683 Art Director jobs in South Africa

At NUMERAL XII , we blend the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products, and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination and deliver impressive returns for our clients.

Creatives at NUMERAL XII are translators. Translators of big ideas into functional content for the everyday person to see. They apply artistry and craftsmanship to strategic insight to create and bring to life beautiful ideas that move the world.

As an Art Director, you bring strategic insight and exceptional craft to storytelling, developing ideas that move the world. You own the brand voice, ensuring consistency, clarity, and emotional resonance across every touchpoint.

Pretoria-based while frequently collaborating with our global studios, you will enjoy working in a team of highly skilled people, all with strong opinions about various technologies, frameworks, and approaches to media, creativity, and communications. You will articulate your ideas to your colleagues effectively while also taking on board the ideas of others. You will thrive when faced with new challenges, view them as opportunities, and constantly look to improve client deliverables. You will work in a progressive environment that fosters a meritocratic culture, surrounded by some of the brightest minds in their fields.

• Conceptualize and craft compelling, strategically driven visual ideas that are clear, persuasive, and beautifully executed for various clients and audiences.
• Collaborate closely with the Strategic team, ensuring that concepts are strong, well-articulated, and executed with exceptional visual storytelling and craft.
• Lead projects and clients autonomously, fully owning creative direction, execution, and design excellence.
• Design across various formats, including brand identity, campaign visuals, social content, motion, editorial layouts, experience design, and presentation materials. Web design would help your cause.
• Deliver creative work with speed, consistency, accuracy, and flair, ensuring visuals are on-brand, innovative, and impactful across platforms.
• Be a proactive team player, managing multiple projects with exceptional time management, attention to detail, and the ability to juggle competing priorities.
• Stay ahead of industry trends and design best practices, continuously pushing creative boundaries and keeping work at the forefront of innovation.
• Ask the right questions, clarify objectives, and structure work effectively to align with strategic goals and creative vision.
• Lead brainstorming and workshop sessions with senior stakeholders, shaping the creative direction and fostering collaboration between disciplines.
• Own the visual narrative and storytelling in presentations, ensuring the work is engaging, persuasive, and strategically sound.
• Build consensus around creative approaches, integrating feedback while maintaining the integrity and impact of the work.
• Present confidently, clearly articulating creative rationale and vision to internal teams and clients, inspiring and influencing decision-making.

• A portfolio showcasing high-quality, globally recognised work, including brand, campaign, and experience pieces with measurable business impact.
• Proven experience in design and cross-channel storytelling.
• Confident in presenting and articulating ideas both internally and to clients.
• A degree in Design, Visual Studies, or a related field is preferred.
• Proficiency in design tools like Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and Keynote.
• A natural curiosity and passion for finding inspiration from diverse sources, with a keen interest in the future of media and technology.
• Driven to push creative boundaries and craft groundbreaking ideas that stand out.
• Craft-focused in your approach to work, presentations, and creative execution.

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. This is a fulltime, on-site position from Monday – Friday from 08h00 to 17h00 in Die Wilgers Pretoria.

NUMERAL XII is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

Responsibilities

• Create and manage the overall design and visual style for ad campaigns, photoshoots, websites and commercial film productions.
• Supervise and mentor a group of mid-level and junior designers.
• Manage multiple briefs and projects for yourself and for your direct reports
• Study creative briefs and determine requirements
• Understand marketing initiatives, strategic positioning and target audience
• Generate clear ideas and concepts in tandem with the copywriters
• Conceptualize visuals based on requirements
• Define the visual direction of a campaign and photoshoots
• Produce sketches, storyboards, roughs to visualize ideas
• Develop illustrations, logos and other designs using software or by hand
• Use the appropriate colors and layouts for each graphic
• Cooperate with the rest of the creative team across different types of media
• Work with copywriters and creative director to produce final art works
• Test graphics across various media
• Take work from concept to final execution within deadlines
• Amend designs after feedback
• Ensure final graphics and layouts are visually appealing and on-brand
• Manage and delegate responsibilities to other designers and provide directions
• Present completed ideas to team members / project owners
• Stay on top of all trends and maintain best practices

• Extensive experience in art direction and graphic design (min. 6 years experience in a creative or inh-house agency)
• A strong portfolio of concepts, photo manipulation, graphics, and/or compelling layouts.
• Familiarity with design software (such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)
• A keen eye for aesthetics and details
• Strong conceptual and presentation skills
• Technical knowledge of photography and film production
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work methodically and meet deadlines
• Degree in Design, Fine Arts or related field is expected

Responsibilities:

• Conceptualise and execute award winning creative ideas
• The ability to sell ideas to clients
• Rollout of campaigns across all touch points of the digital eco system
• Execute social, digital, video, print and OOH content.
• Manage, oversee & evolve visual identity of the brand/ brands
• Interact with other agency teams/ divisions to develop creative concepts
• Art Direct & Oversee photoshoots
• Ensure consistency and integration of art direction across all communication channels
• Responsible for seeing the idea through the creative process to final sign off
• Work to brief and show understanding and relevance to the target market
• Provide constructive feedback and guidance to junior designers, assisting in their professional growth and development.
• Develop your professional skills daily.
• Work closely with & report to Creative Director who reports to the Executive Creative Director
• Stay up to date with industry trends, design techniques, and emerging technologies, incorporating them into your work to maintain a cutting-edge design approach.

Requirements:

1. Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, or a related field.
2. Proven experience 4 – 5+ years as an Art Director/Designer in a creative agency or similar environment.
3. Strong portfolio showcasing a range of creative projects, demonstrating a keen eye for aesthetics, creativity, and attention to detail.
4. Proficient in industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite etc.) and familiarity with multimedia design tools.
5. Expertise in designing for various platforms, including digital, social media, print and mobile.
6. Solid understanding of typography, colour theory, layout, and composition principles.
7. Knowledge of current design trends, user experience (UX), and user interface (UI) design.
8. Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively present and articulate conceptual and design work.
9. Strong organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
10. A team player with a positive attitude, open to feedback, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

Candidate must demonstrate a portfolio of best work to date, including campaign work.

We are a consumer-focused activation and experience TTL agency.

We create meaningful connections that last. We offer services in strategic consulting, M&A, business intelligence, IoT, SaaS, and IT security.

An Art Director to deliver incredible campaigns.

What you will do:

1. Conceptualise, develop and produce integrated marketing materials from TTL to digital assets.
2. Stay informed of trends and competitor brands, ensuring creative campaigns stay on the front line of exceptional campaign.
3. Lead the creative direction and branding for advertising campaigns.
4. Oversee art direction and graphics, ensuring high-quality graphic design results.
5. Maintain creative brand guidelines.

What you must have:

1. A relevant qualification in Graphic Design, Art, or equivalent.
2. A minimum of five years’ experience in Art Direction within an advertising agency.
3. Proven ability to ideate for film, print, digital, out-of-home, experiential, and social.
4. Strong client communication and project management skills.
5. Experience in photography and video production.
6. Excellent interpersonal skills and empathy for the audience being targeted by the campaigns.
7. A driver’s license and own transport is beneficial.
8. Experience with project management tools such as Trello, Clockify, and Tango is beneficial.
9. This role is fully office-based in Bedfordview, Johannesburg.

Title:
Art Director / Graphic Designer

Location:
Head Office

Department:
Marketing

Reports to:
Marketing Executive

Purpose of the Role

The Art Director / Graphic Designer is responsible for conceptualising, designing, and directing the creative execution of digital marketing campaigns across all digital platforms and in-store environments. The role includes art direction for photo and video shoots, the design of social media content, newsletters, and in-store collateral, while ensuring brand consistency across all creative output.

Key Requirements

·   Tertiary qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or related field.

·   Minimum 5+ years of graphic design experience, including art direction responsibilities.

·   Advanced proficiency in Adobe InDesign and Photoshop, with working knowledge of Canva for rapid content creation.

·   Proven portfolio of fashion/retail campaigns demonstrating both design and art direction.

·   Strong background in creating digital content and social media campaigns in the fashion/retail space.

·   Confident in directing stills, video, and content creators on set.

·   Certification in recognised design software.

·   Passion for fashion and creative arts

Key Responsibilities

·   Concept Development & Art Direction.

·   Conceptualise seasonal advertising campaigns in line with brand requirements and briefs.

·   Oversee creative execution from brief through to final design, including finished artwork.

·   Provide clear art direction for photography and video campaigns.

·   Collaborate with stylists, photographers, videographers, and retouches' to ensure high-quality outputs.

·   Collaborate with Buying, E-Commerce, and Visual Merchandising teams to deliver on campaign objectives.

·   Contribute to cross-functional discussions with professionalism and integrity.

·   Act as custodian of Queenspark's brand and visual identity.

·   Brief manager, and liaise with stylists, photographers, videographers, editors, digital agencies, retouching specialists, and content creators.

·   Design artwork for social media platforms, newsletters, in-store collateral, window displays, and paid digital campaigns.

·   Prepare final artwork, ensuring accuracy of formats, sizes, and colours.

·   Create designs in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Canva, and relevant platforms.

·   Ensure consistent application of brand guidelines across all outputs.

Skills & Behavioural Competencies

·   Strong conceptual and graphic design skills.

·   Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

·   Detail-oriented, quality-driven, and deadline-focused.

·   Promote collaboration, innovation, and knowledge-sharing across departments.

·   Actively embody the company values of Passion, Professionalism, Integrity, and Customer Focus.

At Queenspark, we value passion, professionalism, integrity, and customer focus. You'll be part of a team that thrives on solving problems, supporting colleagues, and creating great experiences for both staff and customers.

Are you a visual thinker with a thorough understanding and love of motion and static design, typography and layout? You might be who we're looking for.

Who's asking? Imagine a traditional content marketing agency. We're not that. Think smaller, with way more flex appeal – but with big-agency experience. We speak, write, strategise, conceptualise, plan, direct and produce content-led marketing fluently.
2Stories
works with a network of talented advertising and content specialists of all shapes, sizes, races and genders. No matter which solar system you're from, we aspire to offer you flexibility, balance and the opportunity to create awesomeness.

We're looking for an Art Director with a proven track record (and impressive portfolio) to join our team.

Essential skills

• Creativity
  – obviously. But not just the kind that finds or creates pretty pictures or videos. Also the kind that will come up with clever, on-strategy content solutions for clients. A knowledge of typography, image manipulation, motion design and animation is key. UX/UI experience would be a bonus.
• Design
  – excelling at InDesign, Photoshop, Figma, Mailchimp and the likes, and being able to create anything from social media posts, newsletters and ad banners, to white papers, magazines and basic corporate identities. Curious about and experience using AI tools. Video editing experience is a bonus.
• Picture editing
• the ability to source high-quality, conceptual and visually engaging images that suit the brief and are brand-relevant.
• Attention to detail
  – guarding leading and kerning and all those things that words people don't know to look out for.
• Time management
  – being focused and effective when juggling multiple briefs. With the ability to work efficiently and prioritise tasks.
• Agility
  – being able to pivot quickly to deliver excellent work in tight turnaround times.
• Cool head
  – keeping calm under pressure.
• Strong communication game
  – We're a distributed team, so the ability to communicate clearly and timeously is vital. The confidence to explain and support your thinking, both internally and externally, is also important.
• Emotional intelligence
  – having empathy for clients and team members.
• Up to date
  – being aware of design trends in general and on social media platforms specifically

Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in a design role in an agency environment.
• A portfolio showcasing digital, social, print, motion design and newsletter design. Bonus points for financial services and website examples.
• Essential skills: excels in Figma, confident in After Effects.
• A working knowledge of the marketing landscape. Experience in content marketing is not crucial, but will be advantageous.

The details

Location:

While our headquarters are in Cape Town, we pride ourselves on being a distributed company, with team members and collaborators across the world. So feel free to apply, irrespective of where you are currently living. We hire the best talent for the role, not for your zip code or ability to come to the office from Monday to Friday.

Job description:

Job Description

• Create and manage the overall design and visual style for ad campaigns, photoshoots, websites and commercial film productions. 

• Supervise and mentor a group of mid-level and junior designers.

• Manage multiple briefs and projects for yourself and for your direct reports

• Study creative briefs and determine requirements

• Understand marketing initiatives, strategic positioning and target audience

• Generate clear ideas and concepts in tandem with the copywriters

• Conceptualize visuals based on requirements 
•Define the visual direction of a campaign and photoshoots 

• Produce sketches, storyboards, roughs to visualize ideas

• Develop illustrations, logos and other designs using software or by hand

• Use the appropriate colors and layouts for each graphic

• Cooperate with the rest of the creative team across different types of media

• Work with copywriters and creative director to produce final art works

• Test graphics across various media

• Take work from concept to final execution within deadlines

• Amend designs after feedback

• Ensure final graphics and layouts are visually appealing and on-brand

• Manage and delegate responsibilities to other designers and provide directions

• Present completed ideas to team members / project owners

• Stay on top of all trends and maintain best practices

Job Requirements - Experience and Education

•Extensive experience in art direction and graphic design (min. 6 years experience in a creative or inh-house agency)

• A strong portfolio of concepts, photo manipulation, graphics, and/or compelling layouts. 

•Familiarity with design software (such as InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop)

•A keen eye for aesthetics and details

•Strong conceptual and presentation skills 

•Technical knowledge of photography and film production

•Excellent communication skills

•Ability to work methodically and meet deadlines

•Degree in Design, Fine Arts or related field is expected

Role Description

This is a full-time on-site role for an Art Director - Agency & Retail located in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Area. The Art Director will be responsible for overseeing creative direction, art direction, and branding. They will work closely with graphic designers to create high-quality visuals and graphics for various campaigns and projects. Day-to-day tasks include managing creative projects, developing design concepts, and ensuring brand consistency across all media channels. The role requires collaboration with both internal teams and clients to deliver exceptional design solutions.

Qualifications

• Creative Direction and Art Direction skills
• Background in Retail and Agency
• Branding experience and proficiency in developing cohesive brand identities
• Graphics and Graphic Design skills, with a strong portfolio demonstrating expertise
• Excellent leadership and team management abilities
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or related field
• Experience in agency or retail settings is a plus

Budget for this role is R40 000 per month - depending on experience.

Role Overview

The Art Director at SPC is a creative leader responsible for shaping the visual language of campaigns, guiding design teams and ensuring the highest standards of creative excellence across all projects. This role demands a strong mix of hands-on design ability, conceptual thinking, leadership, and the ability to collaborate across teams to deliver work that is innovative, on-brand, and culturally relevant.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Leadership

Conceptualize and oversee creative direction for campaigns, ensuring alignment with client objectives and creative standards.

Translate strategy and briefs into compelling, visually engaging concepts.

Push creative boundaries while maintaining brand consistency.

Team Collaboration & Management

Mentor, guide and inspire the Creative Team (Senior Graphic Designers, Multimedia Designer)

Partner with Editorial, Social Media and Strategy Teams to ensure cohesive storytelling.

Provide constructive feedback and set clear expectations for deliverables.

Client Engagement

Present concepts and creative ideas confidently to clients.

Build trust through creative problem-solving and delivering high-quality outputs.

Adapt creative solutions to client feedback without compromising on quality.

Execution & Quality Control

Oversee design execution from concept to final delivery (digital, social, multimedia, print where applicable).

Ensure projects meet deadlines, budgets and quality benchmarks.

Keep up to date with design, tech and cultural trends to inspire innovative solutions.

REQUIREMENTS

Proven experience (5–7 years) in art direction, design, or creative leadership within an agency environment.

Strong portfolio showcasing conceptual campaigns, digital-first design, and culturally resonant work.

Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with motion graphics/video tools.

Excellent visual, verbal and written communication skills.

Strong leadership and mentoring skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.

Understanding of African pop culture, youth trends and digital platforms is a strong advantage.

Key Attributes

Creative Visionary: Constantly pushing boundaries and bringing bold ideas to life.

Collaborator: Works seamlessly across departments and builds strong team energy.

Detail-Oriented: Ensures all outputs meet the highest standard of craft.

Culturally Connected: Draws inspiration from African and global trends to create meaningful work.

Resilient & Accountable: Thrives under pressure, meets deadlines, and owns responsibilities fully.