Packaging Designer

Gold Medal International; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Gold Medal International is seeking a detail-oriented Packaging Designer in the New York metro area. The role involves creating packaging concepts from brief to final production, developing dielines, artwork, and sample production, with a hybrid-remote work model requiring two days in the NYC office.

You will collaborate with Design, Merchandising, Sales and Production, manage multiple projects, and bring a strong visual eye for color, typography, and finishes to retail packaging.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 3+ years of packaging design experience.
• Experience with dielines, proofs, and production specs.
• Strong eye for color, typography, finishes.
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Create new packaging concepts for development.
• Verify layout accuracy for production.
• Develop Shippers and PDQ’s for customers.
• Manage Put Up Library for all brands.
• Collaborate with Design, Merchandising and Production teams.

Skills

Office 365

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Packaging dielines

Production files

Bleeds & lines

Color management

Communication

Autonomy

Project management

Remote collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in design/related field

High School Diploma + 3 years experience

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

InDesign

Office 365

Job description

About Us

Founded in 1954 on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, Gold Medal International (GMI) has established itself as one of the leading hosiery and accessories companies in the industry. GMI designs, sources, and manufactures wholesale socks and accessories for a customer base ranging from small independent stores to the most prestigious department stores in the country.

Creating great employee experiences has always been a priority at GMI. We know firsthand that when we take care of our employees, they will take care of our customers, and we strive for this every day.

Through our best times and challenging times, we remain inspired by the resilience of our team. Leadership recognizes the value of providing workplace flexibility and our hybrid-remote work model has had a tremendous impact on the quality of life for our employees. GMI commits to maintaining high levels of customer service and we take pride in our reputation for treating everyone like family.

About The Role

We are seeking a detail oriented and highly creative Packaging Designer who is responsible for managing and designing packaging for our brands. This role reports directly to the Director of Design and Merchandising and is part of the Design department in the New York metropolitan area. Our NYC office utilizes a hybrid-remote operational model where employees are required to commute to the office two times per week and as needed thereafter. We are looking for a designer who is equal parts creative thinker and packaging problem-solver.

This role is ideal for a designer who is equally comfortable developing a creative concept and figuring out how to make it work in production. We are looking for someone with a strong visual eye, a passion for retail packaging, and technical skills to take a concept from an initial idea through dieline development, artwork, sampling and final production.

The ideal candidate has a natural eye for color typography, materials, finishes and visual merchandising, along with a playful, unexpected and sometimes kitschy point of view.

About You

You have a strong eye for detail, excellent communication skills, and digital design experience in the industry. You are able to learn systems and technology quickly and handle a fast-paced environment. You have the desire to grow and develop as a skilled member of the Design team. You are able to collaborate with others while working remotely or in the office.

What You Will Do

As a Packaging Designer, your responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the creation of new packaging for development. Verifying layout accuracy for production. Developing Shippers and PDQ’s for Customers. Managing Put Up Library for all brands.

• Proficient with the Office 365 application, Adobe Suite (especially Illustrator and Photoshop), InDesign is a plus.
• Understanding of Paper stocks, weights, textures, and finishes.
• Ability to create and interpret packaging die lines.
• Experience reviewing physical packaging samples, put-ups, and proofs
• Ability to problem-solve and think independently.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organized and operates with a high level of autonomy and attention to detail.
• Take the initiative to identify tasks beyond your immediate workload.
• Ability to work asynchronously and synchronously.
• Experience working with hybrid-remote and remote teams.

Creative Development

• Develop original packaging concepts from initial brief through final production.
• Create innovative packaging shapes, structures and presentation ideas that elevate the product.
• Think beyond traditional packaging formats and explore creative ways for products to be presented, displayed and interacted with.
• Develop packaging that is visually compelling and appropriate for the target consumer and retail environment.
• Create creative packaging callouts, taglines, icons, badges and product benefit communication.
• Use color, typography, graphics and imagery to create strong visual hierarchy and immediate shelf impact.
• Develop multiple creative directions and present concepts with a clear creative rationale.
• Stay current on packaging, graphic design, retail and consumer trends.

Technical / Production

• Create and modify packaging dielines and translate 2D artwork into functional packaging structures.
• Develop accurate, production-ready mechanical files in Adobe Illustrator.
• Understand bleeds, cut lines, fold lines, glue areas, perforations and safe zones.
• Prepare artwork for print using appropriate CMYK, Pantone and spot-color specifications.
• Research and recommend appropriate paper stocks, weights, textures and specialty finishes.
• Work with printers, packaging vendors and manufacturers to troubleshoot technical and production issues.
• Review proofs, prototypes and physical samples and make necessary revisions.
• Ensure packaging concepts are both creatively strong and commercially/technically feasible.

Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Design, Merchandising, Sales and Production teams.
• Work with vendors and manufacturers throughout the development process.
• Communicate creative concepts and technical requirements clearly.
• Manage multiple packaging projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Incorporate feedback while maintaining the overall creative vision.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in a related field or High School Diploma and at least 3 years of relevant experience.

Compensation Pay Bands

Packaging Designer I: $68,000 - $75,000

Equal Opportunity Employer

We strongly believe that different backgrounds and ideas are a competitive advantage; we hire candidates of any race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, marital or family status, disability, Veteran status, and any other status. GMI is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know by emailing [e-mail]

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