Sr. Art Director (m/f/x) - Munich/Shanghai

NIO Inc. is a pioneer and a leading manufacturer of premium smart electric vehicles in China. Founded in November 2014, NIO’s mission is to shape a joyful lifestyle. NIO aims to build a community starting with smart electric vehicles to share joy and grow together with users. NIO designs, develops, jointly manufactures and sells smart premium electric vehicles, driving innovations in next-generation technologies in autonomous driving, digital technologies, electric powertrains and batteries. NIO differentiates itself through its continuous technological breakthroughs and innovations, such as its industry-leading battery swapping technologies, Battery as a Service, or BaaS, as well as its proprietary autonomous driving technologies and Autonomous Driving as a Service, or ADaaS.

For our Design Team in Munich & Shanghai (both can be your working location) we are looking for a

Sr. Art Director (m/f/x)

We are looking for an exceptional Senior Art Director with vast car and product photography experience to help shape the future product and car visualisation.

This role sits at the intersection of brand, product and design, working closely with NIO’s world-class Vehicle Design team to translate product innovation into compelling brand experiences and visual storytelling. You will play a key role in ensuring that the Design DNA expressed in our vehicles are consistently reflected across every visual touchpoint.

We are seeking a highly experienced creative leader with a strong background in graphic design and art direction, a passion for building premium global (lifestyle) brands, and a deep understanding of how AI is transforming the future of creativity.

This is an opportunity to influence one of the world's most progressive mobility brands and help define the next generation of brand-led experiences.

Responsibilities:

• Define and evolve the visual language of visual assets globally.
• As part of the Design organisation, you work closely with Vehicle Design and CMF teams to translate design intent into powerful visual storytelling for internal and external.
• Lead the art direction of vehicle photography, films, launches and global campaigns.
• Develop creative concepts and visual narratives that elevate product stories and create emotional impact.
• Direct photographers, filmmakers, CGI artists, retouchers and creative agencies on demand.
• Establish photography and image-making standards across various functions.
• Support the development of brand guidelines and visual standards related to imagery, photography and storytelling.
• Shape future-focused creative workflows by integrating AI-generated imagery and emerging technologies into the creative process.
• Ensure a consistent, premium and recognizable visual identity across all customer touchpoints.

Qualifications:

• 7–12 years of experience in Art Direction, Photography, Visual Communication or Brand Experience Design.
• Outstanding portfolio demonstrating excellence in photography, visual storytelling and art direction.
• Strong background in automotive, luxury, technology, fashion or lifestyle brands.
• Deep understanding of image creation, composition, lighting, color, visual narrative and post-production.
• Exceptional eye for aesthetics and premium visual execution.
• Strong graphic design skills and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator.
• Experience working with photographers, filmmakers, CGI teams and production partners.
• Strong conceptual thinking and ability to transform strategic ideas into compelling visual experiences.
• Fluent English speaker with experience working in international environments.

Required Expertise in AI & Creative Technology:

• Deep understanding of AI-powered image creation and creative workflows.
• Hands-on experience with tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Adobe Firefly, Midjourney, Runway, Kling, Flux and similar platforms.
• Ability to use AI as a creative partner throughout concept development, image generation, mood creation, storyboarding and production workflows.
• Strong interest in defining the future of photography, image-making and visual storytelling through emerging technologies.

Strong Plus:

• Motion design and film art direction experience.
• Experience working directly with automotive, industrial or transportation design teams.
• Knowledge of 3D visualization workflows and emerging generative design technologies.
• Experience leading international productions and global brand campaigns.
• Familiarity with Asian and European markets.

This is more than a job — it is an opportunity to join a dynamic team shaping the mobility experiences of the future.

NIO as a Global User Enterprise has organized its business globally. Depending on the job you are applying for, it may be necessary to involve hiring managers outside the European Economic Area (EEA), that are engaged at another NIO group company, such as NIO Co., Ltd located in Shanghai, China or NIO USA Inc, Palo Alto, USA. If data is processed in countries outside the EEA, NIO uses standard contractual clauses published by the European Commission, with appropriate technical and organizational measures, to ensure that your personal data is processed in accordance with European data protection standards. The location of this job is at NIO GmbH, Montgelasstrasse 14, Munich.