Graphic Designer (Packaging & Merch)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Packaging & Merch)

Company: Hire Overseas

Location: Brazil

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-05-25

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

Remote Status: 100% Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for the visual transformation of consumer packaged goods (CPG) and branded merchandise, directly impacting shelf presence and brand recognition.

• The Graphic Designer will be responsible for translating brand concepts into tangible, production-ready assets for both packaging and merchandise, requiring a strong understanding of physical product design.

• The position demands a hands-on production approach, focusing on the technical aspects of design for print and manufacturing, ensuring quality and brand consistency across diverse CPG brands.

• Collaboration with internal teams and clients will be key to iterating on designs and securing approvals, emphasizing efficient workflow management and clear communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is framed as a "Graphic Designer" but due to the emphasis on packaging, merchandise, print specifications, and production-ready files for CPG brands, it significantly overlaps with responsibilities often found in a "Packaging Designer" or "Product Designer" role within a GTM or Marketing Operations context. The focus on the "visual output that goes on shelves" and "design for physical products rather than just screens" highlights the operational aspect of bringing products to market.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and develop innovative packaging concepts for a variety of food and beverage products, including labels, cans, bottles, boxes, and pouches, ensuring alignment with brand identity and market appeal.

• Translate brand briefs into compelling visual designs, meticulously applying principles of layout, typography, and visual hierarchy to create impactful packaging.

• Produce high-fidelity, print-ready production files for packaging, strictly adhering to all necessary print specifications, dieline requirements, and manufacturing standards.

• Create engaging designs for branded merchandise such as apparel, accessories, and promotional items, ensuring brand consistency across diverse substrates and formats.

• Deliver production-ready files for merchandise, formatted correctly for the specific print or manufacturing processes required for each item.

• Ensure and maintain consistent visual identity across all design deliverables for each assigned brand, from packaging to merchandise and supporting brand assets.

• Support brand identity development by contributing to logo design, color palette selection, and typography systems when required.

• Implement and maintain organized file management systems for all design assets, ensuring clean, accessible, and well-structured project files for efficient team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for precise execution of design for physical products, which is a core operational function in CPG. The emphasis on "print-ready production files" and "adhering to all necessary print specifications, dieline requirements, and manufacturing standards" points to the operational rigor expected.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field is typically expected for mid-level roles in design, providing a foundational understanding of design principles.

Experience: Proven experience designing packaging for food, beverage, or CPG brands is a primary requirement, indicating a need for practical, hands-on experience in this specialized area.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience designing packaging for food, beverage, or CPG brands, demonstrating a portfolio of successful projects.

• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with a particular emphasis on Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for creating vector and raster graphics.

• In-depth understanding of print production processes, including bleed, resolution, color modes (CMYK vs. RGB), and packaging-specific specifications.

• Demonstrated experience designing for a variety of merchandise formats, including apparel, accessories, and promotional items.

• Excellent command of typography, layout design, and visual hierarchy to create aesthetically pleasing and functional designs.

• Ability to manage multiple brand projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality, production-ready files.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working with emerging or startup CPG brands, understanding the unique challenges and fast-paced nature of these businesses.

• Familiarity with Figma for collaborative design workflows, indicating adaptability to modern design tools.

• Background in consumer goods, retail, or brand licensing, providing broader industry context.

• Experience designing for minority-owned or culturally driven brands, aligning with the company's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "2-5 years" experience level suggests a need for candidates who have moved beyond entry-level tasks and can independently manage projects. The specific mention of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, along with print production knowledge, is critical for operations roles focused on physical product design.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 4 to 6 distinct examples of packaging design and merchandise design work, demonstrating versatility across multiple brands or product categories.

• Highlight projects that clearly illustrate the transition from initial concept or brand brief to final, production-ready files, emphasizing the design process.

• Include examples that demonstrate an understanding of print specifications, dielines, and considerations for physical product manufacturing.

Process Documentation:

• For each portfolio piece, be prepared to articulate the workflow from brief to final asset, detailing stages of concept development, revision rounds, and final file preparation.

• Demonstrate how you ensure brand consistency and adherence to technical specifications throughout the design process.

• Be ready to discuss your methods for organizing and managing design files and assets to ensure clarity and accessibility for production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio showing the "transition from concept to production-ready files" and "understanding of print specifications, dielines, and considerations for physical product manufacturing" is paramount. This directly relates to the operational execution of design for physical goods. The Loom video requirement further emphasizes the need for clear communication of process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on typical mid-level Graphic Designer roles in Brazil, with the added specialization in CPG packaging and a USD payment structure, a competitive range would be $25,000 - $45,000 USD annually. This estimate considers the remote nature, the company's minority-owned status, and the demand for specialized packaging design skills.

Benefits:

• USD Compensation: Paid bi-monthly (15th and 30th), offering financial stability in USD for remote employees.

• Paid Time Off: In accordance with company policy, providing opportunities for rest and rejuvenation.

• Holiday Observance: Adherence to company guidelines for holidays, ensuring recognition of important cultural and national days.

• 100% Remote Setup: Full flexibility to work from any location within Brazil, promoting work-life balance and autonomy.

• Direct Client Impact: Opportunity to work on real CPG brands from concept through production, experiencing tangible outcomes of your design work.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, consistent with full-time employment, with the flexibility afforded by a 100% remote setup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimate is based on industry benchmarks for remote graphic designers in Brazil, adjusted upwards for the specialized CPG packaging/merchandise skills and the USD payment. The benefits are explicitly stated in the job description and highlight key advantages for remote workers.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Marketing, Manufacturing. The company operates within a dynamic sector where visual branding and product presentation are critical for market success. As a vertically integrated CPG development firm, they are involved in multiple stages of brand creation and production.

Company Size: The company is described as a "minority-owned firm with a strong mission and a growing client roster." While exact numbers are not provided, "growing client roster" suggests a dynamic, possibly medium-sized or rapidly scaling organization. This implies a potentially agile environment where individual contributions are highly visible.

Founded: Not specified, but the mention of a "strong mission" and "growing client roster" suggests an organization with established values and increasing market traction.

Team Structure:

• The role implies integration within a design or creative team, working alongside other designers, potentially brand strategists, and production managers.

• Collaboration with marketing, sales, and potentially product development teams is expected to ensure design output aligns with broader Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies and product realities.

Methodology:

• Brand Concept to Production: A core methodology involves taking initial brand briefs and developing them into tangible, production-ready assets for physical products.

• Print & Manufacturing Focus: Designs are developed with a keen understanding of print specifications, dielines, and manufacturing constraints, ensuring practicality and feasibility.

• Brand Consistency Management: A systematic approach to maintaining visual identity across all touchpoints of a brand, from packaging to merchandise.

• Agile Iteration: The process likely involves client feedback loops and iterative design revisions to achieve client approval and market readiness.

Company Website: https://jobs.workable.com/company/cvRB9R7vtuSYbz8sUcfYEC/jobs-at-hire-overseas

📝 Enhancement Note: The "vertically integrated" nature of the firm is a key differentiator. For a designer, this means a deeper involvement in the product lifecycle and potential for greater impact on the final product. The "minority-owned firm with a strong mission" suggests a culture that values diversity and purpose-driven work.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, specifically focused on the operational execution of visual assets for physical products. It requires a blend of creative talent and technical proficiency in design for production. The "hands-on production role" aspect emphasizes practical application over pure conceptualization.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Director, Design Lead, or a Manager overseeing design operations within the firm. Collaboration will extend across various departments involved in CPG development.

Operations Impact: The designer's work has a direct and tangible impact on the marketability and success of CPG products. Their designs directly influence consumer perception, shelf appeal, and brand recognition, which are critical drivers of sales and revenue. Effective packaging and merchandise design can differentiate brands in crowded markets.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in CPG packaging design, learning advanced techniques for various substrates and production methods.

• Brand Management: Progress to managing visual identity systems for multiple CPG brands, potentially leading design projects from inception to launch.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gain exposure to other areas of CPG development, such as product formulation, marketing strategy, and supply chain logistics, understanding how design integrates into the broader business operations.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and leadership in managing projects and mentoring junior designers, opportunities for a Senior Designer or Design Lead role may emerge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities are framed around expanding expertise in a specialized design field that has significant operational implications for CPG brands. The potential to move beyond pure design into broader brand strategy or project leadership is a key career pathway.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: 100% Remote. This offers maximum flexibility and autonomy, allowing the designer to establish their most productive workspace within Brazil.

Office Location(s): While the company is based in Brazil, the remote nature means the designer can work from any location within the country. This offers flexibility in choosing a living environment that suits personal preferences, while still being connected to a Brazilian-based team.

Workspace Context:

• Autonomous Work: The remote setup requires self-discipline and effective time management to meet project deadlines and collaborate asynchronously when needed.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Proficiency with digital collaboration platforms (like Slack, Asana, or similar) will be essential for team communication, project tracking, and file sharing.

• Focus on Production: The workspace should be conducive to detailed design work, requiring reliable internet access and a setup that supports the use of demanding design software.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, likely with some flexibility in daily start and end times, common in remote roles. However, responsiveness during core business hours for team collaboration and client communication will be important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The 100% remote aspect is a significant environmental factor. It necessitates strong self-management skills and a proactive approach to communication and collaboration. The focus is on delivering results rather than adhering to a rigid office structure.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit resume and portfolio link.

• Video Introduction: Record a 1-2 minute Loom video introducing yourself, walking through one proud packaging project, and explaining its journey from brief to production-ready file. This step is critical for assessing communication skills and design process understanding.

• Role-Specific Assessment: Potentially a homework assignment tailored to packaging or merchandise design challenges.

• Recruitment Interview: Initial screening with the Hire Overseas talent team to assess overall fit and experience.

• Executive Interview: Meet with senior leadership to discuss alignment with company mission and values.

• Client Interview: Final interview with the client team to assess direct fit for specific CPG brand projects.

• Background & Reference Check: Professional verification.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Process: For your chosen packaging project, meticulously detail the steps taken: understanding the brief, conceptualization, drafting, revisions, and final production file preparation. Use visuals to illustrate each stage.

• Highlight Technicality: Emphasize your understanding of print specs, dielines, and how you ensured the design was manufacturable. This is crucial for demonstrating operational competence.

• Brand Versatility: Ensure your portfolio shows variety, demonstrating your ability to adapt to different brand aesthetics and product types within the CPG space.

• Merchandise Examples: Include clear examples of merchandise design, showcasing how you translated brand elements to apparel, accessories, or other promotional items.

• Conciseness: For the Loom video, be direct and impactful. Focus on the story of your chosen project and the key decisions made.

Challenge Preparation:

• Production-Focused Problem Solving: Be prepared to discuss how you would approach design challenges that involve tight print deadlines, unexpected dieline changes, or brand guideline conflicts.

• Client Communication: Practice articulating your design rationale and process clearly and concisely, as you will be presenting to client teams.

• Tool Proficiency: Be ready to discuss your experience with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, and potentially Figma, highlighting specific features or workflows you leverage for efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on the Loom video and walking through a project from "brief to production-ready file" is a strong indicator that Hire Overseas values understanding the candidate's practical execution and problem-solving skills in a real-world design-to-production scenario.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating vector-based packaging artwork, logos, and diecut lines. Proficiency in advanced features like pathfinder, typography controls, and swatch management is expected.

• Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, mockups, texture creation, and preparing raster elements for packaging and merchandise. Understanding of layer masks, adjustment layers, and smart objects is key.

• Adobe Creative Suite: A broad understanding of the suite's integrated workflows is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting: While not directly designing analytics tools, understanding how design impacts sales and brand performance metrics (e.g., sell-through rates, brand recall) is an indirect requirement.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role, but familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) used for workflow tracking and task management is highly probable.

Collaboration & Prototyping:

• Figma (Preferred): Valuable for collaborative design, prototyping, and creating shareable design assets, especially for merchandise or initial concept presentations.

• Loom: Required for the initial video introduction, demonstrating comfort with screen recording and video communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core tools are standard for graphic design, but the specific emphasis on Illustrator and Photoshop for "packaging and merchandise design" and "production-ready files" highlights the operational focus of this role. Figma is noted as a preferred tool, suggesting a modern, collaborative design environment.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Precision: A strong emphasis on delivering high-quality, technically accurate designs that meet production standards.

• Brand Integrity: Commitment to maintaining and enhancing brand visual identity across all deliverables.

• Efficiency & Speed: Ability to manage multiple projects and deliver production-ready files promptly, especially important in the fast-paced CPG industry.

• Collaboration: Working effectively with internal teams and clients to achieve design goals.

• Mission-Driven: Aligning with the company's mission and values, particularly as a minority-owned firm.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to collaborate closely with brand strategists, account managers, and potentially production specialists to ensure designs are both creative and practical.

• Feedback & Iteration: An open culture for receiving and providing constructive feedback to refine designs and processes.

• Remote Communication: Proactive and clear communication through digital channels is essential for seamless remote collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture appears to blend creative excellence with operational rigor. The emphasis on "minority-owned firm with a strong mission" suggests a culture that values diversity, purpose, and impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Production Constraints: A key challenge will be to deliver innovative and appealing designs while strictly adhering to technical specifications, dielines, and manufacturing limitations of physical products.

• Managing Multiple Brand Identities: Simultaneously working on diverse CPG brands requires the ability to switch contexts rapidly and maintain distinct brand voices and visual styles.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Ensuring seamless communication and project alignment with team members and clients across different locations and time zones.

• Evolving CPG Market Trends: Staying abreast of current design trends, consumer preferences, and sustainable packaging innovations within the food and beverage sector.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Deep Dive into CPG Packaging: Gain specialized knowledge in various packaging substrates, printing techniques (flexography, gravure, offset), and structural design considerations.

• Merchandise Production: Learn the specifics of producing different types of merchandise, including apparel printing methods, material sourcing, and quality control.

• Brand Strategy Integration: Understand how design contributes to broader brand strategy and Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives by working with experienced brand professionals.

• Advanced Design Software Skills: Potentially explore advanced features in Adobe Suite or learn new tools like Blender for 3D mockups if relevant to CPG.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the operational complexity of designing for physical products, moving beyond purely digital design. The growth opportunities focus on developing specialized expertise within the CPG and merchandise design domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to adapt a design concept to meet strict print specifications or dieline requirements. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your problem-solving for production constraints).

• "How do you ensure visual consistency across different packaging formats (e.g., can, bottle, box) for a single brand?" (Demonstrate your understanding of brand guidelines and systematic design application).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our company description, what aspects of our mission and client roster resonate most with you, and why?" (Show research into their values and client base).

• "How do you approach collaboration when working remotely with a team and clients you may not meet in person?" (Discuss your communication strategies and proactivity).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling for Impact: For your chosen packaging project, craft a narrative that clearly outlines the problem (brief), your solution (design process), and the result (production-ready files, impact).

• Visual Walkthrough: Use your portfolio slides or screen share to visually guide the interviewer through the project, pointing out key design decisions and technical considerations.

• Highlight Production Readiness: Explicitly point out elements in your final files that demonstrate your understanding of print specifications, bleed, color modes, and dieline adherence.

• Concise Loom Video Practice: Rehearse your 1-2 minute Loom video introduction to ensure it's engaging, clear, and effectively showcases your best packaging project and your approach to production-ready design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should strongly focus on demonstrating an understanding of the practical, production-oriented aspects of graphic design for physical goods, as well as effective remote collaboration and communication skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link, including your updated resume.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Ensure your portfolio prominently features 4-6 examples of packaging and merchandise design across multiple brands. Select a project that best demonstrates your ability to transition from brief to production-ready files, highlighting your understanding of print specs and dielines.

• Craft Your Loom Video: Record a concise 1-2 minute Loom video introducing yourself, walking through one proud packaging project, and detailing your approach from brief to production-ready file. Practice this to ensure clarity and impact.

• Optimize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords such as "CPG," "Packaging Design," "Merchandise Design," "Adobe Illustrator," "Adobe Photoshop," "Print Production," "Dielines," and "Production-Ready Files." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Research Hire Overseas: Understand their mission as a minority-owned firm and their role as a vertically integrated CPG development firm. Prepare to discuss how your design philosophy aligns with their values and client focus.

⚠️ 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.

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