Graphic Designer - Temporary

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - Temporary

Company: 5.11

Location: Costa Mesa, California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-09-18

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop and execute compelling visual concepts for both print and digital marketing materials, driving brand engagement and storytelling.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including copywriters, photographers, and marketing partners to bring creative visions to life, ensuring project success from concept to completion.

• Manage a diverse project workload, maintaining high standards of quality and accuracy across all design outputs, including digital advertising, email campaigns, website assets, and point-of-sale materials.

• Uphold and consistently apply established brand guidelines across all platforms, ensuring a cohesive and impactful brand presence for 5.11.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw input specifies "Graphic Designer - Temporary," this enhancement assumes the role, despite the "temporary" designation, requires a robust understanding of operational workflows within a marketing and creative department, focusing on efficient execution and brand consistency, typical of a full-time role in terms of expected output and skill application. The "Temporary" aspect might indicate a project-based need or a contract role, but the responsibilities are framed to attract candidates with operational design experience.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and design a wide array of marketing collateral, including but not limited to: digital advertisements, email templates, website graphics, point-of-sale displays, store graphics, sales presentations, catalogs, direct mail pieces, brochures, event signage, packaging, and core brand identity assets.

• Translate creative briefs and stakeholder requirements into visually impactful design solutions that effectively communicate key messages and brand narratives.

• Actively participate in the review and refinement process, incorporating feedback from creative leads and stakeholders to iterate designs towards final approval.

• Maintain clear and consistent communication with creative leads and project managers regarding project status, priorities, and adherence to timelines, ensuring efficient workflow management.

• Contribute creative ideas and recommendations throughout the design lifecycle, while also adeptly executing against established creative direction from senior designers and art directors.

• Foster a collaborative design environment by working closely with fellow designers to ensure consistency in visual style, tone, and quality across all creative outputs.

• Diligently manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring accurate project tracking, rigorous proofreading, and timely delivery of final assets.

• Ensure all final design work meticulously adheres to 5.11's brand standards, is technically sound, and is production-ready for print or digital deployment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities have been expanded to detail the breadth of "print and digital marketing materials" and emphasize the operational aspects of project management, stakeholder communication, and ensuring brand consistency, which are critical for a successful designer in a fast-paced GTM environment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Marketing, or a closely related field; or equivalent practical experience demonstrating a strong foundation in design principles and application.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a proven track record in creating engaging visual assets for both print and digital marketing channels.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with a particular emphasis on InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

• Demonstrated experience in designing for websites, email marketing campaigns, digital advertising platforms, and other online media.

• Strong understanding of core design principles: branding, typography, layout composition, color theory, and visual storytelling.

• Ability to interpret and meticulously apply established brand guidelines across diverse formats and media, ensuring brand integrity.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative mindset to effectively partner with creative and cross-functional teams.

• Up-to-date knowledge of current design trends, emerging technologies, and industry-standard software. Preferred Skills:

• Working knowledge of responsive design principles and an understanding of how HTML impacts digital creative execution.

• Experience with project management tools and workflows to manage multiple design tasks efficiently.

• Familiarity with motion graphics or basic video editing for digital content.

• Experience within the apparel, outdoor gear, or tactical industries.

📝 Enhancement Note: The experience level has been inferred based on the typical requirements for a designer handling a broad range of marketing materials and the need for advanced Adobe Suite proficiency. Preferred skills have been added to highlight areas that would further enhance a candidate's suitability for this role within 5.11's industry context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-3 distinct case studies detailing successful print and digital design projects from concept to completion.

• Demonstrations of proficiency in applying brand guidelines and developing cohesive visual systems across various marketing channels.

• Examples of digital design work, including web assets, email campaigns, and digital advertisements, with an emphasis on user engagement and conversion optimization.

• Evidence of strong typography, layout, and composition skills, particularly in the context of marketing collateral and brand storytelling. Process Documentation:

• Showcase a clear understanding of the design process, from initial brief interpretation and concept development through to final production-ready artwork.

• Include examples of how feedback was incorporated and design iterations were managed to achieve stakeholder satisfaction and project objectives.

• Highlight experience with pre-press preparation for print projects and asset optimization for digital platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section emphasizes the need for a portfolio that not only displays creative output but also demonstrates a structured design process and operational understanding, crucial for a role involving cross-functional collaboration and production timelines.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $33.00 - $38.00 per hour. This range reflects the specified hourly rate for a temporary Graphic Designer role in the Costa Mesa, California area, considering the experience level and responsibilities outlined.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• 401(k) retirement savings plan with a generous employer match.

• Employer-paid basic life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.

• Optional voluntary benefits including Hospital Indemnity and Accident insurance.

• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.

• Paid Time Off (PTO), including paid holidays and sick time.

• Casual dress code.

• Employee discounts on 5.11 products.

Working Hours: Full-time, typically 40 hours per week, with the expectation of on-site presence at the Costa Mesa, CA location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range and benefits have been directly extracted from the provided text. The working hours are inferred from the "FULL_TIME" employment type.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Apparel & Outdoor Gear / Tactical Equipment. 5.11 operates within the performance apparel and gear sector, with deep roots in tactical and law enforcement communities, now expanding into a broader lifestyle and adventure market. This context implies a culture that values durability, functionality, and authenticity.

Company Size: 5.11 is a well-established company with a significant presence, likely falling into the mid-to-large enterprise category, indicating a structured but potentially dynamic work environment.

Founded: Founded in 1979, 5.11 has a long-standing history and a strong brand heritage, built from its origins in Yosemite and forged in Quantico. This history suggests a company culture that respects tradition while embracing innovation.

Team Structure:

• The creative team likely includes specialized roles such as Art Directors, Copywriters, other Graphic Designers, and potentially Digital Marketers, all working collaboratively.

• Reporting structure typically involves designers reporting to a Creative Lead or Art Director, who in turn reports to a Marketing Director or VP of Marketing.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, involving close partnerships with Marketing, Product Development, E-commerce, Retail, and potentially Sales teams to ensure integrated campaign execution. Methodology:

• Data-driven insights from marketing performance (e.g., digital ad engagement, email open rates) inform design decisions and iterations.

• Workflow planning emphasizes efficient project management, ensuring timely delivery of assets for marketing campaigns, product launches, and retail initiatives.

• Automation may be leveraged for repetitive tasks in digital asset creation or workflow management, but the core of the role is creative execution and strategic visual development.

Company Website: https://www.511tactical.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Company context has been inferred from the provided description and general knowledge of the 5.11 brand. The focus is on how this context impacts the creative and operations side of the design role.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at an intermediate level (2-5 years of experience), requiring independent execution of design tasks and the ability to contribute creatively while adhering to established brand and project parameters. It’s a hands-on design role focused on output and collaboration.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Lead or Art Director, working within a broader marketing or creative department. This structure provides guidance and oversight while allowing for creative autonomy on assigned projects.

Operations Impact: The graphic designer's work directly impacts the company's brand perception, marketing campaign effectiveness, and overall customer engagement. High-quality, on-brand visuals are critical for driving sales, building brand loyalty, and communicating the company's mission and product value across all channels.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like digital advertising design, packaging, or motion graphics, and potentially gain certifications in advanced design software or techniques.

• Creative Leadership: Potential to move into Senior Designer or Art Director roles, leading projects, mentoring junior designers, and having a greater strategic influence on creative direction.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining experience by working on diverse projects across different marketing functions (e.g., e-commerce, retail, events) can broaden understanding of the Go-To-Market strategy and open doors to related roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career analysis focuses on how this role fits within a typical creative department's structure and offers potential growth paths relevant to design professionals.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is on-site, implying a traditional office or studio environment within 5.11's headquarters or a major operational hub in Costa Mesa, CA. This setting facilitates direct collaboration and access to physical resources.

Office Location(s): Costa Mesa, California, USA. This location is known for its vibrant business community and accessibility within Southern California.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, fostering interaction with other designers, marketing professionals, and project managers.

• Access to industry-standard design hardware and software, including powerful workstations and the full Adobe Creative Suite, is assumed.

• Opportunities for direct communication and brainstorming with creative and marketing teams are inherent to an on-site role, enhancing project efficiency and creative synergy.

Work Schedule: A standard full-time schedule of approximately 40 hours per week is expected, with the possibility of occasional overtime during peak project periods. The on-site nature requires adherence to office hours, which may offer some flexibility within the typical workday (e.g., start/end times).

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment description is based on the "On-site" designation and typical office settings for creative roles, emphasizing collaboration and access to necessary tools.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Presentation: A session where you present your portfolio, discussing your design process, key projects, and how you've met creative briefs and achieved objectives. Be prepared to articulate your role in each project.

• Skills Assessment: Potentially a short design exercise or a discussion about your technical proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and understanding of design principles.

• Team/Stakeholder Interview: Meetings with creative leads, marketing managers, or other cross-functional partners to evaluate collaboration skills, communication style, and cultural fit within the 5.11 team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Focus on 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your breadth of skills (print and digital) and problem-solving abilities.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, your process (concept, iteration, execution), and the outcome or impact. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

• Highlight Operational Efficiency: If possible, demonstrate how you managed timelines, incorporated feedback efficiently, or optimized assets for production.

• Brand Alignment: Show examples where you've successfully worked within or adapted to brand guidelines. For 5.11, emphasize projects that resonate with an active, adventurous, or performance-oriented audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss your approach to design challenges, problem-solving methodologies, and how you handle constructive criticism.

• Familiarize yourself with 5.11's brand identity, current marketing campaigns, and target audience to better tailor your responses and project examples.

• Prepare questions about the team, the creative process, project workflows, and expectations for the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice for candidates, focusing on portfolio presentation and interview preparation tailored to a graphic design role within a brand-focused company.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is essential, specifically:

  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design of brochures, catalogs, direct mail, and point-of-sale materials.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and creation of digital assets.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and detailed illustrations.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for task tracking and workflow management is beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary responsibility, an understanding of how design impacts digital analytics (e.g., click-through rates on ads, engagement on social media, website conversion rates) is advantageous. Familiarity with basic web analytics concepts is a plus. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool proficiency is typically required for this role, but an understanding of how marketing automation platforms (e.g., Mailchimp, HubSpot) use design assets in campaigns is helpful.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tool stack is based on the stated requirements for Adobe Creative Suite and common tools used in creative and marketing operations environments.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance & Durability: Reflecting the brand's core product values, the team likely prioritizes delivering high-quality, robust creative solutions that stand the test of time and effectively represent the brand.

• Purpose-Driven: As stated in the company description, 5.11 is purpose-driven. The creative team likely aligns with this by developing visuals that inspire and empower customers to live life without limits.

• Authenticity & Integrity: Maintaining the brand's heritage and connection to its roots (tactical, outdoor) while expanding its reach requires a commitment to authentic visual storytelling.

• Efficiency & Collaboration: In a fast-paced marketing environment, the team values efficient workflows, clear communication, and strong collaborative partnerships to meet deadlines and achieve common goals.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with marketing, product, and e-commerce teams, acting as visual translators of strategic objectives.

• Constructive Feedback Loop: A culture where feedback is openly given and received, fostering continuous improvement and shared ownership of creative outcomes.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of design trends, new techniques, and best practices to elevate the overall creative output of the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The team culture and values are inferred from the company's mission statement, industry positioning, and the operational demands of a creative role within a marketing department.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Heritage with Evolving Markets: Effectively designing for both the established tactical audience and newer lifestyle segments requires a nuanced approach to visual communication.

• Managing High Volume of Diverse Assets: Producing a wide range of print and digital materials under tight deadlines demands strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Incorporating Technical/Product Details Visually: Translating the functional and technical aspects of 5.11's gear into compelling and accessible visual designs.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Workshops: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses focusing on areas like advanced digital design, UX/UI principles for web assets, or packaging design.

• Industry Trends & Technology: Staying abreast of new design software features, digital marketing trends, and visual communication technologies.

• Mentorship: Learning from senior designers and creative leads within the organization to refine design skills and understand strategic brand management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Challenges and growth opportunities are framed to be relevant to a graphic designer in a company like 5.11, focusing on creative problem-solving and professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for taking a creative brief from initial concept to final approved artwork for a marketing campaign." (Focus on workflow, collaboration, and iteration.)

• "How do you ensure your designs align with brand guidelines while still being innovative and engaging for the target audience?" (Emphasize balancing consistency with creativity.)

• "Walk me through a challenging design project from your portfolio. What were the obstacles, how did you overcome them, and what was the outcome?" (Prepare a STAR method case study.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about 5.11's brand and target audience? How would your design approach cater to them?" (Research the brand, products, and marketing.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Demonstrate an open and adaptable mindset.)

• "Describe a time you had to collaborate closely with a non-creative team (e.g., marketing, product) to achieve a design goal." (Highlight cross-functional communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with your strongest, most relevant projects. For each, clearly state the objective, your specific contribution, your design process, and the results achieved.

• Quantify When Possible: If your designs contributed to measurable outcomes (e.g., increased click-through rates, higher engagement), present those metrics.

• Showcase Versatility: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency across both print and digital mediums, as well as an understanding of typography, layout, and brand consistency.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to answer questions about your creative choices, technical execution, and how you approach problem-solving in design.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to a creative role, emphasizing portfolio demonstration, understanding brand context, and showcasing collaborative and problem-solving skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the recruiting portal.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 5-7 of your most relevant projects that showcase your skills in both print and digital design. Ensure each project clearly outlines the brief, your role, your process, and the outcome. Tailor your selection to highlight experience relevant to apparel, lifestyle, or performance brands if possible.

• Optimize Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your years of experience, technical proficiencies (especially Adobe Creative Suite), and key responsibilities that align with the job description, using keywords like "graphic design," "print," "digital," "branding," and "marketing collateral."

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through your portfolio with a focus on clear storytelling, articulating your design process, and demonstrating how you meet objectives and handle feedback. Be ready to discuss your understanding of brand guidelines and visual communication strategy.

• Research 5.11: Familiarize yourself with the 5.11 brand, its products, target audience, and current marketing efforts. Understand their brand voice and visual aesthetic to better articulate your fit and how you can contribute.

⚠️ 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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