Marketing Design Director

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Design Director

Company: Wine Enthusiast

Location: Valhalla, New York, United States

Job Type: Salaried Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-21

Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the comprehensive visual direction and strategic execution of all marketing design initiatives, encompassing both print and digital channels, to ensure unwavering brand consistency and elevate the luxury appeal of Wine Enthusiast.

• Drive innovative design concepts for diverse marketing collateral, including direct mail (brochures, catalogs), digital display banners, and product packaging, translating brand strategy into compelling visual narratives.

• Oversee the art direction of all marketing assets from initial concept through final production, meticulously managing photoshoots, typography, and layouts to align with established brand standards and sophisticated design principles.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Brand Creative, Marketing, Product, and Content departments, to ensure all creative output is strategically aligned with overarching business objectives and customer expectations.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Marketing Design Director," the responsibilities heavily lean into creative operations and brand strategy execution. The role demands a blend of artistic leadership, project management, and strategic thinking to maintain and enhance the luxury brand image through visual storytelling across all marketing touchpoints. The emphasis on reducing freelance dependency and managing print production also highlights a strong operational component.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute innovative design concepts for direct mail (brochures, catalogs), digital display banners, and product packaging, translating brand strategy into compelling visual stories that resonate with a luxury audience.

• Lead the art direction of all marketing assets from concept to production, including overseeing photoshoots, setting design direction, selecting props, and managing in-person shoots to ensure alignment with mood boards and brand aesthetics.

• Select and manage photographs, illustrations, and other visual elements for commerce marketing collateral, ensuring marketing visuals effectively showcase product features and embody a desired lifestyle.

• Direct and design in-house advertisements and event display materials and programs, maintaining brand integrity across all internal and external communications.

• Collaborate with Brand Creative leads to conceptualize and research innovative ideas for high-quality catalogs, postcards, brochures, and other marketing assets, pushing creative boundaries while adhering to brand guidelines.

• Ensure all marketing creative products align with the Wine Enthusiast’s brand vision, core values, and marketing objectives, acting as a guardian of the brand's visual identity.

• Manage project timelines, budgets, and resources effectively to ensure the on-time delivery of direct mail and digital campaigns, optimizing resource allocation and mitigating risks.

• Reduce dependency on freelance services by building in-house design capabilities, leading to significant cost savings and greater control over creative output.

• Work closely with printers, studios, and external vendors to ensure print quality meets luxury brand standards, overseeing production processes and quality control.

• Stay abreast of emerging design, typography, and luxury brand trends to inject freshness and engagement into mail products and digital assets, ensuring the brand remains relevant and appealing.

• Utilize analytics and campaign feedback to refine creative strategies, continuously improving the effectiveness and impact of design initiatives.

• Manage multiple deadlines simultaneously, balancing creative vision with production timelines to meet rigorous schedules and delivery commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to art direction and design execution, alongside strategic management. The inclusion of "reduce dependency on freelance services" and "manage timelines, budgets, and resources" points to a strong operational focus within the creative function, aiming for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a closely related field is required.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7+ years of progressive experience in art direction or a senior design role.

• Proven track record in luxury and/or premium lifestyle brands, demonstrating an understanding of high-end aesthetics and consumer engagement strategies.

Required Skills:

• Art Direction: Proven ability to lead and define the visual style and direction for marketing campaigns across multiple channels.

• Graphic Design: Mastery of design principles, including typography, layout, color theory, and visual hierarchy for both print and digital mediums.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating and refining high-quality visual assets.

• Figma: Expertise in Figma for collaborative design, prototyping, and digital asset creation.

• Print Design: Deep understanding of print production processes, materials, and quality standards, crucial for direct mail, catalogs, and brochures.

• Digital Marketing Design: Experience designing effective visual assets for digital platforms, including display banners, social media graphics, and email marketing elements.

• Brand Strategy: Ability to translate brand strategy and core values into compelling visual narratives that resonate with the target luxury audience.

• Typography & Layout: Exceptional eye for detail in selecting and applying typography and constructing layouts that are both aesthetically pleasing and functionally effective.

• Project Management: Strong organizational skills to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and budgets simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of creative assets.

• Vendor Management: Experience in selecting, briefing, and managing external vendors (printers, studios, photographers) to ensure quality and adherence to brand standards.

• Visual Storytelling: Ability to craft compelling visual narratives that communicate brand messages and product benefits effectively.

• Photo Direction: Experience in art directing photoshoots, including setting mood boards, selecting props, and guiding photographers to achieve desired visual outcomes.

Preferred Skills:

• UX Design: Familiarity with User Experience (UX) principles and design practices, particularly for digital interfaces and customer journeys.

• Photo Editing & Image Handling: Proficiency in photo-editing software and a strong understanding of image manipulation, retouching, and processing for commercial use.

• CGI Environments: Experience working with or directing Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) environments, which can be a significant advantage for product visualization.

• Wine Culture Knowledge: A genuine interest in or knowledge of wine and wine culture, which can inform creative decisions and brand resonance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a blend of creative leadership and operational execution. The extensive list of required skills, particularly in print production, vendor management, and brand strategy implementation, indicates a senior role with significant responsibility for the tangible output of the marketing department. The "bonus points" for UX and CGI experience suggest forward-thinking requirements for digital and product visualization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio demonstrating a minimum of 7 years of art direction and senior design experience, with a strong emphasis on luxury branding across both print and digital mediums.

• Showcase specific examples of direct mail campaigns (brochures, catalogs, postcards) and digital marketing assets (display banners) that highlight innovative design concepts and successful brand communication.

• Include case studies or visual examples of art direction for photoshoots, illustrating your ability to lead creative teams and manage visual narratives from concept to final execution.

• Present examples of how you translated brand strategy and core values into compelling visual identities and cohesive marketing collateral that meet business objectives.

Process Documentation:

• Provide evidence of your process for conceptualizing and developing design briefs, including how you gather requirements and collaborate with stakeholders.

• Detail your workflow for art directing photoshoots, from mood board creation and shot list development to on-set direction and post-production retouching notes.

• Illustrate your process for collaborating with and managing external vendors (printers, studios, photographers), including briefing, quality control, and feedback loops.

• Showcase examples of how you use analytics and campaign feedback to inform and iterate on design strategies, demonstrating a data-driven approach to creative optimization.

• Include examples of how you ensure brand consistency across diverse marketing materials and touchpoints, referencing style guides or brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, the portfolio is paramount. It's not just about showcasing aesthetic capabilities but also demonstrating strategic thinking, process management, and the ability to deliver results that align with business goals. The emphasis on print production and luxury branding means the portfolio should reflect a sophisticated understanding of these specific areas.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $90,000 - $100,000 per year.

Benefits:

• Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO): Offers flexibility and encourages work-life balance, allowing employees to take time off as needed.

• Full Medical, Dental, and Vision Benefits: Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their families.

• 401(k) Match: Employer contribution to retirement savings, enhancing long-term financial security.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Allows pre-tax contributions for healthcare or dependent care expenses.

• Pet Discount Plans: Benefits that extend to employees' beloved pets, reflecting a pet-friendly culture.

• Employee Discount: Discount on Wine Enthusiast products, allowing employees to enjoy the company's offerings.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, typically 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement requiring employees to be in the Valhalla, NY headquarters twice per week, with Tuesdays specifically designated as an in-office day. This structure aims to balance in-person collaboration with remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and falls within typical mid-to-senior level compensation for a Marketing Design Director in the New York metropolitan area, considering the required experience and responsibilities. The benefits package is robust, with a strong emphasis on work-life balance (Unlimited PTO) and employee well-being, including unique perks like pet discounts and wine tasting classes, aligning with the company's culture. The hybrid schedule is clearly defined, indicating expected in-office days.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Retail (Luxury Goods, Wine & Spirits Accessories, Home Goods)

Company Size: Not specified, but the description implies a well-established company with dedicated marketing and creative teams, likely in the medium to large enterprise category given the scope of responsibilities.

Founded: The company was founded with a passion for bringing a fine wine experience to everyday life. The second generation, Erika Strum Silberstein and Jacqueline Strum, are now co-presidents, indicating a family-owned business with established leadership and a vision for continued growth and evolution.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing Design Director will likely lead a team of designers and potentially collaborate closely with external agencies or freelance resources, though the role aims to reduce this dependency.

• This role will report into a senior marketing leadership position (e.g., VP of Marketing, Chief Marketing Officer) and will work collaboratively with Brand Creative leads, Marketing Managers, Product Teams, and Content Creators.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative Optimization: The role explicitly mentions using analytics and campaign feedback to refine creative strategies, indicating a commitment to measuring the impact of design and iterating for better performance.

• Process-Oriented Workflow: Managing timelines, budgets, and resources, along with direct oversight of production and vendor management, points to a structured and process-driven approach to creative execution.

• Brand Stewardship: A core methodology involves maintaining and elevating the Wine Enthusiast's luxury brand vision, ensuring all visual output adheres to established standards and contributes to the overall brand narrative.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of Wine Enthusiast as a family-owned luxury brand in the wine lifestyle sector is crucial. The "second generation" leadership suggests a blend of tradition and forward-thinking innovation. The emphasis on "JOY," "EMPATHY," "TRANSPARENCY," "PASSION," "INNOVATION," and "COLLABORATION" in their core values provides significant insight into the expected work environment and leadership style.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior/director level within the marketing and creative operations function. It requires significant experience in art direction and design leadership, with a focus on strategic execution, team management (or potential team building/mentorship), and operational efficiency (reducing freelance costs, managing budgets/timelines). The responsibilities suggest a high degree of autonomy and impact on the company's brand presentation and marketing effectiveness.

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Design Director will likely report to a VP of Marketing or a similar senior marketing executive. They will collaborate closely with other marketing department leads and potentially work with the co-presidents on high-level brand initiatives. The role also involves managing relationships with external vendors and potentially mentoring junior design staff.

Operations Impact: The Marketing Design Director's impact is critical to the company's revenue generation and brand perception. By creating compelling and cohesive visual marketing materials across print and digital channels, this role directly influences customer engagement, brand loyalty, and ultimately, sales. Effective art direction and design execution can elevate the perceived value of Wine Enthusiast's luxury products, driving higher conversion rates and customer acquisition. Optimizing design processes and reducing freelance dependency also contributes directly to cost savings and improved operational efficiency for the marketing department.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to build and lead an in-house design function, potentially growing a team and developing leadership skills.

• Strategic Influence: A chance to shape the visual identity and marketing strategy of a well-established luxury brand, influencing its market position and customer perception.

• Process Improvement: Ability to implement new design workflows, tools, and best practices, driving efficiency and cost savings within the creative operations of the company.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen knowledge in luxury branding, direct mail marketing, and the wine lifestyle sector, becoming a subject matter expert.

• Cross-Functional Impact: Gain exposure to various departments (marketing, product, content), broadening understanding of business operations and contributing to broader company goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers significant growth potential for an experienced design leader looking to make a substantial impact. The move towards reducing freelance reliance suggests an opportunity to build a robust internal creative function. The hybrid model also indicates a modern approach to work-life balance, appealing to professionals seeking flexibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company operates a hybrid work model, indicating a combination of in-office and remote work. The Valhalla, NY headquarters serves as the central hub for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): Valhalla, New York, United States. This location likely offers a professional office environment conducive to creative work and team collaboration.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model, with designated in-office days (including Tuesdays), is designed to foster collaboration, brainstorming, and team cohesion. This allows for in-person interaction with colleagues and stakeholders, essential for creative direction and project alignment.

• Tools and Technology: Employees will have access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma) and likely other marketing and communication tools within the company's tech stack. The environment is expected to support creative output and digital collaboration.

• Team Interaction: The hybrid setup encourages direct interaction with marketing, brand creative, product, and content teams, facilitating a shared understanding of project goals and brand vision.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, typically 40 hours per week.

• Employees are expected to be in the Valhalla, NY office twice per week, with Tuesdays being a mandatory in-office day. This structure aims to provide flexibility while ensuring essential face-to-face collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid work environment at the Valhalla headquarters is a key aspect. The requirement for specific in-office days suggests a preference for in-person collaboration on certain tasks, likely those requiring intensive brainstorming, team alignment, or direct stakeholder interaction. This provides a balance for employees seeking flexibility while ensuring operational needs are met.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio will determine suitability for the role. Ensure your portfolio prominently features luxury branding, direct mail, and digital design examples.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager to assess your experience, approach to art direction, understanding of brand strategy, and fit with the team. Be prepared to discuss specific projects from your portfolio.

• Creative/Team Interview: This stage may involve presenting your portfolio to the broader marketing or creative team. Expect questions about your design process, how you lead creative initiatives, manage feedback, and collaborate with cross-functional partners.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study (Potential): While not explicitly stated, a design challenge or case study related to a Wine Enthusiast marketing campaign might be presented to evaluate your problem-solving skills and creative approach in a practical context.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership (e.g., VP of Marketing, Co-Presidents) to discuss your strategic vision for the brand's visual identity and overall cultural fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Prioritize those showcasing luxury branding, direct mail (catalogs, brochures), and digital marketing assets.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the objective, your role, the creative process, the challenges, and the results. Emphasize how your design decisions aligned with brand strategy and business goals.

• Showcase Leadership: Include examples that demonstrate your art direction capabilities, ability to manage photoshoots, and experience working with vendors.

• Address Luxury Aesthetics: Ensure your selected work clearly demonstrates an understanding of high-end design principles, sophisticated typography, and compelling visual storytelling suitable for a luxury brand.

• Prepare for Questions: Be ready to discuss your design philosophy, how you handle constructive criticism, and your strategies for maintaining brand consistency across diverse media.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Immersion: Thoroughly research Wine Enthusiast’s current marketing materials, website, social media presence, and brand positioning. Understand their target audience and competitive landscape.

• Creative Problem-Solving: Anticipate potential design challenges related to their product range, seasonal campaigns, or direct mail strategies. Think about how you would approach them creatively and operationally.

• Presentation Skills: Practice articulating your design concepts, rationale, and process clearly and concisely. Be prepared to present your portfolio and any potential case study responses effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio is paramount for this role. Candidates should focus on showcasing not just design skills but also strategic thinking, leadership in art direction, and operational acumen in managing creative projects and vendors. Demonstrating an understanding of luxury branding and direct mail is key.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all graphic design tasks, including Photoshop (image editing, manipulation), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos), and InDesign (layout for print publications like catalogs, brochures, direct mail).

• Figma: Crucial for digital design, prototyping, collaborative workflows, and potentially UI/UX design elements.

• Project Management Software: Likely utilized for managing timelines, tasks, and team collaboration (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar).

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) System: Potentially used for organizing and distributing creative assets across teams.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools: Familiarity with platforms like Google Analytics to understand the performance of digital marketing assets and inform creative decisions.

• Marketing Automation Platforms: Understanding how design assets integrate with platforms like HubSpot or Mailchimp for email campaigns.

• CRM Data: Awareness of how customer data from CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce) might influence campaign creative.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM, an understanding of how marketing designs integrate with CRM and marketing automation systems is beneficial for ensuring cohesive customer journeys.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma is non-negotiable. A strong understanding of how design integrates with broader marketing technology stacks, including analytics and automation tools, is highly valuable for this role to ensure creative effectiveness and alignment with business objectives.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• JOY: This value suggests an environment where creativity is encouraged and celebrated, and where employees can find enjoyment in their work and the company's mission (wine culture). For a design director, this translates to fostering a positive and inspiring creative atmosphere.

• EMPATHY: Supporting employees with patience and understanding is key. This means being a considerate leader, understanding the pressures of creative work, and fostering an inclusive environment that reflects diverse perspectives.

• TRANSPARENCY: Open communication about achievements and challenges is valued. This implies a culture where feedback is honest, constructive, and shared openly, allowing for continuous improvement in design processes and outcomes.

• PASSION: A deep enthusiasm for the product (wine) and the company's mission to enhance lives through it. This encourages a dedicated approach to design that aims to delight and educate consumers, reflecting the brand's core purpose.

• INNOVATION: Valuing those who think outside the box and elevate the company. For a design director, this means encouraging experimentation, exploring new visual trends, and pushing creative boundaries within brand guidelines.

• COLLABORATION: Believing in the power of working together, sharing ideas, and leveraging collective talents. This emphasizes the importance of teamwork, cross-functional partnerships, and mentorship within the creative and marketing departments.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The role demands close collaboration with marketing, brand creative, product, and content teams. This involves regular communication, joint brainstorming sessions, and ensuring creative outputs are aligned with broader business strategies.

• Feedback Culture: An open exchange of feedback is essential, both giving and receiving. The design director must be adept at interpreting feedback from various stakeholders and incorporating it effectively into their designs.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design trends, best practices, and insights within the team and across departments. This fosters a learning environment and elevates the overall creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply integrated into its operations and team culture. For a Marketing Design Director, understanding and embodying these values—particularly JOY, INNOVATION, and COLLABORATION—will be crucial for success. The emphasis on transparency and empathy suggests a supportive and communicative leadership style is expected.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Luxury Aesthetics with Commercial Demands: Ensuring that creative output consistently reflects a high-end, luxury brand image while also meeting the direct sales and promotional objectives of various marketing campaigns.

• Managing Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating feedback and differing opinions from multiple stakeholders (marketing, product, leadership) to arrive at cohesive and effective design solutions.

• Optimizing In-House Capabilities: Successfully transitioning from a dependency on freelance services to building robust in-house design capabilities, requiring strategic resource allocation, process development, and potentially team building.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously monitoring design, typography, and luxury market trends to keep marketing materials fresh, engaging, and competitive in a dynamic industry.

• Hybrid Work Integration: Effectively managing a hybrid team and ensuring seamless collaboration and productivity across in-office and remote work settings.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Workshops: Opportunities to attend workshops or courses focused on cutting-edge design techniques, luxury branding strategies, or emerging visual trends.

• Industry Conferences: Participation in relevant design, marketing, or luxury goods conferences to network, gain insights, and stay current with industry best practices.

• Leadership Training: Development programs focused on team management, strategic leadership, and operational efficiency, especially relevant for building out an in-house creative function.

• Mentorship Programs: Opportunities to be mentored by senior leaders within the company or to mentor junior designers, fostering personal and professional growth.

• Deep Dive into Wine Culture: Further immersion into the wine and spirits industry, enhancing understanding of product nuances and consumer preferences to inform creative direction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior creative role in a growing company. The opportunity to build an in-house team and reduce freelance dependency offers significant scope for impact and professional development. The company's commitment to innovation and passion for wine culture provide a rich environment for creative exploration and growth.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach developing a new visual identity or campaign concept for a luxury wine lifestyle brand like Wine Enthusiast, considering our target audience and core values?" (Focus on your process, research methods, and how you translate strategy into creative.)

• "Describe a time you successfully led an art direction for a photoshoot. What were the key considerations, challenges, and how did you ensure the final assets met the brand's objectives?" (Highlight your directorial skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage creative execution.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of Wine Enthusiast, what do you see as our biggest design challenges and opportunities in the current market?" (Show you've done your research and can think strategically about their brand.)

• "How do you foster a collaborative and positive team environment, especially within a hybrid work setting?" (Relate your answer to their stated values like JOY, EMPATHY, and COLLABORATION.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, begin with the objective, your role, the problem you were solving, your creative solution, the process, and the outcome/impact.

• Quantify Success: Whenever possible, use metrics to demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, conversion rates, cost savings from reduced freelance).

• Highlight Leadership & Process: Showcase your art direction, vendor management, and project management skills. Explain your workflow and how you collaborate with others.

• Connect to Wine Enthusiast: Tailor your presentation to show how your skills and experience directly apply to their brand, industry, and specific needs (luxury, direct mail, digital).

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with specific design software (Adobe Suite, Figma) and your understanding of print production.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative vision, strategic thinking, project management capability, and a deep understanding of luxury branding and the Wine Enthusiast’s specific market. Be prepared to articulate your processes, justify your design decisions, and showcase tangible results from your portfolio.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Design Director position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on ats.rippling.com.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best represent your experience in luxury branding, direct mail design (catalogs, brochures), and digital marketing assets. Ensure it clearly demonstrates your art direction and leadership capabilities.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 7+ years of relevant experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and any experience with luxury lifestyle brands or direct-to-consumer marketing. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio, clearly articulating the objectives, your process, your role, and the impact of each project, specifically linking them to the requirements of this role at Wine Enthusiast.

• Research Wine Enthusiast: Familiarize yourself with their brand, current marketing campaigns, website, and company values. Be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with their mission and how you can contribute to their luxury positioning.

⚠️ 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.