Associate Creative Director

AKQA

  • Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
  • Vast
  • Voltijds
  • 10 dagen geleden
The Creative team at AKQA applies artistry and craftsmanship to strategic insight, bringing to life beautiful and technologically innovative ideas that move the world. From a variety of backgrounds and disciplines, our creatives are innately curious and strive to transform client challenges into groundbreaking, design-led solutions.As an Associate Creative Director (Art/Design) in our Amsterdam studio, you'll inspire and lead a team to craft visually striking concepts and executions across CGI, motion design, and interactive media. With a foundation in art direction and deep expertise in production, you will direct specialised CGI artists and guide cross-disciplinary teams to create cinematic, technically precise, and emotionally-resonant work. From large-scale digital platforms and motion-led brand systems, to experimental storytelling powered by emerging tools, you'll push the boundaries of what's possible in digital creativity.You're a visionary creative leader who thinks like a filmmaker, builds like a technician, and creates like a storyteller, bringing together craft, innovation, and strategy to shape work that influences culture and elevates global brands.As part of the AKQA team, you'll work in an environment that fosters a dynamic and inclusive culture, enabled by our multidisciplinary approach and supported by some of the brightest minds in their field. You will report to a Creative Director and collaborate closely with Creative, Design, and Experience leads across the studio to continually inspire, innovate, and deliver work of the highest standard.ROLE REQUIREMENTS
  • Deliver and inspire award-winning work that not only meets client needs but also shifts culture and influences behavior, blending art direction, design craft, and innovative use of technology.
  • Embody the philosophy of “think like a filmmaker, build like a technician, create like a storyteller,” leading teams to bring cinematic vision, technical precision, and emotional storytelling into every project.
  • Establish a strong creative foundation in concepting art directions for production and motion graphics, ensuring ideas are strategically sound and visually compelling.
  • Lead and mentor teams to create world-class executions in art direction, production, and motion design, elevating the quality of creative output across all stages of the process.
  • Direct specialized CGI artists across animation, modeling, rigging, lighting, and compositing, ensuring cohesion between disciplines and a consistently high creative standard.
  • Apply deep craft knowledge across CGI workflows-including modeling, lighting, animatics, grading, and retouching-bringing rigor and artistry to every stage of production.
  • Provide hands-on expertise in compositing, grading, and finalizing large-scale projects, guiding teams in maintaining quality and precision through complex production pipelines.
  • Implement advanced workflows such as EXR and ACES to ensure technical consistency, color accuracy, and creative control in CGI and motion projects.
  • Apply technical knowledge of industry-standard tools like Cinema4D, Nuke, and DaVinci, while also exploring innovative practices such as AI-assisted workflows (e.g., ComfyUI with open-source models) to push creative boundaries.
  • Contribute to and lead the development of creative briefs, working closely with clients and strategists to align objectives, define opportunities, and deliver visionary solutions.
  • Collaborate across disciplines-including design, UX, and development-guiding interdisciplinary teams to integrate creativity, craft, and strategy seamlessly into final outputs.
  • Creatively lead new business pitches, taking ownership of the ideas and executions, and presenting with confidence, clarity, and conviction to global clients.
  • Build trust, respect, and an open culture within the team, fostering collaboration, innovation, and mentorship to continually raise the standard of creative work.
QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS
  • Proven experience at Associate Creative Director level or in a comparable art/design hybrid leadership role, with a strong background in both concepting and execution.
  • A demonstrated track record of leading award-winning creative work across European and global markets, showcasing the ability to deliver at scale and on an international stage.
  • Strong foundation in art direction and motion graphics, coupled with advanced CGI production knowledge across the full pipeline, from modeling to post-production.
  • Skilled in directing CGI specialists and guiding interdisciplinary creative teams, ensuring projects balance technical rigor with artistic vision.
  • Hands-on craft expertise in compositing, grading, retouching, and finishing, with the ability to dive into details and elevate the final quality of work.
  • Technical expertise with Cinema4D, Nuke, and DaVinci is a plus, combined with a working knowledge of industry workflows (EXR, ACES) to ensure creative precision and consistency.
  • Interest in emerging creative technologies, with curiosity and experimentation in AI-assisted workflows such as ComfyUI and open-source models.
  • Sharp eye for art direction, visual storytelling, and design excellence, ensuring all work meets the highest aesthetic and conceptual standards.
  • Experienced in building and maintaining client relationships, growing partnerships through trust, creativity, and consistent delivery of exceptional results.
  • Exceptional communicator with the ability to craft and deliver compelling presentations, clearly articulating creative vision, rationale, and executional guidelines.
  • Recognized for representing agencies publicly-through talks, mentorship, or thought leadership-and inspiring both peers and the next generation of creatives.
Explore our extensive range of benefitsWe believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we've adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

AKQA