Art Director - Advertising

Company and Vision
PlanetArt’s vision is to be the leading seller of personalized and make-on-demand products worldwide. We provide consumers with unmatched tools and content and an unparalleled end-to-end customer experience that result in high-quality, meaningful finished products and memorable celebrations of life events.
The company’s brands include the popular FreePrints and FreePrints Photobooks apps and the industry leading SimplytoImpress card and stationery site, as well as Personal Creations, CafePress and ISeeMe! Visit www.planetart.com to learn more about our brands.
We have more than 500 team members across multiple offices, primarily in Calabasas CA, San Diego CA, Woodridge IL, Minneapolis, MN and Pleasanton, CA. We also have team members in two company-owned offices in China, as well as in Europe.
Job Overview
We are seeking a creative, strategic, and detail-oriented Art Director to lead and elevate the visual identity of our growing portfolio of our brands. This individual will play a key role in shaping the look and feel of our customer - facing content across digital channels, ensuring cohesive and compelling storytelling that drives engagement and performance.
As Art Director, you will guide a talented team of designers and collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, and external partners. You’ll be responsible for art direction, brand consistency, and the creation of high-impact visual assets for email, social media, digital ads, eCommerce, and more. This role balances hands-on design work with leadership and project oversight, making it ideal for a creative leader who thrives in both execution and mentorship.
The ideal candidate is a visionary designer with strong branding instincts, excellent communication skills, and the ability to make data-informed creative decisions. If you’re passionate about design and translating brand strategy into captivating visuals, we’d love to meet you.
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the Calabasas area as we operate on a hybrid work model (3 days onsite, 2 remote)
What You’ll Do
Key Responsibilities
Art Direction:

• Lead the creative vision and visual identity for paid advertising across PlanetArt brands, including Personal Creations, CafePress Business, and FreePrints.
• Establish and maintain creative standards for paid ads, providing direction to designers, video editors, Marketing, Merchandising, and external creative partners involved in paid campaigns.
• Oversee the development, review, and approval of paid advertising creative, ensuring it meets brand standards and campaign objectives.
• Partner with Marketing and Merchandising to develop seasonal paid advertising strategies, promotional campaigns, and paid campaign calendars aligned with business objectives.
• Direct photography and video concepts for paid ads, working with internal and external production partners to create assets suited to campaign needs.
• Use customer insights, paid campaign performance metrics, and industry trends to recommend improvements to ad creative and product presentation within paid ads.
• Develop templates, design systems, and reusable assets for paid advertising to improve creative consistency and production efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Creative Director on new paid advertising concepts and initiatives that strengthen brand presence in paid media.

Design & Creative Execution

• Create original concepts for static and video paid advertising campaigns.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute A/B tests of paid ad creative, using results to guide future concepts and iterations.
• Provide hands-on design support for priority paid campaigns, new ad concepts, and high-visibility advertising initiatives.
• Use the company’s proprietary AI ad-production platform to develop and iterate paid campaign creative.

Leadership & Project Management

• Lead and mentor designers working on paid advertising, providing day-to-day direction, feedback, and support for professional development.
• Prioritize and assign paid advertising creative work based on campaign priorities, timelines, and team capacity.
• Partner with Project Management, Marketing, and Merchandising to deliver paid advertising creative on time and in line with campaign objectives.
• Review and approve paid ad creative, provide constructive feedback, and ensure it meets quality and brand standards.
• Communicate paid campaign creative priorities, processes, and project status across teams to support an efficient advertising workflow.

What You Should Have
Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 3+ years of professional experience as an Art Director or in a senior graphic design or creative leadership role.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design, branding, and art direction across digital marketing and ecommerce channels.
• Expertise in visual design principles, including composition, color theory, typography, and layout.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, with knowledge of production and print processes.
• Proven ability to develop original creative concepts from ideation through final execution.
• Experience leading, mentoring, and providing creative direction to designers while maintaining high quality standards.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present creative ideas and provide constructive feedback.
• Creative thinker with a passion for design, branding, emerging trends, and delivering engaging customer experiences.
• Detail-oriented with a commitment to producing polished, high-quality creative work.

What You Can Expect
Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
• Position requires regular, continuous use of computer.
• Position requires regular sitting and standing.
• Position requires regular interaction with team members through the following methods: in-person, phone, Zoom, Slack, or email.
• May require occasional travel.
• This is a hybrid position; employees are expected to be in the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with the option of working remotely two days (Wednesday and Friday)

The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 annual salary.

PlanetArt offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• 401(k) with matching
• Pet Insurance
• Mental Health Benefits
• Comprehensive Time Off Program, including Vacation, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
• Employee Product Discounts