Artistic Designer - Consumer Products - Plant Pots

NAFOR; Toronto; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic company in Toronto seeks an Artistic Designer for plant containers. This creative role combines design, sustainability, and collaboration to develop innovative products for major retailers. The position offers autonomy, hands-on experience, and a fun work environment.

Benefits

Casual dress code

Company events

Growth opportunities

Free on-site parking

Paid time off

Bonus pay

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in a similar role.
• Proven experience in product or digital design.

Responsibilities

• Design innovative and functional plastic planters.
• Conduct market research and trend analysis.
• Create digital sketches and product mockups.

Skills

Creativity

Visual Communication

Problem-Solving

Sustainability

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design

Bachelor’s degree in Product Design

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design

Tools

SolidWorks

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

CTI Living - Artistic Designer - Consumer Products - Plant Pots

- Please apply directly at https://www.nafor.com/ctiliving.html -

This is a creative role where you can design colourful and textured plant containers, presentations, and marketing materials. This is a traditional "artistic" opportunity with a strong digital component. Apply your creative skills in a company that sells millions of potted plant containers to North America's largest retailers each year. Your focus will be on designing, drafting, creating and refining new designs, colour schemes, textures, sizes and shapes of flower and plant containers. You will have a lot of creative autonomy with this dynamic, fast-paced, entrepreneurial company. Your best designs will end up on store shelves and in homes. This is the type of company where you will gain more hands-on experience in one year than five years at an agency. Having grown by 500% over 10 years, the work environment is exciting, the atmosphere is friendly, the workspace is newly renovated, and the team is fun.

SALARY: $50,000 to $60,000

ABOUT CTI: CTi Living is a leading manufacturer and supplier of high-quality plastic containers for both indoor and outdoor use, serving the floral and home décor industries. Their diverse product line ranges from ready-to-use designs to fully customized solutions, tailored to meet the unique needs of their clients. With a strong focus on innovative design, exceptional craftsmanship, and attentive customer service, they ensure each container is not only visually striking but also highly functional. At every stage, their unwavering dedication to quality and customer satisfaction sets them apart.

OVERVIEW:
We are looking for a forward-thinking Designer with a strong passion for plastic plant container design, sustainability, and innovation. This role involves developing original and market-driven designs for decorative pots, cover pots, enviropots, and nursery containers, while ensuring alignment with production feasibility, market trends, and brand strategy. You will collaborate cross-functionally to bring ideas from sketch to shelf and support both product and marketing teams with high-impact visual presentations.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Product Design & Innovation

• Design innovative and functional plastic planters in a wide range of colors, textures, patterns, and sizes using hand-drawn concept sketches and both 2D (Photoshop, Illustrator) and 3D (SolidWorks) tools.
• Conduct thorough market research and trend analysis to uncover new design opportunities, consumer preferences, and sustainability advancements.
• Create digital sketches, concept renderings, and product mockups that align with brand aesthetics and customer needs.
• Develop both virtual and physical prototypes using materials such as clay, 3D printing, and traditional modeling tools.
• Paint, decorate, and refine physical models to evaluate form, finish, and function.

Sustainability Leadership

• Champion the use of eco-friendly materials and sustainable manufacturing practices in collaboration with R&D and production teams.
• Stay current with global sustainability standards and regulations, ensuring that product lines remain compliant and forward-thinking.
• Support marketing and sales efforts by articulating the brand’s sustainability vision through visual content and presentations.

Visual Communication & Presentation

• Craft compelling PowerPoint presentations featuring lifestyle images, product innovations, and sustainability achievements for internal teams and retail clients.
• Assist in photographing finished products and preparing marketing visuals that showcase key features and innovations.
• Work closely with account managers and sales reps to develop client-specific product presentations and participate in client meetings when needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate effectively with internal teams (design, sales, marketing, logistics) as well as external partners (vendors, suppliers, factory staff) to ensure alignment across the product development lifecycle.
• Provide regular project updates, gather feedback, and manage scope adjustments with agility and professionalism.
• Contribute to timeline estimation and resource planning to keep projects on track and deliver exceptional results.

Ownership & Growth Mindset

• Demonstrate a strong sense of ownership, resourcefulness, and proactive problem-solving to overcome challenges.
• Take initiative to improve processes, test new ideas, and deliver design solutions that add value to the brand.
• Maintain a deep understanding of the brand’s value proposition and ensure consistency across all product touchpoints.

SOME REQUIREMENTS: (you don't need to have everything)

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Graphic Design, or a related field or similar experience
• Relevant experience in a similar role, with readiness to take on a larger creative challenge
• Proven experience in product or digital design, supported by a strong portfolio
• Proficient in SolidWorks (or similar CAD software), Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, XD), and Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Hands-on skills in 3D modeling, clay modeling, 3D printing, video editing, and photo editing
• Strong graphic design abilities with an eye for beautiful layouts for digital and printed media
• Strong photo and video editing skills, with attention to detail in visual storytelling
• Knowledge of mould manufacturing, sustainable design principles, and basic mould construction
• Experience in digital product design and a broad interest in current design and social media trends
• Strong visual communication, storytelling, and presentation skills
• Ability to balance creative innovation with manufacturing and commercial constraints
• Comfortable handling multiple assignments and shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Proactive, solutions-oriented mindset with strong problem-solving skills and ability to think on your feet
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Organized, self-motivated, and capable of working independently with minimal instruction
• Strong time management and prioritization skills, capable of juggling competing priorities
• Ability to work collaboratively and harmoniously with cross-functional teams
• Willingness to travel occasionally within North America and Asia (approximately 5%)

BENEFITS:

• Casual dress code
• Company events
• Growth opportunities within your role
• Supportive, smaller-sized teams
• Free on-site parking
• Easy access via TTC
• Paid time off
• Free products
• Work with plants
• Bonus pay

HOURS: For the most part this is a Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm role however, flexible hours are sometimes necessary. There is a bit of flexibility to work from home but a majority of work will take place at our Etobicoke office location. Occasionally, tight deadlines may require late hours.

CONTACT: Jeff Richmond at 416-238-6400 or [e-mail]
For more information see: https://www.nafor.com/ctiliving.html

CTI-Centrade embraces diversity and equal opportunity. We're committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or family status. If you require disability-related accommodation during the application or interview process, simply let us know and we’ll work with you to ensure you have a positive experience.

Please apply directly at https://www.nafor.com/ctiliving.html or Click here to apply online