Design Director, Experiential Design

Who are we?

MATTE is a 360° creative studio at the convergence of hype, storytelling and design. We bring people together to inspire new ways of engaging, to provoke long term progress, and to entertain audiences around the world, while helping forward-thinking brands and institutions nimbly and truly do the same. Our studio capabilities range from strategic ideation and insights, creative development, branding and identity, experiential, web design and development, campaigns and content creation, all the way through full-scale production and execution.

About this role: 

MATTE is looking for a Design Director that is proficient in Experiential and Events design and art direction to join it’s fast-growing Creative department. The Design Director will be a key member of our creative team.  Our ideal candidate is a fast and flexible leader who is looking to grow with us. You are skilled in client and internal communications, have experience creating and delivering pitch presentations. You have a desire to mentor and grow budding creative professionals to their full potential, as well as contributing to the overall creative culture throughout the company. Within this role, you must demonstrate a superior technical ability and be able to build design solutions off ideas. Additionally, this candidate should be highly conceptual, from an art direction perspective, and be able to pull back the curtain and present how and why you’ve arrived at your ideas. This role reports to the Executive Experiential Creative Director at MATTE, and will be responsible for:  

• Responsible for the ideation and creation of Experiential brand and campaign concepts and projects.
• Concept and collaborate with Copywriters, Experience Designers, Architects, Art Directors. Deliver completed concepts and projects to Creative Directors.
• Lead and shepherd creative from concept stages through to production working with producers and project managers to deliver the final product.
• Assist the New Business team with presentation delivery, and review pitches. 
• Support Creative and Account Directors in daily client management. 
• Collaborate with accounts teams to solve client issues and build client relationships.
• Maintain a working relationship with clients.
• Help prepare for and lead creative presentations.
• Assist in recruitment of Creative staff.
• Expand existing MATTE brand creative.
• Help develop overarching design direction for MATTE media platform across print and digital .
• Help refine MATTE tone of voice, creative vision, and brand messaging.

Quality Control

• Collaborate with Creative Directors to develop thoughtful and impactful, purpose-based creative solutions and ideas for both the department and  for a wide range of clients.
• Work with client specific brand guidelines and bring projects from concept through production
• Create and maintain consistent, high level visuals, standards and specifications.
• Work strategically and in partnership with internal teams to build, maintain, and improve internal and external processes, workflows, systems, and policies

Staff Oversight & Leadership

• Work alongside operations team to source, vet, hire and manage teams
• Keep all stakeholders apprised on any key changes in production or post that will affect final delivery.
• Lead, develop, and manage a team of junior creative professionals, including in-house talent and a bench of freelance professionals and agencies. Direct and motivate teams to help them use their talents effectively
• Maintain clarity of information and good channels of communication with other teams at the organization to ensure that projects are moving forward effectively and efficiently.
• Maintain a knowledge of, and stay up to date on, latest industry technology, trends and techniques
• Participate in team meetings including status and review meetings with cross-functional creative team. Lead weekly post production meetings.

What you will bring:

• 7+ years of experience, in a creative agency
• Minimum 4 years leading successful projects and teams
• Portfolio must showcase creative work in content and experiential campaigns, platform building, web design, and / or branding
• Understanding of online and offline production

Salary Range: $140,000-$170,000/year based on experience

Benefits include:

• Full Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k with a 4% company contribution max match 
• Fully covered yearly Citibike membership 
• Talkspace membership 
• Competitive PTO package
• End of Year Recharge paid time off
• Sabbatical Program option after three years of employment with us
• Parental Leave for all new parents
• Flexible work from home and remote options for specific roles

Everyone is welcome at MATTE - we’re passionate about building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and creating an environment where our differences are celebrated. MATTE provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, MATTE will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.