Graphic Designer - Agency

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Mid-Level Graphic Designer (Production-Focused)

Company: Red Caffeine

Location: Wheaton, Illinois (Remote)

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative Services / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Execute high-volume, fast-turnaround design deliverables across digital and print channels, including ads, social media content, email campaigns, and presentations.

• Translate established creative concepts into polished, production-ready assets, ensuring accuracy, brand consistency, and meticulous attention to detail.

• Design user-centered layouts for websites, landing pages, and digital campaigns, creating wireframes and high-fidelity mockups with a focus on UX/UI best practices.

• Edit short-form video content and create simple motion graphics to enhance digital campaigns, optimizing assets for various platforms and formats.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer," the emphasis on production, digital channels, UX/UI, and video editing, alongside collaboration with marketing and account teams, indicates a role that bridges creative execution with marketing operations support, particularly in asset creation and digital campaign delivery. The "Production-Focused" aspect suggests a need for efficiency and volume management within the creative workflow.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Production & Design Execution:

  • Execute high-volume, fast-turnaround design deliverables across digital and print (ads, social, email, presentations, landing pages, etc.).
  • Translate established creative concepts into polished, production-ready assets.
  • Ensure accuracy, brand consistency, and attention to detail across all deliverables.
  • Prepare and package final files for handoff to developers, printers, and media teams.

• UX & Digital Design:

  • Design user-centered layouts for websites, landing pages, and digital campaigns.
  • Create wireframes and high-fidelity mockups using Figma.
  • Apply UX best practices to improve usability, accessibility, and conversion rates.
  • Collaborate with developers to ensure design feasibility and proper implementation.

• Video & Motion:

  • Edit short-form video content for digital channels (social, web, ads).
  • Create simple motion graphics and animations to support campaigns.
  • Optimize video assets for various platforms and formats.

• Collaboration & Workflow:

  • Partner with Art Directors and senior designers to execute creative direction.

  • Manage multiple projects simultaneously while meeting tight deadlines.

  • Incorporate feedback quickly and effectively with minimal oversight.

  • Communicate clearly with cross-functional teams on timelines and deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly define a hybrid role requiring both strong creative production skills and an understanding of digital marketing execution. The emphasis on "production design," "asset creation," and "developer handoff" are key indicators of how this role supports broader marketing operations and Go-To-Market (GTM) initiatives by ensuring brand assets are ready for deployment.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mentioned, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically expected for mid-level roles. Equivalent practical experience will also be considered.

Experience: 3–5 years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within an agency setting or a high-volume in-house creative department.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in Figma for wireframing, prototyping, and high-fidelity mockups.

• Expertise in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Proficiency in Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro for video editing and motion graphics.

• Strong understanding of UX/UI design principles and responsive design methodologies.

• Proven experience in production design, including asset resizing, versioning, and file preparation.

• Demonstrated ability to maintain brand consistency and high attention to detail across diverse deliverables.

• Experience editing short-form video content and creating basic animations.

• Ability to manage multiple projects concurrently and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working in a fast-paced agency or high-volume in-house creative environment.

• Familiarity with design systems and component libraries for scalable design solutions.

• Basic understanding of HTML/CSS and best practices for developer handoff.

• Experience with project management tools such as Mavenlink, Asana, or similar platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Scope of Work (Typical Mix)" section (50% production, 25% UX/UI, 25% video/motion) is crucial for candidates to understand the daily focus and required skill balance. Candidates should highlight experience and portfolio pieces that align with these percentages.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Production Design Showcase: Include examples of high-volume asset creation, resizing, and versioning for various digital and print platforms (e.g., ad campaigns across different sizes, social media assets for multiple platforms, email variations). Demonstrate efficiency and accuracy.

• UX/UI Design Case Studies: Present projects showcasing wireframes, user flows, high-fidelity mockups, and final designs for websites, landing pages, or digital applications. Highlight your process, problem-solving approach, and how you applied UX best practices to improve user experience and conversion. Figma work should be prominently featured.

• Video & Motion Graphics Examples: Showcase edited short-form videos and any simple motion graphics or animations created for marketing campaigns. Demonstrate proficiency in After Effects and Premiere Pro.

• Brand Consistency Examples: Provide instances where you successfully maintained strict brand guidelines across multiple deliverables for a single campaign or client.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly requested for submission, candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal workflow for managing production design tasks, from receiving briefs to final file delivery.

• Be ready to articulate how you ensure brand consistency and accuracy in your work, and how you incorporate feedback from Art Directors and other stakeholders.

• Discuss your approach to preparing files for developer handoff and how you collaborate with development teams to ensure seamless implementation of designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a production-focused design role, the portfolio is the primary demonstration of capability. Emphasize volume, speed, accuracy, and adherence to brand guidelines. For UX/UI and video, showcase problem-solving and technical execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000 annually, commensurate with experience (DOE - Depending on Experience).

Benefits:

• Paid vacation and holidays.

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.

• Short-term disability benefits.

• 401K plan with a 4% company match.

• Paid holiday break (office closed between Christmas and New Year's).

• Home office stipend to support remote work setup.

• Professional development opportunities for skill enhancement.

• Quarterly team events for team building and engagement.

Working Hours: Full-time, approximately 40 hours per week. The role offers flex-time, allowing for some flexibility in daily scheduling, which is beneficial for managing tasks and personal life, especially in a remote setup.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is typical for a mid-level graphic designer in the US, especially in a remote capacity where location-specific cost of living might be less of a factor for the employer, or if the company has a standardized pay structure for remote roles. The benefits package is competitive, particularly the inclusion of a home office stipend and professional development, which are attractive to remote employees.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Marketing & Advertising Agency. Red Caffeine operates within the dynamic marketing and advertising sector, focusing on providing creative services, digital strategy, and brand development for their clients. This industry context means the environment is likely fast-paced, client-driven, and focused on innovation and impactful campaigns.

Company Size: While not explicitly stated, the presence of a structured application process and a range of benefits suggests a company that is established and likely has more than 50 employees, potentially falling into the 50-200 employee range. This size often balances the agility of a smaller firm with the resources of a larger one.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not provided. However, the company's established presence and comprehensive service offerings imply a history of growth and client success.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Creative Services department.

• They will collaborate closely with Art Directors and senior designers, indicating a hierarchical structure within the creative team.

Methodology:

• Client-Centric Approach: The agency's success is driven by client satisfaction, implying a focus on delivering high-quality, on-brand creative solutions that meet client objectives.

• Agile Production: The emphasis on "high-volume, fast-turnaround" suggests an agile methodology for creative production, prioritizing efficiency and rapid iteration.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While not explicitly stated, modern agencies often blend creative intuition with data insights to inform design decisions, especially for digital campaigns and UX/UI.

Company Website: redcaffeine.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding that Red Caffeine is an agency means candidates should anticipate client-facing pressures, evolving project demands, and the need for adaptability. The "Creative Services" department structure suggests a dedicated team focused on design execution, with clear lines of reporting and collaboration.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer. This typically implies an individual contributor role that requires a solid foundation of skills and experience, capable of working independently on assigned tasks with minimal supervision, but still operating under the guidance of senior creative staff or Art Directors. The focus on production means they are expected to be highly skilled executors of creative direction.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to an Art Director or potentially a Creative Director, depending on the specific team structure within Red Caffeine. They will collaborate with peers in design, as well as professionals in marketing and account management.

Operations Impact: While not a traditional "operations" role in the GTM sense, this designer's work directly impacts the effectiveness of marketing campaigns by ensuring assets are visually compelling, on-brand, and optimized for their intended channels. High-quality production design supports brand perception, user engagement, and ultimately, client success, which is the core business driver for an agency. Their efficiency in producing assets also impacts project timelines and resource allocation, indirectly supporting operational efficiency for client projects.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Graphic Designer/Art Director Path: With consistent performance and development, opportunities could exist to move into a Senior Graphic Designer role, taking on more complex projects and mentoring junior designers, or progressing towards an Art Director position, which involves more conceptualization and creative leadership.

• Specialization: The role offers a chance to deepen expertise in specific areas like UX/UI design, video editing, or motion graphics, potentially leading to specialized roles within the agency.

• Client Management Exposure: Through collaboration with account teams, there's potential to gain exposure to client communication and strategic discussions, which can be a stepping stone for roles with more client-facing responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section is interpreted through the lens of how creative execution supports broader business and marketing operations. The growth path highlights typical career progression for designers in an agency setting.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job listing mentions "Wheaton, Illinois (Remote)," indicating that the position is fully remote. This means the primary work environment will be a home office setup.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the "Wheaton, Illinois" designation may indicate the company's headquarters or a primary operational hub. This could be relevant for occasional in-person meetings or team events, though the remote status suggests this is not a requirement.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Autonomy: Employees are expected to manage their own workspace and ensure they have the necessary setup for productive remote work, supported by a home office stipend.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: The work will heavily rely on digital collaboration platforms (e.g., Slack, Teams, project management software) and cloud-based design tools (Figma, Adobe Creative Suite) to connect with team members and access project files.

• Team Interaction: Despite being remote, the company fosters team connection through quarterly events and implies a collaborative culture where remote team members are integrated.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with approximately 40 hours per week. The "Flex-time" benefit allows for some flexibility in daily start and end times, which is advantageous for remote workers managing personal commitments and optimizing productivity throughout the day.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Remote OK" status and "Flex-time" are key indicators of the work environment. Candidates should be comfortable with self-management and proficient in using remote collaboration tools.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely an HR or recruiter screening to assess basic qualifications, experience, and cultural fit.

• Portfolio Review: A critical step where candidates will present their portfolio. Expect to walk through key projects, discussing your role, process, and the impact of your work. Be prepared to articulate how your skills align with the job description's focus on production, UX/UI, and video.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: A practical exercise may be given to assess design skills, problem-solving abilities, and efficiency under time constraints. This could involve creating assets, adapting existing designs, or a small UX/UI task.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager (e.g., Art Director) and potentially other team members to evaluate technical proficiency, creative thinking, collaboration style, and fit within the Creative Services team.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 strong projects that best showcase your production design capabilities, UX/UI work (especially Figma examples), and video/motion graphics skills. Ensure a clear mix reflecting the stated scope of work.

• Highlight Production Efficiency: For production pieces, emphasize speed, accuracy, and the volume of work produced. Quantify if possible (e.g., "Created 50+ ad variations for X campaign").

• Detail UX/UI Process: For UX/UI projects, clearly outline your design process: research, wireframing (show Figma), prototyping, user testing (if applicable), and final mockups. Explain the problem you solved and the outcome.

• Showcase Video/Motion Skills: Present concise examples of edited videos or motion graphics, explaining your role and the tools used (After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Be Ready to Discuss: Prepare to talk about your role in each project, challenges faced, how you incorporated feedback, and the final results.

Challenge Preparation:

• Time Management: If given a creative challenge, plan your time effectively. Prioritize core requirements and deliver a polished, though perhaps not fully exhaustive, solution within the allotted time.

• Tool Proficiency: Ensure you are comfortable and efficient with Figma and the Adobe Creative Suite under pressure.

• Process Articulation: Be ready to explain your thought process and design decisions clearly and concisely.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Production Design" and "fast-turnaround" means interviewers will be looking for speed, accuracy, and the ability to execute consistently. The portfolio review is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: Essential for UX/UI design, wireframing, prototyping, and collaborative design. Advanced proficiency is required.

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations.
  • InDesign: For layout design of print materials, presentations, and digital documents.
  • After Effects: For creating motion graphics and animations.
  • Premiere Pro: For editing short-form video content.

Analytics & Reporting: While not explicitly listed as a direct requirement for this role, understanding how design impacts performance is beneficial. Familiarity with basic analytics tools used to track digital campaign performance (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) would be a plus for understanding design effectiveness.

CRM & Automation: No specific CRM or automation tools are mentioned as required for the designer's direct use, but understanding how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CRM-driven campaigns (e.g., email templates) is advantageous.

Project Management:

• Mavenlink, Asana, or similar: Experience with project management tools is preferred, indicating the need for organization and tracking of multiple design tasks and deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Figma and the full Adobe Creative Suite, including After Effects and Premiere Pro, highlights the core technical requirements. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in these tools, particularly Figma, for UX/UI tasks.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A strong emphasis on delivering high-quality, accurate, and on-brand creative work, especially under tight deadlines.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: The role requires close partnership with Art Directors, senior designers, and cross-functional teams, valuing individuals who can work effectively with others.

• Adaptability & Agility: The fast-paced agency environment necessitates comfort with shifting priorities, rapid iteration, and quick turnaround times.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulousness is crucial for ensuring brand consistency and accuracy across all deliverables, a core value for any client-facing creative work.

• Proactive Mindset: The company values team members who are proactive, take initiative, and contribute positively to project workflows and team dynamics.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Expect to work closely with marketing and account teams to understand project briefs, client needs, and campaign objectives, ensuring design effectively supports business goals.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that embraces feedback and encourages quick iteration to refine designs and meet evolving project requirements.

• Knowledge Sharing: While not explicitly stated, agency environments often foster informal knowledge sharing, especially in remote settings, where team members might share tips, techniques, or resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Key Traits for Success" section in the raw job description provides direct insight into the desired cultural fit: highly organized, comfortable with rapid change, strong time management, open to feedback, and team-oriented. These traits are paramount for success in this agency environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High Volume & Fast Turnaround: The primary challenge will be managing a high volume of design requests while consistently meeting tight deadlines without sacrificing quality. This requires excellent time management and prioritization skills.

• Balancing Production with Creativity: While production-focused, there's a need to maintain creative integrity and brand consistency across diverse projects, ensuring work is not just functional but also engaging.

• Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and communicating with team members and stakeholders remotely requires strong digital communication skills and proactive engagement to stay connected and aligned.

• Evolving Client Demands: In an agency setting, client needs and project scopes can shift rapidly, requiring adaptability and the ability to pivot quickly without compromising project goals.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in UX/UI design, motion graphics, and video editing through hands-on project experience and potentially formal training.

• Industry Best Practices: Exposure to current design trends, UX principles, and digital marketing strategies through agency work and client projects.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Learning how design integrates with broader marketing efforts, account management, and client strategy, providing a more holistic understanding of the business.

• Agency Workflow Mastery: Gaining experience in a professional agency environment, understanding client management, project lifecycles, and high-performance team dynamics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are directly tied to the role's emphasis on production and agency work. The growth opportunities are framed around skill enhancement and career progression within a creative agency.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for handling a high-volume request for social media assets with a 24-hour turnaround." (Focus on organization, prioritization, and efficiency.)

• "Walk us through a project where you applied UX/UI principles to improve a website or landing page. What tools did you use, and what was the outcome?" (Highlight Figma usage, design process, and problem-solving.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple design deliverables for a single campaign?" (Emphasize attention to detail, brand guidelines, and systematic approach.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working at an agency like Red Caffeine, particularly in a production-focused role?" (Research Red Caffeine's client work and values.)

• "How do you manage your time and prioritize tasks when working remotely with multiple stakeholders?" (Demonstrate strong organizational and communication skills.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Prepare a concise presentation (e.g., 15-20 slides). For each project:

  • Context: Briefly introduce the client/project and the objective.
  • Your Role: Clearly state your specific contributions.
  • Process: Detail your workflow, especially for UX/UI (wireframes, Figma) and production (asset creation).
  • Execution: Showcase the final designs, video edits, or motion graphics.
  • Outcome/Impact: Discuss any quantifiable results or how the design met the objective.

• Highlight Production Skills: Specifically point out projects that demonstrate your ability to produce a high volume of assets accurately and efficiently.

• Showcase Figma Expertise: Ensure your UX/UI examples clearly demonstrate your proficiency in Figma.

• Be Ready for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on assessing the candidate's ability to meet the core demands of the role: production efficiency, technical proficiency (Figma, Adobe Suite), UX/UI understanding, and collaborative skills within an agency context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link: https://redcaffeine.bamboohr.com/careers/85

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights experience in production design, UX/UI, video editing, and proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that specifically showcase your production design capabilities, UX/UI work (using Figma), and video/motion graphics skills. Organize it logically for easy review.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Be ready to walk through your portfolio, clearly articulating your role, process, and the outcomes of your projects, especially those demonstrating speed, accuracy, and collaboration.

• Research Red Caffeine: Familiarize yourself with their client work, agency culture, and values to articulate your interest and how you align with their mission.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and industry-standard assumptions. All details, particularly regarding company culture, specific team dynamics, and the exact interview process, should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.