Art Director and Senior Copywriter (On-site, NYC)

Who are we?

MATTE is a 360° full-service creative studio at the convergence of hype, storytelling and design. We bring people together to inspire new ways of engaging, to provoke long term progress, and to entertain audiences around the world, while helping forward-thinking brands and institutions nimbly and truly do the same. Our studio capabilities range from strategic ideation and insights, creative development, branding and identity, experiential, web design and development, campaigns and content creation, all the way through full-scale production and execution.

About this role:

MATTE is seeking a multidisciplinary Art Director / Senior Copywriter who can develop strong ideas and bring them to life through both language and visual storytelling.

This role is for a conceptual creative who thinks beyond a single medium. You will help shape campaigns, brand platforms, experiences, films, content, and digital work—from the first strategic thought through final execution. You should be equally comfortable writing a headline, developing a campaign platform, constructing a visual world, building a presentation, and articulating the thinking behind the work.

The ideal candidate has a distinct creative point of view, a strong understanding of culture, and the ability to translate strategy into ideas that feel original, relevant, and executable. You are a skilled writer with sharp visual instincts—or an art director whose command of language is central to your creative process.

Responsibilities

Concept Development

• Develop original creative concepts across integrated campaigns, brand platforms, experiential activations, content, film, social, and digital.
• Translate strategic insights into clear, culturally relevant creative ideas.
• Build creative territories that can extend across multiple channels and audience touchpoints.
• Contribute ideas throughout the pitch, development, production, and execution process.
• Push beyond the expected to find ideas that feel distinctive to the brand and meaningful to its audience.
• Partner closely with creative directors, strategists, designers, producers, and account teams.

Copywriting and Brand Voice

• Write campaign platforms, headlines, manifestos, scripts, naming, social copy, experiential language, presentation copy, and other brand communications.
• Develop and evolve brand voices that are clear, memorable, and adaptable across channels.
• Distill complex strategic or creative thinking into concise, compelling language.
• Maintain consistency of tone and messaging throughout a project.
• Edit and refine copy based on internal and client feedback without losing the strength of the original idea.
• Review final work to ensure all language is accurate, intentional, and aligned with the creative vision.

Art Direction

• Establish visual direction for campaigns, content, experiences, and digital executions.
• Develop mood boards, visual references, treatments, storyboards, and presentation materials.
• Partner with designers to translate concepts into cohesive visual systems.
• Art-direct photography, film, motion, illustration, and other creative production as needed.
• Provide clear, thoughtful feedback throughout the design and production process.
• Maintain a high standard of craft and consistency from initial concept through final delivery.

Presentations and Collaboration

• Create clear, persuasive presentations that communicate both the idea and the thinking behind it.
• Present creative work confidently to internal teams and clients.
• Participate actively in brainstorms, creative reviews, pitches, and production conversations.
• Respond constructively to feedback and help guide the work toward the strongest possible outcome.
• Collaborate across disciplines while maintaining ownership of assigned creative workstreams.
• Support and mentor junior creatives, providing actionable feedback that strengthens their thinking and craft.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of experience in copywriting, art direction, or a multidisciplinary creative role within an agency, studio, or similarly fast-paced environment.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, exceptional writing, and a sophisticated visual sensibility.
• Experience developing integrated campaigns across multiple platforms and formats.
• Excellent command of language, including tone, structure, grammar, and narrative.
• Strong understanding of design, typography, photography, film, and contemporary visual culture.
• Ability to move fluidly between high-level concepts and detailed execution.
• Experience developing presentations and presenting creative work to clients.
• Comfortable managing multiple projects, deadlines, and rounds of feedback.
• Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite is preferred.
• Experience with experiential, fashion, entertainment, hospitality, or culturally driven brands is a plus.
• Familiarity with emerging creative and AI-enabled tools is also a plus
• Ability to be on-site as this role is in office.

Compensation: $100,000-120,000/year based on relevant experience

Benefits include:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage
• 401k with a 4% company contribution match
• Fully covered yearly Citibike membership
• Commuter benefits
• Talkspace membership
• Competitive PTO package
• End of Year Recharge
• Sabbatical Program

Everyone is welcome at MATTE - we’re passionate about building a team that reflects the diversity of our community and creating an environment where our differences are celebrated. MATTE provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, MATTE will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.