Art Director – Social & Digital

NNC is looking for an Art Director – Social & Digital who combines strong ideas, exceptional visual craft and a deep understanding of how brands live across today's digital platforms.This is not a role for someone who simply makes things look good.We are looking for someone who can take a brief, find the idea behind it, build the visual world around that idea and lead it all the way from concept to execution.You should understand design, advertising, culture, social media, motion, production and emerging creative technology — and know when each should be used.You will work closely with creative, copy, social, strategy, production, account management and growth teams across multiple brands and campaigns.You will also be expected to use AI as part of your creative workflow — not as a substitute for creativity, but as a tool to explore faster, prototype ideas, expand possibilities and improve how creative work is produced.What You'll DoCreative Concepts & Art DirectionTurn strategic and client briefs into strong creative ideas, visual concepts and campaign territories.Develop social-first concepts that are built around how people actually consume content rather than simply adapting traditional advertising into social formats.Build visual worlds, moodboards, treatments, storyboards and creative systems from initial concept through final execution.Own the visual direction of campaigns across social, digital, film, motion, print and experiential touchpoints when required.Make deliberate decisions around typography, imagery, composition, colour, photography, illustration, motion and visual storytelling.Develop ideas together with copywriters rather than treating art and copy as separate disciplines.Challenge predictable creative solutions and continuously raise the quality of the work.Social-First CreativeUnderstand the creative behaviours and visual language of Instagram, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Snapchat, LinkedIn, X and emerging platforms.Know when an idea should be a Reel, carousel, creator-led video, film, animation, reactive piece, static visual or something entirely different.Design for attention, storytelling and audience behaviour — not just dimensions.Translate brand identities into flexible social visual systems without losing brand consistency.Understand culturally relevant moments, internet behaviour and emerging formats across the UAE and wider Arab region.Work with social and performance teams to learn from creative performance and improve future executions.Arabic & Regional CraftArt direct confidently in both Arabic and English environments.Understand Arabic typography, composition, hierarchy and contemporary Arabic visual design.Ensure Arabic adaptations are designed intentionally rather than treated as translated versions of English layouts.Understand cultural nuances across GCC and wider Arab audiences and reflect them intelligently in the work.Motion, Video & ProductionThink beyond static design and comfortably conceptualise for motion and video.Create or direct storyboards, animatics, transitions and visual treatments.Work closely with photographers, videographers, editors, motion designers, 3D artists and production teams.Art direct shoots, including composition, lighting, styling, locations, props, talent and overall visual treatment.Review edits, animation, grading and post-production to protect the creative idea through final delivery.AI & Emerging Creative TechnologyActively use generative AI and emerging creative tools as part of your day-to-day workflow.Use AI for areas such as research, ideation, moodboarding, visual exploration, rapid prototyping, storyboarding, image generation, image manipulation, video experimentation and production acceleration.Be comfortable working with modern AI creative platforms such as Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, ChatGPT, Runway, Kling, Veo, Flux or comparable image and video generation tools.Know how to write and refine prompts and, more importantly, how to recognise when an AI output is creatively weak.Combine AI-generated elements with traditional design, photography, illustration, 3D, motion and post-production where appropriate.Understand the basic implications of AI around copyright, brand safety, likeness, provenance and commercial usage.Continuously explore new tools and introduce useful workflows to the wider creative team.AI capability does not replace design craft. Strong art direction, taste and creative judgment remain essential.Creative LeadershipGuide designers and other visual creatives from concept through execution.Give clear, specific and constructive creative feedback.Raise the quality of work rather than simply approving or rejecting it.Mentor junior and mid-level creatives and help develop their creative judgment.Participate actively in brainstorms and create an environment where strong ideas can come from anyone.Balance creative ambition with timelines, budgets and production realities.Maintain quality while working across multiple fast-moving accounts.Clients & PresentationsPresent creative ideas confidently to internal teams and clients.Explain the strategic and creative reasoning behind your decisions rather than relying on personal taste.Respond intelligently to feedback while protecting the strength of the original idea.Collaborate with account and strategy teams to understand the client's business, audience and communication challenge.Contribute to pitches and new-business opportunities when required.What We're Looking For8+ years of experience in advertising, creative, digital or social agencies, with meaningful experience operating at Art Director or Senior Designer level.Strong portfolio demonstrating ideas and craft, not just visually attractive layouts.Strong social and digital work across multiple platforms.Experience developing campaigns from concept through final production.Excellent understanding of typography, layout, composition, colour and visual storytelling.Strong knowledge of Photoshop and Illustrator.Working knowledge of After Effects, Premiere Pro, Figma or comparable tools.Experience with motion and video-led creative.Strong hands-on experience using generative AI tools within a professional creative workflow.Practical experience with tools such as Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT, Runway, Kling, Veo, Flux or comparable image and video generation platforms.Ability to use AI for concept development, visual exploration, moodboarding, storyboarding, image generation, image manipulation, video prototyping and production acceleration.Strong prompting and iteration skills, with the ability to move beyond basic text prompts and consistently guide AI tools toward a specific creative direction.Ability to evaluate AI-generated work critically and identify issues in composition, typography, anatomy, realism, brand consistency and overall creative quality.Understanding of how to combine AI-generated assets with traditional design, photography, 3D, motion and post-production rather than relying on raw AI outputs.Awareness of AI-related considerations including copyright, likeness, brand safety, provenance and commercial usage.Strong understanding of Arabic visual communication and typography.Professional proficiency in Arabic and English.Experience working in a fast-paced agency environment across multiple clients.Ability to present and defend creative work clearly.Strong cultural curiosity and awareness of regional and global creative trends.Comfortable both directing the work and getting hands-on when needed.Your Portfolio Matters MostWe are much more interested in what you have created than where you studied.Your portfolio should demonstrate:Strong conceptual thinkingSocial-first campaignsArabic and English workExcellent typography and visual craftMotion or video workCampaign thinking beyond individual postsArt direction across photography or productionEvidence that you can take an idea from brief to executionExamples of AI-assisted creative exploration or production, where relevant, including how AI was used within the wider creative processApplications without a portfolio will not be considered.Life at NNCAt NNC, we're more than a team. We're a collective of 90+ passionate people brought together by a shared ambition to create exceptional work for our clients and partners.We've built our reputation through bold, dynamic and impactful campaigns that create meaningful connections between brands and their audiences.We communicate openly, challenge one another, share ideas and continuously grow together because we believe the strongest work happens when talented people collaborate across disciplines.What We OfferA competitive salary that recognises your experience and expertise.Top-tier health insurance providing comprehensive medical coverage and access to high-quality healthcare.Flexible working hours built around trust and accountability.An overtime policy that respects your time and recognises the extra effort behind exceptional work.Menstrual leave as part of our commitment to employee well-being.An agile, cross-functional working environment where creative, strategy, social, production, growth and account teams work closely together.A diverse team representing more than 16 nationalities, bringing different perspectives, cultures and experiences into the work.A dedicated learning and development budget to support your personal and professional growth.At NNC, we don't just offer a job. We offer a place where your ideas can influence the work, your contribution is visible and your growth matters.Join us, and help us redefine what excellent creative work can look like.