Graphic Designer & Illustrator

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer & Illustrator

Company: TAAC Group (Smard Art)

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: May 28, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This is a high-output, hands-on role focused on producing compelling original artwork and sharp commercial design for a leading Black Art retail company.

• The position requires a blend of strong illustration skills and commercial design sensibility, applicable across both print and digital formats.

• Responsibilities include direct involvement in product design, brand visuals, marketing materials, and content creation for various sales channels, including D2C and major wholesale partners.

• The role demands meticulous attention to detail in file preparation, color profiles, and production specifications for print output, ensuring consistent visual quality across all product lines and brand touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer & Illustrator," the description emphasizes a strong need for illustration skills ("Strong illustrators with a commercial design sensibility are especially encouraged to apply") and direct product design, indicating a specialized role within the broader design field, potentially bridging creative art with commercial application. The "Operations" category is inferred from the need for process management, file preparation, and collaboration with marketing and sales channels, aligning with GTM operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Product & Print Design:

  • Design original poster and print artwork tailored for retail and direct-to-consumer (D2C) sales channels.
  • Conceptualize and develop product designs from initial brief through to the creation of print-ready files.
  • Ensure consistent visual quality and aesthetic adherence across diverse product lines.
  • Manage the meticulous preparation of files, including correct color profiles and production specifications, for various print outputs.

• Brand & Marketing Visuals:

  • Create engaging visual assets specifically for social media platforms, including TikTok Shop, Instagram, and LinkedIn, to drive engagement and sales.
  • Develop compelling graphics for marketing campaigns, promotional banners, and product launch announcements to support Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies.
  • Contribute to the development and enforcement of brand guidelines and visual standards to maintain a cohesive brand identity across all communications.
  • Collaborate closely with the marketing and sales teams to ensure design output aligns with campaign objectives and GTM strategies.

• Illustration & Original Artwork:

  • Produce unique and impactful illustrations for new product collections, brand storytelling, and marketing collateral.

  • Utilize both digital and traditional mediums as dictated by project briefs and creative vision.

  • Provide creative direction and contribute innovative ideas for new product concepts and seasonal collections, influencing the product roadmap.

  • Develop versatile visual concepts that effectively translate across both print and digital formats to maximize reach and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are structured to highlight distinct areas of design application, from product creation to marketing support, emphasizing the end-to-end design process. The inclusion of D2C channels, wholesale partners, and GTM strategies indicates a strong link to revenue generation and sales operations support.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 2-5 years of professional experience in graphic design and illustration, with a proven track record in creating both original artwork and commercial designs.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite, with a strong emphasis on Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop.

• Illustration Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create original, compelling illustrations across various styles and mediums.

• Print Design & Production: Solid understanding of print design principles, including color profiles (CMYK, Pantone), resolution, bleeds, and preparing files for professional printing.

• Digital Design Skills: Experience in creating assets for digital platforms, including social media graphics, web banners, and potentially basic motion graphics.

• Brand Visual Development: Ability to interpret and apply brand guidelines consistently across diverse design projects.

• Project Management Tool Proficiency: Experience with project management software such as Trello and Asana for task tracking, workflow management, and deadline adherence.

• Organizational & Time Management: Exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent projects, prioritize tasks effectively, and meet tight deadlines in a high-volume environment.

• Communication Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication abilities, facilitating clear collaboration with creative and non-creative stakeholders.

Preferred Skills:

• Adobe InDesign Proficiency: Experience with InDesign for layout design, particularly for print collateral like catalogs or lookbooks.

• E-commerce Design Experience: Familiarity with design principles specific to D2C and e-commerce platforms, including visual merchandising and conversion optimization.

• Social Media Content Creation: Specific experience designing engaging content for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn, understanding their unique visual requirements.

• Understanding of Retail Product Development: Familiarity with the process of taking a product concept from brief to a final, manufacturable design.

• Color Theory & Application: Advanced understanding of color psychology and its application in design to evoke specific emotions and brand perceptions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The qualifications blend essential technical skills with crucial soft skills like organization, communication, and adaptability, which are critical for operations roles. The emphasis on "high-output" and "multiple projects and deadlines" directly relates to the operational efficiency expected in this role.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Illustration Skill: A significant portion of the portfolio should showcase original illustration work, highlighting versatility in style and subject matter relevant to art and lifestyle products.

• Commercial Design Application: Include examples of designs created for commercial purposes, such as product packaging, marketing collateral, or social media campaigns, demonstrating an understanding of brand messaging and target audience.

• Print-Ready File Examples: If possible, showcase examples of projects where you were responsible for final file preparation for print, indicating attention to detail regarding technical specifications.

• Process & Workflow Examples: Highlight projects that demonstrate your ability to manage the design process from concept initiation to final delivery, including any collaboration or feedback loops involved.

• Brand Consistency: Examples that illustrate how you maintained brand consistency across multiple touchpoints or campaigns.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Showcase how you approach the design process, from understanding a brief to concept development, iteration, and final execution.

• File Management & Organization: Demonstrate an understanding of organized file naming conventions, folder structures, and version control for design assets.

• Collaboration & Feedback Integration: Provide examples of how you have incorporated feedback from stakeholders into your design work and collaborated effectively with teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are tailored to show not just creative output but also the candidate's ability to manage the design process efficiently and professionally, aligning with operational expectations for structured workflows and quality control.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• Retirement Savings Plan: 401(k) or similar plan, potentially with company matching.

• Employee Discount: Discount on Smard Art products.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for workshops, training, and conferences to enhance design and illustration skills.

• Creative Environment: Work in a dynamic and inspiring environment focused on art and culture.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours, estimated at 40 hours per week. The role is on-site, requiring consistent presence during business hours. Flexibility may be offered for specific project needs, but the core expectation is adherence to a regular work schedule to ensure consistent output and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimates are based on industry benchmarks for mid-level graphic designers/illustrators in a major metropolitan area like Atlanta, factoring in the company's focus on a niche market (Black Art) and its retail presence. Benefits are generalized for full-time positions in the US.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

• Art & Retail (Specialty - Black Art): TAAC Group, operating as Smard Art, is a global leader in Black Art retail. This niche focus means the company operates at the intersection of cultural significance, artistic expression, and commercial enterprise. The operations within this industry require a deep understanding of both artistic integrity and market demands, often involving direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce and strategic wholesale partnerships.

Company Size:

Founded:

Team Structure:

• Design Team: This role likely sits within a dedicated creative or design department, working alongside other designers, illustrators, and potentially marketing support staff.

• Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer & Illustrator will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Manager, or Head of Marketing, depending on the company's organizational hierarchy.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: Close collaboration with marketing, product development, sales, and potentially e-commerce operations teams is essential to ensure design output aligns with business objectives and GTM strategies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While creative, the role requires an understanding of how design impacts sales and brand perception, suggesting a data-informed approach to asset creation and campaign visuals. This involves analyzing performance metrics to refine future designs.

• Agile Workflow: Given the "high-output" nature and need to adapt to changing project needs, an agile or iterative design process is likely employed, with regular check-ins and feedback loops.

• Brand Consistency & Quality Control: A rigorous process for maintaining brand standards and ensuring high-quality output across all design deliverables is crucial.

Company Website:

• https://taacgroup.com/ (Inferred from domain, actual company site may vary)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context highlights the unique blend of art, culture, and commerce, which informs the operational demands on creative roles. The need for both artistic vision and commercial acumen is a key differentiator.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in illustration styles, product design for specific categories, or digital marketing design.

• Leadership: Potential to grow into a Senior Designer or