Associate Creative Director (Art/Design) - Virtual Creative Production

The Creative team at AKQA (part of WPP) applies artistry and craftsmanship to strategic insight, bringing to life beautiful and technologically innovative ideas that move the world. As an Associate Creative Director (Art/Design) in the 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 specialized CGI artists and guide cross-disciplinary teams to create cinematic, technically precise, and emotionally-resonant work. You will report to the Creative Director and collaborate closely with team leads across the studio.

Responsibilities

Deliver and lead award-winning work that meets client needs while influencing culture; Direct and lead autonomous teams to bring cinematic vision, technical precision, and emotional storytelling; Establish and direct creative foundations in concepting art directions for production and motion graphics; Direct specialised CGI artists across animation, modelling, rigging, lighting, and compositing; Apply craft knowledge across CGI workflows including modelling, lighting, animatics, grading, and retouching; Provide hands-on expertise in retouching, compositing, grading, and finalising large-scale projects; Implement advanced workflows such as EXR and ACES to ensure colour accuracy; Contribute to and lead development of creative briefs; Collaborate across disciplines including design, UX, and development; Creatively lead new business pitches; Explore and implement AI-assisted workflows (e.g., ComfyUI, LoRa training, Google partnerships)

Requirements

Proven experience at Associate Creative Director level or in a comparable art/design hybrid leadership role; Strong background in concepting and execution; Demonstrated track record of leading award-winning creative work across European and global markets; Experience with AI production using state of the art models, including JSON-based prompting; Strong foundation in art direction and motion graphics; Advanced CGI production knowledge across the full pipeline; Hands-on craft expertise in compositing, grading, retouching, and finishing; Sharp eye for art direction, visual storytelling, and design excellence; Experienced in building and maintaining client relationships; Exceptional communicator with ability to craft and deliver compelling presentations; Recognised for representing agency publicly through talks, mentorship, or thought leadership; Proficiency in Adobe Premiere, After Effects, DaVinci, and emerging AI generation tools