Production Artist

Design Partners; Racine (WI); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Design Partners is seeking an experienced Production Artist to work on brand, packaging, merchandising, and digital projects. You will spot production issues early, ensure files are print-ready, and balance creative execution with technical accuracy.

You’ll collaborate with designers and printers, manage dieline specifications, and maintain meticulous file quality while meeting project timelines. A strong pre-press background and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite are essential.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in pre-press as a Production Artist.
• Strong pre-press and production troubleshooting skills.
• Proficiency with dielines and multi-SKU packaging.

Responsibilities

• Prepare print-ready files for various printing processes.
• Apply knowledge of offset, lithography, digital, gravure, screen and flexo printing processes.

Skills

Pre-press

Dielines

Adobe Creative Suite

Education

Graphic design degree

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

Great creative needs great execution. That’s where you come in!

Design Partners is seeking an experienced Production Artist, who is an expert in creative execution to work on a wide range of brand, packaging, merchandising, and digital projects.

If you know your way around a dieline, pride yourself on spotting production issues before they become problems, and appreciate both great design and a perfectly built file, we should talk!

Who we are

We are Design Partners. And partnership is more than just in our name. It’s our brand, our philosophy, and how we’ve done business for more than 40 years. Collaboration and focused results are at our core. We are committed to our clients' success and truly believe their wins are our wins too.

We’re serious about great work, but we also believe the best work happens when people genuinely enjoy working together. At Design Partners, collaboration comes naturally, ideas get freely shared, and there’s always room for a little fun along the way. Case in point: we have a Pickle Club. Yes, really. No, not pickleball, actual pickles. And that probably tells you more about our culture than a list of buzzwords ever could.

Who you are

To start, you’re equal parts creative thinker and technical problem-solver.

You’re a motivated self-starter with solid pre-press know-how. You are committed to driving results for our clients and are someone who enjoys being part of an energetic, inspired team.

What you’ll do

• Prepare print-ready files for various types of printing processes
• Apply technical know-how of various printing processes (offset, lithography, digital, gravure, screen and flexo)
• Possess technical knowledge of color processes (CMYK, spot color and extended gamut)
• Preflight and proof check files (check for missing fonts, low-resolution images, incorrect formats, etc)
• Understand dieline specifications and best practices for extending multi-SKU lines
• Combine creative and technical expertise to produce a finished product that meets brand goals
• Maintain exceptional attention to detail & superior organizational skills to ensure file accuracy and quality
• Collaborate with graphic designers (internal and agency partners) to execute final creative vision
• Image management including retouching, clipping paths, additional image manipulation like adjusting color balance, size, and resolution, ensuring the highest possible quality for the destination
• Follow development timelines to ensure tasks and projects are completed on time
• Multi-task and manage shifting priorities with minimal guidance
• Troubleshoot production challenges with designers and printers to find solutions
• Take ownership of the accuracy and quality of files
• Work proficiently in tools of the trade, including the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign and Acrobat)
• Collect and prepare files for handoff: packaging and pre-flight files for release as well as proof graphic files from printers (if necessary)
• Conduct press checks when and if necessary

Experience and Skills

5+ years of experience in pre-press as a Production Artist

We’re looking for someone who can step into complex production work with confidence while still being curious, collaborative, and willing to learn.

It’s a PLUS if you have additional knowledge of:

• FDA food label and regulatory requirements
• Esko 3D software
• A degree in a graphic design or related field

Why Design Partners?

Our service integrity has been at the core of our success for over 40 years. We combine smart strategic thinking with true creative delivery.

We offer a comprehensive benefits package and salary commensurate with experience. Just as important, we’ve built a place where talented people collaborate, support each other, and have some fun while working on world-class brands.