Freelance — Senior Art Director
About us
Bakken & Bæck is a design and technology studio that helps companies break new ground. Building digital products, brands and businesses, we help ambitious companies identify, explore and respond to new opportunities. As one team working out of Oslo, Amsterdam, Bonn, Barcelona, and London, we have all the skill-sets needed to help businesses adapt to an increasingly complex world.
We believe the best teams are driven by people with small egos and huge hearts. We strongly believe in flexibility, care deeply about craft, and are at our best working closely together. We want BB to be a place where you can try out new things with the risk of failing, where you can take ownership over your own work, and where there’s a low barrier for coming up with ideas - no matter your job title or discipline.
About the role
We’re looking for an experienced Art Director to lead and elevate how we approach image-led storytelling and brand experiences at Bakken & Bæck. Much of our work is about making complex technologies understandable and relevant through strong concepts, distinctive visual languages, and emotionally resonant creative systems.
This is a role for someone who thinks through images first and understands how photography, film, illustration, CGI, motion, and digital systems come together to build coherent and culturally sharp brand worlds. Much of our work sits at the intersection of technology, product, and communication - translating complexity into visual experiences that feel immediate, human, and emotionally resonant.
You will shape the visual direction of projects from early concepts and treatments through to production and final execution, working closely with designers, developers, strategists and writers.
As Art Director, you will commission and direct external collaborators, from photographers and filmmakers to illustrators and 3D artists, ensuring every output feels intentional, distinctive, and aligned with the broader brand vision.
We’re looking for someone with a sharp eye for contemporary visual culture and a strong understanding of how image systems scale across web, social, motion, and emerging technology contexts. You know how to translate strategic thinking into visual experiences that feel precise, ambitious, and built to last.
We’re currently envisioning this as a freelance role spanning several months and across multiple projects. Capacity can range from 50-100%, with flexibility to shape the scope around the right person. Depending on experience and fit, the role could start broader or expand over time as needs evolve. The role can start fully remote, but as there is a possibility of transitioning into a permanent position, we’re looking for candidates who are based in, or open to relocating to, one of our office locations.
Responsibilities include
Leading art direction across brand and BB projects through conception, execution, and delivery.
Defining the visual world of a brand through image-led storytelling (photography, film, illustration, CGI and motion).
Developing clear image-making principles, including mood, casting, styling, lighting, composition, and post-production direction.
Defining and directing on-set photoshoots, filmed productions, and CGI workflows from treatment through final delivery.
Owning quality control across retouching, edit, grading, and final asset delivery.
Sourcing and collaborating with talented partners (3D artists, illustrators, photographers, filmmakers, sound designers) to enhance the quality of the work.
Staying ahead of cultural movements, visual trends, AI-enabled production methods, and emerging technologies to create distinctive and future-facing visual content.
Ability to articulate and present to internal teams and clients in a confident and coherent manner.
Help shape image art direction as a discipline and how this can contribute to wider brand processes and visual narratives as a studio.
Qualifications
5+ years of industry experience within a creative agency, production company or in-house brand team, with a robust portfolio that demonstrates the ability to shape compelling ideas with impeccable craft and taste, preferably within tech and digital experiences.
Keen understanding of screen-based brand expressions and storytelling through design and image.
You strive for excellence in your creative and technical skills, with a deep understanding of the creative process across pre production, on-set and post production.
You take a pragmatic and holistic approach - collaborating with teams to ensure ideas are feasible while maintaining alignment and high standards with brand and strategy.
You are an inclusive team player who motivates others and brings a positive energy to team collaborations.
Ability to work independently and proactively within a trans-disciplinary team.
Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, experience with motion graphics, generative tools → and/or 3D design is a plus.
What you can look forward to
Independence - BB is an independently-owned studio. We have the freedom to orient towards the projects we believe in, create a culture that is driven by people with small egos and huge hearts, and invest in long-term relationships with partners whose ambitions match our own.
Autonomy - Our culture is built on autonomy, responsibility and mutual trust. Instead of being prescribed a way to do things, we have the freedom to explore and develop our own methods and approaches, and to learn by doing.
Flexibility - We all have different needs when it comes to how we work. We are flexible on working hours, open to workations, and can provide opportunities to relocate to one of our other offices, as long as it doesn't hinder our projects and our team’s progress.
Doing things togethe r - Collaboration lies at the core of our culture. Whether through trips or team dinners, we prioritise bonding experiences across offices when we can, fostering camaraderie and creativity.
Our offices - We have invested in creating welcoming spaces that provide our teams with what they need. Beyond the day-to-day, we use our offices to host team events, talks and parties.