Graphic Designer, Product

United Wheels Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

United Wheels Inc. in Miamisburg, OH, is seeking a Graphic Designer focused on product design for cycling. You will translate trends into concepts and high-fidelity renderings, ensuring user-centered, brand-defining products for international reach.

The role collaborates with internal teams and top-tier licensing partners to elevate design impact, maintain brand integrity, and drive commercial success worldwide.

Qualifications

• BFA/BS/BA in Graphic Design or related field; Associate degree required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in graphic design.
• Extensive experience with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop — Mac and PC based.
• Working knowledge of graphic design processes, including type, materials, prepress, and printing trades.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Approximately 5% domestic travel and 5% international travel; passport required.
• Integrity, Simplicity, Priority, Agility, Rider Centricity, Collaborative Innovation, Operational Excellence, ESG & Responsible Growth.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Product Development Team to create product design concepts that drive new product development.
• Creates, refines, and finalizes design concepts to maintain planned project timetables.
• Investigates, analyzes, and reports on color and design trends; utilizes key findings when preparing design concepts.
• Reviews and prepares design files to maintain production protocols and print-quality standards.
• Prepares and executes prototype product samples used in internal reviews, sales meetings, and customer presentations.
• Collaborates with licensed partners through regular product development calls, joint brainstorms, and occasional travel to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
• Ensures all work with licensed brands adheres to licensing protocols, maintaining the integrity and standards of top-tier partners’ brand identities.
• Works with Production and Implementation Department and vendors to release final product design tech packs on time and to company standards.
• Maintains working knowledge of graphic design processes, including type, materials, prepress, and printing techniques.

Skills

Graphic design

Brand alignment

Color theory

Communication

Education

BFA/BS/BA in Graphic Design

Associate degree in graphic design

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Job description

Location: Miamisburg, OH (HQ)
Department: Product Development
Reports To: Design Manager
FLSA Status: Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)
Level: IC

Summary

The Graphic Designer specializes in product design for the cycling industry, supporting the development of innovative solutions with a focus on color, graphics, materials, and finishes. This role involves collaboration with the internal product development team and top-tier licensing partners to support international product reach. Responsibilities include translating trends and insights into compelling concepts and high-fidelity renderings, while ensuring user-centered, commercially successful, and brand-defining products. The designer proactively seeks opportunities to elevate design impact and to drive the company’s worldwide reputation for product innovation.

Why This Role Matters

Design is where product strategy becomes something a rider can see, want, and buy. This role shapes the color, graphics, materials, and finishes that define our products on the shelf and differentiate our brands — including the licensed partnerships that extend our reach globally. Strong, on-time, protocol-accurate design work directly supports commercial success, brand integrity, and the company’s worldwide reputation for product innovation.

What Success Looks Like (3 Core Outcomes)

Deliver Compelling, Commercially Successful Designs

• Trends and insights are translated into concepts and high-fidelity renderings that are user-centered, brand-defining, and commercially successful.
• Design concepts advance new product development and elevate design impact.
• Color and design trend findings are investigated and applied to keep the product line fresh and competitive.

Execute On Time and To Standard

• Design concepts are created, refined, and finalized to maintain planned project timetables.
• Design files and final tech packs meet production protocols and print-quality standards and release on time.
• Prototype samples are prepared and executed effectively for internal reviews, sales meetings, and customer presentations.

Protect Brand & Licensing Integrity

• All work with licensed brands strictly adheres to licensing protocols and preserves top-tier partners’ brand identities.
• Strong alignment is maintained with licensed partners through regular development calls, joint brainstorms, and travel as needed.
• Design decisions consistently uphold United Wheels production standards and brand quality.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned.

• Collaborates with the Product Development Team to create product design concepts that drive new product development.
• Creates, refines, and finalizes design concepts to maintain planned project timetables.
• Investigates, analyzes, and reports on color and design trends; utilizes key findings when preparing design concepts.
• Reviews and prepares design files to maintain United Wheels production protocols and print-quality standards.
• Prepares and executes prototype product samples used in internal reviews, sales meetings, and customer presentations.
• Collaborates with licensed partners through regular product development calls, joint brainstorms, and occasional travel to ensure alignment and successful project outcomes.
• Ensures all work with licensed brands strictly adheres to licensing protocols, maintaining the integrity and standards of top‑tier partners’ brand identities.
• Works with the Production and Implementation Department and vendors to release final product design tech packs — specifying colors, graphics, and finishes — on time and to company standards.
• Maintains a working knowledge of graphic design processes, including type, materials, prepress and printing techniques, software, and vendor capabilities.
• Attends internal and external line reviews, tradeshows, and vendor meetings as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

This job has no supervisory responsibilities.

Education and/or Experience

• BFA, BS, or BA degree in Graphic Design or other related field of study, or equivalent experience preferred; Associate degree in graphic design (or related field) required.
• Minimum of three years of experience in graphic design.
• Extensive experience with Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop — Mac and PC based.
• Working knowledge of graphic design processes, including type, materials, prepress, and printing trades.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• This position may require approximately 5% domestic travel and approximately 5% international travel; must be able to obtain a valid passport.
• Integrity: Demonstrates honesty and accountability in all work, and upholds licensing protocols and brand standards even under deadline pressure.
• Simplicity: Finds clear, practical design solutions and communicates concepts and specifications in ways that are easy to act on across teams and vendors.
• Priority: Focuses time and creative energy on the concepts and deliverables that drive the greatest commercial and brand impact, and keeps projects on timetable.
• Agility: Adapts quickly to new trends, briefs, and partner feedback, iterating on concepts without losing momentum or quality.
• Rider Centricity: Keeps the rider and end customer at the center of design decisions, creating user-centered, commercially successful, and brand-defining products.
• Collaborative Innovation: Partners closely with Product Development, Production, vendors, and licensed partners to turn ideas into standout products and to elevate design impact.
• Operational Excellence: Delivers accurate, protocol-compliant design files and tech packs on time and to production and print-quality standards.
• ESG & Responsible Growth: Makes material, finish, and vendor-facing design choices responsibly, consistent with the company’s commitment to responsible, sustainable growth.

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the organization.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

  Computer Skills

  • Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, and Adobe Creative Cloud — Mac and PC based.

  Our Interview Process

  We value transparency and respect for candidates’ time. Our interview process is designed to assess skills, creativity, and long-term potential — while also giving you a clear view of who we are and how we work.

  • Resume Review: Every application is reviewed by a real member of our Talent team and/or the Hiring Leader. We take the time to thoughtfully evaluate your background, portfolio, and experience.
  • Talent Team Outreach: Selected candidates will receive a personalized email from our Talent team to discuss experience, career goals, and alignment with the role.
  • Virtual Interview (Microsoft Teams): Candidates will meet with the Hiring Leader for a deeper conversation about design approach, collaboration style, and portfolio work.
  • Product Design Case Exercise: Shortlisted candidates will complete a structured design exercise. This is intended solely to understand your thinking process, creativity, and execution skills.
    • Important: We do not use candidate submissions for commercial, production, or business purposes. The exercise is hypothetical and for evaluation purposes only.
  • Final Onsite Interview (Ohio):Finalists will be invited onsite to meet cross‑functional team members, review work collaboratively, and explore cultural and long‑term fit.

  Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

  Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
  United Wheels Inc. is an equal opportunity employer.
  We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
  We are dedicated to building a workplace where people from all walks of life feel seen, supported, and empowered to do their best work.
  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and we encourage you to bring your full, authentic self to work.
  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.