ART DIRECTOR, BRANDING + PACKAGING - West Elm - Minimum 5 years of Experience

Who we are:
Born in Brooklyn. At home in the world. west elm has been helping customers express their personal style at home since the launch of our first catalog in 2002. Our home base is nestled down under the Manhattan Bridge in the DUMBO neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY, right above our flagship store. We are a dynamic, fast-paced brand with an exciting growth strategy. We value imagination, diversity and giving people the opportunity to explore, grow and shape our future. We look for innovative, smart and hard-working individuals who enjoy creative thinking and ingenuity. Help us carry out our mission of being a source of inspiration to our customers, creating a global community and tirelessly seeking ways to evolve our brand.

Concept and Develop new and original ideas for our branding, packaging & signage areas. Inspire and manage a team of graphic designers and partner with our other design teams, merchants, project managers & copywriters. Design the strongest work that can carry and influence all our differernt platforms. Help develop the brand identity of our new businesses and support the ideation of new business ideas by being able to translate these abstract concepts into graphic layouts for pitches and presentations. Be ready to support our global expansion, be flexible to constant change and be used to a fast pace environment to make the strongest team in retail. Be excited to be part of a growing brand and help raise our brand awareness.

Essential Functions:
* Manage a team of graphic designers, provide guidance and feedback, and work really closely with the department creative director
* Execute and oversee production from concept to completion of packaging of all our product categories each season.
* Work closely with project managers and merchants to obtain all relevant information, technical requirements and timelines for each project.
* Work with the department director in new areas of opportunity to help grow our business and develop our brand-expanding initiatives
* Help develop the team and grow the team and constanly push for different and innovative ideas
* Collaborate with the signage and visual team to develop the best retail experience.
* Partner with the copy team on all jobs.
* Collaborate with the digital & photography teams to ensure a consistent graphic language across all channels
* Work with the product designers on graphics for their product, develop and constantly suggest product ideas for our gift assortment.
* Oversee monogramming development.
* Own the brand voice of west elm and develop the branding for our new businesses.
* Explore and develop branding and layouts to sell and develop new business ideas

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

Qualifications:
* Minimum 5 years of experience
* Being able to be fully align with the department director vision, have a critical eye, listen to peer feedback
* Concept, develop great design and art direction that will carry and influence all our platforms.
* Excellent typography skills and master design fundamentals
* Have a strong understanding of Brand Identity, Brand Packaging & Environmental Graphics
* Having a basic understanding of product development and retail
* Proficient in in-design, illustrator and Photoshop and fluent in Keynote
* Experience in Packaging and Branding for retail
* Having a basic understanding of digital, video and photography art direction is a plus
* Self-starter, ability to work independently, with limited supervision and virtually with a small team.
* Have an excellent understanding of west elm and market trends and be able to translate ideas, forms, and functions into cohesive, seasonal concepts. Be constantly aware of design and art trends to share with the team to inform and inspire their work.
* Must be a strong and inspirational leader and possess proven influencing skills.
* Demonstrated decision making, project planning and time management skills.
* Strong business acumen knowledge.
* Experience managing expectations in a fast paced environment; customer service oriented.
* Strong ability to manage multiple projects of varying scopes concurrently.
* Effective negotiator with the ability to analyze data to inform decisions.
* Excellent verbal and visual communication skills in order to relate to many management types and levels.
* Ability to effectively develop associates and provide guidance and feedback.
* Bachelors degree in graphic design and have a strong design portfolio.
* Must have been in a supervisory role for 2 years.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.
Williams-Sonoma Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

*LI-AC

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.