Amsterdam, Netherlands

Associate Creative Director

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.

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