Art Director

The Reference is a committed digital agency of 160 creative thinkers, driven by knowledge and craftsmanship. Our clients refer to us as a bunch of lovely and intelligent people. We share a collaborative culture in which we leverage our expertise and unleash our creativity in every aspect of our work. This allows us to open up digital opportunities in numerous verticals and businesses. That's why A-brands and other market leaders have been considering us trusted advisors for many years.

**Job**:
The Reference is on the lookout for a sharp Art Director to come and **join our multidisciplinary team**. As an Art Director you will nurture and mentor our design team and be responsible for maintaining and elevating the highest quality design across all projects. You have a **hands-on mentality**: together with a multidisciplinary team you will come up with creative concepts for websites and marketing campaigns. And are not afraid to get your hands dirty, and dust off your design skills if it comes down to it.

The digital landscape comes natural to you. Thanks to your experience you know how to answer to a client’s digital challenge with a compelling story, where strategy, concept and execution come together as you are an **integral part of our pitch process**.

Is the digital world like a natural habitat to you? Then join us, cause this job can be right up your alley

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

- You will oversee creation of graphic and digital design, story building from concept to execution. You will be hands on, which means designing as well as directing other work with creative/strategic feedback.
- You will be client-facing, presenting pitches, and represent The Reference.
- Discuss client’s needs and the design elements they want.
- Interpreting abstract business concepts and client briefs and turning them into creative ideas.
- You will visualize, conceptualize, and design brandings, websites, and marketing campaigns across digital platforms together with a multidisciplinary team.
- Be on top of design trends.

**Profile**:

- 5+ years of experience working in creative industry, with min 2 years’ experience as a creative team lead. Digital agency experience is mandatory.
- You are a team player; you lead by example designing and creating work while paving the professional way for the team.
- You are a creative problem solver.
- You have good collaboration and communication skills.
- Creating and presenting pitches are in your nature.
- You have a working knowledge of multiple creative disciplines and possess an advanced understanding of all stages of the design processes for digital.
- You have a working knowledge of web development processes and digital marketing.
- You have experience leading creative conceptualization process, pinpointing visual solutions on tight deadlines, and juggling dozens of deliverables and tasks simultaneously.
- You can deliver and accept feedback and translate it into creative output.
- You have a strong attention to detail.
- Experience working with design systems is a plus.
- Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite; Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.
- You also master Figma.
- You have a working knowledge of Design Systems.
- You can express yourself fluently in English.

**Our offer**:
We are one of Belgium’s most successful digital agencies, part of EPAM, but with its own DNA.

You will be one of the key figures in a young and dynamic team where there is plenty of scope for personal initiative.

We give you the opportunity to develop your talent further. We provide an L&D budget and the necessary time to hone your skills and expertise.

Your welfare is important to us. We ensure a healthy work-life balance and the necessary relaxation, at our company parties and legendary boardgame nights, for example.

Work from our agile offices (Ghent & Antwerp) or from home (60%). Whatever you want

Last but not leastan attractive salary with lots of fringe benefits, such as a company car, meal vouchers, group and health insurance, bike lease, extra days leave,