Freelance Senior Creative Brand/Packaging Designer

This is a 40 hours per week remote temporary position in the US (1099 contractor). We are open to candidates in various states, with the exception of those residing in the following: AK, DC, DE, ME, NH, NM, OK, HI, MS, MT, NV, NE, ND, SD, VT, WY, and WV.

Agency Overview

Marks is a brand design and experience agency that is uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change. Fueled by our dual vantage points – embedded partners and future-forward experts – we build brand momentum to move fast, move forward, and move confidently.

As a full-service agency, our expertise extends across all facets of the branding spectrum: strategy, innovation, design, adaptation, integrated marketing communications. Together, we are 600+ people across 12 studios and 8 countries.

Marks is part of SGS & Co, a brand impact group built with the agility and inventiveness that enables our clients to thrive. Our sister company, SGS, is an integrated packaging and marketing company. Together, we shift brands to impact.

Position Overview

This position calls for a highly collaborative team member with a creative spark, sophisticated design eye, strong communication skills, passion, and self-motivation. You will be tasked with thoughtful problem-solving, that leads into high-caliber executions, informed by a strategic framework and narrative.

As Senior Designer, you will report to the Design Director, working with both the CD and Design Directors to creatively solve a client’s business problem, ensuring that solutions bring the strategy to life, successfully and on time. You will need to showcase an ability to work and collaborate within teams, as well as demonstrate the independence and resourcefulness demanded by an agile and highly dynamic agency environment.

This role specializes in brand and packaging design, ranging across an exciting spectrum of industries including CPG food and beverage, health care, beauty and personal care. You will champion the client’s brand and ensure all work is within brand guidelines, while maintaining continuity between formats, line extensions and client/vendor provided information.

Critical Skills and Behaviors

Design thinking and execution

• Generates strategic big ideas and narratives that address a specific truth about the client, industry, challenge or brief — rather than simply stylistic or trend driven executions
• Partners with and leverages Strategy and Design teams to develop focused design solutions
• Ability to develop packaging design intent production artwork files
• A strong understanding of packaging requirements such as die line (folds, scores and trims), rollovers, type height and weight, line thickness and copy safety zones
• A strong knowledge of print processes, finishes and separations

Independence, resourcefulness and reliability

• The ability to work in a dynamic, speed-to-market focused team environment with a minimum degree of supervision
• Demonstrates a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-it-done attitude
• Can be trusted to run with a project and see it through without micro-managing
• Is a proactive thinker and problem solver
• Helps create efficiencies and improve processes
• Creates photo and illustration briefs and art direct photo shoots and illustration development

Communicates well visually and verbally

• Confidently and simply conveys ideas and design concepts, articulating and defending rationale behind designs
• Puts together clear, succinct and intuitive client presentations
• Has strong presentation skills and an ability to engage client and sell work
• Is able to connect the “why” of designs to a strategic framework

Thriving in a collaborative space

• Values culture and teamwork over egos—must work well within a team
• Actively participates and engages in internal review meetings and brainstorming sessions

Curiosity and passion

• Lives and breathes design: gets excited to talk shop and always learn
• Keeps up with trends and seeks opportunities to grow and network outside of the office
• Hungry to share and spread the love – wants to mentor junior designers and interns

Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design or related field
• 6+ years of experience in packaging and/or brand design
• Expert fluency in design software, especially Adobe Creative Cloud, Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign
• Well-rounded portfolio showcasing excellent understanding of typography, photography, Illustration, presentation skills, sketching and design methodology
• Computer literacy, including familiarity with both iOS and Windows; fluency in Keynote, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Highly knowledgeable in multiple aspects of print production techniques

Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target for new hire salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.