Graphic Designer II

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer II

Company: Fanatics Commerce

Location: New York, NY, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Design / Apparel Graphics

Date Posted: 2026-09-10

Experience Level: Mid-Level (4+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive impact through the development of compelling licensed sports apparel graphics, integrating brand identity, color theory, and production art techniques.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with internal design teams and partners to ensure consistent application of corporate branding and seasonal creative direction across all merchandise.

• Leverage consumer insights, pop culture trends, and market intelligence to design apparel graphics that resonate deeply with sports fans.

• Explore and adopt new digital tools, AI-assisted design capabilities, and emerging technologies to enhance design process quality and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed within Fanatics' BOLD Leadership Principles, emphasizing teamwork, fan obsession, entrepreneurial spirit, and a determined mindset. The "AI & Digital Capability" section highlights a strong expectation for leveraging technology, data, and AI to drive outcomes, which is a key differentiator for operations-savvy candidates who can translate creative concepts into data-informed, efficient processes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop professional graphics for seasonal sports apparel assortments, adhering to brand guidelines and seasonal creative direction.

• Create mood boards, trend boards, and ideation materials to inspire the design team and ground decisions in fan and market intelligence.

• Conduct trend shopping and research across various apparel embellishment techniques (screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, embroidery) to identify new creative and production opportunities.

• Apply advanced typography skills to research, develop, and implement font solutions that enhance apparel graphics and brand storytelling.

• Develop graphic concepts and presentations for non-calendared special art requests, demonstrating agility and creative problem-solving.

• Own the end-to-end design process for assigned projects, from concept to production-ready art, managing workload and meeting deadlines.

• Maintain presentation decks and collection boards with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.

• Ensure designs are technically precise and feasible by demonstrating knowledge of domestic and import printing and production processes.

• Collaborate with internal partners across teams and departments to support collection development, presentation needs, and special art requests.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative ideation, technical production knowledge, and cross-functional collaboration. For a candidate with operations experience, highlighting the ability to manage projects end-to-end, ensure technical feasibility (production knowledge), and utilize data/trends for design decisions will be crucial. The emphasis on AI and digital capabilities suggests an opportunity to apply operations principles to the creative workflow.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Arts or a related field, or equivalent combination of education, training, or work experience.

Experience: 4+ years of professional graphic design experience; licensing or sports-related experience is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.

• Demonstrated advanced-level knowledge of color theory, composition, and concept development.

• Ability to adhere to brand guidelines and seasonal creative stories.

• Working knowledge of production art processes and domestic and import printing and production techniques (screen print, heat transfers, appliqués, and embroidery).

• Excellent organizational and communication skills (written and verbal).

• Ability to meet deadlines, prioritize workload, adapt to change, and maintain composure under pressure.

• Familiarity with project management systems.

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

• Intermediate to advanced typography skills. Preferred Skills:

• Licensing or sports-related graphic design experience.

• Experience with AI-assisted design tools.

• Understanding of e-commerce and omnichannel retail environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Qualifications" are standard for a Graphic Designer. The "Preferred Skills" and the emphasis on AI/digital capabilities in the role overview suggest that candidates who can articulate how they've used data, project management systems, or emerging technologies to improve design processes or outcomes will stand out. This is where an operations mindset can be a significant advantage.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong professional portfolio is required, showcasing a wide range of design skills and abilities across apparel graphics or related disciplines.

• Portfolio should demonstrate advanced-level knowledge of color theory, composition, and concept development.

• Include examples of designs adhering to brand guidelines and seasonal creative stories.

• Showcase understanding of production art processes and various apparel embellishment techniques.

• Examples of typography application in apparel graphics are highly valued. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as "documentation," the role implies a need to manage the "end-to-end design process" from concept through production-ready art.

• Candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal process for managing design projects, including how they handle ideation, feedback, revisions, and final delivery.

• Demonstrating familiarity with project management systems suggests an ability to track progress and manage workflows efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role, the portfolio is paramount. However, given the emphasis on BOLD principles and AI/digital capabilities, candidates should consider how their portfolio can implicitly or explicitly showcase process efficiency, data-informed decisions (e.g., trend analysis), or adaptation to new technologies. Instead of just showing final designs, consider including a brief overview of the process or challenges overcome for key projects.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $68,000 - $85,000 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive benefits package, details available at https://benefitsatfanatics.com/.

• The salary range represents base pay only and does not include short-term or long-term incentive compensation.

• Factors considered for final compensation include location, experience, qualifications, and training.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (standard full-time).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided, which is helpful for candidates. The note about incentive compensation suggests potential for bonuses or other performance-based pay, which is common in results-driven environments. The mention of "AI & Digital Capability" and "data and digital tools to inform decisions" implies that performance metrics will likely be tied to efficiency and impact, which is a key aspect of operations.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Licensed Sports Merchandise, E-commerce, Retail, Sports & Recreation.

Company Size: Over 22,000 employees globally. This large size indicates a robust infrastructure, established processes, and significant resources, but also potentially a need for agility within specific teams.

Founded: Fanatics has a significant history, evolving into a major player in the sports commerce space. The company's mission is to build a leading global digital sports platform.

Team Structure:

• The role is within Fanatics Commerce, a division focused on designing, manufacturing, and selling licensed fan gear.

• The Graphic Designer will partner with "in-house design teams" and collaborate "cross-functionally with internal partners across teams and departments." This suggests a matrixed environment with opportunities for broad exposure.

• The BOLD Leadership Principles (Build Championship Teams, Obsessed with Fans, Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit, Determined and Relentless Mindset) are central to the company's culture and expected behaviors. Methodology:

• Data-driven decision-making is encouraged, with an expectation to "Use data and digital tools to inform decisions and enhance performance."

• AI and technology are expected to be applied to "improve efficiency, quality, and outcomes."

• Continuous improvement and innovation are key themes, with a focus on adopting new technologies and ways of working.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Fanatics is a major player in the sports industry, known for its rapid growth and aggressive expansion. The company culture, driven by the BOLD principles, emphasizes performance, customer focus, and innovation. For an operations-minded candidate, this means understanding how creative output directly contributes to business objectives and fan engagement, and how processes can be optimized for speed and scale.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level Graphic Designer role (Graphic Designer II), requiring 4+ years of experience. It suggests a level of autonomy and responsibility for specific projects and processes within the design function.

Reporting Structure: The role involves partnering with "in-house design teams" and collaborating with "internal partners across teams and departments." The specific reporting manager is not detailed, but it's implied to be within a design leadership structure.

Operations Impact: While this is a creative role, the emphasis on "AI & Digital Capability," "driving impact," and "leveraging data, automation, and AI-enabled insights" suggests that the design output is directly tied to business performance. Successful execution contributes to fan engagement, sales, and brand perception – key metrics for the company.

Growth Opportunities:

• Operations Skill Development: The emphasis on AI, data, and digital tools provides a pathway to develop skills in operations-adjacent areas within a creative context (e.g., design ops, workflow automation).

• Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in licensed sports apparel design and various embellishment techniques.

• Leadership Potential: As a Graphic Designer II, there's potential for advancement to Senior Graphic Designer or Design Lead roles, managing projects or smaller teams. Contributing to process improvements and innovative solutions can accelerate this.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working across numerous leagues, teams, and departments offers broad visibility and potential to move into roles with wider strategic influence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description strongly hints that this role is evolving beyond traditional graphic design. Candidates who can demonstrate an understanding of how design processes integrate with broader business operations, analytics, and technological advancements will be well-positioned for growth. Framing personal growth in terms of process optimization and data-informed creativity will be beneficial.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid work model. The primary place of performance is the company's office in NY, NY.

Office Location(s): New York, NY.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid policy requires in-office presence on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. This indicates a deliberate structure for in-person collaboration.

• The need to "partner cross-functionally" and collaborate with "internal partners" suggests a dynamic, interactive office environment.

• Operations professionals in such an environment can expect access to standard office technology and potentially collaborative workspaces designed to foster brainstorming and team synergy.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. The hybrid model allows for some flexibility in managing work hours, but the core expectation is consistent contribution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role suggests a need for strong self-management and communication skills, which are critical in operations. The requirement for specific in-office days implies a structured approach to collaboration, which aligns with the need for clear workflows and communication protocols in operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of resume and portfolio for required skills and experience.

• Portfolio Review & Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discussing specific projects, their role, design process, and outcomes. Be prepared to discuss how you leveraged trends, brand guidelines, and production knowledge.

• Skills-Based/Case Study Interview: Expect questions related to design challenges, problem-solving, and potentially a design exercise or case study. This might involve adapting a concept to a new league, addressing a production constraint, or proposing a creative solution based on given data/trends.

• Cross-functional/Behavioral Interview: Interviews with design leadership and potentially partners from merchandising, marketing, or production teams. Focus on collaboration, communication, adaptability, and alignment with BOLD principles.

• AI/Digital Capability Discussion: Be ready to discuss your experience or interest in using AI tools, data, or new technologies to enhance creative processes.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 strong apparel graphic design projects that best represent your skills in typography, color theory, concept development, and production knowledge. Include examples that show adherence to brand guidelines and seasonal direction.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your thought process, how you incorporated research (trends, fan insights), challenges faced (production, brand constraints), and the final outcome.

• Highlight Operations Alignment: If possible, demonstrate how you managed your workflow efficiently, met deadlines, or incorporated data/feedback to improve a design. Even for creative roles, showing an understanding of project lifecycle and efficiency is valuable.

• Be Ready to Discuss AI/Tech: If you have experience with AI design tools, mention them. If not, express enthusiasm for learning and applying them.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Prepare for a potential short design task. Focus on interpreting a brief quickly, applying brand elements, and delivering a concept that addresses the prompt.

• Problem-Solving: Think about common design challenges in apparel (e.g., color limitations on screen prints, adapting a logo for a specific garment, responding to a fast-changing trend) and how you've overcome them.

• Communication: Practice articulating your design choices clearly and concisely, especially when discussing technical aspects like production or brand adherence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "AI & Digital Capability" and "Data & Digital Tools" means that interviewers will be looking for more than just aesthetic talent. Candidates should prepare to discuss how they approach design as a process that can be optimized, measured, and enhanced through technology, much like an operations professional would approach a business process.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign is mandatory. These are the core tools for creating apparel graphics.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Intermediate proficiency in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is required for communication, documentation, and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Familiarity with project management systems is noted. While not explicit analytics tools, these systems are crucial for tracking project timelines, workloads, and dependencies – key operational aspects.

• The expectation to "Use data and digital tools to inform decisions" suggests that familiarity with any tools used for trend analysis or consumer insights reporting would be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly mentioned for this role, but understanding how design assets feed into e-commerce platforms or marketing campaigns is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are standard design software. However, the mention of "project management systems" and the broader call to leverage "data and digital tools" implies that candidates who can connect their design work to system-based workflows and data-informed decision-making will be highly valued. Think about how design requests are managed, how feedback is tracked, and how final assets are delivered.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Build Championship Teams: Collaborative spirit, willingness to support teammates, and contribute to collective success.

• Obsessed with Fans: Designing with a deep understanding of fan preferences, trends, and the sports culture.

• Limitless Entrepreneurial Spirit: Proactively identifying opportunities for creative innovation, process improvement, and new design approaches.

• Determined and Relentless Mindset: Owning projects, meeting deadlines under pressure, and delivering high-quality work consistently.

• Data-Driven Approach: Using consumer insights, trend data, and market intelligence to inform design decisions.

• Efficiency and Process Optimization: Actively seeking ways to improve the design workflow, leverage technology (AI), and ensure production feasibility.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Working closely with internal design teams, merchandising, marketing, and production.

• Feedback Exchange: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Contributing ideas and insights to the broader design team, fostering a culture of learning and innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The BOLD principles are the guiding values. For an operations-minded candidate, translating these into practical behaviors is key: how do you "Build Championship Teams" in a creative context? How do you demonstrate an "Entrepreneurial Spirit" by suggesting process improvements? How do you apply a "Determined Mindset" to project completion and quality control?

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Brand/Production Constraints: Meeting the demands of multiple leagues, diverse fan bases, and specific production techniques while maintaining a high creative standard.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to shifting priorities, tight deadlines, and rapidly evolving trends in the sports and fashion industries.

• Leveraging New Technologies: Integrating AI and digital tools into established design workflows effectively and efficiently.

• Cross-functional Alignment: Ensuring design concepts are understood and supported by various stakeholders with different priorities.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Deepening expertise in apparel graphics, embellishment techniques, and sports licensing.

• Technology Adoption: Gaining experience with AI-assisted design tools and data-driven creative strategies.

• Project Management Skills: Enhancing abilities in managing complex design projects from ideation to execution.

• Industry Trends: Staying at the forefront of sports, fashion, and design trends through research and collaboration.

• Cross-functional Understanding: Developing a broader understanding of the e-commerce, retail, and sports merchandise ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: Framing challenges as opportunities for process improvement and skill development will resonate. For instance, the challenge of "Leveraging New Technologies" can be framed as an opportunity to apply operations principles to integrate AI into the design workflow, thereby improving efficiency and outcomes.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing apparel graphics for a specific league or team, from initial concept to final production-ready art." (Focus on workflow, research, and collaboration.)

• "How do you approach integrating new technologies, such as AI, into your design workflow to improve efficiency or outcomes?" (Highlight adaptability and process thinking.)

• "Tell me about a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines or production limitations. How did you find a solution?" (Demonstrate problem-solving and adherence to constraints.)

• "How do you stay current with sports trends, pop culture, and emerging design aesthetics?" (Show proactive learning and market awareness.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "How do Fanatics' BOLD Leadership Principles align with your own work style and values?" (Prepare examples for each principle.)

• "What excites you about designing for licensed sports apparel, and how do you ensure your designs resonate with fans?" (Show passion and fan-centricity.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with cross-functional teams, such as merchandising or production?" (Emphasize communication and teamwork.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the "why" – the objective, the challenge, your role, your process, and the result.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): Even for creative roles, try to mention any positive feedback, successful adoption, or how your design contributed to a collection's success.

• Highlight Process: Briefly walk through your steps, including any research, ideation phases, revisions, and final technical preparation.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the tools and techniques used, and how you ensured production feasibility.

• Connect to Operations: Subtly weave in how you managed your time, incorporated feedback efficiently, or used tools to streamline your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely assess both creative talent and an operational mindset. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process with an emphasis on efficiency, problem-solving, and adaptability, mirroring how an operations professional would approach a business challenge.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer II position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Greenhouse.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is tailored to highlight apparel graphics, brand adherence, and production knowledge. If possible, include examples that demonstrate process efficiency or adaptation to new tools.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize your 4+ years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, knowledge of production processes, and any experience with project management systems or innovative technologies. Use keywords from the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you embody Fanatics' BOLD Leadership Principles. Be ready to discuss your experience with AI or digital tools.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Fanatics Commerce, their partnerships, and their BOLD culture. Understand their position in the sports merchandise market.

⚠️ 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.