At AKQA, 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 AKQA South Africa 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. Skilled storytellers and conceptors, they work in a multidisciplinary environment to develop labours of love that delight customers and deliver results for clients.

As a Senior Art Director, you bring strategic insight and exceptional craft to storytelling, developing ideas that move the world. Working in close partnership with a Senior Copywriter, you create compelling and beautifully constructed work that connects with audiences and delivers results. You own the brand voice, ensuring consistency, clarity, and emotional resonance across every touchpoint.

Johannesburg-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. 

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Conceptualize and craft compelling, strategically driven visual ideas that are clear, persuasive, and beautifully executed for various clients and audiences.
• Collaborate closely with a Senior Copywriter, 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.
• 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.

QUALIFICATIONS AND CHARACTERISTICS

• 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.

AKQA is committed to developing wellbeing and supporting life choices for our team. We provide an extensive range of benefits. To find out more click here.

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA 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.