Freelance Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Freelance Graphic Designer Company: Red Antler Location: United States Job Type: CONTRACTOR Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations Date Posted: 2025-09-19T00:00:00 Experience Level: 2-5 Years Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for developing visually compelling advertising creatives and email designs that drive performance marketing campaigns for direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands.
• The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with creative teams, strategists, and copywriters to translate client objectives into engaging visual assets across platforms like Meta.
• A key focus will be on leveraging motion design skills in After Effects to create dynamic and effective ad content, alongside crafting clean, user-friendly email layouts in Figma.
• The position requires a strong portfolio showcasing expertise in ad design, email design, and motion graphics, demonstrating an ability to adapt to diverse brand identities and client needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities clearly indicate a focus on performance marketing creative development, aligning it with a specialized area within marketing or creative operations that directly supports GTM strategies. The emphasis on specific platforms (Meta) and metrics-driven design suggests a need for an operations-minded creative professional.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and execute visually appealing and effective ad creatives for digital platforms, primarily Meta, ensuring alignment with client brand guidelines and performance marketing objectives.
• Develop clean, user-centric, and conversion-focused email designs using Figma, integrating brand elements and compelling calls-to-action.
• Collaborate with copywriters to ensure seamless integration of text and visuals in ad campaigns, optimizing for impact and clarity.
• Utilize After Effects to create dynamic motion graphics for advertisements, incorporating expressions where necessary to enhance visual storytelling and engagement.
• Work closely with internal creative teams and email strategists to understand client goals, project scope, and deliver designs that meet strategic requirements.
• Stay abreast of current design trends, platform best practices, and emerging visual styles to ensure Red Antler's creative output remains cutting-edge and competitive.
• Conduct thorough quality checks on all design assets before internal review, ensuring accuracy, brand consistency, and technical readiness for deployment.
• Contribute to shaping the creative direction for clients, from early-stage startups to established brands, by providing innovative design solutions.
• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, effectively prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities are framed to emphasize the operational aspects of creative production within a performance marketing context, focusing on client goals, platform best practices, and cross-functional collaboration. This highlights the need for an organized and strategic approach to creative asset development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Digital Media, or a related field is typically expected for this level of creative role and may be preferred by employers.

Experience:

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience as a Graphic Designer, with a demonstrable focus on digital advertising creative and email design.
• Proven experience working within an agency setting or on multiple client projects, showcasing an ability to manage diverse brand identities and project requirements.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Fundamentals: Strong understanding of typography, color theory, layout, and visual hierarchy.
• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency in Photoshop for image manipulation and ad creation, and After Effects for motion graphics and animation.
• Figma Proficiency: Demonstrated skill in using Figma for UI/UX design, specifically for email layouts and digital assets.
• Motion Design: Experience creating engaging motion graphics for advertising, including familiarity with After Effects expressions.
• Digital Advertising Design: Proven ability to design ads that are optimized for platforms like Meta, considering aspect ratios, file formats, and engagement best practices.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Client Management: Ability to interpret client briefs, manage feedback, and deliver designs that meet client expectations and brand requirements.
• Project Management: Capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Agency Experience: Prior experience working in a performance marketing agency or a fast-paced creative agency environment.
• Performance Marketing Acumen: Understanding of how design impacts key performance metrics such as click-through rates (CTR), conversion rates, and return on ad spend (ROAS).
• A/B Testing Knowledge: Familiarity with designing variations of creatives for A/B testing purposes.
• Animation Expressions: Deeper knowledge of After Effects expressions for advanced animation and dynamic content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" are tailored to emphasize the operational aspects of design within a marketing context. "Performance Marketing Acumen" and "A/B Testing Knowledge" are inferred as highly valuable for a role focused on driving results for DTC brands, even if not explicitly stated as mandatory.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2 years of graphic design work, with a distinct emphasis on digital ad creatives (especially for platforms like Meta) and email designs.
• The portfolio should clearly demonstrate proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, After Effects) and Figma, with examples of motion graphics and animated ads.
• Case studies or project descriptions should highlight the design process, problem-solving approach, and the impact of the designs on client objectives or campaigns.
• Visual examples of email designs should be clean, well-structured, and reflect an understanding of user experience and conversion optimization.
• Evidence of the ability to adapt design styles to various brand identities and client industries is crucial.

Process Documentation:

• While formal process documentation is not explicitly requested, the portfolio should implicitly showcase a structured design process, including:
  • Initial concept development and mood boards.
  • Iterative design and feedback incorporation.
  • Final asset preparation and delivery.
  • Any examples of how designs were optimized based on performance data or A/B testing.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio requirements are interpreted through the lens of a performance marketing agency, emphasizing the need for designs that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional and results-oriented. The focus is on demonstrating a repeatable and effective creative process.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 - $80,000 per year (for full-time equivalent, prorated for contractor role) Benefits:

• Healthcare Coverage: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401k Plan: Retirement savings plan with potential company matching.
• Unlimited PTO: Flexible paid time off policy, encouraging work-life balance and employee well-being.

Working Hours:

• This is a contractor role, expected to align with standard US business hours for collaboration and project delivery. While specific hourly requirements are not stated, a commitment equivalent to a full-time role (approximately 40 hours per week) is likely expected to manage multiple client projects effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is for a full-time equivalent. As this is a contractor role, the actual compensation might be structured as an hourly rate or a project-based fee, which would need to be negotiated. The benefits listed are typically associated with full-time employment but are advertised as part of the overall offering, suggesting potential conversion or a contractor package that mirrors some of these perks.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing and Advertising (Performance Marketing Agency) Company Size: Red Antler is described as a "fast-growing performance marketing agency." While an exact employee count isn't provided, the context suggests a dynamic, scaling organization, likely ranging from 50-200 employees, allowing for specialized teams while maintaining agility. Founded: The company description implies a focus on direct-to-consumer (DTC) brands, suggesting a relatively modern founding date or a strategic pivot towards this market. The emphasis on "purpose-driven" brands and a "performance marketing" approach indicates a focus on measurable results and brand impact.

Team Structure:

• The role involves working within a creative team and collaborating with email strategists, copywriters, and potentially account managers or client leads.
• The structure is likely project-based, with designers assigned to specific client accounts or campaigns, requiring close integration with various functional groups.
• Reporting would likely be to a Creative Director or a Design Manager, who oversees the quality and strategic direction of creative output.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: The agency emphasizes "performance marketing," suggesting that creative decisions are informed by data, analytics, and campaign results (e.g., ROAS, CTR).
• Agile Project Management: The fast-paced environment and need to juggle multiple clients imply an agile approach to project execution, prioritizing flexibility and rapid iteration.
• Client-Centric Approach: A core methodology is partnering closely with founders and brands to "make their vision real," indicating a collaborative and responsive client engagement model.

Company Website: https://redantler.com/ (Note: The provided URL red-antler.breezy.hr is for their applicant tracking system, not the main company website.)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context is derived from the description emphasizing "performance marketing," "direct-to-consumer brands," and a "fast-growing" environment. This suggests a culture that values results, agility, and strong client partnerships, which directly influences how creative operations are managed.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a skilled individual contributor at an intermediate to senior level, requiring significant autonomy and expertise in specialized design software and creative execution for performance marketing. Reporting Structure: The Freelance Graphic Designer will report to a manager or lead within the creative department, likely overseeing specific client projects or campaign deliverables. Collaboration will extend across marketing, strategy, and client management teams. Operations Impact: The role's output directly impacts the effectiveness of client campaigns, influencing key performance metrics such as customer acquisition, engagement rates, and ultimately, client revenue growth. Strong creative operations are fundamental to achieving these performance marketing goals.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in motion graphics (After Effects expressions), advanced Figma techniques, and performance-driven creative strategies.
• Client Portfolio Expansion: Exposure to a diverse range of DTC brands, allowing for the development of a broad and impactful design portfolio.
• Agency Experience: Gaining valuable experience in a fast-paced agency setting, understanding client management, and contributing to successful marketing campaigns.
• Potential for Long-Term Engagement: Successful contractors may have opportunities for ongoing project work or a transition to a more permanent role if business needs and performance align.

📝 Enhancement Note: Growth opportunities are framed around developing specialized skills relevant to modern digital marketing and the operational demands of a performance agency. The emphasis is on building a strong portfolio and gaining agency experience.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote contractor position, meaning there is no physical office requirement. The work is performed from the designer's own location. Office Location(s): Not applicable, as the role is remote and specified for candidates within the United States.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration Tools: The designer will need to be proficient with remote collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Zoom, project management software) to communicate effectively with the Red Antler team and clients.
• Independent Work Environment: Requires a self-disciplined approach to manage workload, maintain productivity, and create a functional workspace conducive to creative output and focused design tasks.
• Cross-Functional Interaction: Opportunities to interact with diverse teams, including strategists, copywriters, and account managers, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment despite the remote setup.

Work Schedule:

• As a contractor, the schedule is likely flexible but must accommodate collaboration with US-based teams and adhere to project deadlines. An approximate commitment of 40 hours per week is anticipated. The designer must be available for regular check-ins and project discussions during core US business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role implies a need for strong self-management and proficiency with digital collaboration tools. The focus remains on effective project delivery and team integration, regardless of physical location.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Candidates must submit their resume and a portfolio link through the provided application portal.
• Portfolio Review: The initial screening will heavily rely on the quality and relevance of the candidate's portfolio, assessing skills in ad design, email design, and motion graphics.
• Initial Screening Call: A brief call may be conducted to discuss experience, availability, and alignment with the role's demands.
• Design Challenge: Candidates may be asked to complete a small, timed design challenge relevant to the agency's work (e.g., designing a sample ad creative or email layout) to assess practical skills and creative thinking under pressure.
• Team/Manager Interview: A more in-depth interview with a hiring manager or team lead to discuss creative process, collaboration style, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit.
• Final Review: Potentially a final discussion to cover project scope, compensation, and onboarding procedures.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work directly related to performance marketing ads, email design, and motion graphics. Tailor the selection to showcase skills most relevant to Red Antler's client base.
• Showcase Process: Include concise descriptions of your design process for key projects, highlighting how you interpreted briefs, solved creative problems, and achieved client objectives.
• Highlight Impact: If possible, include metrics or testimonials that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., improved CTR, engagement rates).
• Demonstrate Motion Skills: Include video samples or GIFs of your After Effects work, clearly showing your motion design capabilities.
• Figma Examples: Provide clear examples of email designs created in Figma, demonstrating clean layouts and user-centric design principles.
• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and professionally presented.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brief: If a design challenge is provided, thoroughly read and understand the objectives, target audience, and any brand guidelines.
• Time Management: Practice designing within a limited timeframe, focusing on delivering a strong concept and execution rather than perfection.
• Strategic Thinking: Be prepared to articulate the rationale behind your design choices, explaining how they align with the brief and potential campaign goals.
• Tool Proficiency: Ensure you are comfortable and efficient with the required design tools (Figma, After Effects, Photoshop) to complete the challenge effectively.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process is detailed to provide actionable advice for candidates, focusing on demonstrating relevant skills and a strategic approach to creative production in a performance marketing context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • After Effects: Essential for motion graphics, animation, and dynamic ad creation. Proficiency with expressions is a plus.
  • Photoshop: Crucial for image editing, retouching, and creating static ad creatives.
  • Illustrator: Useful for vector graphics, logos, and icon design.
• Figma: Primary tool for email design, wireframing, and creating digital assets. Requires strong UI/UX design principles.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, a basic understanding of how design impacts metrics like CTR, conversion rates, and engagement is beneficial. Familiarity with A/B testing platforms is a plus.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how creative assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CRM-driven campaigns can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis is on core design software essential for performance marketing creative production. Familiarity with the impact of design on analytics is highlighted as a desirable trait for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Purpose-Driven Work: A commitment to helping brands with purpose make a real impact, fostering a sense of meaning in the work.
• High Energy & Drive: An expectation of team members showing up with enthusiasm and a strong work ethic.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Emphasis on working together to achieve client goals and collective success, rather than internal competition.
• Quality & Excellence: A drive to deliver "top-notch designs" and "awesome" creative that clients love.
• Continuous Improvement: Staying "fresh" and keeping work "sharp and cutting-edge" by monitoring design trends.
• Efficiency & Effectiveness: Designing assets that are not only visually appealing but also "effective" and "hit hard" in performance campaigns.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with strategists, copywriters, and other creative team members to ensure cohesive campaign development.
• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that embraces feedback and iteration to refine designs and meet client objectives.
• Agile and Responsive: The ability to adapt quickly to changing project needs and client feedback in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive Communication: Maintaining open lines of communication to ensure alignment and address any potential issues promptly.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture and values highlight a dynamic, results-oriented environment where collaboration and a commitment to high-quality, impactful creative are paramount. This informs how candidates should approach interactions and present their work.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance: The primary challenge is creating visually compelling designs that also meet specific performance marketing objectives and client KPIs.
• Adapting to Diverse Brands: Effectively capturing the unique brand voice and aesthetic for a wide range of DTC clients, from startups to established companies.
• Fast-Paced Agency Environment: Managing multiple projects with tight deadlines and evolving client needs requires strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously learning and adapting to new design trends, platform updates, and best practices in digital advertising and email marketing.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Skill Enhancement: Deepen expertise in motion graphics (After Effects expressions), advanced Figma features, and performance-driven creative strategies.
• Industry Exposure: Gain exposure to the latest trends and strategies in performance marketing and DTC brand building through client work.
• Portfolio Building: Develop a robust portfolio with diverse client examples, showcasing a wide range of creative solutions and measurable impact.
• Agency Best Practices: Learn and apply best practices in client communication, project management, and creative workflow within a professional agency setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are framed around the operational demands of a performance marketing agency, emphasizing the need for adaptability, strategic thinking, and continuous learning. Growth opportunities align with skill development and career progression within this specialized field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Creative Process: "Describe your process for designing a new ad campaign from brief to final delivery. How do you ensure the design aligns with both brand identity and performance goals?" (Prepare to walk through a specific project, highlighting your methodology for balancing aesthetics and effectiveness).
• Collaboration & Feedback: "How do you typically collaborate with copywriters or strategists on campaign assets? How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs?" (Focus on your communication skills and ability to incorporate feedback constructively).
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine a client's ad campaign is underperforming. How might you, as a designer, contribute to diagnosing and improving the creative elements?" (Think about how design choices impact CTR, engagement, and conversions).
• Tool Proficiency: "Can you walk us through your experience with Figma for email design, or demonstrate a specific After Effects technique you frequently use for ads?" (Be ready to discuss specific features and workflows).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What attracts you to working with DTC brands and performance marketing?" (Showcase an understanding of this niche and your enthusiasm for driving results).
• "How do you stay updated on design trends relevant to digital advertising?" (Mention specific resources, blogs, or industry publications).
• "How do you maintain a positive and productive work environment as a remote contractor?" (Highlight your self-discipline, communication habits, and commitment to teamwork).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each featured project, explain the client's objective, the problem you were solving, your design approach, and the outcome (if measurable).
• Highlight Key Skills: Clearly showcase examples of your motion graphics work in After Effects and your email design work in Figma.
• Demonstrate Adaptability: Show a range of styles and industries to prove your ability to cater to diverse client needs.
• Focus on Performance: If possible, include data points or insights that illustrate how your designs contributed to campaign success.
• Concise and Clear: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful pieces and relevant details.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation advice is tailored to assess the candidate's ability to perform in a performance marketing context, emphasizing strategic thinking, collaboration, and results-orientation in their creative output.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this freelance operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link, ensuring your resume and a link to your relevant portfolio are included.
• Curate your portfolio to prominently feature work showcasing digital ad design (especially for platforms like Meta), email design in Figma, and motion graphics in After Effects. Tailor the selection to demonstrate your ability to create effective, brand-aligned creative for DTC clients.
• Prepare a concise overview of your design process for 1-2 key projects, highlighting how you approach client briefs, problem-solve, and integrate performance considerations into your creative work.
• Research Red Antler and their focus on performance marketing for DTC brands. Understand their client base and the types of campaigns they run to better align your application and interview responses.
• Practice articulating your skills: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (particularly After Effects) and Figma, and how you leverage these tools to achieve client objectives.

⚠️ 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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