Art Director (Kidswear) fixed term contract

Description

About the Role:

To create and deliver images of the highest creative quality for the NEXT customer aligned to our brand principles & creative direction.

You will provide strong guidance on and off set to achieve the best creative possible in line with our brand guidelines.

You will be a focused driven hard-working individual that has the maturity and empathy to brief manage and direct a large team of freelancers and inhouse members of the team across varying levels.

You must be able to remain calm and professional while maintaining a positive and proactive attitude. This role demands a strong team player with exceptional communication skills who is eager to learn and develop and can grasp new information & adapt quickly.

You will be able to identify with the ever-changing requirements of Art Directing a shoot whilst delivering on the day to a high creative level. It is vital to build and maintain strong relationships with senior management within the Product team Brand Marketing and other senior stakeholders across the business.

Responsibilities

• Art Direct mainly studio & potentially some location shoots working with the product and co-ordination team to create a detailed brief for each shoot.
• Create and maintain an excellent working relationship with the womenswear product and co-ordination teams by attending styling and briefing meetings on a regular basis.
• Keeping engaged in design meetings product surgery & seasonal Mockshop meetings when required.
• Complete understanding of wider NEXT brand purpose and strategy and how this reflects in your area.
• Provide strong clear and aspirational creative guidance and support to the freelance team from a creative standpoint.
• Communicate effectively with photographers stylists and hair & make up crew to evolve the aesthetics of the imagery creatively.
• Consistent research and understanding of new trends customer profiles models celebrities social Pinterest Instagram and Tiktok to stay inspired in order to bring the correct approach to every shoot.
• Maintain constant awareness of competitors be ahead of the curve.
• To work closely and collaborate with the production/bookings team in regards to set props models and crew options.
• Manage creative projects and photo/video shoots from initial kick-off meetings through to delivery.
• Communicate & work collaboratively with the Brand Marketing & Product teams regarding current creative direction and styling trends when appropriate.
• Communicate effectively with the Lead Art Director about your workload schedule and projects.
• Design and produce moodboards for each shoot that showcase the imagery created.

About you:

• Stand out creative skills and an eye for fashion styling and art direction is critical.
• Outstanding leadership qualities taking full responsibility for the day-to-day management of this area. Forward thinking innovative & proactive in approach of all projects.
• Enthusiastic with strong motivational skills enabling the management and motivation of the team.
• Able to manage multiple concurrent projects across several teams within set timescales and to budget.
• Superior planning workload management and organisational capabilities.
• Highly developed interpersonal problem solving and presentation skills.
• Highly communicative with an ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.
• Creative flair and knowledge producing innovative ideas and solutions.
• A strong communicator and listener.
• Exemplary attention to detail.
• It is essential to be commercially minded and aware of retail fashion and lifestyle trends.
• Comfortable with a highly pressured and rapidly changing environment.
• Experience in E-commerce Photography and/or editorial Art Direction.
• A supporting portfolio or website if available.

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Required Experience:

Director