Creative Director, Card Design

The Global Advertising and Brand Management (GABM) team is responsible for creating marketplace demand and driving commerce for American Express products and services through differentiated and innovative branding, marketing, and experiences. We have an ambitious goal: to be the most admired brand in the Fortune 500 and we aim to deliver on that by doing work that is both creative and effective. OnBrand is the colleague-led creative agency that sits within GABM. We aspire to be the creative partner-of-choice to build seamless customer experiences for our Business Units, driving results and unlocking value through deeper knowledge of our business, powered by industry-defining creative excellence. We are focused on developing forward-thinking ideas and work across channels, end-to-end experiences in digital and beyond. We are seeking a Creative Director, Card Design.

The Creative Director, Card Design will report to the Group Creative Director, Card Design and will be a key member of the design team, responsible for leading design across high-priority American Express initiatives to deliver best-in-class creative and on-brand marketing communications.

Responsibilities

• Expertly collaborate with internal business marketing partners and the inter-agency team to understand end-consumer needs and the holistic customer journey.
• Provide end-to-end creative and design leadership across high-priority American Express initiatives, owning the vision, quality, and execution of card and physical design experiences.
• Design and oversee breakthrough, integrated creative work across digital and physical touchpoints, with a strong emphasis on print, packaging, and tactile brand expressions.
• Serve as a print and physical design expert, with deep knowledge of packaging, brand identity systems, materials, finishes, and manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrate expert-level knowledge of color systems, including Pantone, with a strong understanding of how color translates across materials, finishes, and print processes.
• Collaborate with production teams throughout the creative process to ensure seamless delivery of assets across digital and print mediums.
• Partner closely with print production teams and external vendors throughout the creative process, including proofing, press checks, and on-press approvals, to ensure the highest level of craft, quality, and consistency.
• Bring an external, innovative point of view to the work—actively seeking inspiration from culture, design, technology, and industry trends to push creative thinking forward.
• Elevate the quality and craft of the work across the team, with a focus on developing and uplifting junior team members.

Qualifications

• 6+ years of professional design experience at a leading creative agency or in-house brand environment, with a strong focus on print, packaging, and physical design.
• 2+ years of experience managing and mentoring designers, providing creative oversight for large-scale, complex design initiatives.
• A meticulous eye for detail and a passion for design excellence.
• Demonstrated expertise in print production, including hands-on experience with proofing, press checks, and vendor collaboration; on-press experience is required.
• An award-winning portfolio that includes holistic campaign creation and implementation across digital, traditional, and experiential mediums.
• A strong sense of curiosity and drive to continuously learn, evolve, and elevate both personal craft and team output.
• Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop. Proficiency with motion-based programs including After Effects and Cinema 4D is strongly preferred.
• Strong experience creating and presenting executive-level presentations, with the ability to clearly articulate creative ideas, design thinking, and strategic intent to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work with a Project Management tool (e.g., Workfront) and juggle multiple projects at once.
• With your application, please include a link to your online portfolio to be considered.

Employment eligibility to work with American Express in the United States is required as the company will not pursue visa sponsorship for these positions.

At American Express, our culture is built on a 175-year history of innovation, shared values and Leadership Behaviors, and an unwavering commitment to back our customers, communities, and colleagues. From delivering differentiated products to providing world-class customer service, we operate with a strong risk mindset, ensuring we continue to uphold our brand promise of trust, security, and service.

As part of Team Amex, you’ll experience our powerful backing with comprehensive support for your holistic well-being and many opportunities to learn new skills, develop as a leader, and grow your career. Here, your voice and ideas matter, your work makes an impact, and together, you will help us define the future of American Express.