Illustrator/Surface Pattern Designer, Greetings Cards & Wrap

University of the Arts London; London; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a leading British greetings card brand as an Illustrator/Surface Pattern Designer. This exciting role offers the chance to create innovative designs for cards and gift wrap, blending creativity with commercial awareness. You'll work in a collaborative environment, developing new ranges and ensuring designs align with brand values. With hybrid working options and a supportive team, this position is perfect for those passionate about design and eager to make their mark in a vibrant industry. Enjoy a competitive salary and a range of attractive benefits, making this an opportunity not to be missed.

Benefits

Generous annual leave allowance

Discretionary day off for birthday

Staff discount up to 65%

Discretionary annual bonus scheme

Pension and life assurance policy

Employee Assistance Programme

Weekly fruit delivery

Refreshments provided

Qualifications

• Entry-level industry experience in design or illustration.
• Ability to create designs while maintaining handcrafted details.

Responsibilities

• Create and innovate designs for cards and gift wrap.
• Manage workload and meet deadlines for product releases.

Skills

Illustration

Surface Design

Textiles

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Communication Skills

Time Management

Education

Relevant Design Degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Illustrator/Surface Pattern Designer, Greetings Cards & Wrap

Salary 25K-35K per annum (dependent upon experience/level)

Open to Junior & Designer applicants / permanent / full time / hybrid (3 days in Putney office)

This is an exciting opportunity for a Junior or Designer level applicant with experience in illustration, surface design or textiles to join one of the most established and recognisable British greetings cards brands. With an eye for great design, excellent sense of colour, and an understanding of the Caroline Gardner aesthetic, you will produce everyday and seasonal greetings cards, flat wrap, roll wrap, and gift bags using a range of drawing styles and mediums, supported by Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

What you’ll be doing:

1. Create ‘house’ style cards, gift wrap, and gift bags in line with the brand strategy.
2. Innovate new ranges and develop existing ranges in line with budgets.
3. Generate new colour palettes, drawing styles, patterns, fonts, and themes, synonymous with the brand.
4. Initiate research trips and design workshops/courses to stay inspired.
5. Utilise sales information to design commercial yet cutting-edge designs.
6. Work with the sales team to understand key national accounts and independent customers' preferences to inform your designs and range building.
7. Display a strong commercial awareness to design in accordance with a card’s topic, theme, type, and target market (Who would send this card and why?).
8. Understand target customers (both trade and retail) and emerging markets from sales meetings.
9. Utilise sales information from the sales tracker to design the next ‘best seller’.
10. Identify shopping trends and gaps in the market.
11. Manage own workload within the critical path, understanding time scales for each release, and ensuring all deadlines are met.
12. Prepare ready-approved designs for artworking, artwork each design, and brief to printers.
13. Send artwork to print on time and relay relevant information to the Buying and Merchandising teams.
14. Assist with the approval process for all printed stock, including printed cards, wrap, and ancillary products, ensuring the final product is satisfactory before delivery to warehouse.
15. Build solid working relationships with main suppliers and understand their processes to create artwork in accordance with their specifications.

Competitive salary depending on experience. Benefits include hybrid working, a generous annual leave allowance with long service extra holiday days plus discretionary day off for your birthday, staff discount of up to 65%, discretionary annual bonus scheme, pension and group life assurance policy, Employee Assistance Programme, weekly fruit delivery and refreshments, and more.

This is a permanent, full-time role, starting 1 June 2025 (five days per week, 9.00am–5.30pm, 37.5 hrs per week).

This role is based at our Head Office in Putney, London.

To apply, please submit your CV and relevant examples of your work to HR via [e-mail].

Skills and Experience Required

Who you are:

1. You have at least entry-level industry experience or previous industry experience.
2. You have the ability to draw, paint, and collage, then transfer to Adobe to create finished cards while maintaining handcrafted details.
3. Excellent communication skills to interpret and negotiate briefs with colleagues/clients.
4. Demonstrable passion and enthusiasm for design, with a creative flair and excellent sense of colour.
5. Good presentation skills and the confidence to explain and sell ideas to clients and colleagues.
6. Excellent time management skills and the ability to cope under pressure with multiple projects.
7. Accuracy and attention to detail when readying designs for artworking and briefing.
8. Open to feedback with a willingness to make changes to designs as directed.
9. Motivated to develop the role and design abilities, always learning and improving.
10. A team player with the ability to work independently with some supervision.
11. Has a ‘can do’ attitude.
12. Enthusiastic, self-confident, and self-motivated.
13. Understands and represents the Caroline Gardner brand values.
14. Demonstrates respect and politeness and regularly exceeds expectations.