Art Director

Job Title:  Art Director

Location: Los Angeles - Hybrid (three days in office)

Position hours: 10-7pm PST

Reports to: Head of Design & Creative Director, Motion Graphics

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Job Description:

The Art Director is responsible for creating cutting edge, trendsetting design frames and animation concepts for our A/V and Digital departments. This position includes the supervision, mentorship, and design review of junior designers, as well as the ability to lead assigned projects from brief to delivery. From time to time our art director may also be required to assist with graphics production and finishing needs.

This is a senior artist role and as such includes a level of creative independence, as well as the expectation to be a model of imaginative design, professional excellence, and harmonious teamwork. The Art Director is expected to communicate design thinking clearly within the team — articulating creative guidance to designers, translating feedback from leadership into actionable next steps, and keeping work aligned with the approved creative vision.

We are looking for artists dedicated to pushing the boundaries of creativity and setting new trends in the entertainment marketing space. In addition to a mastery of After Effects, we are looking for candidates with experience using ancillary software such as Cinema4D, Blender, and Figma, who have exemplary skills in typography or illustration and who are well-informed of the ever-changing space of automation and AI.

Reports To: 

Creative Director

Head of Design

Responsibilities:  

• Create style frame explorations for theatrical and TV/streaming projects — includes main title design and logo marks, font exploration, type treatments and layouts, texture design, 3D modeling and lighting.
• Develop animation concepts based on in-house style frames or assets supplied by the client.
• Lead assigned projects internally — ensure delivery is on track within the creative framework set by the Creative Director and Producers.
• Supervise and review design and production work from junior designers, providing direction aligned with the approved creative vision.
• Mentor designers in both group and individual settings.
• Communicate design direction clearly with junior designers — translate leadership feedback into concrete, actionable guidance for designers.
• Fulfill assigned VFX and/or complex motion graphics needs such as rotoscoping, paint-outs, camera tracking, etc.
• Liaise with graphics production leaders to improve team efficiency and contribute to the development of new standards, practices, tools, and workflows.
• Consistently deliver industry-leading design work on time and on budget
• Reinforce Zealot's dedication to teamwork, collaboration, and innovation.
• Employ and exemplify clear, concise, and consistent communication with all internal partners.

Requirements:

• Minimum 8 years experience designing motion graphics in an agency environment
• Advanced expertise in both After Effects, preferred experience in Cinema4D
• Familiarity (or better) with Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator
• Portfolio and/or reel of design work demonstrating range of creativity, complexity, and finesse
• College degree in design preferred but not required.

Additional Information:

• Join a growing company positioned for continued expansion
• Be part of a highly creative, passionate, and award-winning team doing exciting work in entertainment marketing 
• Regular business hours are Mon-Fri 10am to 7pm. However, your hours may differ as later be determined by ZEALOT.
• Position is Non-exempt. Estimated annualized hiring range:$90k to $120k.  Individual pay rates are determined by a variety of factors, including specific skill sets, educational background, and years of experience.
• Role is hybrid 3 x per week to the Hollywood office