melin Sr. Art Director @ Archipelagocos

Company Overview

At melin we believe that with more thought, time and care invested into how we make our products that we can actually extend the life of our hats and the adventures we take them on. We are looking to expand our internal family and are seeking one incredible human, capable of excellence in a fast-paced work environment and eager to join an elite, yet small team of “A players”.

Job Description

The Sr. Art Director leads the design half of melin’s Creative team and owns how the brand looks everywhere it shows up: campaigns, product launches, logos and product graphics, packaging, paid and social, melin stores, wholesale and corporate partners, licensing, and new markets. This role translates the brand vision into a working visual system (brand standards, templates and reviews) that the Content team’s studio and channel content follow, so that every asset is unmistakably melin as the volume of launches grows.

The Sr. Art Director sees every shoot through from start to finish: building the concept deck and mood boards, helping the Content Director plan the production, directing the photographers and videographers on set, then the treatment, layouts and deliverables that follow, working revisions with the team. The role directly manages the design team: the Associate Art Director and the Junior Graphic Designer. The studio, film, content and performance creative team reports to the Content Director and takes the Art Director’s visual direction. The role partners closely with the Content Director, the Project Manager (intake and briefs), Marketing, Product and DTC. The ideal candidate has built and held a brand system at a premium consumer brand, art directs confidently on set, gives fast and specific feedback, and ships on the date.

Key Responsibilities include( but are not limited to the following)

• Art direct every campaign and seasonal photoshoot from concept to delivery: build the concept deck and mood boards, plan the production with the Content Director, direct the photographers and videographers on set, then own selects, retouch and color
• Design the treatment, layouts and the design half of every launch kit and campaign on the GTM calendar: paid, social, site and email layouts, retail and wholesale pieces, delivered on the GTM date
• Own and evolve melin’s visual identity and brand standards: the brand book, the Visual DNA, the logo system and its usage rules, in partnership with the VP of Creative
• Create and steward melin’s logos and product graphics: seasonal logo waves, collab and partner lockups, corporate and custom-program logos, and the graphics on the product
• Own packaging and hang tags with Product and Production: seasonal hang-tag waves, boxes, labels and inserts, delivered on Product’s gates and on one brand standard
• Build, publish and maintain the Visual DNA template system and keep every new design asset on it
• Run the quarterly brand check across every channel and partner, and close the gaps
• Build the kits other teams run on: store-opening kits, regional localizations, sell-in tools for the sales meetings, show kits and mockup systems for Corporate Sales, custom and MPP templates, the licensing partner brand kit, and new-market toolkits
• Turn Product’s Get Full Credit brief into launch storytelling: the problem solved, the materials, the details, the named technology
• Directly manage and develop the design team (the Associate Art Director and the Junior Graphic Designer); run the weekly design review, the revision rounds and a development plan for each
• Plan the design lane inside the intake the Project Manager runs with the Content Director: a named designer and hours for every design request, a dated design brief for every launch
• Take the monthly creative-performance read the Content Director runs with DTC and Marketing, and feed what wins into the templates and the briefs

Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related discipline preferred
• 7+ years of professional brand and campaign design experience, with 2+ years leading designers; luxury lifestyle, headwear, apparel, footwear or outdoor brand preferred
• Demonstrated art direction of photo and video shoots from start to finish: concept decks and mood boards, production planning, directing photographers and videographers on set, selects, then the layouts
• A portfolio of brand systems held across ecommerce, retail, wholesale and partners, not only finished pieces, including logo and identity work
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma; exceptional typography, layout, logo design, branding, production design and packaging
• Experience creating print, packaging and retail assets from concept through final production: hang tags, boxes and labels, windows, in-store, sell sheets, catalogs
• Working knowledge of performance creative for paid channels and of ecommerce imagery standards
• Clear, fast feedback and the discipline to run a review; experience developing junior designers
• Strong communication and presentation skills; comfortable aligning with senior leadership and cross-functional partners
• Passion for premium products, craftsmanship, design, and building world-class brands

Location & Office Structure: This is an in-office hybrid position, mandatory 4 days per week in office in San Clemente, CA with the option to work from home 1 day per week. Subject to change without notice as per company guidelines.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $150,000 to $170,000 plus opportunity for annual bonus; salary is based on the experience that you bring to the position.

Benefits and Perks

• Complimentary meals provided 3x weekly
• Generous product gift program and all brand discounts
• Company bonus program
• 5 year and 10 year Milestone Anniversary travel gifts
• Medical, Dental, Vision insurance in accordance with plan guidelines
• Paid Gym Membership
• Company paid life insurance in accordance with plan guidelines
• 401k with employer match in accordance with plan guidelines
• 15 Days of PTO accrued annually, plus one additional day of PTO every year on your anniversary, and 3 Floating Holidays per year
• Paid beach and giveback days, bi-annual team building events and other in-person celebrations
• Work with talented and great people who share a love of melin
• Dog friendly office

Archipelago Companies values a diverse, inclusive, and entrepreneurial workforce and culture, and we provide equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. All qualified applicants for employment will be considered without regard to an individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, gender expression, religion, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, family care status, marital status, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, genetic information, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state or local laws. If you are unable to submit your application because of incompatible assistive technology or a disability, please contact us at [email protected]. Archipelago will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities to the extent required by applicable law.

$150k - $170k