Extra Cred
Art Director
Job Summary: BGSTR is seeking a talented and driven Art Director to join our team in a full-time capacity. This is a hands-on creative role at the center of our design and motion pipeline, working directly alongside our Creative Directors, Producers, and artist team to lead and execute a wide range of design-driven projects across entertainment, broadcast, sports, and commercial clients.
This is not a purely supervisory role—we need someone who is equally comfortable designing and animating as they are directing. The right candidate leads by doing: setting the creative bar through their own hands-on work while simultaneously providing oversight across multiple active projects. You’ll be expected to manage competing priorities, keep several projects moving at once, and bring the same level of craft and clarity to your own output as to the work of the team around you.
This is a full-time staff position with benefits. The role is primarily on-site in our NYC studio Monday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Fridays.
Responsibilities
• Lead creative direction across multiple simultaneous projects—from initial concept through final delivery—while actively designing and animating as a hands-on contributor throughout each project’s lifecycle.
• Develop and execute style frames, pitch materials, and final design solutions across a broad range of project types.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors and Producers to align on visual direction, project goals, and delivery timelines.
• Provide feedback, guidance, and mentorship to artists; help define and improve workflows and best practices across the team.
• Participate actively in the pitch cycle, including ideation, concepting, and presentation of creative work to clients.
• Partner with producers to support scheduling, resource planning, and ensuring on-time, on-budget delivery.
• Remain a practicing designer and animator—contributing style frames, motion work, and final execution directly, not just overseeing others’ output.
• Contribute to the overall creative culture and standards of BGSTR, bringing energy, curiosity, and a high bar for craft.
• Stay current with emerging tools, techniques, and trends—including AI-assisted workflows—and contribute an informed perspective on how new technologies can elevate craft and production at BGSTR.
Qualifications
• 6+ years of experience in design and motion graphics for film, broadcast, entertainment, or commercial work.
• Proven ability to lead multiple projects and teams simultaneously, keeping quality and momentum high across all of them.
• A portfolio that demonstrates exceptional design sensibility and compelling motion work.
• Deep knowledge of motion design, animation, and VFX production pipelines.
• Strong creative and technical eye, with experience across CG, design, and animation workflows.
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills—comfortable presenting work and receiving feedback at all levels.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and calm under pressure in a fast-paced studio environment.
• Ability to work both independently and in close collaboration with a creative team.
• Expert-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (After Effects, Photoshop, Illustrator); Cinema 4D experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with staff management, including providing consistent and constructive creative feedback, is a plus.
• Awareness of and curiosity about emerging tools and technologies—including AI-assisted creative workflows—and a clear point of view on how they can enhance, rather than replace, the quality of the work.
Benefits / Perks
• Competitive salary commensurate with experience
• Health, dental, and vision insurance coverage
• Retirement plan with 3% Company Match
• Flexible vacation and paid time off
• Reimbursement for continuing education
• Health & wellness perks
• Holiday pay
Must be located in the Greater New York City area and willing to work at the BGSTR office Monday through Thursday and remote on Fridays.
A little about us
We’re more than just a design shop or motion studio.
̸ Studio
An award-winning creative studio with a singular focus: telling the bigger story.
̸ Work
A multidisciplinary blend of design, animation and live action that elevates brands, campaigns, films and series.
̸ What we do
We bring stories to life. We create icons. We connect to people.
̸ Telling the bigger story
We're an award-winning group of artists and makers who love nothing more than creating something iconic.
Most of the time, we let our work do the talking. But we're also not afraid to talk about how our work can elevate yours. How we can take stories and make them into something bigger. Something that is going to resonate with your audience and make people stop and take notice. Whether it's through design, motion graphics or live action content, we do it all in service of telling the bigger story.
