Senior Art Director, 2D Illustration
Uses AI creative tools and explicitly mentions experimentation with vibe coding; comfortable integrating AI workflows into design.
About the Role
Whatnot is hiring a Senior Art Director, 2D Illustration to lead art direction and illustration across brand, digital product, campaigns, events, and merchandise. This hands-on role requires strong 2D craft, visual strategy, storytelling, and cross-functional collaboration to create production-ready assets and evolve the brand.
Job Description
Role
Senior Art Director, 2D Illustration responsible for developing visual strategies and art direction that extend Whatnot’s brand across digital experiences, product launches, events, social, marketing campaigns, and merchandise. This is a hands-on generalist role that combines high-level creative strategy with day-to-day illustration and execution.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop visual strategies, moodboards, sketches, and production-ready assets to support product, marketing, events, and merchandising.
- Provide clear art direction and actionable feedback to designers and illustrators; maintain and evolve visual systems.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with designers, engineers, copywriters, marketers, and creative leads from brief through delivery.
- Move quickly from brief to execution, cutting scope when appropriate while maintaining high craft standards.
- Communicate concepts persuasively, lead projects end-to-end, and maintain a positive, collaborative team environment.
- Use tools and AI workflows to communicate ideas and streamline creative processes.
Requirements
- 7+ years of experience in brand, campaign, or creative studio work with a portfolio demonstrating strong visual thinking and hands-on execution.
- Demonstrated skill in storytelling through static and animated creative assets and polished illustration and graphic design solutions.
- Strong art direction, taste, and experience working within or developing visual systems.
- Excellent collaboration and communication skills; ability to give constructive feedback and lead cross-functional work.
- Self-starter mentality, meticulousness, willingness to experiment and learn new tools.
- Proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite; familiarity with AI creative tools and workflows.
- Must live within commuting distance of one of the hub locations (San Francisco, New York, Seattle, or Los Angeles).
Nice to have
- Experience at a high-growth startup, marketplace, consumer app, creator platform, or fast-moving creative studio.
- Experience art directing motion, building illustration systems, creating capsule collections, or building creative tools for design teams.
- Passion or experimentation with AI tools and vibe coding.
Benefits
- Generous holiday and time off policy
- Health insurance options: medical, dental, vision
- Work-from-home support and home office setup allowance
- Monthly allowances for cell phone, internet, wellness, and dogfooding the app
- Annual childcare allowance and lifetime family-planning benefits (adoption/fertility)
- Retirement offerings (401k with employer match up to 4% in the US; pension plans internationally)
- Parental leave: 16 weeks paid + one month gradual return
- Monthly and annual allowances and other care benefits
Location & Working Model
- Remote co-located model with hubs across the US (San Francisco, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles) and international hubs globally.
- Flexibility to work from home or from an office hub; in-person time is valued for planning and collaboration. Candidates must live within commuting distance of a listed US hub for this role.
Compensation
- Base salary range: $158,000 - $200,000 (offers equity).