Art Director Jobs in California
Art Director jobs in California are among the most active in the country, with strong demand concentrated in entertainment and media production, advertising and brand marketing, and technology product design, at every level from junior art director through creative director. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the primary hiring markets, home to established employers such as Disney, Apple, and TBWA\Worldwide that maintain large, ongoing creative teams. In-demand specialties include motion graphics and broadcast design, UX-driven brand work, and integrated campaign direction. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 47+ Art Director jobs
Company and Vision
PlanetArt’s vision is to be the leading seller of personalized and make-on-demand products worldwide. We provide consumers with unmatched tools and content and an unparalleled end-to-end customer experience that result in high-quality, meaningful finished products and memorable celebrations of life events.
The company’s brands include the popular FreePrints and FreePrints Photobooks apps and the industry leading SimplytoImpress card and stationery site, as well as Personal Creations, CafePress and ISeeMe! Visit www.planetart.com to learn more about our brands.
We have more than 500 team members across multiple offices, primarily in Calabasas CA, San Diego CA, Woodridge IL, Minneapolis, MN and Pleasanton, CA. We also have team members in two company-owned offices in China, as well as in Europe.
Job Overview
We are seeking a creative, strategic, and detail-oriented Art Director to lead and elevate the visual identity of our growing portfolio of our brands. This individual will play a key role in shaping the look and feel of our customer - facing content across digital channels, ensuring cohesive and compelling storytelling that drives engagement and performance.
As Art Director, you will guide a talented team of designers and collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, and external partners. You’ll be responsible for art direction, brand consistency, and the creation of high-impact visual assets for email, social media, digital ads, eCommerce, and more. This role balances hands-on design work with leadership and project oversight, making it ideal for a creative leader who thrives in both execution and mentorship.
The ideal candidate is a visionary designer with strong branding instincts, excellent communication skills, and the ability to make data-informed creative decisions. If you’re passionate about design and translating brand strategy into captivating visuals, we’d love to meet you.
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the Calabasas area as we operate on a hybrid work model (3 days onsite, 2 remote)
What You’ll Do
Key Responsibilities
Art Direction:
- Lead the creative vision and visual identity for Personal Creations (US/UK), Gifts.com, Amazon brands (Let's Make Memories and RedEnvelope), and Etsy storefronts, ensuring consistent brand execution across all customer touchpoints.
- Establish, evolve, and maintain brand standards while providing creative direction to designers, copywriters, marketing, merchandising, and external creative partners.
- Oversee the creative development and approval of digital assets including email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, Amazon content, product imagery, video, and ecommerce experiences.
- Partner with Marketing and Merchandising to develop seasonal creative strategies, promotional campaigns, and content calendars aligned with business objectives.
- Direct photography and video concepts, collaborating with internal and external production partners to ensure assets support marketing and merchandising initiatives.
- Monitor customer insights, performance metrics, and industry trends to recommend creative improvements, optimize customer engagement, and influence product presentation.
- Develop and maintain creative templates, design systems, and reusable assets that promote consistency and efficiency across marketing channels.
- Collaborate with the Creative Director to develop new concepts, creative initiatives, and innovative approaches that strengthen brand presence.
Design & Creative Execution
- Design and oversee high-impact creative for websites, landing pages, email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, and ecommerce experiences.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute A/B tests and user experience enhancements based on customer insights and business performance metrics.
- Create original concepts for new campaigns, product launches, photography, video, and emerging marketing channels.
- Provide hands-on design support for priority initiatives, new creative concepts, and high-visibility projects as business needs require. Leverage the company’s proprietary AI ad producing platform for campaign development.
Leadership & Project Management
- Lead, mentor, and provide day-to-day direction to the design team, fostering collaboration, creativity, and professional development.
- Prioritize and assign creative work based on business priorities, project timelines, and team capacity.
- Partner with Project Management, Marketing, and Merchandising to ensure projects are delivered on time and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Review and approve creative work, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to brand standards and quality expectations. Communicate priorities, processes, and project status across cross-functional teams while supporting an efficient creative workflow.
Requirements
What You Should Have
Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years of professional experience as an Art Director or in a senior graphic design or creative leadership role.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design, branding, and art direction across digital marketing and ecommerce channels.
- Expertise in visual design principles, including composition, color theory, typography, and layout.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, with knowledge of production and print processes.
- Proven ability to develop original creative concepts from ideation through final execution.
- Experience leading, mentoring, and providing creative direction to designers while maintaining high quality standards.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present creative ideas and provide constructive feedback.
- Creative thinker with a passion for design, branding, emerging trends, and delivering engaging customer experiences. Detail-oriented with a commitment to producing polished, high-quality creative work.
What You Can Expect
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
- Position requires regular, continuous use of computer.
- Position requires regular sitting and standing.
- Position requires regular interaction with team members through the following methods: in-person, phone, Zoom, Slack, or email.
- May require occasional travel.
- This is a hybrid position; employees are expected to be in the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with the option of working remotely two days (Wednesday and Friday)
Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 annual salary.
PlanetArt offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) with matching
- Pet Insurance
- Mental Health Benefits
- Comprehensive Time Off Program, including Vacation, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
- Employee Product Discounts
Company and Vision
PlanetArt’s vision is to be the leading seller of personalized and make-on-demand products worldwide. We provide consumers with unmatched tools and content and an unparalleled end-to-end customer experience that result in high-quality, meaningful finished products and memorable celebrations of life events.
The company’s brands include the popular FreePrints and FreePrints Photobooks apps and the industry leading SimplytoImpress card and stationery site, as well as Personal Creations, CafePress and ISeeMe! Visit www.planetart.com to learn more about our brands.
We have more than 500 team members across multiple offices, primarily in Calabasas CA, San Diego CA, Woodridge IL, Minneapolis, MN and Pleasanton, CA. We also have team members in two company-owned offices in China, as well as in Europe.
Job Overview
We are seeking a creative, strategic, and detail-oriented Art Director to lead and elevate the visual identity of our growing portfolio of our brands. This individual will play a key role in shaping the look and feel of our customer - facing content across digital channels, ensuring cohesive and compelling storytelling that drives engagement and performance.
As Art Director, you will guide a talented team of designers and collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, merchandising, and external partners. You’ll be responsible for art direction, brand consistency, and the creation of high-impact visual assets for email, social media, digital ads, eCommerce, and more. This role balances hands-on design work with leadership and project oversight, making it ideal for a creative leader who thrives in both execution and mentorship.
The ideal candidate is a visionary designer with strong branding instincts, excellent communication skills, and the ability to make data-informed creative decisions. If you’re passionate about design and translating brand strategy into captivating visuals, we’d love to meet you.
PLEASE NOTE: Candidates must be local to or willing to relocate to the Calabasas area as we operate on a hybrid work model (3 days onsite, 2 remote)
What You’ll Do
Key Responsibilities
Art Direction:
- Lead the creative vision and visual identity for Personal Creations (US/UK), Gifts.com, Amazon brands (Let's Make Memories and RedEnvelope), and Etsy storefronts, ensuring consistent brand execution across all customer touchpoints.
- Establish, evolve, and maintain brand standards while providing creative direction to designers, copywriters, marketing, merchandising, and external creative partners.
- Oversee the creative development and approval of digital assets including email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, Amazon content, product imagery, video, and ecommerce experiences.
- Partner with Marketing and Merchandising to develop seasonal creative strategies, promotional campaigns, and content calendars aligned with business objectives.
- Direct photography and video concepts, collaborating with internal and external production partners to ensure assets support marketing and merchandising initiatives.
- Monitor customer insights, performance metrics, and industry trends to recommend creative improvements, optimize customer engagement, and influence product presentation.
- Develop and maintain creative templates, design systems, and reusable assets that promote consistency and efficiency across marketing channels.
- Collaborate with the Creative Director to develop new concepts, creative initiatives, and innovative approaches that strengthen brand presence.
Design & Creative Execution
- Design and oversee high-impact creative for websites, landing pages, email campaigns, social media, digital advertising, and ecommerce experiences.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to develop and execute A/B tests and user experience enhancements based on customer insights and business performance metrics.
- Create original concepts for new campaigns, product launches, photography, video, and emerging marketing channels.
- Provide hands-on design support for priority initiatives, new creative concepts, and high-visibility projects as business needs require. Leverage the company’s proprietary AI ad producing platform for campaign development.
Leadership & Project Management
- Lead, mentor, and provide day-to-day direction to the design team, fostering collaboration, creativity, and professional development.
- Prioritize and assign creative work based on business priorities, project timelines, and team capacity.
- Partner with Project Management, Marketing, and Merchandising to ensure projects are delivered on time and aligned with strategic objectives.
- Review and approve creative work, provide constructive feedback, and ensure adherence to brand standards and quality expectations. Communicate priorities, processes, and project status across cross-functional teams while supporting an efficient creative workflow.
Requirements
What You Should Have
Skills, Qualifications, and Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in graphic design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
- 3+ years of professional experience as an Art Director or in a senior graphic design or creative leadership role.
- Strong portfolio demonstrating exceptional design, branding, and art direction across digital marketing and ecommerce channels.
- Expertise in visual design principles, including composition, color theory, typography, and layout.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, with knowledge of production and print processes.
- Proven ability to develop original creative concepts from ideation through final execution.
- Experience leading, mentoring, and providing creative direction to designers while maintaining high quality standards.
- Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present creative ideas and provide constructive feedback.
- Creative thinker with a passion for design, branding, emerging trends, and delivering engaging customer experiences. Detail-oriented with a commitment to producing polished, high-quality creative work.
What You Can Expect
Working Conditions
- Work is performed in an office environment with low to moderate noise levels.
- Position requires regular, continuous use of computer.
- Position requires regular sitting and standing.
- Position requires regular interaction with team members through the following methods: in-person, phone, Zoom, Slack, or email.
- May require occasional travel.
- This is a hybrid position; employees are expected to be in the office three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday) with the option of working remotely two days (Wednesday and Friday)
Benefits
The compensation range for this position is $75,000 - $95,000 annual salary.
PlanetArt offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- Life Insurance
- 401(k) with matching
- Pet Insurance
- Mental Health Benefits
- Comprehensive Time Off Program, including Vacation, Sick Days, Paid Holidays, and Floating Holidays
- Employee Product Discounts
See All 47 Art Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Art Director JobsArt Director Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Art Director Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Staffing & Recruiting
- Technology & Software
- Retail
- Education
- Consumer Goods
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in art director jobs across California.
- Bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, or a related creative discipline
- Five or more years of design or visual creative experience with a portfolio
- Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
- Experience leading creative teams and directing designers, photographers, or illustrators
- Strong understanding of brand strategy, typography, layout, and visual storytelling
- Familiarity with digital production workflows, motion design tools, or UX design principles
Art Director Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become an art director in California?
Art directing in California requires no state-issued license, so the path runs through education and experience. Most employers expect a bachelor's degree in graphic design, fine arts, advertising, or a related field, followed by several years working as a senior designer or similar role building a strong portfolio. California's entertainment, advertising, and technology industries are the primary career entry points, with internships and junior designer roles at studios, agencies, and in-house brand teams serving as the most common starting positions.
How much do art directors make in California?
Art directors in California earn a median of about $137,780 a year, based on May 2025 Bureau of Labor Statistics wage data, ranging from around $81,500 for the lowest 10% to over $249,210 for the top 10%. Pay rises with experience, specialty, and employer.
Which companies hire art directors in California?
Employers hiring art directors in California right now include Meta, Paramount, and Ursus, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of October 2026. California's concentration of entertainment studios, global advertising agencies, and major technology headquarters means demand for art directors remains consistent across both large brand teams and boutique creative shops.
Which California cities have the most art director jobs?
Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Menlo Park have the most art director openings in California. Los Angeles dominates due to its entertainment production industry and dense advertising agency ecosystem, while San Francisco and San Jose are driven by technology companies and consumer brand marketing teams that maintain large in-house creative departments.
Are there remote art director jobs in California?
Yes, and more than many creative roles. About 72% of art director openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of October 2026, reflecting how much of the work centers on digital deliverables and screen-based collaboration. Campaign concepting, brand identity, and digital content direction are the most remote-friendly specialties, while on-set production direction and physical retail design tend to require an in-person presence.
How can I get hired as an art director in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is building toward a senior designer role first, then moving into art direction. Large California employers such as entertainment studios, technology companies, and integrated advertising agencies hire junior designers and design associates whose responsibilities grow into directorial work over time. A strong portfolio that demonstrates concept development, not just execution, is the most decisive credential. California's community of independent agencies and production companies also offers freelance-to-staff pipelines that experienced-adjacent candidates use to earn their first art director credit.
Where can I find and apply to art director jobs in California?
You can find and apply to art director jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Find the roles that fit your experience and specialty, then apply directly to each listing.
See All 47 Art Director Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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