A Little about Tailfin:
We get brands unstuck by uncovering bright insights, crafting inventive strategies, and creating the stories that turn customers into advocates. We typically serve brands like:
- Start-ups in need of a brand foundation, identity, and messaging fuel to grow
- Challenger brands looking to gain ground on a category leader
- Established brands looking to change course or re-energize their message
- Expansive brands looking to scale without sprawl
The principles that guide us along the way are Do Great Work, Be Good People, and Stay Curious. We strive to become indispensable partners to the brands we love and respect.
About this role:
The Senior Designer / Art Director (Hybrid) role at Tailfin is built for a rare creative hybrid – someone who is deeply hands-on as a designer and naturally thinks like an art director and visual conceptor.
This role is perfect for a senior creative who is energized by taking loose, early, or undefined ideas and carrying them all the way through to final, polished execution. It’s not a purely directive role. This person genuinely loves making the work – shaping it visually, refining it thoughtfully, and holding a very high bar for craft.
They operate comfortably across disciplines, collaborating closely with copywriters and strategists to shape ideas, define visual direction, and personally execute the work at a high level. This role sits above a traditional senior designer or senior art director, requiring both strong creative thinking and exceptional hands-on design craft.
Desired Attitude, Skills & Intangibles:
- Designer-first, with art director instincts and strong visual taste
- Comfortable starting from a blank page and shaping ideas from ambiguity
- Thinks conceptually but expresses ideas through design, not just conversation
- Understands strategy and enjoys translating it into scalable design systems
- Highly collaborative; works closely with copywriters to shape ideas together
- Calm, confident, senior presence who doesn’t need constant validation
- Opinionated but flexible; able to defend creative decisions without ego
- Internally driven by craft, quality, and making things better
- Enjoys being both a thinker and a doer
- Takes pride in building the work themselves, not just overseeing others
- A true team player who steps into gaps wherever needed
Job Functions & Requirements:
Creative Concepting & Visual Thinking
- Collaborate with copywriters and strategists to concept and shape creative ideas
- Translate strategy into strong visual points of view and creative systems
- Help define the overall look, feel, and visual approach for campaigns and brands
Design & Art Direction
- Personally design and execute work across channels including print, OOH, social, digital. Executing motion is a plus, but not required.
- Define and build visual systems including layout, typography, color, composition, and hierarchy
- Art direct photography and visual assets, including motion assets, ensuring consistency and quality
- Create scalable toolkits and systems that extend across touchpoints
Ownership & Execution
- Own projects end-to-end, from early concept through final, client-ready delivery
- Maintain a high bar for craft, polish, and detail across all work
- Present work confidently to internal teams and clients, clearly articulating the “why”
- Elevate team output through example, quality, and creative leadership
Collaboration & Growth
- Partner closely with Account, Strategy, and Creative teams to ensure alignment
- Offer thoughtful feedback that helps raise the creative bar across the agency
- Actively participate in new business meetings as needed
- Stay curious and continue evolving craft, tools, and ways of working
Hybrid Office
We believe there are real benefits that come both with in-person collaboration and heads-down, focused remote work. At Tailfin, we come into the office 3 days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Mondays and Fridays are more flexible.
More on Tailfin:
We’re always looking for like-minded team members who exemplify the core values that we hold sacred. At Tailfin, We Care, We Dare, We Follow Through, We Partner Up, and We Never Stop Moving. If this sounds like you, we’d love to connect!
How Do I Apply?
Our hiring process starts with a 5-minute assessment, which is a tool we use to make sure we’re matching the right people with the right roles. To apply, take the assessment and fill out the form below. We’ll review your application and reach out if we’re a good fit!
