Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Little Spoon

Location: United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-27

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative excellence across packaging, marketing communications, and advertising channels, ensuring brand consistency and visual impact.

• Concept and execute engaging visuals for packaging, digital media, print advertising, social media, and direct mail campaigns.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Senior Art Directors, Senior Designers, Marketing, and UX/UI teams to bring brand initiatives to life.

• Leverage AI tools to enhance design quality, accelerate post-launch analysis, and identify efficiencies in campaign execution and optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this role is for a Graphic Designer, the emphasis on driving creative excellence across marketing channels, supporting brand campaigns, and leveraging AI tools for efficiency and analysis positions it closely to Marketing Operations functions. The responsibility to maintain visual identity systems and act as a creative partner to UX/UI also suggests a need for a strong understanding of GTM strategies and user-centric design principles.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with the Senior Art Director, Senior Designer, and Marketing team to conceptualize and execute compelling visual assets across various platforms.

• Develop best-in-class packaging designs for new product launches and line extensions, ensuring alignment with brand identity and market appeal.

• Create eye-catching print and digital advertising materials, including paid and organic social media content, direct mail pieces, and activation/event creative.

• Maintain and evolve visual identity systems to ensure consistent brand representation across all customer touchpoints, from product packaging to digital interfaces.

• Partner with the in-house UX/UI team on digital projects, contributing design expertise to enhance user experience and interface design.

• Manage and mentor a junior designer, providing guidance and fostering their creative development and contribution to team projects.

• Seamlessly transition between digital and print design projects, adapting creative approaches to suit different media and production requirements.

• Utilize AI tools to augment the design process, improving efficiency, personalization, and data-driven insights for campaign optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Manage a junior designer" suggests a potential for team leadership or a senior individual contributor role with mentoring duties, which is a significant aspect of career progression in design and operations. The mention of AI tools indicates a forward-thinking approach to design processes, aligning with modern operations efficiency drivers.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this caliber.

Experience: 5+ years of professional design experience with a demonstrated focus on packaging, advertising, and brand identity development across both print and digital mediums.

Required Skills:

• Mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma for design execution and collaboration.

• Exceptional typography, color theory, and layout design skills, with a keen eye for visual hierarchy and aesthetic appeal.

• Strong mockup and prototyping abilities, from initial concept generation through to final print-ready files and digital renders.

• Proven experience in photo retouching and developing compelling visual narratives.

• Expertise in packaging design, including a thorough understanding of print production processes and mechanical file preparation.

• Demonstrated ability to present creative concepts and rationale effectively to stakeholders, incorporating feedback constructively.

• Proficiency in leveraging AI tools to enhance design quality, speed, and efficiency.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving work environment as a self-starter.

• Strong collaborative spirit, openness to feedback, and a proactive approach to creative challenges. Preferred Skills:

• A strong, well-defined creative point of view (POV) that balances boundary-pushing innovation with brand integrity.

• Proven ability to deepen and expand brand identity systems, establishing clear creative guidelines for high-impact design execution.

• Experience with emerging food brands or the CPG industry, demonstrating an understanding of market nuances and consumer engagement strategies.

• A genuine passion for food and its cultural significance, which can inform creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement to leverage AI tools is a critical modern skill for operations and design roles, indicating a need for candidates who are adaptable and embrace technological advancements to improve workflow and output. The emphasis on presenting creative work and a strong POV suggests a role that requires not just execution but also strategic thinking and communication.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing impactful brand identity development and a strategic approach to design.

• Specific case studies demonstrating expertise in packaging design, highlighting the design process from concept to final production.

• Examples of advertising creative across print and digital channels, illustrating campaign effectiveness and visual storytelling.

• Social-first design examples that demonstrate an understanding of platform-specific content creation and engagement strategies.

• Evidence of maintaining visual consistency and applying brand guidelines across diverse touchpoints. Process Documentation:

• Showcase a structured approach to the design process, from initial brief and concept ideation to final asset delivery.

• Demonstrate how you manage project workflows, including time management, feedback integration, and revision cycles.

• Illustrate your experience with print production workflows, including pre-press checks and file preparation.

• Highlight how you use tools and systems (e.g., Adobe Suite, Figma, AI tools) to streamline your design process and ensure efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role with operations-adjacent responsibilities, a portfolio is crucial. It should not only display creative output but also the strategic thinking, process management, and problem-solving skills that are vital for operations professionals. Demonstrating the ability to translate creative vision into tangible, efficient processes is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The anticipated base salary range for NYC-based candidates is $80,000–$90,000 USD per year, commensurate with experience. Candidates outside of NYC or in remote roles may be subject to a different range.

Benefits:

• Equity: All full-time salaried employees are granted stock options, sharing in the company's success.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Medical, dental, and vision plans are offered with a variety of options.

• 401(k) with Company Match: The company matches 100% of contributions up to 5% of salary, with no waiting period.

• Flexible PTO + Holidays: In addition to 11 company holidays, full-time employees receive flexible paid time off with no set cap.

• Paid Parental Leave: At least 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents (up to 18 weeks for birthing parents), available after 6 months of employment.

• Learning & Development: A $250 quarterly stipend for professional growth, including coaching, courses, or books.

• Little Spoon Perks: Includes a $200 Welcome to the Team credit, a 50% off recurring code for personal use, and a 20% off recurring code for friends and family.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are aligned with a full-time position, typically 40 hours per week, with an emphasis on flexibility within the on-site environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to NYC, and the note about potential variations for other locations is important. The benefits package is robust and includes elements like equity and a learning stipend, which are attractive to professionals seeking long-term growth and development opportunities. The inclusion of AI tools in the job description suggests that efficiency and process optimization are valued, which aligns with operations principles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (CPG - Consumer Packaged Goods), specifically focusing on fresh, convenient meals for babies and children. Little Spoon operates at the intersection of e-commerce, direct-to-consumer (DTC) delivery, and health/wellness.

Company Size: Little Spoon is a rapidly growing company, indicated by its inclusion in Inc. 100 Fastest Growing Companies. This suggests a dynamic, fast-paced environment with increasing operational complexity and opportunities for impact.

Founded: Founded to address the needs of modern parents seeking healthier and more convenient food options for their children, from infancy through the "big kid" years. This mission-driven approach likely shapes the company culture towards innovation, customer focus, and a shared purpose.

Team Structure:

• The design team likely operates within or in close partnership with the Marketing department, collaborating with Senior Art Directors and the broader Marketing team.

• There's a clear reporting structure for the Graphic Designer, with close collaboration with the Senior Art Director and Senior Designer, and potential to manage a junior designer.

• Cross-functional collaboration is emphasized, with expected partnerships with Marketing, UX/UI, and potentially Product Development teams. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is implied through the mention of "accelerate post-launch analysis" and "identify efficiencies," suggesting a culture that values measurable outcomes.

• Workflow optimization is a key theme, with an expectation to "accelerate... and identify efficiencies in how programs are built, executed, and optimized" using AI tools.

• Innovation and creativity are paramount, as evidenced by the focus on "creative excellence," "scroll-stopping visuals," and pushing creative boundaries.

Company Website: https://www.littlespoon.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Little Spoon's rapid growth and mission-driven nature suggest a culture that is both ambitious and purpose-oriented. For operations professionals, this means an environment that values efficiency, innovation, and a strong understanding of the customer journey, particularly within the CPG and DTC space. The emphasis on AI tools indicates a commitment to leveraging technology for operational advantage.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role represents a mid-to-senior level Graphic Designer position. It involves not just execution but also strategic input, brand stewardship, stakeholder management, and potential leadership through mentoring a junior designer. The expectation to leverage AI tools and drive creative excellence positions it as a role that contributes significantly to GTM strategy execution.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to the Senior Art Director and works closely with the Senior Designer and Marketing team. This structure provides mentorship and clear direction while allowing for significant creative autonomy.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts brand perception, customer engagement, and sales conversion through compelling packaging and marketing collateral. By ensuring brand consistency and creating effective visuals, they contribute to the overall success of marketing campaigns and product launches, thereby influencing revenue and market share.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: The opportunity to manage a junior designer provides a pathway into team leadership and people management.

• Skill Specialization & Expansion: Deepen expertise in packaging design and advertising, while also gaining exposure to UX/UI collaboration and potentially leading creative for new initiatives. The integration of AI tools offers a chance to become proficient in cutting-edge design technologies.

• Career Progression: Potential to advance to Senior Designer, Art Director, or even creative lead roles within Little Spoon as the company continues its rapid growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations-minded candidates, understanding the impact of design on business metrics (sales, brand loyalty, customer acquisition cost) is key. The growth opportunities highlight a path for individuals who can demonstrate not only creative talent but also process ownership and strategic thinking relevant to GTM operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "On-site," indicating a preference for a physical office environment where in-person collaboration and team interaction can occur. This is common for roles requiring hands-on creative work and team synergy.

Office Location(s): While the primary location is listed as "United States," the salary range provided specifically for NYC-based candidates suggests that New York City is a primary hub for this role.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is designed to foster collaboration, with close proximity to the Senior Art Director, Senior Designer, and Marketing team.

• Access to necessary design tools and technology, including the Adobe Suite, Figma, and potentially AI-powered design platforms, is assumed.

• Opportunities for regular interaction with various creative and marketing professionals will facilitate knowledge sharing and cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule is expected (approximately 40 hours per week). While the role is on-site, the company culture, as evidenced by "Flexible PTO," suggests a balance between dedicated work time and personal well-being.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, understanding the physical work environment is important for assessing collaboration dynamics and workflow efficiency. An on-site role often implies greater immediacy in team communication and problem-solving, which can be beneficial for fast-paced projects.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of your resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: A key stage will be presenting your portfolio, showcasing specific projects that align with Little Spoon's needs in packaging, advertising, and brand identity. Be prepared to discuss your design process, strategic thinking, and the impact of your work.

• Creative Challenge: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or case study, potentially simulating a real-world project to assess your problem-solving skills, creativity, and ability to work under pressure. This could involve conceptualizing visuals for a new product or campaign.

• Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Senior Art Director, Marketing team members, and potentially other cross-functional leads to evaluate your collaboration style, communication skills, and cultural fit within the "Spooniverse."

• Final Interview: May involve discussions with senior leadership to assess strategic alignment and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills in packaging design, advertising, brand identity, and digital/social media.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your design process, the challenges you faced, your solutions, and the measurable results or impact (e.g., increased engagement, successful launch).

• Highlight Brand Thinking: Emphasize how you understood and applied brand guidelines, or how you developed new brand elements. Showcase your ability to maintain consistency.

• Showcase Process & Tools: Briefly explain the tools you used (Adobe Suite, Figma, AI tools) and your workflow, especially if you can demonstrate efficiency gains.

• Prepare for Questions: Anticipate questions about your creative choices, how you handle feedback, your experience with AI tools, and your passion for CPG/food.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Little Spoon's brand, its mission, target audience, and current marketing efforts.

• Think Strategically: For any design challenge, focus not just on aesthetics but on how the design serves the business objective (e.g., driving trial, increasing brand awareness, communicating product benefits).

• Emphasize Efficiency: If the challenge involves speed or optimization, highlight how you would leverage tools (including AI) to achieve results efficiently.

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse articulating your ideas clearly and concisely, as if presenting to stakeholders who may not have a design background.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on AI tools and driving efficiencies in the job description means candidates should be prepared to discuss how they integrate these into their workflow during interviews and portfolio reviews. Demonstrating an understanding of how design impacts business operations and GTM strategy will be a significant advantage.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Proficiency is a must for creating and refining visual assets.

• Figma: Required for collaborative design, prototyping, and UI/UX-related projects. Demonstrates capability in modern design workflows.

• AI Design Tools: Explicitly mentioned as being leveraged to "elevate the quality and speed of your work," "enhance personalization," and "accelerate post-launch analysis." This indicates a need for familiarity with tools like Adobe Sensei, Midjourney, DALL-E, or similar AI-powered design assistants.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a design tool, an understanding of how design impacts marketing analytics (e.g., conversion rates, engagement metrics on social media) is implied by the mention of "accelerate post-launch analysis." Familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics dashboards) could be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned for this design role, but an awareness of how marketing automation platforms are used to deploy creative assets and track campaign performance would be advantageous for understanding the broader GTM ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of AI tools is a critical differentiator. Candidates should be prepared to discuss specific AI platforms they use and how they integrate them into their design process for efficiency and enhanced outcomes. This aligns with the broader trend of operations roles leveraging technology for optimization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creative Excellence: A core value driving the pursuit of high-quality, impactful designs that resonate with the target audience.

• Brand Stewardship: Dedication to maintaining and evolving a strong, consistent brand identity across all touchpoints.

• Data-Driven Efficiency: Utilizing AI and analytical insights to optimize design processes, improve campaign performance, and achieve measurable results.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A strong emphasis on working together, sharing feedback constructively, and supporting team members.

• Passion for Mission: A shared enthusiasm for Little Spoon's mission to make parents' lives easier and kids healthier, reflected in creative output.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Active partnership with Marketing, Art Direction, and UX/UI teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and user experience.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: An environment where creative work is shared and refined through constructive feedback from peers and stakeholders.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the exchange of ideas, best practices, and learnings, particularly concerning new technologies like AI in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: For operations professionals, understanding the company's values and collaboration style is key to assessing cultural fit. Little Spoon's values emphasize a blend of creativity, strategic thinking, and efficiency, which are all critical in GTM and RevOps environments.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Pace of a High-Growth CPG Brand: Adapting to a fast-paced environment with frequent new product launches and evolving marketing campaigns requires agility and efficient workflow management.

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining a cohesive brand identity while continuously pushing creative boundaries to stand out in a competitive market.

• Integrating AI Tools Effectively: Learning and implementing new AI technologies to enhance design output and efficiency, requiring continuous learning and adaptation.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Effectively translating creative vision and technical requirements to non-design stakeholders and vice-versa.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design & AI Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in packaging, advertising, and specifically in leveraging AI tools for creative acceleration and analysis.

• Mentorship and Leadership: Guidance from senior creative leaders and the chance to develop leadership skills by mentoring a junior designer.

• Industry Exposure: Working within the dynamic CPG and DTC food industry, gaining insights into market trends, consumer behavior, and successful brand building strategies.

• Professional Development Stipend: A dedicated budget ($250/quarter) for courses, coaching, or resources to support ongoing professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight areas where operational skills like process optimization, time management, and strategic problem-solving are highly valued. The growth opportunities emphasize continuous learning and skill development, which are crucial for staying relevant in evolving fields like design and operations.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing packaging for a new line of toddler snacks, ensuring it appeals to both parents and children while maintaining our brand's established visual identity?" (Focus on process, market understanding, and brand application.)

• "Describe a time you used AI tools to improve the efficiency or quality of a design project. What was the outcome?" (Assess familiarity and practical application of AI in design.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across various marketing channels, from print ads to social media graphics? Walk us through your process." (Evaluate understanding of brand stewardship and workflow management.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about Little Spoon's mission and our brand? How do you see your design work contributing to it?" (Gauge passion and alignment with company values.)

• "Describe your experience working in a fast-paced, ever-evolving environment. How do you prioritize and manage your workload?" (Assess adaptability and operational efficiency.)

• "How do you approach receiving and incorporating feedback on your creative work, especially from non-design stakeholders?" (Evaluate collaboration and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a brief overview of your career and design philosophy. For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the problem, your solution (design choices and process), and the results.

• Quantify Where Possible: If you have data (e.g., engagement rates, conversion metrics, positive stakeholder feedback), present it to demonstrate the impact of your design work.

• Highlight AI Integration: If any portfolio pieces showcase the use of AI tools, be ready to discuss them in detail, explaining how they contributed to the project's success.

• Showcase Brand Thinking: Emphasize your understanding of brand guidelines and how you applied them consistently. If you developed brand elements, explain your rationale.

• Engage and Discuss: Be prepared for interactive discussion. Treat it as a collaborative conversation about design challenges and solutions, rather than a one-way presentation.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation for this role should emphasize not just creative skills but also an understanding of business objectives, efficiency through technology (AI), and strong cross-functional communication, all hallmarks of effective operations professionals.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating expertise in packaging design, advertising creative, and brand identity development. Specifically showcase examples that align with a CPG brand like Little Spoon and mention any experience with AI tools.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly articulates your 5+ years of experience, your proficiency with Adobe Suite and Figma, and any experience managing junior team members or working in fast-paced environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice presenting your portfolio, focusing on your design process, strategic thinking, and how you leverage tools (including AI) for efficiency and impact. Prepare to discuss your understanding of brand consistency and your passion for Little Spoon's mission.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research Little Spoon's brand, products, recent news, and company culture. Understand their target audience and competitive landscape to inform your application and interview responses.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.