Art & Graphic Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Art & Graphic Design Director

Company: cabi, LLC

Location: Greater Los Angeles, CA (On-site)

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design Operations / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-04-30T21:20:24

Experience Level: 10+ Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the visual identity and brand stewardship across all digital and print touchpoints, driving a cohesive and impactful brand experience.

• Lead the conceptualization, art direction, and execution of creative campaigns, product launches, and seasonal initiatives, ensuring alignment with brand strategy and market trends.

• Manage and mentor a team of graphic designers, fostering a culture of creative excellence, collaboration, and professional development within the design function.

• Drive digital design excellence for key platforms including Shopify, email marketing, and social media, with a strong focus on user experience, conversion optimization, and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Art & Graphic Design Director," the responsibilities heavily lean into the operational aspects of managing creative output, brand consistency, and cross-functional collaboration, aligning it with a creative operations or marketing operations function. The emphasis on Shopify, digital platforms, and process refinement points to a need for someone who can bridge creative vision with operational execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and evolve the brand's visual language, translating brand strategy into compelling, scalable design systems for campaigns, launches, and seasonal collections.

• Provide expert art direction for photo and video shoots, guiding talent, styling, and set design to capture the intended fashion story and meet creative brief objectives.

• Lead the design strategy and execution for digital platforms, including email marketing, social media content, Shopify (homepage, PDPs, landing pages), and web experiences, balancing aesthetics with usability and conversion.

• Collaborate closely with eCommerce, Marketing, and UX teams to ensure design supports business objectives, accessibility, and user experience best practices.

• Oversee the creation of design concepts and visual frameworks for video and social-first content, ensuring brand consistency and quality across all platform-native formats.

• Mentor, lead, and inspire a team of graphic designers, fostering a high-performance culture, providing constructive feedback, and supporting career development.

• Partner with Marketing, Merchandising, eCommerce, and Production teams to deliver integrated campaigns and assets, ensuring seamless execution and cross-functional alignment.

• Establish and refine workflows, processes, and design systems to enhance efficiency, scalability, and operational excellence within the creative department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic creative leadership and operational management. The emphasis on "translating brand strategy into compelling, cohesive design systems," "balancing aesthetics with usability, accessibility, and conversion," and "establishing and refining workflows, processes, and design systems" indicates a strong need for operational rigor within the creative function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, Marketing, or a related field is typically expected for a Director-level role.

Experience: 8+ years of art and graphic design experience, with a minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role. Experience within the fashion, apparel, or lifestyle brand sector is required; in-house experience is strongly preferred over agency-only backgrounds.

Required Skills:

• Art Direction: Proven ability to provide strong visual direction on photo and video shoots, guiding creative teams and ensuring alignment with brand narratives.

• Graphic Design: Exceptional craft and sensibility in typography, layout, color, and imagery across both digital and print mediums.

• Shopify Expertise: Deep, mandatory expertise in designing for the Shopify platform, including homepages, product detail pages (PDPs), and landing pages.

• Digital Design Fluency: Proven experience in designing for email marketing, social media, and web experiences, with a focus on performance optimization and user engagement.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Mastery of Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for daily creative execution.

• Team Leadership & Mentorship: Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team of designers, fostering a collaborative and high-achieving environment.

• Brand Stewardship: Ability to uphold and evolve brand visual language, ensuring consistency and quality across all touchpoints.

• Conceptual Thinking: Strong ability to translate brand strategy into compelling visual concepts for campaigns and initiatives.

Preferred Skills:

• Print Design & Production: Strong background in print design principles, production processes, and managing print collateral.

• Figma Proficiency: Familiarity with Figma for digital design and collaboration.

• Motion Design Awareness: Understanding of how still design translates to motion graphics and video, with upstream thinking on visual storytelling for moving formats.

• UX/UI Principles: Familiarity with user experience and user interface design principles to balance aesthetics with usability and accessibility.

• AI Design Tools: Curiosity and practical experience with AI tools relevant to design and content creation, evaluating their efficiency and impact on creative quality.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working effectively with Marketing, eCommerce, Merchandising, and Production teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory Shopify expertise is a critical differentiator. The preference for in-house experience suggests a need for understanding internal operational workflows and brand-specific nuances rather than external agency perspectives. The inclusion of AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach to design operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing brand-led collateral across both digital and print mediums, with a clear emphasis on fashion, apparel, or lifestyle brands.

• Include examples of successful Shopify design implementations, highlighting how design contributed to user experience or conversion.

• Showcase campaign conceptualization and execution, illustrating the ability to translate brand strategy into cohesive visual narratives.

• Present examples of social media and email marketing design, demonstrating an understanding of platform-specific best practices and performance optimization.

• Feature examples of art direction on photo shoots, showcasing leadership in directing talent, styling, and set design. Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of establishing and refining workflows, processes, and design systems to improve efficiency and scalability within a creative team.

• Illustrate how you have managed workload planning and resource allocation to ensure efficient execution without compromising creative quality.

• Showcase examples of cross-functional collaboration processes, demonstrating how design integrated with Marketing, eCommerce, and Production.

• Detail your approach to ensuring brand consistency and design quality across diverse channels and seasonal initiatives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements emphasize not just creative output but also the operational management of that output, including process refinement, workflow efficiency, and cross-functional integration, which are key to a Director-level operations role.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for a Director of Art & Graphic Design in the Greater Los Angeles area with 10+ years of experience, and considering the mandatory Shopify expertise and leadership responsibilities, the estimated salary range is $140,000 - $190,000 annually. This estimate accounts for the cost of living in the region, the specific skill set required, and the scope of leadership involved.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Paid time off (PTO), including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with potential company match.

• Employee discounts on cabi apparel.

• Opportunities for professional development, including workshops and conferences.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses.

• Collaborative and people-first work environment focused on empowering women.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with potential for extended hours during peak seasons or project deadlines. The role is on-site, requiring consistent presence in the Greater Los Angeles office.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on industry data for Director-level creative roles in a high-cost-of-living area like Los Angeles, factoring in the specific technical requirements (Shopify) and leadership scope.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Women's Apparel Retail / Direct Selling. cabi operates as a fashion brand that utilizes a direct-to-consumer model through a network of Stylists. This model emphasizes personal connection and community building.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated in the provided data, cabi is a well-established company with a significant presence in the fashion retail sector, likely falling into the mid-to-large enterprise category (500-1000+ employees globally). This size suggests a structured environment with established processes but also room for entrepreneurial impact.

Founded: Cabi was founded in 2005. This history indicates a mature brand with a proven business model, likely possessing established brand guidelines and operational frameworks.

Team Structure:

• The Art & Graphic Design Director will likely report to the Head of Creative & Content, overseeing a team of graphic designers.

• This role requires close collaboration with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, eCommerce, Merchandising, UX, and Production, indicating a matrixed or highly integrated operational structure.

• The emphasis on "people-first" and "entrepreneurial" culture suggests a dynamic team environment where individual contributions are valued, and collaboration is key to success. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: The role demands balancing creative vision with performance metrics, particularly in digital channels like Shopify and email marketing, implying a data-informed approach to design decisions.

• Process Optimization: Establishing and refining workflows, processes, and design systems points to a Lean or Agile mindset applied to creative operations.

• Brand Consistency: A core methodology will involve rigorous adherence to and evolution of brand guidelines across all visual touchpoints, ensuring a unified brand experience.

Company Website: https://www.cabionline.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's unique direct-selling model and focus on empowering women are central to its culture. This means the design director must understand how visual assets serve both the brand's direct-to-consumer efforts and its network of Stylists, requiring a nuanced approach to creative operations.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership role, a Director-level position within the creative and marketing operations function. It carries significant responsibility for brand integrity, creative output, team management, and operational efficiency. The role is pivotal in shaping the visual direction and brand perception of cabi.

Reporting Structure: The Director will report to the Head of Creative & Content. This structure places them within a broader creative leadership team, with direct responsibility for a specialized design team and significant influence over cross-functional creative operations.

Operations Impact: The Art & Graphic Design Director's work will directly impact revenue through optimized Shopify experiences, engaging digital marketing campaigns, and cohesive brand storytelling that drives customer acquisition and retention. Their leadership ensures that the brand's visual identity consistently supports sales objectives and enhances customer loyalty.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Expansion: Potential to move into VP-level roles within Creative or Marketing, overseeing larger departments or broader strategic initiatives.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in fashion e-commerce design operations, digital brand strategy, or AI-driven creative workflows.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Opportunities to lead larger, more complex cross-departmental projects or initiatives that integrate design with broader business goals.

• Mentorship & Training: Develop internal training programs for design teams or contribute to broader company initiatives focused on brand consistency and visual communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path here is strongly tied to operational leadership within creative. Success in this role could lead to broader oversight of marketing operations, e-commerce strategy, or even digital transformation initiatives that leverage design and brand expertise.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site in the Greater Los Angeles area, indicating a physical office environment. Given cabi's culture, it's likely a collaborative and dynamic workspace designed to foster creativity and teamwork.

Office Location(s): Greater Los Angeles, CA. This region offers a vibrant hub for creative industries, providing access to talent, resources, and a competitive landscape. Specific office details would need to be confirmed.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect a workspace that encourages interaction with design teams, marketing departments, and other creative stakeholders. This fosters idea-sharing and integrated campaign development.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma), project management tools, and potentially AI-powered creative tools will be provided to facilitate efficient workflow.

• Team Interaction: Regular team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional project reviews will be integral to the daily operations, ensuring alignment and shared understanding.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week. However, the dynamic nature of fashion retail and campaign launches may require flexibility, with potential for extended hours during critical periods to meet deadlines and ensure operational success.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which is often crucial for art direction and team-building within creative departments. This environment is designed to support hands-on creative leadership and immediate feedback loops.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess experience, leadership capabilities, and alignment with cabi's brand and operational needs.

• Creative & Operational Assessment: Interviews focusing on your art direction philosophy, design process, team leadership style, and experience with Shopify and digital platforms. Expect questions about how you manage creative workflows and team dynamics.

• Portfolio Presentation: A dedicated session to present key projects from your portfolio, emphasizing your strategic thinking, problem-solving approach, and the operational impact of your work (e.g., how your designs drove conversion, brand consistency, or efficiency).

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Marketing, eCommerce, and Merchandising to evaluate collaboration skills and understanding of business objectives.

• Final Interview: Discussions with senior leadership to assess cultural fit, strategic vision, and long-term potential within cabi.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Impact: Select projects that best showcase your leadership, art direction, Shopify expertise, and ability to drive brand consistency and results.

• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the creative process, your specific role, the challenges faced, and the measurable outcomes (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics, brand perception improvements).

• Highlight Operations: Explicitly state how you managed workflows, collaborated with teams, refined processes, or utilized tools to achieve project success. For Shopify projects, detail your contribution to user experience and conversion optimization.

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples of team management, mentorship, and how you've fostered a culture of excellence.

• Prepare for Digital & Print: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates strength across both digital (especially Shopify, email, social) and ideally, print mediums.

Challenge Preparation:

• Case Study: Be prepared for a hypothetical scenario or a deep dive into a past campaign where you'll need to articulate your strategy for a new launch, a brand refresh, or an optimization challenge for their Shopify site or marketing efforts.

• Process Design: You might be asked to outline a process for developing a seasonal campaign or improving the workflow for social media asset creation.

• Team Management Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would handle creative disagreements, motivate a team, or onboard new designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process is designed to assess not only creative talent but also operational acumen, leadership potential, and alignment with cabi's unique business model and culture. Emphasizing measurable results and operational efficiency in your portfolio is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for all graphic design tasks.

• Figma: Preferred tool for digital design, prototyping, and collaborative workflows.

• Shopify Platform: Deep, mandatory expertise in designing for and optimizing within the Shopify e-commerce environment.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for workflow management and task tracking.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Shopify Analytics: Ability to interpret data related to website performance, conversion rates, and user behavior.

• Email Marketing Platform Analytics: Understanding of metrics from platforms like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or similar, related to open rates, click-through rates, and campaign performance.

• Social Media Analytics: Familiarity with native analytics tools for platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc., to gauge content performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Email Automation Tools: Experience with platforms used for email marketing campaigns and customer journeys.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): While Shopify is primary, general familiarity with CMS principles is beneficial.

• Digital Asset Management (DAM): Potential need for understanding how to organize and access brand assets efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Deep SHOPIFY experience mandatory" is a critical requirement that elevates this role beyond a standard graphic design director position into one with significant e-commerce operations responsibilities.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Connection: Emphasizing relationships and community, mirroring cabi's core mission of empowering women through connection.

• Confidence: Fostering an environment where team members feel empowered to share ideas, take creative risks, and lead with conviction.

• Purpose: Driving work that has a meaningful impact, aligning creative output with the brand's mission and client experience.

• Excellence: Upholding high standards for craft, execution, and strategic thinking in all design and operational endeavors.

• Entrepreneurial Spirit: Encouraging innovation, proactivity, and a results-oriented mindset within the creative team.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Proactive partnership with Marketing, eCommerce, Merchandising, and Production to ensure cohesive brand messaging and seamless execution of campaigns.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture of constructive feedback, where designers are encouraged to share insights and receive guidance to improve both individual work and team processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, industry trends, and operational insights across the team and with partner departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is deeply intertwined with its mission. The ideal candidate will not only possess strong creative and operational skills but also embody and promote these core values within their leadership and team interactions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Commercial Needs: Ensuring that innovative design solutions meet the practical demands of e-commerce conversion, brand consistency, and budget constraints.

• Managing a High-Volume, Multi-Channel Output: Overseeing the creation of assets for numerous digital and print touchpoints under tight deadlines, requiring robust operational planning.

• Evolving Digital Landscape: Staying ahead of rapid changes in digital marketing, social media trends, and e-commerce platform capabilities (especially Shopify) to maintain a competitive edge.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Evaluating and implementing AI tools in a way that enhances creativity and efficiency without compromising brand integrity or creative quality.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Shopify Design & Strategy: Opportunities to deepen expertise in e-commerce design optimization and conversion rate improvement strategies specific to Shopify.

• Digital Brand Strategy: Developing advanced skills in creating and managing cohesive digital brand experiences across multiple platforms.

• Creative Operations Management: Formalizing and expanding skills in workflow optimization, process improvement, and team leadership within a creative context.

• Industry Trends & Technology: Access to training, conferences, and resources to stay abreast of emerging design technologies, AI applications, and fashion marketing trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for an operations-minded leader who can navigate the complexities of modern retail and digital marketing, leveraging technology and process to achieve business goals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach evolving cabi's visual language for the next two seasonal campaigns, considering our brand values and target audience?" (Focus on strategic thinking, brand alignment, and conceptualization.)

• "Describe your process for art directing a fashion photoshoot from concept to final asset selection. What are the key operational considerations?" (Focus on leadership, process, and execution.)

• "Given our reliance on Shopify, how would you ensure our website design consistently drives engagement and conversion while maintaining brand aesthetic?" (Focus on e-commerce operations, UX, and data-driven design.)

• "How do you stay current with digital marketing trends, and how would you integrate new AI tools into our design workflow to enhance efficiency without sacrificing creativity?" (Focus on adaptability, innovation, and operational implementation.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about cabi's mission and our unique business model?" (Assess cultural fit and understanding of the brand.)

• "How would you foster a collaborative and high-performing culture within your design team, and how would you ensure alignment with other departments like Marketing and eCommerce?" (Focus on leadership and cross-functional collaboration.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting stakeholder needs or creative visions. How did you resolve it and ensure a positive outcome?" (Assess problem-solving and negotiation skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Organize your presentation by key themes (e.g., Digital Transformation, Brand Revitalization, Team Leadership) or by case study.

• Quantify Results: For each project, clearly present the problem, your solution, and the measurable impact (e.g., "Increased email click-through rates by 15%", "Improved Shopify conversion by 8%", "Streamlined asset production by 20%").

• Detail Your Process: Explain the operational steps you took, the tools you used, how you managed timelines, and how you collaborated with others to achieve success.

• Showcase Shopify Expertise: Dedicate specific time to walk through your Shopify design projects, highlighting your understanding of e-commerce best practices and conversion optimization techniques.

• Articulate Leadership: Be ready to discuss how you mentored designers, managed workflows, and contributed to a positive team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: Preparation should focus on demonstrating not just creative talent but also strategic thinking, operational efficiency, and a deep understanding of e-commerce and brand management within a fashion retail context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Art & Graphic Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse, ensuring you attach your resume and a comprehensive portfolio.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight leadership experience, specific achievements in art direction and graphic design, mandatory Shopify expertise, and any experience with AI design tools or process optimization.

• Curate your portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your brand stewardship, digital design (especially Shopify), art direction skills, and team leadership. Quantify your achievements with data wherever possible.

• Prepare your portfolio presentation: Practice walking through your key projects, articulating your strategic approach, operational execution, and measurable impact. Be ready to discuss your leadership style and how you manage creative workflows.

• Research cabi: Familiarize yourself with their brand, current campaigns, target audience, and company mission to articulate your understanding and enthusiasm during interviews. Understand their unique Stylist model and how design supports it.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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