Graphic Designer, Team Sports

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer, Team Sports

Company: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.

Location: Chicago, IL

Job Type: Other

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Sports & Recreation

Date Posted: 2026-04-22

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive creative strategy and visual execution for marketing campaigns across key team sports, including basketball, football, volleyball, and soccer.

• Collaborate with senior designers, marketing teams, and external partners to conceptualize and deliver impactful visual assets.

• Design across a multi-channel landscape, encompassing digital, social media, direct-to-consumer (D2C), packaging, and event activations.

• Work closely with athletes and influencers, including Wilson Advisory Staff and partners like the NFL, NBA, WNBA, and NCAA, to create authentic brand experiences.

• Manage the end-to-end design and production process, ensuring high-quality execution and adherence to brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within the "Team Sports" division, indicating a focus on specific sports categories and their associated marketing initiatives. The partnerships mentioned (NFL, NBA, WNBA, Caitlin Clark, NCAA, AVP) highlight the significant brand visibility and the need for design that resonates with professional athletes and a sports-enthusiast audience. The emphasis on "empowering every human to live like an athlete" suggests a brand ethos that values performance, dedication, and a holistic approach to sports culture.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Partner with the Senior Designer and cross-functional marketing teams to conceptualize and develop integrated marketing campaigns from initial brief to final production.

• Develop strong visual concepts and "visual centers" that serve as the foundation for 360-degree campaign executions by internal teams and external agencies.

• Design a wide array of marketing collateral, including digital ads, social media graphics, D2C website assets, marketing sell-in materials, event/activation visuals, point-of-purchase displays, and packaging artwork.

• Coordinate with internal and external photographers for campaign and product photoshoots, including facilitating shoots with Wilson Advisory Staff members.

• Collaborate with copywriters to ensure visual and textual elements are aligned with the overall campaign strategy, from initial concept to final layout.

• Manage the collection and transfer of design files to foreign and domestic vendors for sampling and production, ensuring all specifications are met.

• Liaise with the Production Staff to define project specifications for quoting and bidding, ensuring designs adhere to defined parameters for quality and execution.

• Provide marketing teams with cost estimates for external creative production expenses on a project-by-project basis.

• Maintain and implement Macintosh computers as primary design and production tools, staying updated on software enhancements and best practices to achieve creative and cost-saving goals.

• Work closely with the Project Manager to track job status, manage time effectively, and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a blend of creative concept development and diligent production management. The need to "build visual centers" suggests the role involves creating overarching creative frameworks that guide broader marketing efforts, requiring a strategic design perspective beyond just asset creation. The mention of "foreign and domestic vendors" and "quoting and bidding" points to the importance of understanding production workflows and cost management in a design context.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Associate’s Degree in Graphic Design or a related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 2 years of in-house or agency graphic design experience, with a proven track record of delivering successful marketing campaigns.

Required Skills:

• Excellent working knowledge of Mac computers and Adobe Creative Suite, specifically:

  • Adobe Photoshop
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • Adobe InDesign

• Proficiency with Figma for collaborative design and prototyping.

• Basic working knowledge of photography principles and lighting techniques.

• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for general business tasks and presentations.

• Basic understanding of print production processes and requirements.

• Strong attention to detail, coupled with excellent organization and project management skills.

• Effective communication skills, essential for presenting information, responding to inquiries, and collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Skills:

• Motion and video design abilities.

• Advanced photography and video production knowledge.

• Experiential design experience, particularly with brand retail environments or event activations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for both an Associate's and a preferred Bachelor's degree, combined with a minimum of 2 years of experience, positions this role as an early to mid-career opportunity. The emphasis on "campaign-level strategy work and design build out" suggests that candidates should be prepared to showcase their ability to think strategically about how design supports broader marketing objectives, not just execute isolated design tasks. The inclusion of Figma alongside traditional Adobe tools indicates a modern design workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2 years of professional graphic design work with a strong emphasis on campaign-level strategy and execution.

• Demonstrations of design versatility across various mediums, including digital (social media, D2C), print, packaging, and experiential/event activations.

• Case studies or project examples that highlight your process from brief to final output, detailing problem-solving approaches and design rationale.

• Examples of work created for sports-related brands or campaigns, if available, to demonstrate industry alignment.

Process Documentation:

• For each project presented in the portfolio, be prepared to articulate:

  • The initial brief and understanding of the project objectives.

  • Your creative process, including concept development and iteration.

  • How you collaborated with stakeholders (e.g., marketing teams, copywriters, photographers).

  • Challenges encountered and how you overcame them.

  • The final outcome and its impact (if measurable).

  • Your role in file management and vendor coordination for production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are heavily geared towards demonstrating strategic thinking and end-to-end campaign execution. Candidates should prepare to discuss not just the final visual output but also the strategic thinking, collaborative process, and production considerations that went into each piece. The mention of "visual centers" implies a need for portfolio pieces that show a foundational creative direction that can be applied across multiple touchpoints.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The estimated pay range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000 per year.

• This range is based on the information provided at the time of posting and reflects base pay only.

Benefits:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Pre-tax transit discounts to support commuting.

• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match.

• Life insurance coverage.

• Paid maternity/paternity leave for new parents.

• Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.

• Company-sponsored volunteering programs.

• Team building outings and activities.

• Discounts on Wilson and Amer Sports products.

• Access to an on-site health club.

• Summer hours to promote work-life balance.

• Company-sponsored sports leagues and teams.

Working Hours:

• The standard working hours are an estimated 40 hours per week.

• The role is on-site in Chicago, IL, implying a traditional office-based schedule.

• Summer hours may offer some flexibility during specific periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range of $65,000-$75,000 for a Graphic Designer with 2-5 years of experience in Chicago is competitive and aligns with industry benchmarks for this role and location. The comprehensive benefits package, particularly the on-site health club, product discounts, and sports-related team activities, reflects a company culture deeply embedded in the sports and active lifestyle ethos. The mention of a "competitive bonus program" (though not detailed) suggests additional earning potential beyond base salary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Sporting Goods Manufacturing and Retail. Wilson is a leading global brand in sports equipment, known for innovation, quality, and its deep connection to athletes and sports culture.

Company Size: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. is part of Amer Sports, a larger international sports equipment company. While specific internal team sizes aren't detailed, Wilson itself is a significant global operation with a substantial employee base across various functions.

Founded: Wilson Sporting Goods Co. was founded in 1913, giving it over a century of history and a strong legacy in the sports industry. This long history signifies stability, deep market understanding, and a continuous evolution of its brand and product offerings.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Team Sports creative team, working under the direction of a Senior Designer.

• This team collaborates closely with broader marketing departments, product teams, and potentially external agencies.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While creative, the role emphasizes developing "visual centers" for campaigns and working with data-informed briefs, suggesting a blend of artistic intuition and strategic alignment.

• Collaborative Workflow: The description highlights partnership with senior designers, marketing teams, and copywriters, indicating a highly collaborative and integrated approach to creative development.

• Process Optimization: Responsibilities include managing file transfers, coordinating with production, and understanding quoting/bidding, pointing to a focus on efficient and effective workflow management.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is described as "team-first," emphasizing qualities like passion, creativity, integrity, ambition, and innovation. They actively seek diverse voices and perspectives, fostering an inclusive environment where employees are encouraged to "live like an athlete." This suggests a dynamic workplace that values performance, collaboration, and a shared passion for sports. The long history of Wilson signifies a stable yet evolving organization.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an early to mid-career opportunity, suitable for a Graphic Designer with foundational experience (2-5 years). It offers a chance to contribute significantly to high-profile sports marketing campaigns and work with major sports leagues and athletes.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a Senior Designer within the Team Sports creative team. This provides a clear line of mentorship and guidance from an experienced professional.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts Wilson's brand perception, marketing effectiveness, and sales performance across its key team sports categories. By developing compelling visual campaigns and assets, they contribute to brand visibility, consumer engagement, and ultimately, revenue generation for these product lines.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific design areas such as motion graphics, video design, or experiential design, which are listed as preferred skills.

• Career Advancement: Progression to Senior Graphic Designer or Art Director roles within the creative team or other divisions of Wilson/Amer Sports.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Opportunities to work on diverse projects across different sports and marketing initiatives, broadening experience and understanding of the business.

• Brand Leadership: Contributing to the visual identity of major sports leagues and athletes provides significant portfolio development and industry recognition.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers clear pathways for growth within a renowned sports brand. The "preferred skills" like motion/video design and experiential design highlight areas where the designer can develop expertise and make themselves more valuable. The direct impact on campaigns for major leagues and athletes provides excellent opportunities for professional development and portfolio enhancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The description mentions Wilson's global headquarters in Chicago as having an "open, collaborative, high tech work environment." This suggests a modern office setup designed to foster teamwork and innovation.

Office Location(s): The role is based at the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. global headquarters in Chicago, IL, located along the lakefront. This prime location offers access to a vibrant professional community.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Atmosphere: The "open, collaborative" environment is conducive to team interactions, brainstorming sessions, and cross-functional communication, which are crucial for design projects.

• Technologically Advanced: A "high tech work environment" implies access to modern design tools, software, and potentially hardware necessary for creative production.

• Team Integration: The role involves close collaboration with the Senior Designer and marketing teams, suggesting a dynamic and interactive workspace where designers are integrated into project workflows.

Work Schedule:

• The role is on-site, requiring the designer to be present at the Chicago headquarters.

• Standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with potential flexibility during "summer hours" periods. This schedule supports consistent team collaboration and project continuity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site nature of the role in Chicago's lakefront headquarters suggests a professional and dynamic work setting. The "open, collaborative, high tech" description points to a modern office designed for innovation and teamwork, which is ideal for a creative role like Graphic Designer. This environment likely facilitates easy communication and idea sharing with colleagues.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative output.

• Creative Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to complete a design exercise or present a selection of their portfolio work, discussing their process, strategic thinking, and problem-solving approaches. This is crucial for evaluating campaign strategy and visual center development.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interviews: Discussions with the Senior Designer and potentially other members of the creative or marketing teams to assess technical skills, collaborative fit, and understanding of brand aesthetics.

• Cultural Fit Assessment: Evaluation of how well the candidate aligns with Wilson's core values (passion, creativity, integrity, teamwork, ambition, innovation) and their ability to "live like an athlete."

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate campaign strategy, visual center creation, and multi-channel design execution. Include work relevant to sports or dynamic brands if possible.

• Tell a Story: For each project, be prepared to walk through the brief, your creative process, design rationale, challenges overcome, and the final outcome. Highlight your specific contributions.

• Showcase Process: Include sketches, mood boards, or early concepts to demonstrate your ideation process, not just final polished pieces.

• Highlight Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio showcases your mastery of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma, and be ready to discuss your workflow.

• Quantify Impact (If Possible): If any of your past work led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign launch), be prepared to discuss those outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, thoroughly analyze the brief, target audience, and objectives.

• Think Strategically: Focus on developing a strong concept and visual direction ("visual center") that aligns with the brand and campaign goals.

• Consider Execution: Be mindful of how your design could be applied across various channels (digital, print, etc.).

• Practice Presentation: Rehearse presenting your solution clearly and concisely, explaining your strategic choices and creative decisions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize the candidate's portfolio, particularly their ability to develop "visual centers" and strategic campaign concepts. Candidates should prepare to articulate their design process, creative decision-making, and collaborative approach, demonstrating how they translate brand strategy into compelling visual narratives. The emphasis on "living like an athlete" suggests that cultural fit and passion for sports will also be key evaluation criteria.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for all graphic design tasks. Proficiency is critical in:

  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design of marketing collateral, D2C assets, and packaging.

• Figma: Required for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially UI/UX elements for D2C platforms.

• Macintosh Computers: The primary operating system for design and production.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

Other Relevant Software:

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): For general communication, project management documentation, and presentations.

• Photography & Lighting Software: Basic familiarity may be needed for image retouching or understanding shoot requirements.

• Motion Graphics/Video Editing Software (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro): Preferred skills, indicating potential use for dynamic content creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is heavily focused on industry-standard design software, with a specific emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. The role requires a deep understanding of these tools for creating assets across various media. The mention of Macintosh computers as the primary platform is a key technical requirement. Proficiency in motion and video design tools is a preferred but valuable asset.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Passion: A deep enthusiasm for sports and the Wilson brand, driving dedication and creativity.

• Creativity: The ability to generate innovative and compelling visual concepts that resonate with athletes and consumers.

• Integrity: Upholding high standards in design execution, communication, and professional conduct.

• Teamwork: A collaborative spirit, working effectively with designers, marketers, and other stakeholders to achieve shared goals.

• Ambition: A drive to excel, continuously improve, and contribute to the success of the team and company.

• Innovation: Seeking new and effective ways to communicate visually and push creative boundaries.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Teamwork: The role emphasizes close partnership with the Senior Designer, marketing teams, and copywriters, suggesting a highly integrated and communicative workflow.

• Feedback-Driven: The process likely involves iterative design based on feedback from various stakeholders, requiring an open and receptive approach to constructive criticism.

• Cross-Functional Communication: The designer must effectively communicate design rationale and technical specifications to diverse teams, including those with less design-centric backgrounds.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's core values are deeply intertwined with the sports industry and a high-performance culture. Candidates are expected to embody these values, demonstrating not just technical skill but also a genuine passion for sports and a collaborative, ambitious mindset. The emphasis on teamwork and integrity is crucial for success in a fast-paced, brand-focused environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Fast-Paced Environment: The sports industry, especially with major league partnerships, operates at a rapid pace. The designer must efficiently manage multiple projects and tight deadlines without compromising quality.

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Strategy: Ensuring that creative execution aligns with overarching marketing strategies and brand guidelines for diverse sports categories and partners.

• Vendor Management & Production Nuances: Navigating the complexities of working with external vendors for sampling and production, ensuring accurate specifications and quality control.

• Adapting to Evolving Trends: Staying current with graphic design trends, digital platforms, and sports marketing best practices to keep Wilson's visual communications fresh and impactful.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Skills: Opportunities to master motion graphics, video editing, or other advanced creative tools through internal training or external courses.

• Sports Industry Expertise: Deepening understanding of sports marketing, athlete branding, and the specific visual languages of different sports leagues.

• Campaign Strategy Development: Gaining experience in conceptualizing and building "visual centers" for large-scale marketing campaigns.

• Mentorship: Learning from a Senior Designer and other experienced creative professionals within Wilson.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the dynamic nature of sports marketing and the need for efficient, high-quality creative output. Growth opportunities are strongly linked to expanding technical skills and gaining deeper insights into sports marketing strategy and execution, directly contributing to career advancement within the company or the broader sports industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a campaign you worked on where you developed the core visual concept or 'visual center.' What was your process, and what were the key challenges?" (Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking and campaign development).

• "How do you approach balancing creative freedom with strict brand guidelines and marketing objectives for a brand like Wilson?" (Assess understanding of brand stewardship and strategic alignment).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about the sports industry and Wilson specifically?" (Gauge passion and cultural fit).

• "How do you embody the Wilson values of passion, creativity, integrity, teamwork, ambition, and innovation in your work?" (Assess alignment with company culture).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Select Impactful Projects: Choose 3-5 projects that best showcase campaign strategy, visual center development, and multi-channel execution.

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, follow a clear story: brief -> strategy -> creative process -> execution -> outcome.

• Highlight Your Role: Be specific about your contributions, especially in concept development and strategic decision-making.

• Demonstrate Technical Skill: Be ready to discuss your use of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and how you leverage these tools.

• Showcase Collaboration: Mention how you worked with others and incorporated feedback.

• Practice Your Pitch: Rehearse your presentation to ensure it's concise, engaging, and within the allotted time.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating both creative talent and strategic acumen. Candidates must be ready to articulate their design process, highlight their ability to develop overarching visual strategies ("visual centers"), and showcase their collaborative skills. A strong understanding of the sports industry and Wilson's brand ethos will be critical.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Wilson careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight campaign-level strategy, visual center development, and multi-channel design execution. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your ability to work within a brand framework and collaborate with marketing teams.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your 2+ years of relevant design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and any experience with sports brands or campaigns. Use keywords from the job description such as "campaign strategy," "visual centers," and "multi-channel design."

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and collaborative approach. Be ready to present your portfolio and discuss how your skills align with Wilson's values and the specific requirements of the role.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Wilson's current marketing campaigns, key athletes/partnerships (NFL, NBA, WNBA, NCAA), and their brand ethos ("live like an athlete"). Understand how design contributes to their success in the team sports 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.

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