Who We Are

Hornet is a creative agency and production studio dedicated to building brands that inspire and resonate. For over 20 years, Hornet has been a beacon of imaginative storytelling, driving creative excellence in motion design, animation, and live action. We take pride in a curated diversity of talent, delivering groundbreaking work that transforms ambitious ideas into impactful stories and striking visual experiences. Combining strategic insight, design excellence, and production mastery, we craft award-winning work across animation, mixed media, and live action.

From bold brand identities to unforgettable content, Hornet delivers with the agility of a boutique studio and the depth of a world-class agency. Our mission reflects an enduring passion for storytelling and the magic found in creativity, shaping culture and elevating brands through innovation and collaboration.

Hornet is seeking a full-time Senior Designer to join our award-winning, interdisciplinary team. While this role is deeply hands-on and focused on the craft of design, we are looking for a true creative collaborator, someone who doesn't just execute a brief, but interrogates it to find the best possible visual solution. You should possess a strong creative POV and the confidence to advocate for ideas that make the work stronger. Whether you are exploring high-level concepts in a pitch or diving into the fine details of world-building, you will partner with our Directors to shape projects across all mediums, from 2D and CG to stop motion.

Responsibilities

• Design collaboratively under the guidance of Hornet Directors, CDs and Art Directors to translate the high-level vision into actionable design, providing technical and aesthetic guidance to other artists on the team to maintain visual consistency across the project.
• Create and explore designs in a variety of styles according to the wide range of visual languages present in agency and director briefs.
• Develop comprehensive art for 2D, CG, and Stop-motion projects. This includes strong character designs, style frames, concept exploration background designs and may include color keys, and matte paintings.
• Act as the senior designer on pitches, working quickly to create compelling visuals and assisting with the design of treatment layouts.
• Proactively contribute original ideas and distinct perspectives that build upon the initial vision of a project, working under the guidance of Directors and Art Directors to make the work stronger.
• Curate and gather references to enhance the vision of Directors and ADs.
• Proactively participate in internal creative initiatives by researching new styles, workflows, and tools—including consensual AI experimentation—ensuring the artist's hand leads the technology.
• Partner with department Leads to collaboratively and proactively solve production challenges, ensuring designs are optimized for the animation pipeline.
• Provide a critical eye on projects, mentoring staff towards an exceptional standard of finished work.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience as a 2D designer in animation, with at least 1+ years in a lead role.
• A portfolio that showcases diverse work and a high level of visual storytelling, including strong character design and the ability to design for different pipelines (2D, 3D, and Mixed Media).
• Mastery of shape language, color theory, light, and composition to create compelling 2D style frames.
• Well-versed in executing various design styles based on a Director’s vision, with the ability to advocate for your own creative ideas while staying open to feedback.
• Experience with 2d pipelines and software packages (e.g. Adobe Creative Cloud)
• A growth mindset: you’re excited to step outside your comfort zone, try new workflows, and you're looking for a long-term studio home to build your career.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a positive, solutions-oriented attitude.
• Experience with C4D or Blender is a significant plus. 
• Based in New York (preferred) or able to work East Coast hours.

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Who We Are

Hornet is a creative agency and production studio dedicated to building brands that inspire and resonate. For over 20 years, Hornet has been a beacon of imaginative storytelling, driving creative excellence in motion design, animation, and live action. We take pride in a curated diversity of talent, delivering groundbreaking work that transforms ambitious ideas into impactful stories and striking visual experiences. Combining strategic insight, design excellence, and production mastery, we craft award-winning work across animation, mixed media, and live action.

From bold brand identities to unforgettable content, Hornet delivers with the agility of a boutique studio and the depth of a world-class agency. Our mission reflects an enduring passion for storytelling and the magic found in creativity, shaping culture and elevating brands through innovation and collaboration.

Who You Are:

‍You’re a relationship-builder and strategic thinker who knows how to turn opportunity into momentum. You understand how brands grow and how marketers think. You know the terrain—marketing, media, brand experience—and how to navigate it to identify the right clients, the right conversations, and the right moment to open the door.

You’re proactive, persuasive, and collaborative, with a solid grasp of the process from pitch to delivery(production). You support smart strategy, compelling creative, and exceptional design as part of a team focused on closing transformative creative business

Responsibilities:

• Leverage existing relationships and networks to generate immediate business opportunities.
• Source and qualify prospects to expand Hornet’s client base across creative production, branded content, and media.
• Conduct outreach, follow-ups, and tailored communications to ensure prospects are ready for handoff to the Account Executive team.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams to align on strategy, provide market insights, and support growth initiatives.
  Track engagement metrics, maintain prospect lists, and ensure smooth handoffs and pipeline visibility.

Qualities:

• Proven experience driving business development in a production studio, creative agency, or related environment.
• Strong existing relationships or a network of contacts to accelerate growth.
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to clearly articulate Hornet’s value proposition.
• Highly organized, self-motivated, and able to prioritize in a dynamic environment.
• Comfortable working independently and delivering results quickly.

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