Senior Art Director / Brand Designer - 3 Month Contract

AIP Connect aipconnect.com Open · verified Sep 19, 2026

Hybrid Toronto Contract Director Brand Marketing

Leadership Brand Marketing role at AIP Connect. Toronto · contract.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Own visual direction across digital, print, motion, and physical brand spaces
Lead a client account’s brand refresh and capital campaign, creating logos, typography guidance, and brand books
Design collateral, event themes, stage signage, scaffolding graphics, and campus activation materials
Adapt print concepts for social, web, display, and video work while coordinating with 3D vendors
Pitch multi-channel ideas to clients and coordinate with production, peer designers, and creative partners

What you bring

Bring at least five years creating or directing graphic work in-house or at an agency
Use Adobe Creative Suite expertly, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and After Effects
Work fluently in Figma or Adobe XD for layouts, prototypes, and digital campaign extensions
Show a portfolio covering brand systems, environmental work, digital design, and print collateral
Present confidently to clients and connect campaign strategy with detailed social and motion design

Who this fits

This suits a senior, highly conceptual designer who is comfortable representing creative work directly with clients. You’ll report to the Creative Director and collaborate with internal production teams, peer designers, and external creative partners. The role is a three-month hybrid contract in Toronto. Education or alumni and capital fundraising experience is a stated bonus, not a requirement.

From the employer

Our client is a fast-paced, nimble independent agency that gives team members the chance to make an immediate impact, touch major national brands, and see their work go live in-market in a matter of months. We are looking for a versatile, highly conceptual Senior Art Director/ Brand Designer to join our client's creative team on a 3 month contract. You will serve as the brand design keeper and lead visual storytelling across digital, print, motion, and physical brand environments. Your core focus will be bringing fresh creative eyes to a major, long-standing client account, including leading an upcoming capital campaign, brand refresh, video spots, and interactive digital executions. This role is heavily client-facing and reports directly to Creative Director.

Key Responsibilities:

Brand Identity & Capital Campaigns: Lead comprehensive brand refreshes, develop cohesive visual systems (logos, typography guidelines, brand books), and conceptualize high-impact capital campaigns.
Print & Environmental Design (~70% of execution): Design physical marketing materials, collateral, event themes, stage signage, scaffolding graphics, and campus activation materials.
Digital & Motion Design (~30% of execution): Concept and adapt print assets into dynamic social media campaigns, web pages, display ads, and video spots. Collaborate with 3D vendors for interactive campus/rendering tools.
Conceptual Strategy & Pitching: Think big-picture to concept innovative multi-channel campaigns from initial idea to launch. Act as a primary client-facing representative to present and pitch concepts.
Production & Network Collaboration: Work closely with our internal production studio and peer designers. Leverage an existing network of industry partners (photographers, video production teams, 3D renders) to bring ideas to life.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

Experience: 5+ years of professional graphic design or art direction experience in-house or agency side. Prior experience working with clients in education or alumni/capital fundraising is a major bonus.
Software Mastery: Expert command of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, After Effects).
UI/UX & Prototyping: Proficiency in Figma or Adobe XD for digital layouts, prototyping, and digital campaign extensions.
Conceptual Thinking: Strong ability to bridge high-level campaign concepts with executional design detail, particularly adapting print campaigns into engaging social and motion assets.
Communication & Presentation: High comfort level pitching ideas directly to clients and presenting creative work.
Portfolio: A diverse portfolio showcasing strong brand systems, environmental concepts, digital design, and print collateral.

AIP Connect believes in equal opportunity. Our recruitment consultants are committed to inclusive recruitment and selection practices and will not discriminate based on age, colour, ability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation.
Accessibility: If you need any accommodations during the interview process, please let us know.
Posted Salary: Actual compensation within this range will be determined based on job-related skills, relevant experience, education, and training. This range reflects base salary only and does not include eligibility for bonus program or other benefits.
For the most accurate and up-to-date details on this role, please refer directly to AIP Connect’s careers page, as third-party sites may not reflect current information.