Art Director

Ovative Group · Chicago, IL

On site
Full-time
$93,000 / year
Chicago, IL

Job highlights

Lead creative vision with AI fluency.
Develop concepts across multiple channels.
Direct visual language from brief to delivery.
Architect AI-powered creative workflows.
Present creative work confidently and clearly.

About the role

About Ovative Group

Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.

At Ovative, we don't just track data, we redefine success. How do we do it? Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), our differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge is the first MarTech platform to measure businesses holistically. We're all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Our work has been recognized by organizations like Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.

About The Role

Creative Lab is Ovative’s in-house creative engine — built on our vision of modern making. As part of the broader Creative Team (Influencer + Creative Lab), we unite brand strategy, cultural relevance, creators, AI enablement, and strategic media to create ideas people care about within systems designed to evolve.

We are seeking an Art Director who leads with bold conceptual vision, exceptional craft, and deep fluency across the full spectrum of AI-enabled creative — from written prompting and image generation to AI video production. This is a creative leader who doesn’t just use AI tools, but architects how they work together to push creative further, faster. You bring a strong point of view, refined visual sensibility, and the instincts to know when technology serves the idea —and when the human touch is irreplaceable.

Responsibilities Of An Art Director, Creative Lab

Concept and develop creative across campaigns and channels, partnering closely with strategists, copywriters, and media teams to build ideas grounded in insights and elevated by bold execution.
Direct the visual language of projects from brief through final delivery — setting the creative standard and ensuring every touchpoint reflects exceptional craft, brand integrity, and cultural resonance.
Bring modern making to life — architecting AI-powered creative workflows across image generation, video prompting (Runway, Flora, Kling), and written ideation to explore new visual territories, accelerate concepting, and expand what creative can become.
Drive AI fluency across the team — championing emerging generative tools, establishing best practices for briefs, scripts, and production workflows, and sharing learnings that raise the collective creative bar.
Present creative work with confidence and clarity, articulating how every design and directional decision connects back to brand strategy and business objectives.
Creative use of layout, typography, color, and composition across digital, social, OOH, and experiential touchpoints — balancing brand integrity with forward-thinking design.
Collaborate and art-direct creative executions produced by designers, illustrators, motion artists, and external partners, ensuring quality and consistency across all outputs.
Manage multiple projects with clarity and ownership — proactively communicating timelines, risks, and delivery expectations while never compromising on craft.
Serve as a creative thought partner to cross-functional stakeholders, encouraging innovative thinking while grounding work in best-in-class design principles.
Stay ahead of design trends, platform evolutions, AI tool advancements, and cultural movements — translating what’s emerging into what’s relevant for clients.
Build and strengthen relationships with key platform partners (e.g., Meta, Google, TikTok), staying informed on emerging formats and creative opportunities.
Champion a culture of craft, curiosity, and creative ambition — mentoring junior creatives and helping shape what the Creative Lab becomes.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in an agency, in-house creative studio, or brand environment, with a proven track record of leading and delivering world-class creative across digital channels.
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Advertising, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field preferred.
A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking, exceptional craft, and creative leadership — including work that leverages AI-enabled workflows across image, video, and copy.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and Figma, with demonstrated command of motion design and animation principles.
Deep fluency in AI creative tools across three disciplines: image generation, AI video production, and AI writing and prompt engineering — with the ability to integrate all three meaningfully into creative workflows.
Experience developing and directing AI-generated video content, including storyboarding, prompt scripting, and post-processing for social and campaign use.
Experience developing HTML5 display banners or a strong understanding of digital ad production, specs, and technical requirements across platforms.
A confident, intentional creative point of view — you lead creative discussions, ask smart questions, push work further, and bring others along with you.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate creative rationale and navigate feedback with professionalism and grace.
Ability to operate with clarity and ownership in a fast-moving, client-facing environment, managing multiple priorities without compromising quality.
Curiosity, energy, and a growth mindset — motivated to continuously learn, experiment, and push the craft forward.

Pay Transparency

At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of your total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits. The salary range for this position below is inclusive of an annual bonus. Actual offers are made with consideration for relevant experience and anticipated impact. Additional benefits information is provided below.

For our Sr. Analyst positions, our compensation ranges from $75,000 to $93,000, which is inclusive of a 15% bonus.

Benefits Of Working At Ovative Group

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

Culture:

Culture matters and we’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace for ten years running because of it. We demand trust and transparency from each other. We believe in doing the hard and complicated work others put off. We’re open in communication and floor plan. We’re flat – our interns sit next to VPs, our analysts work closely with senior leaders, and our CEO interacts with every single person daily. Put together, these elements help foster an environment where smart people can support each other in performing to their highest potential.

Ovative is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Our policies reflect this commitment—for example, our medical leave benefits are inclusive of same-sex partners, ensuring equitable care and support for all families.

Compensation and Insurance:

We strive to hire and retain the best talent. Paying fair, competitive compensation, with a large bonus incentive, and phenomenal health insurance is an important part of this mix.

We’re rewarded fairly and when the company performs well, we all benefit.

Tangible amenities we enjoy:

Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI
Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams
Generous paid vacation policy
401k match program
Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners
Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs
Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan
Sabbatical program
Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program
Shenanigan’s Day

Working at Ovative won’t be easy, but if you like getting your hands dirty, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, it’ll be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have. If you think you can make us better, we want to hear from you!

Key skills/competency

Art Direction
AI-Enabled Creative
Conceptual Vision
Creative Strategy
Visual Design
Brand Integrity
Project Management
Client Presentations
Team Leadership
Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency

Skills & topics

Art Director
Creative Director
AI Creative
Generative AI
Art Direction
Visual Design
Conceptualization
Brand Strategy
Digital Marketing
Advertising
Adobe Creative Suite
Figma
AI Video
Prompt Engineering
Agency
Creative Studio
Marketing Technology
Full-funnel Media
Measurement
Creative Execution

How to get hired

Tailor your resume: Highlight AI creative tool proficiency and 3+ years agency experience.
Showcase your portfolio: Emphasize conceptual thinking, craft, and AI workflow integration.
Prepare for interviews: Articulate your creative point of view and AI expertise clearly.
Research Ovative Group: Understand their MarTech platform and modern making vision.

Technical preparation

Master Adobe Creative Suite tools.,Gain deep fluency in AI creative tools.,Develop strong prompt engineering skills.,Practice HTML5 display banner creation.

Behavioral questions

Explain your creative vision for AI-driven campaigns.,How do you balance technology with human creativity?,Describe a challenging project and your role.,How do you present and defend creative decisions?

Frequently asked questions

What is Ovative Group's approach to creative work, especially with AI?: Ovative Group's Creative Lab focuses on 'modern making,' integrating AI-enabled creative workflows across image generation, video prompting, and written ideation to push creative boundaries. They value a strong point of view and the ability to discern when technology enhances, rather than replaces, the human touch in creative execution.
What specific AI tools are mentioned for the Art Director role at Ovative Group?: The job description specifically mentions AI tools for image generation, AI video production (Runway, Flora, Kling), and AI writing/prompt engineering. Fluency and the ability to integrate these across creative workflows are key requirements.
What is the expected experience level for an Art Director at Ovative Group?: Ovative Group is looking for an Art Director with at least 3 years of experience in an agency, in-house creative studio, or brand environment. A proven track record of leading and delivering world-class creative across digital channels is essential.
How does Ovative Group value collaboration and team dynamics in the Creative Lab?: Collaboration is central to the Art Director role. You'll partner closely with strategists, copywriters, and media teams, and also art-direct designers, illustrators, and external partners. The role also involves championing AI fluency across the team and mentoring junior creatives.
What kind of portfolio should I prepare for the Art Director position at Ovative Group?: Your portfolio should demonstrate strong conceptual thinking, exceptional craft, and creative leadership. Crucially, it needs to include work that showcases your experience leveraging AI-enabled workflows across image, video, and copy, illustrating your ability to integrate these tools meaningfully.
What is Ovative Group's compensation structure for this Art Director role?: For roles categorized as Sr. Analyst (which this Art Director position seems to align with based on the provided range), the compensation is between $75,000 and $93,000, inclusive of a 15% annual bonus. Actual offers depend on relevant experience and anticipated impact.
Does Ovative Group offer remote work for the Art Director position?: The job description mentions access to office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI, and paid travel to their Minneapolis headquarters for collaboration. While not explicitly stated as remote, the ability to work across locations and the emphasis on in-person collaboration suggest a potential for hybrid or on-site work depending on the team's needs.

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About the role

About Ovative Group

About The Role

Responsibilities Of An Art Director, Creative Lab

Concept and develop creative across campaigns and channels, partnering closely with strategists, copywriters, and media teams to build ideas grounded in insights and elevated by bold execution.
Direct the visual language of projects from brief through final delivery — setting the creative standard and ensuring every touchpoint reflects exceptional craft, brand integrity, and cultural resonance.
Bring modern making to life — architecting AI-powered creative workflows across image generation, video prompting (Runway, Flora, Kling), and written ideation to explore new visual territories, accelerate concepting, and expand what creative can become.
Drive AI fluency across the team — championing emerging generative tools, establishing best practices for briefs, scripts, and production workflows, and sharing learnings that raise the collective creative bar.
Present creative work with confidence and clarity, articulating how every design and directional decision connects back to brand strategy and business objectives.
Creative use of layout, typography, color, and composition across digital, social, OOH, and experiential touchpoints — balancing brand integrity with forward-thinking design.
Collaborate and art-direct creative executions produced by designers, illustrators, motion artists, and external partners, ensuring quality and consistency across all outputs.
Manage multiple projects with clarity and ownership — proactively communicating timelines, risks, and delivery expectations while never compromising on craft.
Serve as a creative thought partner to cross-functional stakeholders, encouraging innovative thinking while grounding work in best-in-class design principles.
Stay ahead of design trends, platform evolutions, AI tool advancements, and cultural movements — translating what’s emerging into what’s relevant for clients.
Build and strengthen relationships with key platform partners (e.g., Meta, Google, TikTok), staying informed on emerging formats and creative opportunities.
Champion a culture of craft, curiosity, and creative ambition — mentoring junior creatives and helping shape what the Creative Lab becomes.

Requirements

3+ years of experience in an agency, in-house creative studio, or brand environment, with a proven track record of leading and delivering world-class creative across digital channels.
Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Advertising, Visual Communication, Fine Arts, or a related field preferred.
A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking, exceptional craft, and creative leadership — including work that leverages AI-enabled workflows across image, video, and copy.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects) and Figma, with demonstrated command of motion design and animation principles.
Deep fluency in AI creative tools across three disciplines: image generation, AI video production, and AI writing and prompt engineering — with the ability to integrate all three meaningfully into creative workflows.
Experience developing and directing AI-generated video content, including storyboarding, prompt scripting, and post-processing for social and campaign use.
Experience developing HTML5 display banners or a strong understanding of digital ad production, specs, and technical requirements across platforms.
A confident, intentional creative point of view — you lead creative discussions, ask smart questions, push work further, and bring others along with you.
Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate creative rationale and navigate feedback with professionalism and grace.
Ability to operate with clarity and ownership in a fast-moving, client-facing environment, managing multiple priorities without compromising quality.
Curiosity, energy, and a growth mindset — motivated to continuously learn, experiment, and push the craft forward.

Pay Transparency

For our Sr. Analyst positions, our compensation ranges from $75,000 to $93,000, which is inclusive of a 15% bonus.

Benefits Of Working At Ovative Group

We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.

Culture:

Compensation and Insurance:

We strive to hire and retain the best talent. Paying fair, competitive compensation, with a large bonus incentive, and phenomenal health insurance is an important part of this mix.

We’re rewarded fairly and when the company performs well, we all benefit.

Tangible amenities we enjoy:

Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI
Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams
Generous paid vacation policy
401k match program
Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners
Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs
Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan
Sabbatical program
Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program
Shenanigan’s Day

Key skills/competency

Art Direction
AI-Enabled Creative
Conceptual Vision
Creative Strategy
Visual Design
Brand Integrity
Project Management
Client Presentations
Team Leadership
Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency

How to get hired

Tailor your resume: Highlight AI creative tool proficiency and 3+ years agency experience.
Showcase your portfolio: Emphasize conceptual thinking, craft, and AI workflow integration.
Prepare for interviews: Articulate your creative point of view and AI expertise clearly.
Research Ovative Group: Understand their MarTech platform and modern making vision.

Frequently asked questions

What is Ovative Group's approach to creative work, especially with AI?

Ovative Group's Creative Lab focuses on 'modern making,' integrating AI-enabled creative workflows across image generation, video prompting, and written ideation to push creative boundaries. They value a strong point of view and the ability to discern when technology enhances, rather than replaces, the human touch in creative execution.

What specific AI tools are mentioned for the Art Director role at Ovative Group?

The job description specifically mentions AI tools for image generation, AI video production (Runway, Flora, Kling), and AI writing/prompt engineering. Fluency and the ability to integrate these across creative workflows are key requirements.

What is the expected experience level for an Art Director at Ovative Group?

Ovative Group is looking for an Art Director with at least 3 years of experience in an agency, in-house creative studio, or brand environment. A proven track record of leading and delivering world-class creative across digital channels is essential.

How does Ovative Group value collaboration and team dynamics in the Creative Lab?

Collaboration is central to the Art Director role. You'll partner closely with strategists, copywriters, and media teams, and also art-direct designers, illustrators, and external partners. The role also involves championing AI fluency across the team and mentoring junior creatives.

What kind of portfolio should I prepare for the Art Director position at Ovative Group?

Your portfolio should demonstrate strong conceptual thinking, exceptional craft, and creative leadership. Crucially, it needs to include work that showcases your experience leveraging AI-enabled workflows across image, video, and copy, illustrating your ability to integrate these tools meaningfully.

What is Ovative Group's compensation structure for this Art Director role?

For roles categorized as Sr. Analyst (which this Art Director position seems to align with based on the provided range), the compensation is between $75,000 and $93,000, inclusive of a 15% annual bonus. Actual offers depend on relevant experience and anticipated impact.

Does Ovative Group offer remote work for the Art Director position?

The job description mentions access to office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI, and paid travel to their Minneapolis headquarters for collaboration. While not explicitly stated as remote, the ability to work across locations and the emphasis on in-person collaboration suggest a potential for hybrid or on-site work depending on the team's needs.