Graphic Designer - Advertising/Marketing (m/f/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - Advertising/Marketing (m/f/d)
Company: adlicious
Location: South Africa
Job Type: Full-time
Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations
Date Posted: 2025-10-20
Experience Level: 0-2 Years
Remote Status: Fully Remote

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to creating compelling visual assets for advertising and marketing campaigns, with a strong emphasis on digital channels and innovative campaign concepts.
• The position requires a blend of graphic design, motion graphics, and potentially front-end development skills to produce dynamic video and display advertisements.
• Collaboration with a global team is a key aspect, necessitating excellent communication and a proactive approach to project execution within an agile framework.
• The role is designed for a creative professional eager to grow within a fast-paced, tech-driven advertising solutions provider.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into digital advertising creative production, motion design, and HTML5 ad creation. This suggests a hybrid "Creative Operations" or "Digital Advertising Designer" function rather than a traditional print or brand graphic designer role. The emphasis on campaign concepts and target groups indicates a strategic creative input, not just execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop innovative advertising and marketing campaign ideas tailored to specific target audiences and client objectives.
• Design and produce dynamic video advertisements, leveraging sophisticated animation techniques with tools like Adobe After Effects.
• Create engaging HTML5 display advertisements using Google Web Designer, ensuring cross-browser compatibility and optimal performance.
• Develop various other advertising materials, adapting to evolving market tools and creative demands.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including marketing strategists, account managers, and potentially developers, to ensure a unified understanding of client goals and project requirements.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Maintain brand consistency and adhere to client guidelines across all created assets.
• Actively participate in team meetings and contribute to brainstorming sessions for new campaign strategies and creative solutions.

📝 Enhancement Note: Responsibilities indicate a need for strong understanding of digital advertising platforms and best practices, beyond pure graphic design execution. The mention of "evolving in the market" tools suggests a proactive approach to learning new technologies and workflows.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• University degree in Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• 1-2 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a significant focus on advertising, digital marketing, or online advertising campaigns. Agency or client-side experience in a digital company, online marketing department, or media agency is highly valued.

Required Skills:

• Expert proficiency in Adobe After Effects for motion graphics and video animation.
• Strong command of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, and Illustrator.
• Solid understanding of advertising industry principles and online marketing strategies.
• Excellent English communication skills, both written and verbal, for effective collaboration in an international team.
• A result-oriented mentality with exceptional time management and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a fast-paced, agile environment.
• Demonstrated ability to learn quickly and adapt to new tools and processes.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Google Web Designer for HTML5 ad creation.
• Familiarity with HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript for web-based advertising.
• Experience using prototyping tools such as Figma for interactive design mockups.
• Experience in developing creative concepts for specific target groups.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a university degree in design, coupled with 1-2 years of experience, positions this as an entry-level to early-career role within operations or creative functions. The emphasis on specific Adobe tools and digital ad formats is critical.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 1-2 years of professional design work, with a strong emphasis on digital advertising and marketing campaigns.
• Include examples of video ads created with sophisticated animations using Adobe After Effects.
• Present a selection of HTML5 display ads, ideally created with Google Web Designer, demonstrating an understanding of interactive design.
• Highlight projects that demonstrate concept development for specific target groups and innovative campaign ideas.
• Feature work that illustrates a structured and organized approach to design projects, including any process documentation or workflow diagrams if available.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly required, candidates who can showcase examples of their design process, from initial concept to final asset delivery, will have a distinct advantage. This could include mood boards, wireframes, storyboards, or style guides.
• Demonstrating an understanding of agile workflows and how design integrates into a broader project management system is beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit request for a portfolio, including specific project types and tools, underscores the practical, execution-oriented nature of this role. Highlighting the "favorite project and why" implies a need for candidates to articulate their creative rationale and impact.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: ZAR 250,000 - ZAR 400,000 per annum.
• Rationale: This estimate is based on typical entry-level to junior graphic designer salaries in South Africa (as of late 2023/early 2024), considering the specified experience level (0-2 years) and the remote work arrangement. The range accounts for variations in specific skill sets (e.g., advanced motion graphics, HTML5 expertise) and the company's stated commitment to a "competitive salary." The company is based in Germany, but the role is remote in South Africa, thus local market rates are used for estimation.
• Data Sources: Salary benchmarks from South African job boards and salary aggregate sites for Graphic Designer roles with 1-2 years of experience.

Benefits:

• 100% Remote Working: Enjoy the flexibility and autonomy of working from anywhere in South Africa.
• Competitive Salary: A salary package designed to be attractive within the South African market for this role.
• Personal Growth: Opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement within an innovative company.
• Supportive Team Environment: Be part of a dedicated remote team in South Africa and Germany that fosters collaboration and mutual support.
• Regular Digital Calls: Frequent virtual team meetings to ensure connection and alignment.
• Online Events: Participation in virtual team-building activities and company events.
• In-Person Meetups: Opportunities to connect with colleagues from the South African team in person.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility expected due to the remote nature and agile work environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary estimation is crucial given the lack of explicit figures and the international company context. It's vital to base this on local South African market rates for a remote role. The benefits highlight the remote-first culture and team integration efforts.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Advertising Technology (AdTech) / Digital Advertising Solutions. adlicious operates at the intersection of media, creative, and technology to deliver personalized advertising campaigns. Company Size: Approximately 90 employees and growing. This indicates a dynamic, mid-sized company with established processes but still retaining a degree of agility and a close-knit feel, especially within teams. Founded: The company was founded in Germany, with its headquarters in Hamburg. The founding date is not specified, but the current growth suggests a relatively established but still expanding business.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of a remote team based in South Africa, working alongside colleagues in Germany.
• This implies a distributed team structure, requiring strong asynchronous communication practices and regular virtual touchpoints.
• Collaboration will likely be cross-functional, involving designers, account managers, strategists, and potentially tech teams.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creative: adlicious emphasizes combining media, creative, and tech, suggesting a data-informed approach to campaign development and optimization.
• Agile Environment: The company operates in an agile setting, meaning iterative development, quick feedback loops, and adaptability are key operational methodologies.
• Client-Centric: The mission to create the "best advertising campaigns for our clients" highlights a strong focus on client success and tailored solutions.

Company Website: http://www.adlicious.me

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the AdTech industry context is vital. This is not a typical brand design role; it's about creating high-performance digital advertising assets that drive client results. The company's size suggests opportunities for impact without being lost in a massive corporate structure.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at the early career stage (0-2 years experience), focusing on execution within the creative operations or digital advertising production domain. It's an opportunity to build foundational skills in a specialized area of marketing technology. Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Creative/Marketing within the adlicious structure. The exact reporting line will depend on the team's specific organization. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts client campaign performance through the creation of effective and engaging advertising materials. High-quality, well-designed ads are crucial for adlicious's value proposition and client retention. The designer's work contributes to the overall efficiency and success of client campaigns managed by the company.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in motion graphics (After Effects), HTML5 ad creation, and potentially UI/UX design for digital ads.
• Campaign Strategy Input: As experience grows, contribute more significantly to the conceptualization and strategic development of advertising campaigns.
• Tool Proficiency: Become proficient in a wider range of creative and ad-tech tools used by adlicious.
• Leadership Potential: With proven performance, potential to move into senior designer roles, team leadership, or specialized creative production management.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain insights into media buying, campaign management, and technology integration within the AdTech space.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames the role within a broader career path. While it starts as an execution-focused role, the description hints at opportunities for strategic involvement and specialization within the AdTech creative field.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: 100% remote. This is a fully distributed role, meaning no physical office is required. Office Location(s): While the company headquarters are in Hamburg, Germany, this specific role is remote and based in South Africa. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Space: The work environment is primarily digital, relying on video conferencing, project management tools, and instant messaging for communication and collaboration.
• Tool-Rich Environment: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Cloud, Google Web Designer) and potentially project management or collaboration platforms.
• Team Interaction: Despite being remote, adlicious emphasizes team connection through regular digital calls, online events, and opportunities for in-person meetups with other South African team members.

Work Schedule:

• Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week).
• Flexibility is inherent in a remote role, but adherence to team schedules for meetings and collaborative sessions is expected. A structured approach to managing one's time is crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "100% remote" and the specific efforts to maintain team cohesion (digital calls, online events, meetups) are key selling points for candidates seeking remote work.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application: Submit CV, letter of motivation, and portfolio.
• Portfolio Review: The hiring team will assess your portfolio for design quality, relevance to digital advertising, proficiency in required tools (especially After Effects), and conceptual thinking.
• Screening Call: A brief call to discuss your background, motivation, and initial fit for the role and remote team culture.
• Technical/Creative Interview: Likely involves a deeper dive into your portfolio, discussion of your design process, and potential problem-solving exercises related to ad creation. This may include a practical design challenge.
• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: An opportunity to meet potential team members and assess alignment with adlicious's collaborative and agile work environment.
• Final Interview: May involve a discussion with a hiring manager or senior team member to finalize the offer.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select your strongest 3-5 projects that best showcase your skills in motion graphics, digital ad design, and conceptual thinking for advertising.
• Highlight Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the client's objective, your role, the creative process, the tools used, and (if possible) the results or impact of your work.
• Explain Your Favorite Project: Be prepared to discuss your favorite project in detail, explaining why it stands out for you in terms of creativity, challenge, or learning. This reveals your passion and critical thinking.
• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly shows work produced with Adobe After Effects and ideally Google Web Designer or similar HTML5 ad tools.
• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. A dedicated section for digital ads is recommended.

Challenge Preparation:

• Anticipate Ad-Specific Tasks: Be ready for a task that might involve creating a short animated ad concept, designing a banner ad for a given brief, or critiquing existing ad creative.
• Focus on Process: Even in a short challenge, demonstrate your structured approach: understanding the brief, ideation, execution, and consideration of target audience/platform.
• Time Management: Practice completing design tasks within a limited timeframe, as often seen in technical assessments.
• Articulate Your Rationale: Be prepared to explain your design choices, tool selections, and how your solution meets the brief’s objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process emphasizes practical skills and portfolio demonstration, which is standard for creative roles. The advice focuses on tailoring the portfolio and preparing for specific types of design challenges relevant to digital advertising.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe After Effects: Essential for motion graphics and video ad creation. Expect to demonstrate advanced animation skills.
• Adobe Creative Cloud Suite:
  • Photoshop: For image manipulation, asset creation, and digital ad layout.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustration assets.
  • InDesign: For layout and potentially creating design templates or style guides.
  • Premiere Pro: For video editing and assembly, especially if video ads require more complex editing.
• Google Web Designer: A key tool for creating HTML5 display ads, responsive banners, and interactive elements.
• Prototyping Tools (Preferred): Figma or similar tools for creating interactive mockups and user flows, especially if designing for interactive ad experiences.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct responsibility for the designer, understanding how ad performance is measured (e.g., CTR, engagement rates, conversion rates) will inform design decisions and creative optimization. Familiarity with basic analytics concepts is beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how creative assets are managed and deployed within marketing automation platforms or ad servers might be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section is critical for operations roles. Listing specific tools and their expected proficiency levels helps candidates self-assess and tailor their applications. The emphasis on After Effects and Google Web Designer is a strong indicator of the role's technical demands.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A drive to create fresh, cutting-edge advertising campaigns that leverage technology and creative ingenuity.
• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and mutual support, especially within a distributed remote team.
• Client Focus: Dedication to delivering high-quality solutions that meet and exceed client expectations.
• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing change, learning quickly, and thriving in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.
• Efficiency: A commitment to structured work processes and optimized workflows to deliver results effectively.

Collaboration Style:

• Digital-First: Primarily relies on digital communication channels (Slack, Zoom, email) for project updates, feedback, and general interaction.
• Proactive Communication: Encourages team members to communicate openly and proactively about progress, challenges, and ideas.
• Cross-Functional Synergy: Values the integration of creative talent with strategic and technical expertise to achieve common goals.
• Feedback-Oriented: Fosters a culture where constructive feedback is welcomed and used for continuous improvement of both individual work and team processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the company's values and collaboration style is crucial for cultural fit. For an operations role, values like efficiency, agility, and data-driven approaches are key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and staying connected with a distributed international team requires strong self-discipline and communication skills.
• Pace of Digital Advertising: The digital advertising landscape evolves rapidly, requiring continuous learning of new tools, platforms, and creative trends.
• Balancing Creativity and Performance: Creating visually appealing ads that also meet specific performance metrics and client objectives can be a constant challenge.
• Managing Multiple Stakeholders/Projects: Juggling various client briefs, project requirements, and feedback from different stakeholders demands excellent organizational and prioritization skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Animation & Motion Graphics: Deepen expertise in After Effects and explore new animation techniques.
• HTML5 & Web Development Fundamentals: Gain stronger skills in HTML5, CSS, and JavaScript to create more sophisticated interactive ads.
• AdTech Industry Knowledge: Develop a deeper understanding of the advertising technology ecosystem, campaign management, and media buying principles.
• Creative Strategy: Grow from an execution role to contributing more actively to campaign strategy and concept development.
• Tool Specialization: Become a go-to expert for specific design or ad-creation tools within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying potential challenges and framing them as growth opportunities is a key aspect of career development advice for operations professionals.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a new advertising concept for a specific target audience. Walk us through an example from your portfolio." (Focus on ideation, research, and execution steps.)
• "How do you ensure your creative work aligns with campaign performance goals and client objectives?" (Highlight your understanding of metrics and how design impacts them.)
• "Tell us about a time you had to adapt your design approach based on feedback or technical constraints. What was your solution?" (Demonstrates problem-solving and adaptability.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in working for adlicious, specifically in the AdTech industry?" (Research adlicious's mission, values, and recent work. Connect your skills and aspirations to their goals.)
• "How do you maintain a strong sense of team connection and collaboration while working remotely?" (Discuss your strategies for communication, engagement, and proactive involvement.)
• "What is your experience working in an agile environment? How do you manage your workflow with iterative feedback?" (Showcase your understanding of agile principles and your ability to adapt.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each project as a narrative: the client's challenge, your solution, the creative process, and the outcome.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is clean, professional, and highlights the visual elements of your work. Use high-quality images and video.
• Tool Demonstration: When discussing projects, explicitly mention the tools used (e.g., "I used After Effects for the animation sequences here...").
• Quantify Impact: If possible, include any metrics or performance data related to your designs. Even qualitative feedback from clients is valuable.
• Enthusiasm for Favorite Project: Clearly articulate why your chosen project is your favorite, showcasing your passion and design philosophy.

📝 Enhancement Note: Providing specific question examples and preparation strategies helps candidates feel more confident and better prepared for the interview process.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-aligned creative position:

• Submit Your Application: Navigate to the provided application link and complete the initial submission requirements.
• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your experience with digital advertising, motion graphics (Adobe After Effects), HTML5 ad creation (Google Web Designer), and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite. Use keywords from the job description.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your most relevant work, focusing on digital ads, video animations, and conceptual campaign ideas. Clearly label projects with tools used and client objectives. Prepare to discuss your "favorite project."
• Write a Compelling Motivation Letter: Clearly state why you are interested in adlicious, this specific role, and how your skills align with their AdTech focus and remote work culture.
• Research adlicious: Familiarize yourself with their services, client examples, and company mission to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding during interviews.

⚠️ 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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