Freelance Art Director

ABOUT WIP

Wip™ is building the next generation of energy.

We create energy pouches and modern energy products designed for performance, consistency, and portability, built for how people actually live and work without the drawbacks of traditional formats.

We are building a brand with edge. Confident, modern, and culturally fluent. A brand that respects performance but does not take itself too seriously. Designed to stand out on shelf, in hand, and in real life, and to feel as good as it performs.

OUR OPPORTUNITY

The $190B\+ U.S. caffeine market is dominated by legacy players and outdated habits. Consumer behavior has changed, but formats have not. Wip exists to lead that shift through smarter formats, cleaner formulations, and disciplined execution.

Our pouch-based products deliver premium, functional ingredients in a format that’s easier to use, more portable, and more cost-effective than traditional options.

OUR TEAM

We’re a high-ownership team. People here own meaningful work end-to-end, see it ship into the real world, and can point to what they’ve built.

We’re early, which gives us the opportunity to deliberately build both the team and how we work together, in real time. The work is fast-moving and hands-on, and we care about getting the details right. Some weeks are heavier than others, but the upside is real responsibility, clear impact, and an opportunity to be a foundational partner in our success.

THE ROLE

Wip is looking for a freelance Art Director and brand builder to lead our design team in evolving and expressing the brand across all touchpoints. This person will be a hands-on creative leader, owning design execution across paid media, ecommerce assets, video, and emerging AI-enabled creative workflows, while also managing two designers, leading creative reviews, and raising the overall bar for brand consistency, speed, and impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead hands-on creative development across digital, ecommerce, paid media, and video assets
• Translate Wip’s brand into modern, high-performing creative that feels culturally relevant and visually sharp
• Manage and mentor a team of two designers, providing clear direction and actionable feedback
• Run creative reviews and guide work from concept through final execution
• Build scalable design systems, templates, and workflows that improve consistency and speed
• Partner cross-functionally with sales, social media, ecommerce, marketing, and R\&D to develop creative that supports growth, performance marketing, and brand goals
• Explore and apply AI-enabled creative tools and workflows where they can improve output and efficiency

QUALIFICATIONS

• 8\+ years of experience as a design manager, senior designer, or an art director
• Strong portfolio spanning brand building, digital design, ecommerce creative, paid media, and video
• Ability to balance strategic brand thinking with hands-on execution
• Experience managing designers and giving clear, high-quality creative direction
• Strong instincts for contemporary design, visual culture, and brand storytelling
• Comfortable working in fast-moving environments with shifting priorities and high expectations
• Familiarity with AI creative tools and openness to using them thoughtfully in the design process

What sets you up for success

• You care deeply about quality and want scope that grows with performance
• You have an ownership mindset for your role
• You prioritize through ambiguity and adapt quickly when priorities shift
• You communicate directly and respectfully, and you help others win
• You are energized by the build and the process to achieve results