Assistant Art Director CGI Temp - West Elm

Job Description

About the Role

This Photo-CGI-AI Assistant Art Director role helps drive the look, feel, and execution of our photo-realistic product CGI-AI assets and digital photography both in-studio and for CGI / AI workflows. Proper design and art direction, combined with the right content, drives customer engagement with the brand. Visual content created in this role directly translates business needs into compelling imagery that ultimately drives revenue.

This position supports high-volume, Photo-AI-driven image production while also contributing to broader CGI, rendering, and digital photography initiatives. It requires a highly organized, process-oriented, and extremely detail-focused creative leader who thrives in structured workflows, moves quickly without sacrificing accuracy, and works confidently within defined brand and production standards.

You will collaborate cross-functionally to translate creative direction into consistent, brand-aligned, photo-realistic imagery across ecommerce and digital channels. This includes structured prompt development, image refinement, interior scene direction, asset organization, quality assurance, and process optimization. The ideal candidate is agile, adaptable, and comfortable evolving workflows while maintaining exceptional quality standards.

A strong understanding of architecture, interior design, photography, lighting, composition, decorating, visual branding, and emerging AI-driven creative tools is essential.

Responsibilities

Photo Art Direction & Visual Execution

• Provide art direction, interior design, and styling of room scenes for photorealistic photo, CGI/rendering, and AI image outputs (architecture; interior/exterior environments; materials; composition; lighting; propping; window scenes; crops; post-production; color temperature; retouching direction; etc.)
• Translate art direction into structured AI prompts to produce consistent, on-brand imagery for high-volume single- and multi-SKU needs
• Generate, review, refine, version, and QA AI, CGI, and photographic imagery with extreme attention to detail
• Ensure assets are presented and shared in final and intended crops
• Maintain full ownership and responsibility for assets produced on-set and digitally, contributing to end-to-end planning, execution, and post-production
• Coordinate prop and product pairings with Art Direction and Styling teams; edit, make shot direction calls, approve selects, oversee lighting and retouching notes
• Provide feedback and direction during collaborative reviews, proofing, and QA processes
• Ensure strict adherence to brand standards, style guides, and visual guidelines
• Develop and maintain Photo / CGI / AI visual standards for lighting, composition, and room environments by product category

AI & Production Workflow Support

• Support high-volume AI image production within structured workflows
• Maintain highly organized file structures, naming conventions, tracking documents, and asset libraries
• Build and contribute to Photo / CGI / AI libraries (models, materials, scenes, props) and optimize asset reuse strategies
• Identify inconsistencies or production challenges and proactively recommend solutions
• Refine Photo / CGI / AI pipeline workflows, tools, and processes
• Support documentation and continuous improvement of processes as efficiencies and learnings are identified
• Manage time effectively to meet high-volume production deadlines
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail in final outputs

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with Creative Operations, Art Direction, Site & Photo Merchant partners, Post-Production, Product Design, and Digital Design teams
• Communicate clearly cross-functionally to ensure assets are compelling, on-brand, on-deadline, and efficiently project-managed
• Project manage delivery schedules and milestones for creative development, modeling/rendering, image outputs, and production timelines
• Collaborate with product designers, photography, post-production, and merchant teams for asset approvals
• Attend corporate creative meetings to maintain alignment with business goals and creative direction
• Recruit, direct, and/or mentor third-party CGI/AI vendors and artists as needed
• Proactively identify talent or resource gaps that may affect quality or delivery

Research & Creative Development

• Research and compile inspiration/references for Photo, CGI, Render, and AI creative planning
• Research photography, styling, interiors, art/design trends, talent, vendors, and best-in-class partners
• Stay current on emerging AI tools, creative technologies, and competitive landscape
• Bring cost-effective creative ideas and solutions while supporting asset development and brand growth
• Contribute to the development and maintenance of style guides, creative tools, and visual strategy
• Demonstrate strong storytelling and narrative capability in visual execution

Criteria

• Bachelor's degree in Art / Design
• 2-5+ years working in 3D photorealistic imaging; experience managing CG creative and/or production teams is a plus
• Professional experience in photography, CGI design, rendering, or AI-generated imagery with a portfolio emphasizing interior design, home furnishings, and/or architecture
• Strong understanding of photo art direction, CGI/rendering, and AI image creation
• Experience in photorealistic rendering and digital image creation using CG software (AutoCAD, 3DS Max, Maya, Blender, etc.) and rendering tools (Vray, Octane, Corona, FStormRender) or AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Midjourney, etc.)
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Keynote, Capture One; Airtable and file management systems knowledge a plus
• Experience in model and material preparation for rendering and all pre- and post-rendering tasks
• On-set photography and studio experience a plus (production planning, prop sourcing, lighting, post-production workflows)
• Experience working with high-volume asset development and management
• Demonstrated success developing and refining processes within an organization
• Excellent people and project management skills
• Strong organizational skills, time management, and ability to multitask and prioritize
• Ability to balance creative excellence with business goals and ecommerce objectives
• Strong understanding of what inspires customer purchase decisions and required visual information for ecommerce
• Macro-to-micro thinking: able to understand big-picture digital strategy while executing daily creative tasks
• Strong understanding of architecture, interiors, decorating, materials, lighting, and composition
• High taste level, discerning eye, and advanced artistic sensibilities in interior design composition, lighting, texture, and color
• Ability to work with urgency in a fast-paced, reactive environment
• Process-oriented, solution-driven mindset with strong attention to detail
• Agile and adaptable in an evolving content creation landscape
• This role requires being onsite in the Dumbo Brooklyn office

Key Attributes

• Highly organized, detail-driven, and process-oriented
• Agile and adaptable while maintaining accuracy
• Collaborative, communicative, and team-focused
• Entrepreneurial spirit with innovation and creativity
• Professionalism, maturity, emotional intelligence, and empathy
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Passion for design, interiors, art, and storytelling
• Excitement about AI and emerging creative technologies
• Drive for personal growth and inspiring others
• Commitment to helping customers express their style and tell their story at home

#LI-LG1

Our Culture & Values

We believe that taking care of our people is vital to our success and we strive to offer equitable and transparent practices for all. We prioritize connection, growth, and wellbeing.


People First

Putting People First means investing in overall well-being and opportunities to grow and advance within the organization. Depending on the position and location, here are a few highlights of what benefits may be available:

Benefits

• A generous discount on all WSI brands
• A 401(k) plan and other investment opportunities
• Paid vacations, holidays, and time off to volunteer
• Health benefits, dental and vision insurance, including same-sex domestic partner benefits
• Tax-free commuter benefits
• A wellness program that supports your physical, financial and emotional health

Continued Learning

• In-person and online learning opportunities through WSI University
• Cross-brand and cross-function career opportunities
• Resources for self-development
• Advisor (Mentor) program
• Career development workshops, learning programs, and speaker series

WSI will not now or in the future commence an immigration case or "sponsor" an individual for this position (for example, H-1B or other employment-based immigration).

This role is not eligible for relocation assistance.

Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, or other applicable state or local laws and ordinances.

This is a 90-day, temporary exempt position with total compensation of $21,000 for the duration of the assignment

About Us

Our Company

Founded in 1956, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. is the premier specialty retailer of high-quality products for the kitchen and home in the United States. Our family of brands are Williams Sonoma, Williams Sonoma Home, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, Rejuvenation, West Elm, Mark & Graham, Outward, and GreenRow. These brands are among the best known and most respected in the industry. We offer beautifully-designed, stylish and functional products for every area of the home, including the kitchen, living room, bedroom, home office, closet, laundry room and even outdoor spaces. We've seen some big changes since our first brick-and-mortar store opened more than half of a century ago. What hasn't changed is our passion for high-quality products, functional design, outstanding customer service, and enhancing the lives of our customers and the communities where we operate. Today, we're a multi-brand, multi-channel, global enterprise supported by state-of-the-art technology and some of the most talented teams in retailing - and we're always looking for new energy and ideas.