Senior Art Director, Videography

Location: Chicago, IL, US

Employment Type: Full Time

The Senior Art Director, Videography is responsible for the evolution and expression of Crate and Barrel and Crate&kids visual identity in motion. This leader will bridge the gap between brand strategy and visual execution, ensuring that every frame, from seasonal brand videos to high-impact CTV campaigns inspires with a modern mindset to create timeless homes and lives with beauty and purpose.

This is an on-site position based out of our Photo Studio location in Chicago, IL.

A day in the life as a Senior Art Director, Videography...

• Deepen customer engagement and conversion by strategically leading the creation of innovative, engaging cinematic experiences that redefine how our audience interacts with the brand

• Drive the translation of Creative Pitch back visuals into sophisticated video solutions that not only enhance the brand but actively push the boundaries of our visual identity

• Lead the conceptual lifecycle, from high-level storyboarding to final production; leverage AI tools and emerging technologies to streamline storyboarding and concept development, ensuring a cohesive and efficient visual narrative across all platforms

• Partner closely with the Content team to ensure seasonal messaging needs are holistically integrated into our motion strategy, meeting business objectives through elevated storytelling

• Collaborate with photo art directors, videographers, and product stylists to synchronize creative goals, ensuring that every shoot maintains exceptional brand and video standards while achieving business results

• Provide expert-level on-set video art direction, making critical decisions on shoot angles, styling, composition, and lighting to ensure the "modern mindset" is captured in every frame

• Act as a lead creative voice in post-production, ensuring editing, color grading, and sound design meet a level of refinement, beauty, and purpose

• Oversee the execution of elevated video assets across a complex ecosystem, leading the Videography team and external partners to deliver high-impact CTV campaigns, seasonal brand videos, collaboration launches, and PDP content, while ensuring a cohesive brand voice across social and paid marketing platforms

What you'll bring to the table...

• Deep knowledge and extensive experience in video art direction across diverse environments, including photo studios and on-location shoots

• Exceptional ability to direct set design and visual composition, utilizing a sophisticated understanding of scale and proportion to create "timeless homes" through well-designed and balanced environments

• Proven ability to successfully navigate and advance multiple high-stakes projects simultaneously, maintaining a high level of quality and brand integrity under tight deadlines

• Proficiency in leveraging AI for storyboarding, mood-boarding, and rapid concepting, using these tools to articulate complex creative visions to stakeholders with speed and clarity

• Maintain a pulse on the competitive landscape and industry-leading technologies; expertly integrate AI generative tools and emerging motion techniques to enhance storytelling, streamline pre-visualization, and push the boundaries of digital platforms

• Strong communication skills with the ability to lead and inspire cross-functional teams, ensuring that the brand’s "modern mindset" is consistently expressed by every creative partner

We'd love to hear from you if you have...

• Must provide a link to portfolio (including password) on resume or provide PDF samples

• 7+ years of relevant video art direction experience, with a proven track record of leading high-production campaigns; experience in photo art direction and set design is highly preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Film, Communication, Advertising, Design, or related field

• Proven ability to lead and inspire in a highly collaborative team environment, managing both internal creatives and external production partners

• Extensive knowledge of relevant software including Adobe Creative Suite (specifically Premiere, Photoshop, After Effects, InDesign), Google Workspace, Slack and other internal tools

• Demonstrated proficiency in leveraging GenAI models (VEO3, Kling, Sora, Nano Banana Pro, Flow, etc.) for concepting, Lyria3 for sophisticated VO prototyping, and Gemini for creative workflow enhancement and script assistance

• Strong sketching skills and proficiency in Apple Pencil/iPad tools (Sketchbook) combined with AI-driven rapid prototyping

• Proven experience in video production, including filming, editing, and storyboard development

• Deep experience in every phase of video production, from high-level on-set direction to complex post-production and color grading

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to "pitch back" complex creative visions to leadership and executive stakeholders with clarity and conviction

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the year for on-location shoots and brand initiatives