Freelance Art Director

Are you a freelance professional art director based in Cambodia? We’re looking for local and international talent to collaborate with. This is a project-based position aimed at building a long-term relationship. Our goal is to find a trusted partner we can turn to whenever additional project support is needed. Role Mission As our contracted Senior Art Director, you will help to drive the creative phase of 17 Triggers projects, from initial concept through to final execution and production. As a strong strategic and conceptual thinker, you will develop the "big ideas" and visual executions for solutions aimed at changing behaviors and improving lives. This role requires both high-level strategic thinking and hands-on design skill. In this role, you will co-lead projects with our HCD Research Leads, working closely to ensure project success. Together, you will brainstorm, build ideas out into rapid prototypes, and test them directly with target audiences (typically in rural Cambodia). You will quickly iterate on your designs based on their feedback, keeping an eye on both the big-picture strategy and the daily design details. We are looking for someone with the know-how to craft the final execution of designed solutions. Whether it’s designing a printed tool for a front-line staff or helping oversee the production of a TVC, your attention to detail should be exceptional, and your standards for quality high. Relationships What are the reporting lines and working relationships for this role? Supervisor: Sharleen Hollick, Creative Director Direct Reports: None Collaboration Relationships: Creative Director - Regular contact to ensure depth of creative exploration, quality of work, and craftsmanship Technical Project Oversight - Consultation to ensure alignment of overall strategy HCD Research Leads - Day-to-day project partners, leveraging each other’s skills for the best solutions Head of Production - Early and often consultations to ensure all factors are considered for the development of a solution Studio Designers - Regular collaboration and oversight to execute well-crafted designs Responsible For: Ideation & Prototyping Translate research insights into visual concepts, mood boards, and low-fidelity scamps/sketches. Test visual ideas directly with users and quickly iterate on prototypes based on feedback. Document and explain the creative rationale behind your design decisions using user testing insights. Strategy Development Collaborate with the Research Lead, Team Oversight and Creative Director to develop project strategies Demonstrate ability to clearly rationalize strategic recommendations Creative Design and Execution Design mid-fidelity prototypes to effectively communicate concepts to users and clients Design high quality final artwork for production, this will include, but is not limited to, print layouts, slide decks, social media assets, posters and billboards, in person activations, scripts and storyboards. Oversight of Production Collaborate with the Head of Production to ensure suppliers have all necessary information (specs, quantity, etc.) Delegate and oversee the execution of other designers or suppliers, including Directors, Photographers, Illustrators and Developers Key Capabilities Skills What you bring to the table based on your hands-on experience: Creative and Design Expertise A proven track record in strategic thinking and creative concept development. Deep experience with a variety of convergent and divergent ideation methods. A strong grasp of design principles and how they apply to human behavior change. Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Excellent drawing and visualization skills, with experience creating rapid prototypes and mockups. Exceptional graphic design skills, with a keen eye for typography. Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite software Strong understanding of photography, video, animation and web/mobile design principles Familiarity with digital UX and global web platforms would be a plus. Full mastery of the creative development process, from concept through to final production Competencies The traits and attributes that make you a great fit for our team culture: People Skills Empathetic disposition and sensitive to cultural differences Excellent interpersonal skills Responsible, flexible and collaborative working style Optimistic, and inherently curious about human behaviour Grit; resiliency and the ability to pivot smoothly when a project needs to shift Brand and Marketing Acumen A solid grounding in marketing, brand and advertising fundamentals Demonstrated ability to think of concepts holistically through a variety of media platforms Great Communication Skills Professional composure Ability to delegate and oversee responsibilities to other designers or suppliers Ability to communicate effectively with both internal team and clients Confidence in presenting and pitching ideas to clients and stakeholders Qualifications Experience (years, type) and education this role must possess. A Degree in Design (Visual Communication, Graphic Design, or a related field) or equivalent professional experience. Minimum 5 years experience working within an Advertising Agency, Design Studio, Consultancy, or Innovation Lab 1-2 years experience working with low-income or vulnerable populations in South-East Asia Experience in human-centred design or design thinking approaches would be highly beneficial Fluency in English, both written and verbal. Fluency in Khmer would be a strong asset.