Innovative Creative Director: Retail Displays & Design

Great Northern Corporation; Des Plaines (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K match & profit sharing

Paid Time Off & IL Paid Leave after 30

9 Paid Holidays

Medical PPO, HSA, Dental, Vision

Wellness Program

Life Insurance & Disability

Tuition Reimbursement

Career advancement opportunities

Annual salary increases

Job summary

Great Northern Corporation in Des Plaines, IL is seeking a hands-on Creative Director to lead Industrial Design and Graphic Design teams, balancing creative strategy with business growth and daily project execution.

The role requires deep experience in retail displays and fixtures, strong leadership, and hands-on technical skills in CAD, rendering, and prototyping. You will drive design quality, collaborate with Sales, and guide resources to meet timelines and budgets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in industrial design or related field.
• 5+ years leading a design team or creative group.
• Hands-on experience with CAD, sketching, rendering, rapid prototyping.
• Knowledge of product development and manufacturing processes for displays or fixtures.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage priorities.
• Strong understanding of design decisions affecting cost and manufacturability.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Experience with permanent POP displays or retail fixtures preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads, coaches, and develops design teams; sets expectations for quality and accountability.
• Reviews concepts to ensure visually compelling, strategically relevant, and manufacturable solutions.
• Drives ideation and concept development for differentiated customer-facing displays.
• Stays current on design trends and emerging technologies; applies AI where appropriate.
• Partner with Sales on meetings and new business opportunities; allocates creative resources.

Skills

Design leadership

CAD

Rendering

Prototyping

Education

Bachelor's degree in industrial design

Tools

CAD software

Sketching tools

Job description

Great Northern Corporation in Des Plaines, IL is seeking a hands-on Creative Director to lead Industrial Design and Graphic Design teams, balancing creative strategy with business growth and daily project execution.

The role requires deep experience in retail displays and fixtures, strong leadership, and hands-on technical skills in CAD, rendering, and prototyping. You will drive design quality, collaborate with Sales, and guide resources to meet timelines and budgets.