Art Director

ESPN Creative Studio’s Visual Storytelling division is a team of creative directors, art directors, animators, concept artists, visual journalists, photo editors, web developers, graphic designers, and strategy producers whose work reaches across every ESPN platform. We lead the creative direction and execution of on-air brand identities for ESPN’s live events and studio shows, create content for ESPN.com and the ESPN app (photography, illustration, interactive storytelling), produce key art for ESPN+, manage product art across digital products, and define the design voice of the ESPN brand—from holistic marketing campaigns to cross-platform creative systems.

About the role

ESPN Creative Studio is looking for an Art Director to join its award-winning Visual Storytelling team. The Art Director will drive idea development and hands-on creative execution for high-priority, multi-discipline projects, leading teams of all sizes. Responsibilities span DTC initiatives, identity branding, motion design, info-system graphic builds, live-action shoots, design toolkits, and large-scale animation campaigns.

Responsibilities

• Create industry-leading work that inspires and brings big ideas to life.
• Oversee and create multi-discipline design projects across platforms and products, with an emphasis on live broadcast initiatives.
• Direct strategic design systems engineered for long-term success.
• Lead advanced design and animation builds and stay current with industry tools and technology.
• Prepare and present creative briefs to internal and external stakeholders.
• Evolve the build and infrastructure of multi-platform design campaigns.
• Push for creative excellence and innovation while balancing business priorities.
• Partner with stakeholder groups across ESPN to ensure collaborative success.
• Adhere to established team workflows and processes.
• Build, lead, and inspire a talented team of designers.
• Hold regular 1:1s with team members to foster growth and communication.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in a creative studio or media organization.
• In-depth knowledge of motion graphics, animation principles/techniques, and render engines.
• Experience with responsive digital design deliverables.
• Experience leading brand identities and design systems.
• Understanding of deliverable behaviors for digital and broadcast.
• Mastery of typography, composition, hierarchy, and design.
• Comfort leading teams and presenting to senior leadership.
• Fluent with Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Cinema 4D.
• Proven project management skills with ability to prioritize and meet multiple deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Reliable work-from-home setup with strong internet connection.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing individuals or small teams.
• Knowledge of the sports design space, trends, and ESPN’s competitive landscape.
• Familiarity with ESPN distribution points, including MVPDs and SVODs.
• Knowledge of project management tools (Asana, Smartsheet, etc.).

Qualifications

High School Diploma (or equivalent).

Pay

The hiring range for this position in New York, NY is $132,800 to $178,000 per year based on a 40-hour work week. Hours may vary based on business needs. The base pay offered will consider internal equity and may vary by geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. A bonus and/or long-term incentive units may be included, along with medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered.