and animators
• Nurture young and upcoming talent by teaching, building and inspiring them to deliver the highest standards
• Create bold, iconic concepts and designs for non-traditional, digital and physical installations, experiences and screens

What do you need to succeed?

• 7+ years of director experience in a creative studio or agency, developing innovative and engaging experiential concepts across digital and physical platforms
• Demonstrated creative and design excellence with career progression in your portfolio
• Proven track record of working in experiential activations at scale, with experience in artful storytelling content, live events, and immersive experiences for brand and cultural clients
• Adept at visualizing concepts across a wide range of styles and mediums
• Experiential design and deep knowledge of emerging tech and/or real-time content is a huge plus
• Advanced proficiency in relevant design software (e.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Photoshop, Illustrator, Keynote, After Effects, Premiere, and/or 3D software, etc.); Unreal knowledge a plus
• Proven ability in design and art direction, written communication and presentation
• Articulate and charismatic speaker who can lead discussions and captivate a room
• Objective listener with the ability to formulate information into concepts, design and innovation that are technically and economically viable
• Reliable decision-making capabilities, based on solid understanding of how to balance creative expression, pragmatic design, and business needs
• Strategic and agile thinker who can pivot the creative and evolve design to meet shifting needs
• A driven “self-starter,” eager to innovate and change the world

Special Requirements

• Requires occasional travel and non-conventional work hours

#LI-Onsite

Pay Range

$147,000—$200,000 USD

At MSG, we recognize the importance of upskilling employees’ talents and strengths so they can drive their careers forward. We are proud to offer a robust set of tools and resources to help employees understand their interests and purpose, harness their talents and obtain the skills they need to reach the next step in their careers. Growth and longevity for our employees are top priorities here.

We value diversity and are looking for extraordinary employees of all backgrounds! MSG is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, MSG complies with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.