Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Spot & Tango

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-08-06T18:45:57

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

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is centered on developing and executing creative design solutions across a variety of customer touchpoints for a direct-to-consumer (DTC) pet health and wellness brand.

• The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in shaping the brand's visual identity, ensuring consistency and impact across both digital and print mediums, with a strong emphasis on performance marketing and customer acquisition/retention strategies.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams including marketing, product, and engineering partners will be a daily activity, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate business goals into compelling visual designs.

• A key aspect of this position involves contributing to the evolution and maintenance of brand systems, including design libraries and asset organization, to support an agile and fast-moving startup environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is specifically tailored for a hybrid model in New York City, requiring 3 days in-office presence, indicating a need for local candidates or those willing to relocate. The emphasis on "performance and brand advertising" and "customer acquisition and retention" points to a strong need for designers who understand the business impact of their creative output, particularly within an e-commerce/subscription model.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute a wide range of graphic design assets for both digital and print platforms, encompassing performance and brand advertising, packaging, marketing collateral, social media content, blog graphics, landing pages, email and SMS campaigns, and other marketing materials.

• Collaborate closely with Creative Directors, fellow designers, product managers, marketing specialists, and engineering teams to ensure design solutions align with project objectives and brand guidelines.

• Develop designs with a strategic focus on customer acquisition and retention, understanding the subscription business model and creating visuals that drive engagement and conversion.

• Apply a strong understanding of fundamental design principles, including color theory, typography, visual hierarchy, and layout, to produce aesthetically pleasing and effective designs.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of brand systems, including maintaining Figma libraries, creating deck templates, and organizing digital assets for efficient team access.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, ensuring timely delivery, organized file management, and clear communication of project status to stakeholders.

• Participate in art direction and creative production tasks, contributing to the overall visual strategy and execution of creative campaigns.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a versatile designer who can handle a broad spectrum of design tasks, from high-level brand strategy to detailed execution of performance marketing assets. The mention of "evolving brand systems and workflows" implies an opportunity to influence and improve design processes within the company.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for this level of professional experience.

Experience: 3+ years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrable portfolio showcasing successful branding, digital, and print design projects that are both playful and refined.

Required Skills:

• Proven expertise in graphic design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating a blend of branding, digital, and print work.

• Advanced proficiency in design software, including Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.

• Extensive experience in digital design, including performance and brand advertising, organic social media content, email marketing graphics, blog visuals, landing page design, and general marketing collateral.

• Experience with physical design elements such as packaging and marketing collateral.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and decisions clearly to diverse stakeholders.

• A proactive and curious mindset, with a continuous drive to enhance design craft and optimize design processes.

• Self-motivated, highly organized, and comfortable operating within an agile, fast-paced startup environment.

• Ability to work effectively in a hybrid model, with a requirement to be in the New York City Metropolitan Area. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience working with e-commerce or Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands.

• Experience with illustration, particularly crafting simple doodles or supporting graphic elements.

• Familiarity with video editing and animation software such as Adobe AfterEffects or Adobe Premiere Pro.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3+ years of experience, coupled with the need for proficiency in specific design tools like Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite, positions this role for a mid-level to senior designer. The emphasis on a "playful but also refined" portfolio suggests a brand that values creativity and personality alongside professional execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio is critical, showcasing a minimum of 3 years of professional design work.

• The portfolio must demonstrate a strong ability to create both playful and refined designs across branding, digital, and print mediums.

• Specific examples of digital design work, including performance ads, social content, email graphics, and landing pages, are essential.

• Include case studies or examples of packaging and other physical marketing collateral design.

• Evidence of contributing to or managing brand systems, such as style guides or design libraries, is highly valued. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate understanding of design workflows from concept to final execution, particularly in a fast-paced startup setting.

• Provide examples of how you have organized and managed design files and assets for team accessibility.

• Showcase an ability to iterate on designs based on feedback and business objectives, reflecting an agile design process.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on a DTC e-commerce brand and performance marketing, candidates should highlight projects that show a clear understanding of customer acquisition and retention goals. Demonstrating experience with Figma is particularly important, as it's listed as a primary tool.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Based on industry benchmarks for a Graphic Designer with 3+ years of experience in New York City, the estimated salary range for this position is approximately $70,000 - $95,000 annually. This estimate considers the cost of living in NYC, the hybrid work model, and the specific requirements of a DTC e-commerce startup environment.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Paid Time Off (PTO) and company holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development and continuing education in design and related fields.

• Employee discounts on Spot & Tango products.

• A dynamic and engaging work environment with opportunities to interact with dogs.

• Potential for stock options or equity in a high-growth startup. Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, estimated at 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work arrangement requiring 3 days per week in the Midtown Manhattan office (Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays).

• Occasional flexibility may be required for photo/video shoots or project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on typical compensation for Graphic Designers in the New York City metropolitan area with 3-5 years of experience, considering the startup environment. Actual compensation will be determined by experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation. The benefits listed are common for full-time roles in tech/e-commerce startups.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pet Health & Wellness, E-commerce, DTC Subscription Services. Spot & Tango operates in a rapidly growing market driven by increased pet ownership and a focus on pet well-being, leveraging technology to deliver personalized products.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the mention of being "VC-backed, high-growth e-commerce startup" and having a "tight-knit group of creatives and marketers" suggests a company size likely in the range of 50-200 employees, indicating a dynamic and potentially fast-paced operational environment.

Founded: Founded with a mission to improve pet health through personalized nutrition, Spot & Tango has established itself as an innovative player in the pet care industry. The company's founding principles likely revolve around science-backed nutrition, convenience, and a passion for pets.

Team Structure:

• The graphic designer will be part of the creative team, reporting directly to the Creative Director.

• This team is described as "tight-knit," implying close collaboration and a supportive atmosphere.

• The role will involve day-to-day work with other creatives and marketers, suggesting a cross-functional and collaborative team structure. Methodology:

• The company emphasizes a data-driven approach to customer acquisition and retention, meaning designs should be informed by performance metrics and business goals.

• Workflows are described as agile and fast-moving, typical of a startup environment, requiring adaptability and efficiency.

• There's an emphasis on evolving brand systems and workflows, suggesting a continuous improvement mindset within the creative department.

Company Website: http://www.spotandtango.com

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is likely to be energetic and mission-driven, centered around improving pet lives. The "startup" environment implies a need for individuals who are adaptable, proactive, and comfortable with ambiguity, while the "pet lovers strongly encouraged" aspect suggests a passion-oriented workplace.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Senior Graphic Designer, indicating a level of autonomy and responsibility beyond entry-level positions. The designer is expected to contribute significantly to visual strategy and execution, taking projects from concept to completion with minimal supervision.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports directly to the Creative Director. This structure provides clear leadership and mentorship opportunities, while also allowing for direct contribution to strategic creative decisions.

Operations Impact: As a key member of the creative team in a DTC e-commerce business, the Graphic Designer's work directly impacts customer acquisition, brand perception, and customer retention. High-quality, strategic design is crucial for driving sales, building brand loyalty, and differentiating Spot & Tango in a competitive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific design areas such as digital advertising, packaging design, or brand system development.

• Art Direction & Creative Production: Potential to grow into more senior roles involving art direction, creative strategy, and managing external vendors or agencies.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: As the company grows, there may be opportunities to lead design initiatives for specific product lines or marketing campaigns, fostering leadership skills.

• Industry Exposure: Gaining valuable experience in the high-growth pet industry and e-commerce/DTC sector, which is highly sought after.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "senior-level" designation for the Graphic Designer suggests that candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience in leading projects, mentoring junior designers (if applicable), and contributing to strategic creative discussions, not just execution. The growth opportunities are framed within the context of a scaling startup, emphasizing adaptability and expanded responsibility.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work environment. The company has a physical office in Midtown Manhattan, requiring in-office presence on specific days.

Office Location(s): Midtown Manhattan, New York City. This central location offers accessibility via public transportation for employees in the NYC Metropolitan Area.

Workspace Context:

• The role is part of a "tight-knit group of creatives and marketers," suggesting a collaborative and communicative workspace where ideas are shared freely.

• The hybrid model allows for a balance of focused individual work at home and collaborative, in-person interaction at the office.

• The office environment may include opportunities for direct interaction with dogs, as mentioned in the job description, creating a unique and potentially fun atmosphere for pet lovers. Work Schedule:

• The standard work schedule is full-time, estimated at 40 hours per week.

• Hybrid work requires presence in the office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

• Flexibility may be needed for occasional attendance at photo and video shoots.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid setup with specific in-office days implies a need for strong time management and the ability to transition effectively between remote and in-office work. The mention of dogs in the office is a significant cultural differentiator that could appeal to specific candidates.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and design aesthetic.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, detailing specific projects, your role, design process, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to discuss how your designs align with business goals.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: Potentially a design challenge or case study exercise, either assigned beforehand or completed during an interview, to evaluate your problem-solving skills, design thinking, and proficiency with required tools (e.g., Figma).

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with the Creative Director, other members of the creative team, and potentially marketing stakeholders to assess cultural fit, communication style, and collaborative abilities.

• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with senior leadership or HR to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best represent the requirements of this role (branding, digital ads, packaging, DTC experience).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, your creative decisions (why you chose certain colors, typography, layouts), and the results or impact achieved. Quantify results whenever possible.

• Highlight Tool Proficiency: Explicitly mention and demonstrate your skills with Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign within your case studies.

• Showcase Brand Understanding: For projects relevant to DTC or e-commerce, explain how your designs supported customer acquisition or retention.

• Address "Playful but Refined": Ensure your portfolio includes examples that demonstrate both aspects, showcasing your versatility.

Challenge Preparation:

• Figma Proficiency: If a design challenge is given, expect it to heavily involve Figma. Be ready to create layouts, components, and potentially prototypes.

• Strategic Thinking: Prepare to explain the "why" behind your design choices, linking them to business objectives such as engagement, conversion, or brand perception.

• Agile Mindset: Be ready to discuss how you handle feedback, iterate quickly, and manage multiple projects under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily weigh the portfolio. Candidates should be prepared to "walk through" their work, explaining their strategic thinking and design rationale in detail. The mention of a "tight-knit group" suggests that cultural fit and collaborative skills will be as important as technical design ability.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UI/UX design, collaborative workflows, prototyping, and building design systems. Expect extensive use for digital assets and potentially brand system maintenance.

• Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logo design, illustrations, and creating scalable assets.

• Adobe Photoshop: Key for image editing, manipulation, creating digital graphics, and preparing assets for web and print.

• Adobe InDesign: Necessary for layout design of print materials, marketing collateral, and potentially packaging mockups.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not primary design tools, designers are expected to understand how their work impacts performance metrics. Familiarity with understanding analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, e-commerce platform analytics) to inform design decisions is beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Designers may interact with marketing automation platforms for email campaigns or social media management tools, but direct proficiency is likely not required unless specified. Understanding how designs integrate into these systems is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Figma is explicitly called out and is a core requirement. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate their mastery of Figma, especially in the context of collaborative design and potentially prototyping. The Adobe Creative Suite is also a fundamental requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation & Growth: As a high-growth startup, the company likely values innovative ideas and a drive for continuous improvement and expansion.

• Customer-Centricity: With a DTC subscription model, understanding and catering to customer needs and preferences is paramount. Designs should aim to enhance the customer experience.

• Passion for Pets: A genuine love for animals is likely a core value, influencing the brand's tone, visual identity, and workplace atmosphere.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The "tight-knit" description suggests a culture where teamwork, open communication, and mutual support are highly valued.

• Data-Driven Decision Making: The emphasis on performance marketing and customer acquisition/retention implies that design decisions are supported by data and analytics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires working closely with creative managers, other designers, product, marketing, and engineering. This indicates a collaborative style where designers integrate their work with various departments.

• Feedback Exchange: Expect a culture where constructive feedback is given and received, essential for evolving brand systems and improving designs.

• Agile & Responsive: The fast-moving startup environment necessitates a collaborative style that is agile, responsive to changing priorities, and efficient in execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely to be energetic, passionate (especially about pets), and focused on tangible business results. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they align with these values and contribute to a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand & Performance: The primary challenge will be creating designs that are both aesthetically pleasing and on-brand, while also driving strong performance metrics for customer acquisition and retention in a competitive e-commerce landscape.

• Rapid Iteration in a Startup: Adapting quickly to changing market trends, campaign needs, and business priorities in a fast-paced startup environment requires agility and resilience.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive visual identity across a wide range of touchpoints (digital, print, packaging) requires meticulous attention to detail and strong brand system management.

• Managing Multiple Stakeholders: Effectively communicating design rationale and managing feedback from various cross-functional teams can be demanding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deepen DTC/E-commerce Expertise: Gain significant experience in designing for a successful DTC subscription model, a highly valuable skill set in today's market.

• Expand Creative Skillset: Opportunity to develop skills in art direction, creative production, and potentially motion graphics or illustration through hands-on project experience.

• Brand System Development: Contribute to and learn from the evolution of brand guidelines and design systems, a crucial aspect of scaling a brand.

• Industry Exposure: Become an expert in the booming pet wellness industry, understanding its unique marketing and design challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should view the challenges as opportunities to showcase their problem-solving skills and adaptability. The growth opportunities are significant, particularly for those looking to specialize in DTC e-commerce design and expand their creative capabilities.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance brand aesthetics with performance marketing goals. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your process, tool usage, and quantifiable results.)

• "How do you approach developing and maintaining brand systems and design libraries, especially in a fast-paced startup environment?" (Highlight your experience with Figma and organizational strategies.)

• "Walk me through your process for designing a digital ad campaign or email graphic that aims to drive customer acquisition or retention." (Emphasize strategic thinking, target audience, and specific design choices.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Spot & Tango and our mission to improve pet health?" (Show genuine interest and alignment with the brand's values.)

• "How do you handle constructive feedback on your designs, especially when working with multiple stakeholders?" (Demonstrate your collaborative and adaptable nature.)

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or agile environment. How do you ensure productivity and effective collaboration?" (Highlight your organizational skills and proactive communication.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the objective, your specific contribution, the design process (including tools used), key decisions made, and the measurable impact or results.

• Quantify Your Impact: Whenever possible, use data to demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased click-through rates, conversion improvements, engagement metrics).

• Showcase Figma Mastery: Be ready to demonstrate specific Figma features, workflows, or components you've built, especially those related to design systems or collaborative projects.

• Address the "Playful but Refined" Aesthetic: Select projects that explicitly showcase your ability to create designs that are both fun and sophisticated, aligning with the brand's desired tone.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of strong design fundamentals, technical proficiency (especially in Figma), strategic thinking aligned with business goals, and a collaborative, adaptable personality suited for a startup.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided application link on the Spot & Tango careers page.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight your 3+ years of professional design experience, emphasizing your proficiency in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, and your experience with DTC/e-commerce branding, digital ads, and packaging design. Use keywords from the job description.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a portfolio that prominently features your best work in branding, digital design (ads, social, email), and print (packaging, collateral). Ensure it showcases your ability to create both "playful but refined" designs and clearly demonstrates your strategic thinking and impact. Be ready to present it.

• Practice Your Presentation: Rehearse walking through your portfolio projects, focusing on articulating your design process, rationale, and the business impact of your work. Practice explaining your use of Figma and other tools.

• Research Spot & Tango: Familiarize yourself with Spot & Tango's brand, products, mission, and recent marketing efforts. Understand their target audience and the pet wellness industry to better align your application and interview responses with their values and goals.

⚠️ 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.