Mid-Weight Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Mid-Weight Graphic Designer

Company: Grapevine Retail

Location: Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Graphic Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-06

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

Remote Status: On-Site

🎨 Role Summary

• Conceptualize and deliver high-quality, brand-aligned visual content for retail environments to enhance customer engagement and support marketing and sales objectives.
• Manage design projects from concept to final artwork with minimal revisions and maintain consistent brand application across all design outputs.
• Design and deliver retail-specific materials that drive customer engagement, such as in-store displays (FSUs, PSUs, wobblers), with measurable visual impact.
• Ensure print production accuracy by preparing and submitting print-ready files with zero technical errors and managing supplier relationships for production.
• Contribute to campaign concepts and brainstorms by actively participating in creative sessions and bringing viable ideas that align with campaign objectives.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and deliver high-quality visual content for retail environments that enhances customer engagement and supports marketing and sales objectives.
• Manage design projects from concept to final artwork with minimal revisions and maintain consistent brand application across all design outputs.
• Design and deliver retail-specific materials that drive customer engagement, such as in-store displays (FSUs, PSUs, wobblers), with measurable visual impact.
• Ensure print production accuracy by preparing and submitting print-ready files with zero technical errors and managing supplier relationships for production.
• Contribute to campaign concepts and brainstorms by actively participating in creative sessions and bringing viable ideas that align with campaign objectives.
• Support digital and marketing design needs by creating and delivering emailers or presentations when needed.
• Improve studio workflow and collaboration by maintaining a project tracking system and having weekly/biweekly check-ins with the sales and studio teams.
• Demonstrate initiative and continuous learning by identifying and applying new industry trends, tools, or techniques that enhance design output.
• Achieve positive performance feedback from the sales team by scoring at least 80% satisfaction rate in quarterly feedback reviews.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Relevant qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field.

Experience: Proven experience as a Graphic Designer for 3-5 years, preferably in a mid-weight role, with a strong focus on retail-specific design experience.

Required Skills:

• Creative Problem Solving: Generates innovative, practical solutions under tight deadlines.
• Visual Storytelling: Translates briefs and strategic messages into compelling, brand-aligned designs.
• Attention to Detail: Delivers pixel-perfect artwork; ensures alignment, color accuracy, and technical precision.
• Time Management: Balances multiple design projects efficiently; meets deadlines consistently.
• Collaboration: Communicates clearly with cross-functional teams; incorporates feedback constructively.
• Retail Design Expertise: Deep understanding of in-store marketing psychology and shopper behavior.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced use of Adobe Creative Suite and preparation of print-ready files.

Preferred Skills:

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
• Experience in designing for retail environments, including specific work with hotspots, FSUs, PSUs, and other POP/POS materials.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing retail-specific design work, including in-store displays, POS materials, and other retail-focused projects.
• Include case studies that highlight your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to meet client objectives.
• Showcase your ability to work with brand guidelines and maintain consistent visual language across multiple touchpoints.
• Demonstrate your understanding of print production processes and the ability to prepare print-ready files.

Process Documentation:

• Include research and discovery phases, showing your understanding of the target audience, market trends, and competitive landscape.
• Document your ideation and iteration methods, demonstrating your creative problem-solving skills and ability to refine designs based on feedback.
• Include validation and testing approaches, showing your ability to measure the impact of your designs and make data-driven decisions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The salary range for this role in South Africa is typically between ZAR 25,000 and ZAR 40,000 per month, depending on experience and skills. This estimate is based on market research and industry standards for mid-level graphic designers with retail-specific experience.

Benefits:

• Opportunities for career growth and professional development within the company.
• Work in a fast-paced, hybrid work environment with a client-first mindset and a positive creative culture.
• Dependable in logistics (own transport, punctuality) and remote working autonomy.

Working Hours: The standard working hours for this role are 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work and collaboration with cross-functional teams.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Advertising Services - Grapevine Retail specializes in in-store branding, helping clients sell more products through high-impact in-store advertising. They take care of all aspects from design, production, and installation.

Company Size: 11-50 employees - As a mid-sized company, Grapevine Retail offers opportunities for growth and collaboration within a dynamic team environment.

Founded: The founding date of Grapevine Retail is not specified, but they have established themselves as leaders in in-store branding.

Team Structure:

• Grapevine Retail has a dedicated studio team responsible for designing high-impact visual content for retail environments.
• The studio team works closely with the sales team to understand client needs and deliver on marketing and sales objectives.
• The studio team is led by a studio manager, who oversees project workflow, resource allocation, and team performance.

Methodology:

• Grapevine Retail follows a user-centered design approach, focusing on the needs and preferences of the target audience to create engaging retail experiences.
• The studio team employs a collaborative design process, involving cross-functional teams and stakeholders throughout the design journey to ensure alignment with brand guidelines and business objectives.
• The studio team uses a project tracking system to maintain visibility and clarity on all deadlines, with weekly/biweekly check-ins with the sales and studio teams.

Company Website: http://www.grapevine.co.za

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years) - This role is suitable for experienced graphic designers with a strong focus on retail-specific design experience, seeking to advance their careers in a dynamic and growing industry.

Reporting Structure: The Mid-Weight Graphic Designer reports directly to the Studio Manager, who oversees project workflow, resource allocation, and team performance. The Studio Manager works closely with the Sales Team to ensure client needs are met and marketing and sales objectives are achieved.

Design Impact: The Mid-Weight Graphic Designer's work directly influences the in-store customer experience, driving engagement and supporting marketing and sales objectives. Their designs contribute to the overall brand presence and visual identity of clients in retail environments.

Growth Opportunities:

• As a mid-sized company, Grapevine Retail offers opportunities for career progression, with potential growth into senior graphic design roles, team leadership positions, or specialized retail design roles.
• Grapevine Retail encourages continuous learning and professional development, with opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and training programs to enhance design skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends.
• Grapevine Retail fosters a collaborative and creative culture, with opportunities to contribute to campaign concepts and brainstorms, driving innovation and excellence in design output.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Grapevine Retail's studio is a dynamic and collaborative workspace, designed to facilitate creativity, innovation, and cross-functional teamwork. The studio is equipped with the latest design tools and software, enabling designers to work efficiently and effectively.

Office Location(s): Grapevine Retail's headquarters is located in Sandton, Gauteng, South Africa, with easy access to public transportation and nearby amenities.

Design Workspace Context:

• The studio is designed to accommodate multiple design projects simultaneously, with dedicated spaces for ideation, collaboration, and presentation.
• The studio is equipped with high-quality printing and finishing equipment, enabling designers to produce high-impact visual content for retail environments.
• The studio team works closely with the sales team, with regular check-ins and collaboration sessions to ensure client needs are met and marketing and sales objectives are achieved.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours for this role are 40 hours per week, with flexibility for remote work and collaboration with cross-functional teams. The work schedule is designed to accommodate the demands of retail-specific design projects and ensure consistency in design output.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• The design interview process for this role typically involves a portfolio review, a creative challenge, and a final interview with the Studio Manager and a member of the Sales Team.
• Candidates are expected to present their portfolio, showcasing their retail-specific design work, design process, and problem-solving skills.
• Candidates are also expected to complete a creative challenge, demonstrating their ability to work under tight deadlines and deliver high-quality visual content that meets client objectives.
• In the final interview, candidates are assessed on their cultural fit, communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight your retail-specific design experience, showcasing your understanding of in-store marketing psychology and shopper behavior.
• Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to work with brand guidelines and maintain consistent visual language across multiple touchpoints.
• Showcase your ability to work with print production processes and prepare print-ready files.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the target audience, market trends, and competitive landscape, highlighting your research and discovery skills.

Challenge Preparation:

• The creative challenge for this role typically involves designing an in-store display or POS material for a hypothetical client, demonstrating your ability to work under tight deadlines and deliver high-quality visual content that meets client objectives.
• Candidates are expected to present their design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to incorporate feedback into their designs.
• Candidates are also expected to demonstrate their understanding of print production processes and the ability to prepare print-ready files.

ATS Keywords: Retail Design, In-Store Marketing, POS Materials, Brand Guidelines, Print Production, Creative Problem Solving, User-Centered Design, Collaboration, Cross-Functional Teams, Design Thinking, Adobe Creative Suite, Graphic Design, Mid-Level Design, Career Growth, Design Portfolio, Creative Challenge

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) - Essential for creating high-quality visual content for retail environments, with advanced features for print production and preparation of print-ready files.
• Sketch - A digital design platform for designing user interfaces and experiences, with a focus on collaboration and prototyping.
• Figma - A collaborative design platform for designing user interfaces, experiences, and design systems, with a focus on scalability and consistency.
• InVision - A digital product design platform for prototyping, user testing, and design collaboration, with a focus on user-centered design and validation.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Slack - A team communication platform for real-time collaboration, with dedicated channels for design teams, sales teams, and project-specific discussions.
• Trello - A project management platform for tracking project workflow, resource allocation, and team performance, with a focus on agile project management and collaboration.
• Asana - A work management platform for tracking project workflow, resource allocation, and team performance, with a focus on task management and collaboration.

Research & Testing:

• Google Analytics - A web analytics platform for measuring user behavior, website performance, and conversion rates, with a focus on data-driven decision-making and optimization.
• Google Trends - A search trend analysis tool for understanding search volume, seasonality, and related queries, with a focus on market research and trend analysis.
• Social Media Listening Tools (e.g., Hootsuite, Sprout Social) - Platforms for monitoring social media conversations, brand mentions, and online reviews, with a focus on customer engagement and sentiment analysis.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Creativity - Grapevine Retail values creativity and innovation, encouraging designers to push boundaries and think outside the box to deliver high-impact visual content for retail environments.
• Collaboration - Grapevine Retail values collaboration and teamwork, fostering a culture of shared knowledge, support, and contribution to a positive creative culture.
• Client-Focused - Grapevine Retail values a client-first mindset, designing with the end-user and business impact in mind to deliver visual content that meets client objectives and drives customer engagement.
• Quality - Grapevine Retail values quality and attention to detail, ensuring consistency in design output, alignment with brand guidelines, and adherence to print production standards.
• Continuous Learning - Grapevine Retail values continuous learning and professional development, encouraging designers to stay up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and best practices.

Collaboration Style:

• Grapevine Retail employs a collaborative design process, involving cross-functional teams and stakeholders throughout the design journey to ensure alignment with brand guidelines and business objectives.
• The studio team works closely with the sales team, with regular check-ins and collaboration sessions to ensure client needs are met and marketing and sales objectives are achieved.
• The studio team uses a project tracking system to maintain visibility and clarity on all deadlines, with weekly/biweekly check-ins with the sales and studio teams.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Working with tight deadlines and multiple design projects simultaneously, requiring strong time management and prioritization skills.
• Balancing creative freedom with adherence to brand guidelines and print production standards, requiring a strong understanding of design constraints and limitations.
• Designing for a diverse range of retail environments and client needs, requiring adaptability and flexibility in design approach.
• Keeping up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and best practices, requiring continuous learning and professional development.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Grapevine Retail offers opportunities for career progression, with potential growth into senior graphic design roles, team leadership positions, or specialized retail design roles.
• Grapevine Retail encourages continuous learning and professional development, with opportunities to attend industry conferences, workshops, and training programs to enhance design skills and stay up-to-date with industry trends.
• Grapevine Retail fosters a collaborative and creative culture, with opportunities to contribute to campaign concepts and brainstorms, driving innovation and excellence in design output.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Describe your design process for creating an in-store display or POS material, highlighting your research and discovery skills, ideation and iteration methods, and validation and testing approaches.
• How do you ensure your designs align with brand guidelines and maintain consistency across multiple touchpoints? Provide specific examples from your portfolio.
• How do you incorporate feedback into your designs, and how do you ensure your designs meet client objectives and drive customer engagement? Provide specific examples from your portfolio.

Company Culture Questions:

• How do you contribute to a positive and collaborative design culture, and how do you support your teammates in achieving their design objectives?
• How do you ensure your designs meet the needs of the target audience, and how do you measure the impact of your designs on customer engagement and business performance?
• How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends, tools, and best practices, and how do you apply this knowledge to your design work and professional development?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Highlight your retail-specific design experience, showcasing your understanding of in-store marketing psychology and shopper behavior.
• Include case studies that demonstrate your ability to work with brand guidelines and maintain consistent visual language across multiple touchpoints.
• Showcase your ability to work with print production processes and prepare print-ready files, demonstrating your attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Demonstrate your understanding of the target audience, market trends, and competitive landscape, highlighting your research and discovery skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Mid-Weight Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Grapevine Retail job listing.
• Customize your portfolio to highlight your retail-specific design experience, showcasing your understanding of in-store marketing psychology and shopper behavior.
• Optimize your resume for design roles, highlighting your relevant skills, experience, and design industry keywords.
• Prepare for the design interview process by practicing your portfolio presentation, creative challenge, and final interview skills, focusing on your design process, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit with Grapevine Retail's collaborative and creative culture.
• Research Grapevine Retail's design values, collaboration style, and company culture to demonstrate your understanding and alignment with their design principles and work environment.