About this role
About the Role:
To create and deliver images of the highest creative quality for the NEXT customer, aligned to our brand principles & creative direction.
You will provide strong guidance on and off set to achieve the best creative possible in line with our brand guidelines.
You will be a focused, driven, hard-working individual that has the maturity and empathy to brief, manage and direct a large team of freelancers and inhouse members of the team across varying levels.
You must be able to remain calm and professional while maintaining a positive and proactive attitude. This role demands a strong team player with exceptional communication skills who is eager to learn and develop and can grasp new information & adapt quickly.
You will be able to identify with the ever-changing requirements of Art Directing a shoot, whilst delivering on the day to a high creative level. It is vital to build and maintain strong relationships with senior management within the Product team, Brand Marketing and other senior stakeholders across the business.
Responsibilities
- Art Direct mainly studio & potentially some location shoots, working with the product and co-ordination team to create a detailed brief for each shoot.
- Create and maintain an excellent working relationship with the womenswear product and co-ordination teams by attending styling and briefing meetings on a regular basis.
- Keeping engaged in design meetings, product surgery & seasonal Mockshop meetings when required.
- Complete understanding of wider NEXT brand purpose and strategy, and how this reflects in your area.
- Provide strong, clear and aspirational creative guidance and support to the freelance team from a creative standpoint.
- Communicate effectively with photographers, stylists and hair & make up crew to evolve the aesthetics of the imagery creatively.
- Consistent research and understanding of new trends, customer profiles, models, celebrities, social, Pinterest, Instagram and Tiktok to stay inspired, in order to bring the correct approach to every shoot.
- Maintain constant awareness of competitors, be ahead of the curve.
- To work closely and collaborate with the production/bookings team in regards to set, props, models and crew options.
- Manage creative projects and photo/video shoots from initial kick-off meetings through to delivery.
- Communicate & work collaboratively with the Brand Marketing & Product teams regarding current creative direction and styling trends when appropriate.
- Communicate effectively with the Lead Art Director about your workload, schedule and projects.
- Design and produce moodboards for each shoot that showcase the imagery created.
About you:
- Stand out creative skills, and an eye for fashion, styling and art direction is critical.
- Outstanding leadership qualities, taking full responsibility for the day-to-day management of this area. Forward thinking, innovative & proactive in approach of all projects.
- Enthusiastic with strong motivational skills, enabling the management and motivation of the team.
- Able to manage multiple concurrent projects across several teams within set timescales and to budget.
- Superior planning, workload management and organisational capabilities.
- Highly developed interpersonal, problem solving and presentation skills.
- Highly communicative with an ability to influence and negotiate at all levels.
- Creative flair and knowledge, producing innovative ideas and solutions.
- A strong communicator and listener.
- Exemplary attention to detail.
- It is essential to be commercially minded and aware of retail fashion and lifestyle trends.
- Comfortable with a highly pressured and rapidly changing environment.
- Experience in E-commerce, Photography and/or editorial Art Direction.
- A supporting portfolio or website if available.
#LI-MB1 #LI-Onsite