Packaging Graphic Designer

Socket.dev; Edison (NJ); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Best Brands Consumer Products is seeking an experienced Packaging Graphic Designer to join our Packaging team in New York. The role leads the design and execution of packaging graphics from concept through final production, collaborating with product development, merchandising, production, and sourcing.

A strong portfolio in packaging, 3–5 years of experience, and expertise in typography, color, and print production are required, with a focus on delivering production-ready artwork.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, or related field.
• 3–5 years of professional graphic design experience in packaging, consumer products, or print production.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating packaging design, branding, and production experience.
• Strong understanding of typography, layout, color, imagery, composition, and visual hierarchy.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to identify production issues before reaching the factory.
• Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and SKU revisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams, vendors, and overseas manufacturing partners.
• Experience mentoring or providing creative direction to junior designers is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging graphics from concept to final production, creating solutions that are visually compelling and commercially relevant.
• Create and update packaging artwork, layouts, labels, inserts, hangtags, cartons, bags, sleeves, and other components.
• Translate concepts into production-ready artwork and mechanical files from dielines, brand guidelines, and customer requirements.
• Manage multiple packaging projects and SKUs while meeting timelines and production deadlines.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Merchandising, Production, and Sourcing, and with vendors and overseas factories to communicate artwork requirements and resolve issues.
• Review factory proofs, color proofs, and pre-production samples; perform prepress checks to catch issues.
• Ensure artwork reflects product information, dimensions, copy, logos, barcodes, regulatory requirements, and other specs.
• Maintain file organization, naming conventions, and version control.
• Develop packaging mockups, presentations, and visual concepts for internal reviews and customer presentations.
• Assist with color, print, material, and finishing specifications; stay current on packaging trends.
• Help establish and maintain packaging design standards, templates, and best practices.
• Support the Sr. Director of Packaging with special projects and department initiatives.

Skills

Attention to detail

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Typography

Color management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Communication Design, or related field

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Acrobat

3D packaging visualization software

AI-assisted design tools

Job description

Packaging Graphic Designer

Department: Packaging

Reports to: Sr. Director of Packaging

Location: New York, NY (On Site)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Best Brands Consumer Products is a consumer products company focused on developing and bringing products to market across multiple categories and retail channels. Our team works collaboratively across design, product development, sourcing, and production to deliver compelling products and packaging to consumers.

We value creativity, accountability, collaboration, attention to detail, and a willingness to continuously improve.

About the Role

Best Brands Consumer Products is seeking an experienced and highly creative Packaging Graphic Designer to join our growing Packaging team.

The Packaging Graphic Designer will be responsible for developing and executing packaging graphics across a variety of consumer products and retail programs. This role is ideal for a designer who combines strong creative skills with solid packaging and production knowledge and can independently manage projects from initial concept through final production.

This position will work closely with the Packaging, Product Development, Merchandising, and Production teams and will play an important role in maintaining the quality, consistency, and visual impact of Best Brands' packaging.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design and development of packaging graphics from concept through final production, creating solutions that are visually compelling, commercially relevant, and appropriate for the target consumer and retail environment.
• Create and update packaging artwork, layouts, labels, inserts, hangtags, cartons, bags, sleeves, and other packaging components.
• Translate creative concepts into accurate, production-ready artwork and mechanical files, working from existing dielines, templates, brand guidelines, and customer requirements.
• Manage multiple packaging projects and SKUs simultaneously while meeting project timelines and production deadlines.
• Partner with Product Development, Merchandising, Production, and Sourcing internally, and with vendors, suppliers, and overseas factories externally, to communicate artwork requirements and resolve design and production issues.
• Review factory proofs, color proofs, and pre-production samples, providing detailed corrections and approvals, and conduct prepress checks to catch artwork issues before files are released to production.
• Ensure packaging artwork accurately reflects product information, dimensions, copy, logos, barcodes, regulatory requirements, and other specifications.
• Manage artwork revisions and maintain accurate file organization, naming conventions, and version control.
• Develop packaging mockups, presentations, and visual concepts for internal reviews and customer presentations.
• Assist with color, print, material, and finishing specifications, and stay current on packaging materials, printing techniques, and consumer-product trends, incorporating relevant developments into design work.
• Help establish and maintain packaging design standards, templates, and best practices.
• Support the Sr. Director of Packaging with special projects and department initiatives, and perform other design and packaging-related responsibilities as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Communication Design, or a related field preferred.
• 3-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with significant experience in packaging, consumer products, retail, or print production.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating packaging design, branding, and production experience.
• Strong understanding of typography, layout, color, imagery, composition, and visual hierarchy.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to identify potential production issues before they reach the factory.
• Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and SKU revisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams, vendors, suppliers, and overseas manufacturing partners.
• Strong problem-solving skills, a proactive approach to improving processes, and the ability to take ownership of projects and drive them through completion.
• Experience with retail packaging, private-label products, or consumer goods strongly preferred.
• Experience mentoring or providing creative direction to junior designers is a plus.

Technical Skills

Required:

• Adobe Illustrator (expert level)
• Adobe Photoshop (expert level)
• Advanced packaging/dieline experience
• Strong print production and prepress knowledge
• Color management, CMYK, and Pantone
• Production-ready mechanical artwork
• Packaging proofing and quality control

Preferred:

• Adobe InDesign
• Adobe Acrobat
• 3D packaging visualization and rendering software
• Experience with AI-assisted design and visualization tools

• Barcode/UPC and retail packaging requirements

What We're Looking For

We're looking for a designer who takes ownership of projects rather than simply executing assigned artwork - developing concepts, presenting solutions, working through revisions with vendors and factories, and ensuring final artwork is accurate and production-ready. You should understand how design, packaging structure, materials, printing, cost, and retail requirements affect one another.

This position provides an opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the visual identity and packaging of a growing consumer-products business while working across a broad range of products, retail channels, suppliers, and packaging formats.

A portfolio demonstrating graphic design and/or packaging work is required. Packaging, branding, print, retail, consumer product, or production-related projects are strongly preferred.