Sr Designer

POSITION SUMMARY

SENIOR PACKAGING DESIGNER
Chicago - Hybrid

Equator is a global packaging design agency, delivering strategy to shelf without compromise. We create powerful brands that get noticed and chosen. Equator is part of SGK.
Do you crave a creative environment where unconventional thinking is actively encouraged? Are you willing to take risks and champion new ideas? We’re looking for a senior branding and packaging designer to lead the design process and bring our clients’ product vision to life, creating brands for a wide range of clients. If you’re keen to advance your creative expertise as part of a passionate, dynamic team, this could be the role for you. 
 

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Lead the design process from concept to completion, including creating realistic sketches, mood boards, mock-ups, and concepts to meet project requirements and brand objectives.
•    Design and deliver by creating layouts and packaging designs for a wide range of products (CPG), ensuring consistency with the brand vision and consumer needs.
•    Integrates images, text, motion, etc. with a great sense of aesthetics, while executing against the brand/product vision or brief.
•    Select materials and produce finish reference charts that align with market and physical specifications, optimizing designs for different materials and print techniques to meet production requirements and ensure functionality
•    Develop and implement visual elements and creative concepts using digital illustration, photo editing, and the adobe suite to deliver high-quality designs.
•    Gather insights to inform design objectives through research on market trends, consumer behavior, and emerging industry practices.
•    Collaborate with project teams, clients, and stakeholders to ensure designs align with brand vision and project goals, effectively communicating requirements and deliverables across all teams.
•    Identify design challenges, propose creative solutions, and champion innovative ideas that exceed client expectations.
•    Prepare and direct photography and art production, including managing photoshoots to create visuals that align with the creative vision and project scope.
•    Review designs with high attention to detail to ensure quality standards and accuracy before printing.
•    Create and present mood boards, proposals, and trends during creative meetings with internal teams and clients, clearly articulating the rationale behind design decisions.
•    Oversee project timelines and budgets to ensure deliverables are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
•    Advise and mentor designers and junior team members, providing technical guidance, process recommendations, and support throughout project deliverables.
•    Conduct market research to stay up-to-date on industry trends and new design developments, incorporating findings into projects.
•    Additional duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS / REQUIREMENTS

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Arts, Design, Advertising, Marketing or related field
•    5+ years of previous design experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience in food and beverage packaging and brand design.
•    Occasional travel either locally, nationally, and/or internationally may be required.
•    Proficient with design software (Adobe Creative Suite); ability to provide professional portfolio upon request
•    High degree of proficiency MS Office Suite, Outlook & Internet applications
•    Strong analytical, prioritizing, interpersonal, problem-solving, presentation, budgeting, project management (from conception to completion), & planning skills 
•    Strong verbal and written communication skills (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning)
•    Solid understanding and application of mathematical concepts
•    Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organization, as well as, internal and external clients
•    Ability to work well autonomously and within a team in a fast-paced and deadline-oriented environment.
•    Ability to work with and influence peers and senior management
•    Self-motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines and reporting

PHYSICAL ASPECTS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

•    Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, hear and see.  
•    Occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. 
•    Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

* Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Equator is a branding design agency that is part of SGK. SGK is a global leader in the design of high-performance marketing ecosystems, the creation of content that scales consumer experiences with brands, and the integration of technologies to enable collaborative digital networks. SGK is a Matthews International company.
Matthews International affords equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.  Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.
Matthews International endeavors to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants.  In doing so, Matthews International provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.