Graphic Designer – Packaging & Print

WaterScience; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

WaterScience in Bengaluru is seeking a packaging designer to craft cartons, boxes, labels, and inserts from concept to print-ready files. You’ll work directly with printers and carton manufacturers so what you design ends up exactly as intended on the press.

You’ll balance aesthetics with print constraints, choose papers and finishes, manage color (CMYK and Pantone), and ensure proofs pass bleed, trim, and resolution checks.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in packaging design with a print-ready portfolio.
• Hands-on knowledge of keylines/die-lines and structural adjustments.
• Knowledge of carton materials and print finishing.
• Proficient in CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator.
• Strong design sensibility and ability to explain print needs to vendors.

Responsibilities

• Design cartons, boxes, labels, and inserts from concept to print-ready files.
• Build die-lines and custom shapes for odd sizes and inner trays.
• Ensure consistency across the product range with new SKUs.
• Choose materials and finishes ensuring print quality within budget.
• Review proofs with printers and troubleshoot color/material issues.
• Juggle multiple packaging projects to tight deadlines with product/R&D.

Skills

Packaging design

Print production

Typography

Vendor communication

Layout

Tools

CorelDRAW

Adobe Illustrator

Photoshop

Job description

Experience : 3+ years

Work Mode: On-site

What\'s the role, in one line

You\'ll design packaging that looks great and prints exactly right — cartons, boxes, labels, and custom inserts — working directly with printers and carton manufacturers so nothing gets lost between screen and shelf.

Why this role matters

Packaging is where design meets the factory floor. You need the eye for a clean, attractive layout and the technical know-how to speak the language of print vendors — keylines, materials, finishing — so what you design is exactly what comes off the press.

This role is packaging and print first. If you\'re strong on the technical side of print but not a video or digital-design generalist, that\'s exactly who we want.

What you\'ll do

Design the packaging

• Design cartons, boxes, labels, and inserts from first concept to print-ready files
• Build and adjust die-lines and keylines, including custom shapes for odd-sized products and inner trays that hold accessories
• Keep design consistent across the product range as new SKUs and formats come in

Make sure it prints right

• Choose the right paper, board, and finishing (lamination, UV, embossing, foiling) for the product and the budget
• Apply your knowledge of offset printing and color (CMYK, Pantone, ink limits) so the design survives production
• Check every print-ready file for bleed, trim, safe zones, color profiles, and resolution

Work with print vendors

• Review proofs with printers, converters, and carton manufacturers, and troubleshoot color or material problems on the spot
• Push back or adjust quickly when something won\'t print the way it looks on screen

Manage the pipeline

• Juggle multiple packaging projects at once, often on tight deadlines
• Work with product and R&D teams to turn new product dimensions into packaging that actually fits and functions

What you\'ll need

• Minimum 3 years in packaging design, with a portfolio that shows real print production work — not just digital or branding
• Hands-on knowledge of keylines and die-lines, including custom structural adjustments
• Working knowledge of carton and packaging materials (corrugated, duplex board, rigid box) and how different paper stocks print and finish
• Working knowledge of offset printing and color management (CMYK, spot color)
• Proficient in CorelDRAW or Adobe Illustrator
• Strong design sensibility — layout, typography, brand-consistent execution
• Can explain technical print requirements clearly to external vendors

Nice to have

• Working knowledge of Photoshop
• Experience designing packaging for accessory-heavy or multi-component products (inner trays, foam inserts, etc.)
• Familiarity with sustainable or eco-friendly packaging materials
• Basic understanding of 3D packaging mockups or rendering

What you\'ll get

• Full ownership of packaging design end-to-end — from concept to what actually rolls off the press
• Direct, regular contact with printers and manufacturers — real production experience, not just portfolio work
• A hands-on role shaping how our products look and function as our SKU range grows
• Room to bring in sustainable or structural packaging ideas as we expand

About WaterScience

WaterScience started in 2014 with a simple idea: the water you bathe, wash, and cook with deserves as much attention as the water you drink. A decade on, our range of shower and tap filters, water softeners, and hard-water solutions is trusted by over 2 million people every day. What began in a small Bengaluru warehouse is now a 120+ person team across 6 cities in India.

Our vision: to set new standards in non-drinking water filtration while fostering healthier lives and a more sustainable planet.