Art Director | Strategic Branding & Creative DirectionRemote — Europe preferred | Full-Time | Independent Contractor
Role SnapshotOwn the visual brand. Elevate the positioning. Build the creative system behind the next stage of growth.
We’re looking for an experienced Art Director to take end-to-end ownership of how the brand looks, feels, and shows up across every customer touchpoint, from packaging and product launches to ecommerce, campaigns, and physical retail.You’ll join a fast-growing Italian skincare brand as it evolves from a successful DTC player into an established premium skincare brand across Italy and the US, with new products launching, pharmacy distribution beginning, and a broader brand evolution underway.This isn't a role for someone waiting for briefs. You’ll define the direction, build the system, and make sure the work ships.
About the Company
We’re a fast-growing Italian skincare brand for men, formulated in an Italian lab and sold DTC across Italy and the US.Today, the company has:200,000+ customersAmazon Italy bestseller in its category4.5 Trustpilot rating from 1,000+ reviews30%+ repeat customer rate700% year-over-year growthOn track for €30M this yearBootstrapped and profitableThere are no investors or board layers slowing decisions down. You’ll work directly with the two founders, allowing decisions to move quickly.Product-market fit is proven. The next challenge is making the brand look as strong as the business already is.
The RoleYour mandate is simple:Build a cohesive, premium identity across every physical and digital touchpoint without sacrificing the speed that got us here.You’ll own creative direction across:Packaging and product designNew product launchesEcommerce and landing pagesEmail and paid socialPhotography and campaign assetsRetail and pharmacy materialsBrand guidelines and visual systems
One of your first priorities will be upgrading the entire packaging system as the brand enters its next stage.You’ll also art-direct a pipeline of new product launches and help prepare the brand for its growing physical retail presence.You won’t just create individual assets. You’ll build and run the creative machine that produces them.
Responsibilities1. Product & Packaging DesignLead new product development and existing SKU restaging from concept through visual design, production files, and manufacturing.Work directly with vendors, printers, and manufacturing partners to ensure the final product matches the creative vision.
2. Product LaunchesTurn new products into cohesive launch worlds.Own creative direction across websites, PDPs, email, paid social, photography, campaign assets, and retail materials.The goal: one launch, one idea, one brand, rather than disconnected assets across channels.
3. Brand SystemDefine and document the visual principles that allow the company to move quickly without fragmenting the brand.This includes:TypographyColourLayoutsPhotographyArt directionPackaging principlesCampaign systemsBrand guidelinesYou’ll also ensure the system is consistently followed.
4. Ecommerce & Performance CreativeElevate the visual standard of the website, including homepage, PDPs, landing pages, and campaign experiences.Partner with the growth team and use CRO insights and customer behaviour data to improve creative while balancing premium brand positioning with performance.
5. AI-Enabled Creative ProductionIntegrate AI into concept development, image creation, iteration, and asset production.The goal isn't to use AI because it’s fashionable. It’s to create a lean creative operation capable of producing significantly more high-quality work without lowering the creative standard.You’ll also provide creative direction, feedback, and workflow oversight to designers across Italy and the US.What Success Looks Like
You’re winning when:The company has a recognizable, documented premium visual system across every channel.Packaging has been upgraded to compete with established premium and pharmacy brands.New products launch on schedule with consistent creative from packaging through campaigns.Website, PDP, email, paid, social, and retail assets feel like one brand.Creative quality improves without slowing the launch calendar.Designers execute faster because direction, standards, and feedback are clear.AI reduces production and iteration time while maintaining quality.Founders can trust the creative function to move from opportunity to finished output without managing every step.
The standard isn't simply good design. It’s a premium brand system that works commercially and scales.
Required Experience
This is a senior-level creative role. We’re looking for someone who has already shipped real work at meaningful scale.You should have:Strong art direction experience with DTC or CPG brands, ideally beauty, skincare, personal care, or adjacent categories.A strong portfolio showing exceptional brand thinking and polished execution across physical and digital touchpoints.Hands-on experience with product and packaging design, from concept through production.Experience art-directing major product launches and integrated campaigns.Strong ecommerce creative experience across PDPs, websites, landing pages, email, paid social, and campaign assets.Experience creating and maintaining brand systems rather than one-off designs.Experience directing, managing, or mentoring designers.Strong experience creating images and visual assets with AI tools and integrating AI into professional workflows.Experience working with external production partners, printers, manufacturers, and vendors.Excellent written and spoken English.Availability in CET or a closely aligned time zone.
A strong portfolio is required. No portfolio, no reply.
Nice to HaveExperience taking a DTC brand into physical retail, particularly pharmacy or mass retail.Experience with a full brand refresh or website redesign.Men's grooming, beauty, or skincare experience.Italian language skills, although Italian is not required.
Tools & Environment
You’ll work within a modern, AI-enabled creative environment using:Professional design and creative production toolsAI image generation and creative toolsEcommerce and CRO insightsDigital asset and workflow systemsPackaging and print-production workflowsExternal manufacturers, printers, and production partnersWe provide access to best-in-class AI and design tooling.We care less about whether you know one specific software and more about whether you can use the right tools to consistently produce exceptional work.
Compensation & Benefits
$5,000–$10,000 USD/monthFull-time independent contractorFully remoteFlexible working hours with CET-compatible availabilityBest-in-class AI and design toolingDirect access to the foundersInternational team across Italy and the USSignificant creative ownership from day oneOpportunity to shape a profitable, rapidly growing international brand
Hiring ProcessPortfolio ReviewInitial Interview with TALOCo-Founder InterviewPaid TaskFinal Co-Founder InterviewDecision
We care about portfolio quality, but also your ability to make decisions, take ownership, move quickly, and turn creative direction into shipped work.
Who Thrives HereYou’ll thrive here if you want ownership rather than layers of approval.You care deeply about craft while understanding deadlines, commercial realities, production constraints, and conversion.You’re comfortable moving between high-level brand strategy and the details required to ship the work.
You give clear feedback. You make decisions. You solve problems before they become bottlenecks.This role may not suit someone who needs long timelines, highly structured briefs, multiple approval layers, or a large creative department before producing their best work.We’re looking for someone who can bring premium creative standards into a startup-speed environment.
ApplyIf you’ve built premium brands, shipped real products, and want to own the creative evolution of a fast-growing international skincare company, we want to see your work.
Apply here:https://forms.gle/6a1u1VueQcErHDqi7We’re not hiring someone to make the brand look prettier.We’re hiring the person who will define what this brand looks like at €30M and beyond.Due to the volume of applications, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
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