OluKai AI Creative Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: OluKai AI Creative Designer

Company: OluKai-Kaenon-melin-Roark

Location: Irvine, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 6+ Years (Mid-Senior Level)

Remote Status: Hybrid (4 days in-office, 1 day remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creation of AI-generated imagery and motion content for paid and performance advertising campaigns, transforming traditional production workflows.

• Serve as the in-house expert on emerging AI creative tools and technologies, scouting, recommending, and integrating new solutions for the entire creative team.

• Apply a strong photography art direction sensibility to AI outputs, ensuring brand alignment, aesthetic quality, and intentional creative decisions.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Brand Content, Performance Marketing, and the broader creative team to deliver high-impact, on-brand creative assets for Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and campaigns.

• Drive efficiency and innovation by identifying opportunities to leverage AI for workflow optimization across the creative department.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is a pioneering position at the intersection of cutting-edge AI technology and creative production for a lifestyle brand. The emphasis on "actual fluency" with AI tools and a strong foundation in traditional art direction suggests a need for candidates who can blend technical AI mastery with a sophisticated creative eye. The "AI Creative Designer" title, combined with responsibilities like scouting new tools and optimizing workflows, points to a proactive, forward-thinking operations-minded creative professional.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Concept, prompt, and art direct AI-generated product and lifestyle imagery for paid social and digital advertising, ensuring adherence to brand standards for both still and motion formats.

• Execute AI-assisted video and motion creative production, focusing on short-form content optimized for the pace and format demands of performance marketing channels.

• Articulate and implement photography art direction principles into AI outputs, including strategic decisions on camera angle, composition, lens character, lighting, depth of field, film aesthetic, and scene direction.

• Perform manual type treatments on ad layouts, ensuring strong hierarchy, readability, and brand consistency across diverse ad placements.

• Adapt and resize creative assets for various ad formats and ratios (e.g., 1:1, 4:5, 9:16), utilizing AI tools to expedite the production process.

• Partner with the Art Director of Brand Content to generate AI-driven assets for GTM launches and campaign-specific initiatives, maintaining visual continuity with overarching brand creative direction.

• Actively research and evaluate new AI tools, workflows, and emerging capabilities, presenting vetted recommendations and strategic POVs to creative leadership.

• Identify and propose innovative AI applications to streamline and enhance the workflow of the entire creative team, beyond individual contributions.

• Liaise with the performance marketing team to understand creative requirements, A/B testing priorities, and performance data, using insights to refine and inform future creative development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of hands-on AI content creation and strategic operational thinking. The emphasis on "art directing AI outputs" and "making intentional decisions" underscores the need for a designer who can guide AI generation with a critical, experienced eye, rather than simply accepting default outputs. The role also demands proactive engagement with new technologies and a collaborative approach to improving team-wide processes.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• Minimum of 6 years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrable portfolio showcasing work in digital advertising, social creative, or performance marketing.

Required Skills:

• AI Creative Tool Fluency: Hands-on, working proficiency with a range of AI creative platforms for image and video generation, including but not limited to Claude, Adobe's AI suite (Photoshop Generative Fill, Firefly), Higgsfield, NanoBanana, Vizcom, and similar technologies.

• Photography Art Direction: A solid grounding in photography principles, including camera angles, framing, composition, set and prop direction, lens selection, lighting setups, and film/analog aesthetics. Ability to articulate creative vision effectively.

• Graphic Design Fundamentals: Strong command of typography, composition, and color theory, with the ability to apply these principles to art directing AI outputs.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Advanced skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for layout, retouching, and type work.

• AI Technology Enthusiasm: A genuine passion for staying abreast of AI advancements, with the ability to form opinions, share insights proactively, and track emerging trends.

• Brand Aesthetics Understanding: Appreciation for lifestyle brands, particularly in footwear or fashion, with an understanding of relevant aesthetic principles.

Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working directly with or alongside a studio photography team, understanding on-set production dynamics and product imagery best practices.

• Previous experience in a performance or growth creative role, with a focus on designing for hypothesis testing and data-driven optimization.

• Experience with AI video generation tools for producing motion content and short-form advertisements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "actual fluency, not just curiosity" for AI tools is a critical differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate deep practical knowledge of specific AI platforms and their creative applications. The requirement for strong photography art direction skills indicates that the company values intentional, well-crafted visuals, even when generated by AI, emphasizing the designer's role in guiding the AI's output to meet high creative standards.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing at least 6 years of graphic design work, with a significant emphasis on digital advertising, social media creative, and performance marketing assets.

• Demonstrate practical application and successful outcomes using AI creative tools for image and motion content generation. Include case studies detailing the process from prompt to final output.

• Exhibit strong examples of photography art direction principles applied to creative work, whether traditional or AI-generated, highlighting composition, lighting, and aesthetic choices.

• Present examples of typography application and layout design in advertising contexts, showcasing hierarchy, readability, and brand consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal workflow for leveraging AI tools in a creative production pipeline, detailing stages from ideation and prompt engineering to output refinement and final delivery.

• Articulate your methodology for evaluating and integrating new AI tools and technologies into existing creative processes.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how to use performance data and A/B testing results to inform and iterate on creative asset development, particularly within AI-generated content.

• Be ready to explain how you maintain brand consistency and art direction standards when producing creative content with AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements strongly suggest that candidates need to present tangible evidence of their AI proficiency and their ability to translate traditional art direction principles into AI-generated visuals. A focus on process, particularly how AI is integrated into a workflow and how performance data influences creative decisions, will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60,000 - $85,000 per year, commensurate with experience.

Benefits:

• Culinary Delights: Complimentary chef-prepared breakfast and lunch provided Monday through Thursday.

• Product Perks: Generous product gift program and exclusive brand discounts.

• Performance Incentives: Eligibility for an annual company bonus program.

• Travel Rewards: Milestone anniversary gifts including trips to Hawaii and other desirable destinations for 5 and 10-year tenures.

• Comprehensive Health: Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance coverage, in accordance with plan guidelines.

• Life Security: Company-paid life insurance policy.

• Retirement Planning: 401k plan with an employer match, adhering to plan guidelines.

• Generous Time Off: 15 days of Paid Time Off (PTO) annually, increasing by one day each year on the work anniversary, plus 3 floating holidays.

• Community & Connection: Paid beach and giveback days, bi-annual team-building events, and other in-person celebrations.

• Team Environment: Opportunity to work with talented individuals who share a passion for the ocean lifestyle.

• Corporate Social Responsibility: OluKai is a Certified B Corporation with paid company service days.

• Pet-Friendly Workplace: Dog-friendly office environment.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid model offers one remote day, providing flexibility. The company notes that office attendance requirements are subject to change per company guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The compensation range is typical for a specialized creative role with significant technical demands in a high-cost-of-living area like Irvine, CA. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the unique travel rewards and focus on work-life balance through generous PTO and paid giveback days, aligns with a lifestyle brand culture. The complimentary meals are a notable perk.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Footwear & Apparel (Lifestyle Brand Focus)

Company Size: Archipelago Companies is a group that includes OluKai, Kaenon, and Melin. While the exact size of the dedicated OluKai creative team isn't specified, the overall organization likely employs several hundred individuals across its brands. This size suggests a structured environment with established processes but also room for innovation and individual impact.

Founded: OluKai was founded with a mission to build premium products for the ocean lifestyle, emphasizing quality, comfort, and environmental responsibility. Archipelago Companies is the parent entity.

Team Structure:

• The AI Creative Designer reports to the Content Studio Manager.

• They will work closely with the Art Director of Brand Content on campaign and GTM creative.

• The role also serves as an AI resource for the entire 10-person creative team, indicating a collaborative and supportive dynamic within the department.

Methodology:

• OluKai's philosophy prioritizes environmental responsibility and a commitment to a clean environment.

• The company culture embodies the connection between people and the ocean, seeking individuals passionate about this lifestyle.

• Data-driven insights from performance marketing will inform creative decisions, suggesting an iterative and analytical approach to creative production.

• The integration of AI represents a forward-thinking methodology, aiming for efficiency and exploration of new creative frontiers.

Company Website: https://olukai.com/ (Implied from domain_derived: olukai.com)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is deeply rooted in the "ocean lifestyle," emphasizing quality, comfort, and environmental consciousness. The new AI Creative Designer role is positioned to inject innovation into this culture, blending established brand aesthetics with cutting-edge technology. The team structure suggests a collaborative environment where specialized knowledge (like AI) is shared and valued.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Senior level specialist. It requires a significant depth of experience (6+ years) in graphic design and a high degree of proficiency in a specialized, emerging area (AI creative tools). The responsibility extends beyond individual contribution to include scouting new technologies and acting as a resource for the broader team, indicating a potential for mentorship and influence.

Reporting Structure: The AI Creative Designer reports to the Content Studio Manager and collaborates closely with the Art Director of Brand Content. This structure provides clear lines of communication and creative direction while allowing for specialized focus.

Operations Impact: The primary impact of this role is on the efficiency and effectiveness of the creative production pipeline for paid and performance advertising. By leveraging AI, the designer can significantly accelerate content creation, enabling more rapid testing and iteration in performance marketing. This directly supports GTM strategies by ensuring a consistent flow of fresh, on-brand creative assets. The role also has a broader impact by driving technological adoption and innovation across the entire creative team.

Growth Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Deepen expertise in AI creative technologies, potentially becoming a recognized leader in AI-driven creative production within the company or industry.

• Creative Leadership: Progress into roles with greater oversight of creative strategy, team management, or production workflows, potentially moving into a Senior Designer, Art Director, or Content Studio Manager position.

• Cross-Functional Influence: Expand influence across marketing and product teams by evangelizing AI capabilities and driving process improvements that impact broader business objectives.

• Skill Expansion: Develop further expertise in performance marketing creative strategies, data analysis for creative optimization, and advanced motion graphics production.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for career advancement by specializing in a rapidly evolving field. The ability to not only use AI tools but to scout, recommend, and implement them positions the candidate for significant influence and potential leadership within the creative operations of a brand. The emphasis on performance marketing integration suggests a path toward more data-driven creative leadership roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model with a mandatory 4 days per week in-office presence in Irvine, CA, and 1 day per week remote flexibility. This structure aims to balance in-person collaboration and team building with individual focus time.

Office Location(s): Irvine, California. This location is known for its vibrant business community and is a hub for various industries.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The in-office days are designed to foster collaboration, team building, and spontaneous idea exchange within the 10-person creative team and with other departments like Performance Marketing.

• Technology Focus: As a role centered on AI, the workspace is expected to be equipped with modern technology and software necessary for advanced creative production.

• Brand Immersion: Working within a lifestyle brand like OluKai means being immersed in an environment that values aesthetics, ocean culture, and product quality. The office is also described as dog-friendly.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week. The hybrid structure provides some flexibility with one remote day. The company notes that attendance requirements may be subject to change.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with a significant in-office component is designed to facilitate team synergy and hands-on creative collaboration, which is crucial for a role involving new technology adoption and a strong art direction component. The dog-friendly office and focus on ocean lifestyle culture suggest a more relaxed yet professional and creative atmosphere.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio, with a strong focus on AI tool proficiency and relevant design experience. Be prepared for an initial call to discuss your background and interest.

• Creative Assessment/Portfolio Review: A deeper dive into your portfolio, likely involving a discussion about specific projects, your creative process, and your experience with AI tools. You may be asked to present a case study or walk through a hypothetical AI creative challenge.

• Technical/AI Skills Evaluation: Questions or a practical exercise designed to assess your hands-on fluency with AI creative platforms (e.g., prompt engineering, generating specific outputs, troubleshooting).

• Cross-Functional/Team Interview: Meetings with the Content Studio Manager, Art Director of Brand Content, and potentially members of the performance marketing team. This stage assesses your collaborative style, understanding of performance creative, and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss strategic alignment, growth potential, and overall fit with the Archipelago Companies vision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Proficiency: Dedicate a significant section of your portfolio to AI-generated work. Clearly label AI-assisted projects and detail the tools used, your prompting strategy, and how you refined the outputs.

• Showcase Art Direction: For both AI and traditional work, explain your art direction decisions. Discuss composition, lighting, mood, and how you achieved the desired aesthetic.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or examples demonstrating how your creative work, especially performance-driven assets, contributed to campaign success (e.g., improved engagement, conversion rates).

• Tell a Story: For each project, articulate the challenge, your approach (especially your AI strategy), and the results. Focus on clarity, brand consistency, and your unique contribution.

• Adaptability: Include examples that show your ability to adapt creative for different formats, ratios, and campaign objectives.

Challenge Preparation:

• AI Prompting Practice: Familiarize yourself with advanced prompting techniques for various AI image and video generators. Be ready to demonstrate how you would achieve specific visual styles or concepts.

• Brand Understanding: Research OluKai's brand identity, target audience, and current marketing campaigns. Understand their aesthetic and how AI can be leveraged to enhance it while maintaining authenticity.

• Performance Creative Concepts: Think about how you would approach creating AI-generated assets for A/B testing in digital advertising. Consider variations in visuals, calls-to-action, and messaging.

• Workflow Efficiency: Be prepared to discuss how you would integrate AI into an existing creative workflow to improve speed and output, and how you would share this knowledge with colleagues.

📝 Enhancement Note: Success in this application process will heavily rely on demonstrating practical, hands-on experience with AI creative tools, not just theoretical knowledge. Candidates should be ready to articulate their AI prompting strategies and showcase how they apply traditional design and art direction principles to guide AI outputs effectively.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• AI Creative Platforms: Explicitly listed are Claude, Adobe's AI suite (Photoshop Generative Fill, Firefly), Higgsfield, NanoBanana, Vizcom, and similar platforms. Proficiency in generating both still imagery and motion content is expected.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for layout, retouching, and type treatments.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly mentioned for this role, but collaboration with marketing teams means understanding how creative assets feed into marketing automation and CRM processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is deep, practical expertise in a variety of AI creative tools. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience with specific platforms and their capabilities for image and video generation. Adobe Creative Suite remains a foundational requirement for post-processing and final asset preparation.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Forward-Thinking: A strong emphasis on embracing new technologies like AI to push creative boundaries and improve workflows.

• Quality & Craftsmanship: A commitment to producing premium products and high-quality creative assets that reflect the brand's aesthetic and values.

• Environmental Responsibility: A core company value, influencing manufacturing and operational decisions.

• Ocean Lifestyle Passion: A shared appreciation for the ocean and its influence on lifestyle and culture, fostering a unique team dynamic.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilizing performance marketing data to inform and optimize creative output, ensuring effectiveness.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Working effectively within a team of 10 creative professionals and cross-functionally with marketing and other departments.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Close collaboration with Brand Content, Performance Marketing, and the broader creative team to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

• Knowledge Sharing: Acting as an AI resource for the team, sharing insights, best practices, and recommendations for new tools and workflows.

• Feedback Exchange: An environment that likely values constructive feedback to refine AI-generated assets and creative strategies.

• Efficiency-Focused: A collective drive to optimize creative production processes, particularly through AI adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture appears to be a blend of artistic passion, technological ambition, and a commitment to brand values. The AI Creative Designer is expected to be an innovator who not only creates but also educates and influences the team, embodying a proactive and collaborative spirit.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pioneering AI Integration: Operating in a new and rapidly evolving field of AI creative production, requiring continuous learning and adaptation.

• Balancing AI with Brand Aesthetics: Ensuring AI-generated content consistently meets the high aesthetic standards and brand integrity of OluKai, avoiding a generic or "AI-generated" feel.

• Workflow Optimization: Identifying and implementing effective AI workflows that genuinely improve efficiency for the entire creative team, not just individual tasks.

• Performance vs. Artistry: Navigating the demands of performance marketing (speed, testing, data) while maintaining artistic quality and brand narrative.

• Staying Ahead of AI Trends: The AI landscape changes daily; staying current with new tools, techniques, and ethical considerations will be an ongoing challenge.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Specialization: Become a go-to expert in AI creative tools and prompt engineering, potentially attending industry conferences or workshops focused on generative AI in design.

• Performance Marketing Creative Strategy: Gain deeper insights into performance marketing, A/B testing methodologies, and data analysis for creative optimization.

• Advanced Motion Graphics: Develop skills in AI-driven motion content creation and short-form video production for digital advertising.

• Cross-Departmental Exposure: Work closely with marketing and brand teams, gaining a broader understanding of Go-To-Market strategies and business objectives.

• Leadership Potential: Develop mentorship skills by guiding colleagues on AI tools and processes, paving a path towards leadership roles in creative operations or strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents significant challenges but also offers substantial growth. The ability to navigate the complexities of AI adoption, maintain brand integrity, and drive efficiency will be key to success and future career advancement within the company.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for using AI tools to generate compelling lifestyle imagery for a brand like OluKai. How do you ensure it aligns with brand aesthetics and photography art direction principles?"

• "Walk us through a project where you used AI to create advertising creative. What were the challenges, what tools did you use, and what was the outcome? How did you art direct the AI outputs?"

• "How would you approach creating AI-generated video content for performance marketing channels (e.g., short-form social ads)? What are the key considerations for pace, format, and brand consistency?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your understanding of OluKai's brand and the 'ocean lifestyle' culture? How do you see AI creative fitting into this?"

• "How do you stay updated on the latest advancements in AI and generative design? Share a recent trend or tool that excites you and why."

• "Describe your experience working in a collaborative creative environment. How do you contribute to team success and share knowledge?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• AI Showcase: Dedicate a clear section to your AI-generated work. For each piece, detail the AI tools used, your prompt engineering approach, and how you art directed and refined the final output.

• Art Direction Narrative: For all portfolio pieces, articulate your art direction choices. Explain your rationale behind composition, lighting, mood, and how you achieved the desired aesthetic.

• Process Explanation: Be ready to walk through your workflow for specific projects, emphasizing how you integrate AI tools, collaborate with others, and use feedback or data to iterate.

• Impact Metrics: Where possible, quantify the impact of your work, especially for performance marketing assets (e.g., increased engagement rates, improved conversion).

• Brand Alignment: Demonstrate your understanding of OluKai's brand by selecting and presenting portfolio pieces that align with their aesthetic and values.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not only their technical AI skills but also their strategic thinking, understanding of brand aesthetics, and ability to apply traditional art direction principles to AI-generated content. A strong narrative around process and impact will be crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this OluKai AI Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Archipelago Companies careers page.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your resume and portfolio to prominently feature your experience with AI creative tools (Claude, Adobe Firefly, etc.) and your art direction skills. Highlight specific projects that demonstrate your ability to create high-impact digital advertising and social creative.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 6+ years of experience, emphasizing your hands-on fluency with AI technologies and your understanding of photography art direction and graphic design fundamentals. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your AI creative process, your approach to art directing AI outputs, and how you stay current with AI trends. Prepare case studies that showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to deliver on performance marketing objectives.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research OluKai, its brand values, target audience, and existing marketing campaigns. Understand their commitment to the ocean lifestyle and environmental responsibility to demonstrate cultural fit and strategic alignment.

⚠️ 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.