Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - Production and Screen Print

Company: Pure Hockey

Location: Holliston, Massachusetts, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: April 30, 2026

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

This role is focused on the critical intersection of graphic design and physical production, specifically for screen printing operations within the sporting goods retail industry.
The Graphic Designer will be responsible for translating creative concepts into production-ready artwork, ensuring seamless integration with manufacturing processes.
Key contributions will involve optimizing designs for screen printing, managing color accuracy, and collaborating closely with the production team to maintain high quality and efficiency.
This position demands a blend of artistic skill, technical print knowledge, and meticulous attention to detail to support a fast-paced, deadline-driven marketing department.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job title and responsibilities strongly indicate a role within a production or manufacturing-adjacent marketing function, rather than a purely digital or conceptual design role. The emphasis on screen printing, color separations, and print-ready files points towards a "Production Artist" or "Graphic Production Specialist" profile, with a focus on output for physical goods.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Prepare and finalize customer-supplied and in-house designs for high-volume screen printing production, ensuring all technical specifications are met.
Execute precise color separations for multi-color print jobs, meticulously organizing artwork by color channel for optimal screen setup.
Adjust and optimize existing designs to meet specific screen printing requirements, including but not limited to trapping, halftones, and ensuring appropriate resolution for various print sizes and substrates.
Maintain strict color accuracy throughout the design process by utilizing Pantone matching systems and adhering to color calibration standards for consistent brand representation.
Actively collaborate with the screen print department to troubleshoot design-related production issues, ensuring that digital artwork translates effectively to high-quality physical prints.
Conduct thorough pre-production checks on all artwork, reviewing proofs and identifying potential errors or areas for improvement to minimize waste and ensure client satisfaction.
Establish and maintain organized digital asset management systems, including rigorous file naming conventions and version control for all production artwork.
Partner with the broader Marketing team to support ad campaigns and other marketing initiatives, ensuring brand consistency across all collateral.
Operate effectively within demanding production timelines, prioritizing multiple design and production tasks simultaneously without compromising quality.
Proactively identify and troubleshoot artwork issues that may impact print quality or efficiency, recommending practical solutions and process improvements to the production team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer with a strong production mindset, emphasizing technical execution over conceptual ideation for marketing campaigns. The requirement to "adjust designs to meet screen printing requirements" and "separate artwork by color" indicates a hands-on role focused on preparing files for a specific manufacturing process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically preferred for roles requiring advanced design software proficiency and theoretical understanding.

Experience: A minimum of 2+ years of dedicated graphic design experience is required, with a strong preference for candidates with prior exposure to production environments, particularly screen printing or other forms of apparel/merchandise decoration.

Required Skills:

Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop, for creating and manipulating vector and raster graphics.
Screen Printing Process Knowledge: In-depth understanding of screen printing techniques, including color separations, ink properties, mesh counts, and the physical limitations and capabilities of the process.
Vector Artwork Expertise: Proven ability to create and manage clean, scalable vector artwork suitable for various print applications and production methods.
Color Management & Theory: Strong grasp of color theory, including the ability to effectively use Pantone Matching System (PMS) and ensure accurate color reproduction across different media.
File Preparation for Print: Comprehensive knowledge of preparing artwork files for professional printing, including understanding resolution requirements, bleed, trim, and color modes (CMYK, RGB, Spot Colors).
Attention to Detail: Exceptional accuracy and meticulousness in reviewing artwork, identifying errors, and ensuring all design elements meet production standards.
Deadline Management: Proven ability to perform effectively under pressure, manage multiple projects concurrently, and meet stringent production deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design decisions and collaborate effectively with production teams and other departments.

Preferred Skills:

Adobe InDesign Proficiency: Familiarity with Adobe InDesign for layout and multi-page document design, which may be useful for marketing collateral.
Digital Asset Management (DAM): Experience with systems or methodologies for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets efficiently.
Pre-press Operations: Understanding of pre-press workflows beyond just artwork preparation, including plate making or stencil creation principles.
Customer Service Experience: Ability to interpret and execute client-specific design requests accurately.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "2+ years of graphic design experience in a production or print environment" and specific software like Illustrator and Photoshop, combined with screen printing knowledge, strongly suggests this isn't a general marketing designer role but one deeply integrated with the manufacturing output of Pure Hockey's merchandise.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Production-Ready Artwork Examples: Showcase a minimum of 3-5 projects demonstrating your ability to prepare complex artwork for print production, specifically highlighting screen printing applications if possible. This should include examples of color separations.
Vector Graphics Mastery: Include examples that clearly illustrate your skill in creating and manipulating vector graphics, emphasizing clean lines, scalability, and adherence to design principles for print.
Color Accuracy Demonstrations: Present projects where precise color matching was critical, ideally using Pantone references, to demonstrate your understanding of color theory and management in a print context.
Problem-Solving Case Studies: Briefly describe 1-2 instances where you encountered and successfully resolved artwork or production-related challenges for print jobs, detailing the issue, your solution, and the positive outcome (e.g., reduced errors, improved print quality).

Process Documentation:

Workflow Design & Optimization: Be prepared to discuss your process for taking a design from initial concept or client brief through to final production-ready file, explaining how you ensure efficiency and accuracy at each stage.
System Implementation & Automation: While this role may not involve system implementation, discuss any experience you have with using design software features or workflows that automate repetitive tasks or improve efficiency in file preparation.
Measurement & Performance Analysis: Be ready to explain how you measure the success of your production design work, focusing on metrics like error reduction, turnaround time, and print quality consistency as observed by the production team.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a "Production and Screen Print" graphic designer, the portfolio should heavily lean towards technical execution and problem-solving for print, rather than purely aesthetic or conceptual marketing campaign visuals. Demonstrating an understanding of the process of getting a design ready for manufacturing is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The provided salary range of $55,000 - $70,000 per year is competitive for a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in the Holliston, MA area, especially for a role requiring specialized production and screen printing knowledge. This range aligns with industry benchmarks for similar positions in a metropolitan-adjacent region.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance, ensuring holistic employee well-being.
Income Protection: Offers Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability Insurance for financial security.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA): Allows for pre-tax contributions to cover eligible healthcare or dependent care expenses.
Retirement Savings: Features a 401(k) plan, providing a pathway for long-term financial planning.
Work-Life Balance: Includes Paid Time Off (PTO) and Paid Holidays, supporting employee rest and personal time.
Family Support: Offers Parental Leave to assist new parents.
Employee Perks: Provides an Employee Discount, offering savings on Pure Hockey products.

Working Hours: The role is listed as full-time, which typically equates to approximately 40 hours per week. Given the "on-site" requirement and the nature of production support, a standard Monday-Friday work schedule is anticipated, though flexibility might be required during peak production periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and appears to be based on market data for the location and experience level. The benefits package is standard for a company of this size and industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Pure Hockey operates within the Specialty Retail and Sporting Goods industry, with a significant e-commerce presence. This sector is characterized by seasonal demands, competitive pricing, and a focus on customer experience and product quality. For a production graphic designer, this means understanding brand aesthetics for athletic apparel and equipment, and potentially dealing with high-volume merchandise production.

Company Size: Pure Hockey is described as a "privately-owned specialty sporting goods company with over 100 hockey retail locations and an e-commerce business." This indicates a medium-to-large enterprise, suggesting established processes but also potential for growth and individual impact. Operations professionals in such environments often benefit from clear structures while having opportunities to influence process improvements.

Founded: While the founding date isn't provided, the company's description as a "number one hockey retail company" implies a mature and successful business with a long-standing presence in the market. This suggests a stable work environment with established brand recognition.

Team Structure:

Marketing Department Focus: The Graphic Designer reports to the Marketing department. This implies a collaborative relationship with marketing managers, campaign specialists, and potentially product marketers.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: A key aspect will be close collaboration with the "screen print department" and potentially other production or operations teams involved in merchandise creation. This requires strong communication skills to bridge the gap between design and manufacturing.
Reporting Hierarchy: The role likely reports to a Marketing Manager or Creative Director, with the screen print team acting as key internal stakeholders and collaborators rather than direct reports.

Methodology:

Data-Driven Design Optimization: While not explicitly stated, a successful production designer will leverage feedback from the screen print team and potentially sales/marketing data on popular designs to inform artwork preparation and future design considerations.
Process Efficiency & Standardization: The emphasis on "preparing, adjusting, and optimizing artwork for high-quality print output" and "minimizing errors and waste" points towards a methodology focused on standardizing workflows and ensuring consistent, high-quality output.
Agile Production Support: Operating within "production timelines and prioritize multiple jobs simultaneously" suggests an agile approach to design support, adapting to the real-time needs of the production floor.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's position as a "number one hockey retail company" suggests a strong brand identity and a potentially demanding, results-oriented culture. The operational aspect of this role is deeply tied to the physical product output, requiring a designer who understands manufacturing constraints.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an "Entry to Mid-Level" position, indicated by the "2+ years of graphic design experience" requirement and the focus on production execution rather than strategic design direction. It's a hands-on role crucial for the operational efficiency of merchandise production.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Marketing Manager or Creative Lead within the Marketing department. Close collaboration is expected with the Screen Print Department Manager or Production Supervisor, forming a key cross-functional relationship.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the quality, cost, and speed of merchandise production. Accurate and optimized artwork reduces waste, prevents production errors, ensures brand consistency, and ultimately contributes to customer satisfaction and sales revenue. Efficient artwork preparation is a direct driver of operational efficiency in the merchandise division.

Growth Opportunities:

Specialization in Production Art: Develop deep expertise in screen printing, apparel decoration, and other production art techniques, becoming a go-to resource for complex print jobs.
Lead Production Design: Progress to a senior or lead production artist role, potentially mentoring junior designers and overseeing the artwork preparation workflow for the entire merchandise line.
Cross-Functional Transition: Leverage print production knowledge to move into roles within operations management, supply chain coordination, or product development, focusing on the manufacturing and decoration aspects of sporting goods.
Broader Marketing Design: With proven success in production, expand into other areas of marketing design, such as campaign collateral or digital assets, while retaining a strong understanding of print requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth in this specific role is likely to be within specialized production art or operational support functions. Moving into purely conceptual or strategic design roles would require a shift in focus and potentially further education or experience outside of this specific production context.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is described as "on-site" in Holliston, MA. This suggests a traditional office or studio environment within Pure Hockey's facilities, likely co-located with other marketing and potentially operational staff.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is 89 Cross Street, Holliston, MA 01746. Holliston is located within the Greater Boston area, offering access to a significant talent pool and business hub.

Workspace Context:

Collaborative Studio Setting: Expect a work environment where interaction with marketing colleagues and the screen print production team is frequent and essential for job success. This fosters a dynamic exchange of ideas and feedback.
Technology-Rich Environment: The role requires access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially specialized hardware or calibration tools for print preparation.
Fast-Paced Production Hub: The environment will likely be fast-paced, driven by production schedules and deadlines, requiring designers to be adaptable and responsive to the needs of the manufacturing floor.

Work Schedule: As a full-time, on-site position, the work schedule is anticipated to be standard business hours, likely Monday through Friday. However, the demands of production may occasionally necessitate flexibility to meet urgent deadlines or support specific production runs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "on-site" nature is critical. This role is not remote and requires physical presence, likely for direct collaboration with the screen printing department and access to necessary equipment or client interactions within the facility.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess technical skills, experience in production design, and understanding of screen printing.
Technical Assessment/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, explain technical decisions (e.g., color separations, file optimization), and articulate how you address production challenges. You may be asked to perform a small design test related to preparing artwork for print.
Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Questions will likely focus on your ability to work under pressure, collaborate with production teams, manage multiple priorities, and problem-solve design-related production issues.
Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to understand Pure Hockey's work environment and for them to assess how you would integrate with the marketing and production teams.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight Production Work: Showcase projects specifically demonstrating your ability to prepare artwork for screen printing or similar production processes. Include examples of color separations, vector preparation, and file optimization.
Explain Your Process: For each relevant project, clearly articulate your thought process, the tools you used, the challenges you faced (especially production-related ones), and how you overcame them.
Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or examples of how your work improved efficiency, reduced errors, or enhanced print quality in previous roles.
Demonstrate Color Expertise: Clearly show your understanding of Pantone matching and color theory through your examples.
Keep it Concise: Organize your portfolio logically and be prepared to present your strongest, most relevant pieces efficiently.

Challenge Preparation:

Artwork Preparation Exercise: Be ready for a practical exercise where you might be given a design and asked to prepare it for screen printing, which could involve color separation, resizing, or adjusting for specific print dimensions.
Troubleshooting Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you would approach common artwork issues in screen printing, such as registration problems, color inaccuracies, or file format incompatibilities.
Process Improvement Ideas: Think about potential ways to streamline the artwork-to-print workflow from a design perspective, demonstrating proactive thinking about operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily scrutinize technical production skills and problem-solving abilities relevant to screen printing, rather than broad marketing campaign creativity. Portfolio review is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating and manipulating vector graphics, logo work, and preparing artwork for separations and screen printing.
Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for raster image editing, retouching, creating textures, and preparing artwork with photographic elements or complex effects for print.
Adobe InDesign (Preferred): Useful for layout of marketing collateral, spec sheets, or other documents that might accompany production artwork.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Experience with any CRM or project management tools used by the marketing or production teams (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) could be helpful for managing project workflows and communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is a deep proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop for production art. Any additional tools that facilitate workflow management or asset organization will be a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Precision & Accuracy: A core value for production roles, ensuring that every detail in the artwork is correct to avoid costly errors in manufacturing.
Efficiency & Speed: The ability to produce high-quality work quickly and within tight deadlines is critical in a production environment.
Collaboration & Communication: Strong teamwork with the screen print department and marketing is essential for seamless workflow and problem-solving.
Quality & Brand Integrity: Upholding Pure Hockey's brand standards and ensuring the highest possible print quality on all merchandise.
Problem-Solving & Adaptability: A proactive approach to identifying and resolving design-related production challenges.

Collaboration Style:

Hands-on and Responsive: Expect a collaborative style where designers work closely with production staff, providing direct support and quick feedback loops.
Process-Oriented: Emphasis on following established workflows and procedures to ensure consistency and efficiency in artwork preparation.
Feedback-Driven: Openness to receiving and acting upon feedback from the screen print team regarding design feasibility and print quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture will likely be a blend of creative marketing and operational execution. The values will lean towards reliability, precision, and teamwork necessary to support a tangible product manufacturing process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Maintaining High Volume Output: Balancing the need for detailed, accurate artwork preparation with the demands of a high-volume production schedule.
Translating Design Vision to Print: Effectively communicating and executing design concepts that are technically feasible for screen printing, managing client or marketing expectations.
Color Accuracy Across Batches: Ensuring consistent color reproduction across different print runs and substrates, which can be influenced by various factors beyond the initial design file.
Adapting to New Technologies/Techniques: Staying current with advancements in screen printing technology and design software that could impact production workflows.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Deep Dive into Screen Printing: Gain specialized knowledge in advanced screen printing techniques, ink types, and material substrates.
Production Workflow Optimization: Learn about broader production management principles and how design contributes to overall operational efficiency.
Color Management Certification: Potentially pursue certifications in color management or print production to enhance expertise.
Cross-Training: Opportunity to learn about other aspects of merchandise production or marketing collateral creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be the direct link between design work and physical product output, requiring constant attention to detail and an understanding of manufacturing constraints.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe a time you had to prepare artwork for a challenging print job. What were the challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on your problem-solving skills, technical knowledge of print, and collaboration with production.)
"How do you ensure color accuracy when preparing designs for screen printing, especially when using Pantone colors?" (Demonstrate your understanding of color theory, PMS, and calibration.)
"Walk me through your process for creating color separations for a multi-color screen print job." (Detail your technical steps in software like Illustrator.)

Company & Culture Questions:

"What interests you about Pure Hockey and the sporting goods industry?" (Show genuine interest in the company's mission and products.)
"How do you approach collaboration with non-design teams, like production or sales?" (Emphasize your communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Focus on Production Examples: Prioritize projects that clearly show your technical skills in preparing artwork for print, especially screen printing.
Explain Technical Details: For each relevant piece, be ready to discuss the software used, file preparation steps, color choices (Pantone references), and any specific print considerations.
Tell the Story: Briefly explain the project's goal, your role, the challenges, and the outcome. Quantify results if possible.
Be Ready for a Practical Test: Prepare for a scenario where you might be asked to demonstrate your skills on a design problem relevant to screen printing.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to discuss specific technical aspects of screen printing and artwork preparation in detail. Your portfolio should be your strongest asset, so be ready to articulate the "why" and "how" behind each piece.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the provided application link on Paylocity.
Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of production-ready artwork, ideally for screen printing or apparel decoration. Highlight projects demonstrating color separations, vector preparation, and file optimization for print.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your experience with Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop), screen printing processes, color management, and working in production or deadline-driven environments. Use keywords from the job description.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, technical skills, and problem-solving approaches, particularly those related to print production. Be ready to discuss your portfolio in detail and potentially complete a design exercise.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Pure Hockey's brand, products, and market position. Understand their target audience and how graphic design supports their merchandise and marketing efforts.

⚠️ 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.

Graphic Designer - Production and Screen Print