Art Director - Topps International/Fanatics Collectibles

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Job Description

Art Directors at The Topps Company/Fanatics Collectibles are the captains of our graphic design team, steering products and leading team members in the creation of all visual elements for our trading card and collectibles business. As veteran graphic designers and accomplished leaders, our art directors manage all aspects of the creative process and steward each product subset through design and preproduction.

Key responsibilities

• Collaborate directly with brand managers on product ideation.
• Determine the print technology of each release, balancing aesthetic requirements with cost budgeting and technical efficiencies on press.
• Ensure print specs are captured accurately and with clarity on the bill of materials.
• Establish a brand identity and coherent visual style for each project.
• Execute a host of design and layout concepts, and direct a team of designers to generate trading card and packaging design templates.
• Implement stakeholder feedback and secure internal approvals.
• Oversee the creation of design masters and engage in the comprehensive review of card proof sets.
• Liaise with prepress and manufacturing vendors on all matters relating to card visuals, final press files, and complexities during print and finishing stages.
• International projects - Knowledge of Spanish, Italian, German or French languages is an advantage.

Required Skills, Experience and Competencies

• 10+ years of relevant experience; at least 2 years or more managing a team of designers
• Creative, innovative, professional and organized.
• Have a natural eye for design and a passion for delivering dynamic concepts that connect with our consumers.
• Elevate the design work of our group while guiding team members to take their creative efforts to the next level.
• Excel at time management and the ability to manage multiple simultaneous deadlines.
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintain extensive knowledge of the trading card and collectibles industry, consumer trends, and competitor products.

The above list of job duties is not exclusive or exhaustive and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.