Instrument is a design and technology company. We build brands, products, and experiences that move businesses forward—by making the complex simple.
For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with companies like Google, ServiceNow, Uber, Eventbrite, and ŌURA, helping them navigate change, launch new ideas, and grow with intention.
Our work spans Brand, Marketing, and Product, but what defines us is how we work. We bring strategy, design, and engineering together from the start, moving quickly from idea to execution and refining as we go. We aim to do great work and be great to work with, because both matter.
We’re a collaborative, hands-on team with roots in Portland and New York and a distributed presence across the U.S. and Europe. We build teams around the needs of the work, staying nimble without sacrificing craft.
We value curiosity, perspective, and continuous learning, and we’re committed to building an inclusive environment where people can do their best work.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to meet you.
We’re looking for a Creative Director who thrives at the intersection of product, brand, and storytelling — a hands-on leader who can shape world-class digital experiences while building strong, enduring client partnerships.
This role will be embedded on one of our most important, long-standing client engagements — operating as a core member of the account leadership team. You’ll help guide the creative vision across a broad ecosystem of work, from product experiences (web, platforms, tools) to content and campaign-driven initiatives that bring those experiences to life.
You’re as comfortable defining the creative direction for a large-scale digital platform as you are shaping a narrative, elevating content, or pushing a campaign idea further. You know when to zoom out to guide strategy — and when to get hands-on to move the work forward.
What You'll Do
Lead creative across a hybrid portfolio of product, brand, and content-driven work, ensuring cohesion across touchpoints
Act as a senior creative partner to clients, building trust with stakeholders and contributing to long-term account growth
Operate as an autonomous leader within a complex, fast-moving account—balancing creative excellence, team leadership, and client needs
Guide teams in designing and delivering high-quality digital products (web, platforms, tools) with strong visual craft and usability
Shape and elevate content and campaign work, ensuring ideas translate effectively across digital experiences
Step into the work when needed—concepting, refining, and pushing ideas to the finish line
Translate complex systems and technical constraints into clear, compelling, and expressive design solutions
Partner closely with cross-disciplinary leads (strategy, technology, production) to align on vision and execution
Lead and mentor designers, fostering a culture of craft, curiosity, and creative ambition
Drive presentations and storytelling for client work, internal reviews, and new business opportunities
Identify opportunities to expand the scope and impact of the work within an ongoing client partnership
What You'll Bring
Experience leading large-scale, complex digital engagements, ideally within agency or product-focused environments
A strong portfolio demonstrating both product design and brand/content/campaign thinking
Proven ability to navigate and lead within complex client organizations, building relationships across levels
A high bar for visual design craft—with a strong understanding of typography, layout, and expressive systems
Fluency in product design principles (UX, systems thinking, scalability), without defaulting to purely functional solutions
Experience shaping or contributing to content ecosystems, campaigns, or storytelling within digital platforms
Confidence operating at multiple altitudes: strategy, concept, execution, and delivery
Strong communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence both teams and clients
Experience mentoring and guiding teams, with a leadership style that inspires and elevates others
Curiosity about evolving tools and workflows, including AI and emerging creative technologies
Pay Range
- The expected pay range for this position is $150,000-$210,000 for our base US Region 3*. We have three regional pay ranges that are adjusted for cost of living (US1 +15%, US2 +7.5%, US3 Base), learn more about our pay philosophy and cost of living adjustments
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