Associate Creative Director - Midwest Startups : Job Details

Our mission at Duolingo is to develop the best education in the world and make it universally available. It's a big mission, and even though we've made a lot of headway, we still have work to do — and that's where you come in!

Duolingo's designers care about creating high-quality experiences that look and feel fun. From animators to writers, product designers to researchers, Design brings purpose, feeling, and delight to every interaction with our brand, inside the app and out. As a designer, you'll join a culture of creativity and craft, where we have a high bar for excellence and an endless curiosity about how to bring more unexpected quirk and fun to the pursuit of learning.

Join us in our mission to develop education for our half a billion (and growing!) learners around the world.

We're looking for an Associate Creative Director with expertise in playful interactions and game aesthetics to help us push the boundaries of how people learn through play. You'll lead creative projects that bring our characters and game mechanics to life—crafting delightful and engaging experiences that resonate with millions of learners. This role sits within Design Studio, the team that brings Duolingo's world to life through motion, characters, and sound.

• Own and drive the creative vision, style, and tone for your projects, from concept through delivery
• Bring motion, characters, and sound together to influence how learners experience progression, encouragement, and achievement
• Partner cross-functionally with Design, Product, and Engineering to bring game mechanics to life within the rhythm of mobile product development
• Mentor, inspire, and develop the skills of artists, animators, and designers you direct
• Advocate for game aesthetics that reinforce and push Duolingo's unique brand of learning
• Help build a positive reputation for Duolingo as a great place for artists, animators, and designers to work

• A portfolio showcasing work that makes game moments feel immersive and full of personality, demonstrating a strong command of visual storytelling and playfulness
• A deep understanding of how motion, animation, and sound enhance game mechanics and make interactive experiences feel alive
• Shipped a 2D or 3D game or interactive experience where motion and character-driven interactions were central, particularly in mobile or casual gaming
• Experience leading creative teams with attention to detail and a focus on excellence
• Experience as a hands-on individual contributor in motion design, illustration, and/or animation
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to build trust, influence stakeholders, and inspire teams
• Excellent communication skills that lead to effective and concrete output
• The ability to work in or relocate to Pittsburgh, PA

• A strong intuition for—or even experience with—crafting game mechanics
• Experience working on both in-house teams and in a studio/agency
• Experience working on educational products or gamified learning experiences

Salary Range: $148,000 — $266,400 USD

Duolingo is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.