Freelance Production Designer (Part-Time)

AKQA; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 118,000 - 137,000; Part time

Job summary

AKQA is seeking a Freelance Print Production Designer (20 hours per week) to support active client work in print and large-format deliverables. You will ensure files are flawless, on-brand, and built to spec, with deep experience in billboard, transit, and other large formats.

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and file management is essential. Remote work is available for US-based candidates with required in-office days as part of our hybrid model.

Qualifications

• Ability to produce production-ready mechanicals across multiple formats with attention to specs and color accuracy.
• Experience with large-format and out-of-home applications including billboard and transit media.
• Fluency in print production workflows and vendor submission standards.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and manage print-ready files across formats with meticulous attention to specs, color, and production standards.
• Produce production-ready mechanics from existing design concepts and brand guidelines.
• Coordinate with print vendors to ensure timely delivery of files.

Skills

Print production

Out-of-home

Color management

File preparation

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

InDesign

Illustrator

Photoshop

Figma

Job description

At AKQA (part of WPP) we believe in the imaginative application of art and science to create beautiful ideas, products and services. With an entrepreneurial and collaborative approach, we design adaptive digital services and applications that capture the imagination, delivering impressive returns for our clients.

Production Designers at AKQA are essential to the craft and integrity of our work. Meticulous and deeply skilled, they bring ideas to life with precision and care, ensuring every deliverable meets the highest standard of quality before it reaches the world. They work in close partnership with creative, design, and account teams, translating vision into production-ready assets across a wide range of formats and channels.

We are seeking a Freelance Print Production Designer (20 hours per week) to support active client work across a range of print and large-format deliverables. You will bring deep production expertise and a practiced eye to a collaborative, fast-moving environment, ensuring files are flawless, on-brand, and built to spec. Out-of-home production is a meaningful part of what you do, and you bring a fluency with large-format specifications, vendor requirements, and the nuances of preparing work that performs at scale and in the real world.

ROLE REQUIREMENTS

• Prepare and manage print-ready files across a range of formats, including large-format and out-of-home applications, with meticulous attention to specs, color, and production standards
• Work from existing design concepts and brand guidelines to produce accurate, production-ready mechanicals across multiple deliverable types
• Demonstrate fluency in out-of-home production requirements, including billboard, transit, and large-format specifications, bleed, resolution, and vendor submission standards
• Manage color accurately across print workflows, including CMYK, Pantone, and spot color considerations
• Coordinate with print vendors and production partners as needed, ensuring files are delivered correctly and on time
• Maintain organized, clearly labeled file systems and documentation that are easy for teammates and partners to navigate
• Support creative and design teams throughout the production lifecycle, from initial file setup through final delivery
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teammates including designers, art directors, and account managers in a fast-paced environment

QUALITIES AND CHARACTERISTICS

• Deep production craft with a practiced eye for detail across typography, color, spacing, and layout accuracy
• Significant out-of-home production experience is an important part of your background, alongside broader print expertise
• Fluent in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, with a highly organized approach to file management
• Understands the full arc of print production and brings both technical precision and sound creative judgment to the work
• Clear communicator who collaborates constructively, responds well to feedback, and keeps work moving with minimal friction
• Adaptable and composed in a high-velocity environment, comfortable managing multiple deliverables with shifting timelines
• Proactive about catching errors, closing gaps, and ensuring nothing goes to production without being truly ready

Location & Commitment

• Remote (United States only)
• 20 hours/week
• $2,600-$3,000/week
• Runs from 10/19 - 11/6

We believe great work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach including required in-office days. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

AKQA is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

About WPP

WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth. For more information, visit WPP.com.