Graphic Designer

hello82
Full-timeLos Angeles, United States

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: hello82

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Job Type: Full-time, Salaried

Category: Creative Operations / Marketing Design

Date Posted: August 14, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (1-3 years)

Remote Status: Remote

🚀 Role Summary

  • This role offers a unique opportunity to blend creative design expertise with a passion for K-Pop culture, focusing on visual asset creation for album packaging, merchandise, and promotional materials.

  • The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in translating K-Pop artist aesthetics and brand vision into compelling visual content for a global audience.

  • Success in this role requires a strong understanding of current design trends within the music industry, particularly K-Pop, and the ability to execute designs that resonate with fan bases.

  • The position emphasizes collaboration with marketing, art direction, and production teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging and high-quality visual output across all platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and required understanding of K-Pop culture indicate a specialized role within marketing or creative operations, focusing on the visual identity and promotional materials for K-Pop artists. This isn't a general graphic design role; it requires deep cultural immersion.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Conceptualize and execute visually engaging designs for album packaging, merchandise, and various marketing collateral, ensuring alignment with K-Pop artist branding and thematic elements.

  • Collaborate closely with art directors, marketing teams, and A&R departments to translate creative briefs into high-impact visual assets for digital and print media.

  • Maintain brand consistency and aesthetic integrity across all design outputs, adapting styles to suit diverse K-Pop artist identities and campaign objectives.

  • Develop and refine design concepts for promotional campaigns, social media content, website assets, and other communication materials to maximize audience engagement.

  • Manage the design process from ideation through production, ensuring all deliverables meet quality standards and adhere to project deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

  • Stay abreast of evolving K-Pop visual trends, fan culture, and design aesthetics to inform creative strategies and ensure hello82 remains at the forefront of industry innovation.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only create visually appealing graphics but also understand the nuances of K-Pop fan culture and artist branding. This implies a focus on storytelling through design and an understanding of how visual elements drive fan engagement and artist identity.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

  • Graphic Design Proficiency: Advanced skills in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) for creating a wide range of visual assets, from digital graphics to print-ready layouts.

  • K-Pop Culture Expertise: A deep, demonstrable understanding of K-Pop culture, including visual aesthetics, fan engagement strategies, current trends, and artist branding nuances.

  • Portfolio Excellence: A compelling portfolio showcasing versatility, creativity, and strong design principles across various projects, ideally including music-related or fan-focused work.

  • Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy in typography, color palettes, layout, and adherence to brand guidelines and production specifications.

  • Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts, receive constructive feedback, and work effectively within cross-functional teams.

  • Project Management: Proven ability to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a dynamic, fast-paced work environment.

Preferred Skills:

  • Specialized Design Experience: Prior experience in album packaging design, merchandise creation, or product branding within the entertainment or music industry.

  • Korean Language Proficiency: Basic to intermediate Korean language skills would be beneficial for direct communication with artists, creative teams, and understanding cultural context.

  • Motion Graphics/Video Editing: Familiarity with motion graphics software (e.g., After Effects) or video editing tools (e.g., Premiere Pro) for creating dynamic visual content.

  • Social Media Design: Experience designing engaging visuals specifically for social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, etc.) to maximize reach and interaction.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "1-3 years of experience" positions this as an entry to mid-level role. The emphasis on K-Pop culture and aesthetics is a critical differentiator, suggesting that candidates with a genuine passion and understanding of this niche will be highly valued over general design experience alone.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • Design Versatility: Showcase a range of design projects demonstrating adaptability across different styles, mediums (digital, print), and target audiences, with a focus on projects relevant to music, entertainment, or youth culture.

  • K-Pop Aesthetic Alignment: Include examples that clearly reflect an understanding of K-Pop visual trends, album art styles, fan merchandise design, and promotional material creation.

  • Brand Identity Development: Present case studies that illustrate the process of developing or maintaining a brand's visual identity, highlighting how designs support overall brand messaging and artist persona.

  • Problem-Solving Through Design: Demonstrate how design solutions were used to overcome specific challenges, such as creating impactful visuals within budget constraints or enhancing fan engagement through creative execution.

Process Documentation:

  • Workflow Visualization: Be prepared to discuss and potentially illustrate your typical design workflow, from receiving a brief to final asset delivery, highlighting key stages of concept development, iteration, and feedback integration.

  • Collaboration Process: Articulate how you collaborate with stakeholders (e.g., marketing managers, art directors, artists), including your approach to receiving and implementing feedback to ensure design alignment and project success.

  • Trend Integration: Explain your process for staying updated on design trends, particularly within the K-Pop industry, and how you incorporate these insights into your design work while maintaining originality.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer role in this niche, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond showcasing technical skill; it must prove cultural relevance and an understanding of the K-Pop visual language. The ability to articulate design processes and how they integrate with team workflows will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to support employee well-being.

  • Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay to ensure work-life balance.

  • Remote Work Flexibility: The ability to work from anywhere, providing autonomy and convenience.

  • Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and access to design resources to enhance skills and stay current with industry trends.

  • Creative Environment: Exposure to exciting projects within the dynamic K-Pop music industry, working with talented artists and teams.

  • 401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan with potential company matching contributions.

Working Hours:

  • The role requires a commitment of 40 hours per week, with specific working hours from Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM local time (Los Angeles, CA). This schedule is designed to facilitate collaboration with teams and artists across different time zones, particularly those in Asia.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified working hours (10:30 AM - 7:30 PM PST) are critical. This is likely to align with business hours in Korea and other relevant Asian markets, indicating a need for candidates who can adapt to this schedule for effective cross-border collaboration. Salary estimates are based on typical US market rates for this experience level and location, adjusted for the specialized industry.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry:

Company Size:

Founded:

Team Structure:

  • The Graphic Designer will likely be part of a Marketing or Creative department, working closely with Art Directors, Social Media Managers, Content Creators, and potentially A&R or Artist Management teams.

  • Reporting structure would typically be to a Creative Director or Head of Marketing, with direct collaboration lines to project leads for specific artist campaigns.

Methodology:

  • hello82's approach likely involves data-driven insights into fan engagement and market trends to inform design strategies, ensuring creative output is both aesthetically compelling and commercially effective.

  • Workflow optimization is key, enabling efficient production of high-quality assets for multiple campaigns and artists simultaneously.

  • Automation may be used for asset management or distribution, but the core design process relies on creative human input and iterative refinement.

Company Website: https://www.hello82.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding hello82's focus on K-Pop is crucial. The company culture will likely be energetic, trend-conscious, and deeply connected to fan communities. The design role is integral to this, requiring an appreciation for the emotional connection fans have with artists and their visual identities.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

Reporting Structure:

Operations Impact:

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunity to develop specialized skills in areas like album packaging design, motion graphics for music videos, or digital marketing asset creation, becoming an expert in a specific niche within K-Pop design.

  • Senior Designer/Art Director Track: Progression to Senior Graphic Designer or Art Director roles, involving greater creative leadership, project management, and strategic input on visual campaigns.

  • Cross-Functional Movement: Potential to move into related roles within marketing, content creation, or artist relations, leveraging design expertise in broader strategic capacities.

  • Industry Networking: Building connections within the K-Pop industry through artist collaborations and project work, opening doors for future opportunities.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a designer passionate about K-Pop, this role offers a clear path to specialize in a highly sought-after niche. The growth trajectory would involve deepening expertise in K-Pop aesthetics and potentially taking on more creative leadership responsibilities.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type:

Office Location(s):

Workspace Context:

  • As a remote role, individuals will manage their own workspace. The environment is expected to be collaborative through digital tools, requiring strong self-discipline and effective virtual communication.

  • Access to necessary design software and hardware is expected to be provided by the candidate, though specific company policies may vary.

Work Schedule:

  • The standard work schedule is Monday to Friday, 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM PST. This specific timing is crucial for synchronizing with teams and artists in different time zones, particularly in Asia, ensuring effective collaboration during core business hours for key stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature combined with specific, non-traditional working hours requires candidates who are self-motivated, organized, and comfortable with asynchronous and synchronized communication across different global time zones.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: A review of your resume and a link to your portfolio to assess qualifications and design relevance.

  • Portfolio Presentation & Assessment: Candidates will be asked to present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, and their understanding of K-Pop aesthetics and trends. Be prepared to articulate your design choices and how they align with brand objectives.

  • Skills/Technical Interview: May include a brief design challenge or questions related to Adobe Creative Suite proficiency and problem-solving approaches.

  • Cultural Fit Interview: Discussion to gauge alignment with hello82's fast-paced, collaborative, and K-Pop-centric culture, and to assess communication and teamwork skills.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term contributions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest and most relevant projects. Prioritize work that showcases your understanding of K-Pop aesthetics, album art, merchandise design, or similar fan-focused visual content.

  • Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, your creative process, challenges faced, and the final outcome. Use visuals effectively to guide the reviewer.

  • Highlight K-Pop Relevance: Explicitly explain your connection to and understanding of K-Pop culture and how it informed your design decisions in relevant projects.

  • Showcase Software Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates mastery of Adobe Creative Suite tools, potentially including examples of complex photo manipulation, vector illustration, and layout design.

  • Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually polished. A link to a professional online portfolio (e.g., Behance, personal website) is essential.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Design Brief Interpretation: Practice interpreting design briefs quickly and identifying key objectives, target audience, and stylistic requirements.

  • Trend Analysis: Familiarize yourself with current K-Pop visual trends, color palettes, typography, and common design motifs used by popular groups and agencies.

  • Software Proficiency: Be ready to discuss specific techniques or tools within Adobe Creative Suite that you would use to execute a given design task efficiently.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component of the application. Candidates should tailor their portfolio presentation to highlight their passion and expertise in K-Pop visual culture. Expect to defend design choices and demonstrate cultural fluency.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Adobe Photoshop: For raster image editing, photo manipulation, digital painting, and creating detailed visual assets.

  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logo design, illustration, typography, and creating scalable design elements for branding and merchandise.

  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design, creating multi-page documents like album booklets, packaging mockups, and promotional brochures.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

  • Not directly applicable to the core design function, but familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) for workflow tracking and collaboration is advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. Proficiency in these tools is the foundation for all design output. Experience with project management software will aid in navigating the fast-paced workflow.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Passion for K-Pop: A genuine enthusiasm for K-Pop culture, music, and artists is fundamental, driving creativity and cultural relevance in design work.

  • Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging novel ideas and pushing creative boundaries to produce visually unique and impactful content that stands out in a competitive market.

  • Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive environment where team members share ideas, provide constructive feedback, and work together towards common goals.

  • Attention to Detail: A commitment to excellence in every aspect of design, from conceptualization to final execution, ensuring high-quality deliverables.

  • Adaptability & Agility: The ability to respond quickly to changing trends, project demands, and feedback in a dynamic industry environment.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-Functional Integration: Seamlessly working with marketing, A&R, and artist management teams to ensure design outputs align with broader campaign strategies and artist identities.

  • Open Communication: Encouraging transparent dialogue, active listening, and constructive feedback exchange to refine designs and achieve optimal results.

  • Shared Vision: Contributing to and aligning with the overall visual direction and brand identity of hello82 and the artists it represents.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ideal candidate will not only be a skilled designer but also a cultural enthusiast who thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment driven by a shared passion for K-Pop.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Rapid Trend Cycles: Keeping pace with the constantly evolving visual trends and fan expectations within the K-Pop industry requires continuous learning and adaptation.

  • Balancing Brand Identity: Maintaining a cohesive visual identity across diverse K-Pop artists, each with their unique concepts and fan bases, while adhering to hello82's brand guidelines.

  • Fast-Paced Production: Managing multiple design projects simultaneously under tight deadlines, common in the music and entertainment industry, demands efficient workflow and prioritization skills.

  • Remote Collaboration Dynamics: Effectively collaborating and communicating with team members and artists across different time zones and locations requires strong organizational and virtual communication skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • K-Pop Design Specialization: Deepening expertise in the specific design nuances and visual language of the K-Pop industry through hands-on project experience.

  • Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into music marketing, artist branding, and global fan engagement strategies by working on high-profile K-Pop projects.

  • Creative Tool Advancement: Opportunities to explore and master new design software, techniques, and digital art forms relevant to entertainment marketing.

  • Mentorship: Potential to learn from experienced Art Directors and Creative Leads within hello82, gaining valuable industry knowledge and career guidance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is staying current with K-Pop trends and executing designs that resonate authentically with fans. Growth opportunities are significant for designers passionate about this niche, offering specialized skill development and industry immersion.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • Design Philosophy & K-Pop Influence: Be prepared to discuss your personal design philosophy and how your understanding of K-Pop culture and visual trends informs your creative process and decision-making. Provide specific examples from your portfolio.

  • Portfolio Walkthrough: Articulate the strategy, process, and impact of your most relevant design projects. Explain why you made specific creative choices and how they addressed the project's objectives, especially if related to music or fan engagement.

  • Problem-Solving Scenarios: Anticipate questions about how you would handle design challenges, such as tight deadlines, conflicting feedback, or the need to adapt a design for different platforms. Discuss your process for seeking clarification and ensuring project success.

  • Collaboration & Feedback: Describe your experience working in cross-functional teams and how you incorporate feedback from stakeholders, including artists or management.

Company & Culture Questions:

  • Passion for K-Pop: Demonstrate your genuine interest and knowledge of K-Pop. Be ready to discuss your favorite artists, trends, or visual styles within the genre.

  • hello82 Understanding: Show that you have researched hello82's mission, recent projects, and overall brand presence. Explain why you are excited about contributing to their work.

  • Remote Work Effectiveness: Discuss how you maintain productivity, stay organized, and collaborate effectively in a remote work setting, especially with the specific working hours required.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Narrative Focus: Structure your portfolio presentation around compelling narratives for each project, highlighting the problem, your solution, and the results.

  • Visual Clarity: Ensure your visuals are high-resolution and clearly showcase the details of your work. Use minimal text on slides, letting your spoken explanation fill in the gaps.

  • K-Pop Contextualization: For each relevant project, explicitly state how your design choices were influenced by K-Pop aesthetics, artist branding, or fan culture.

  • Software Demonstration: Be ready to briefly discuss the tools and techniques used in your projects, especially if asked about specific software functionalities or workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of creative talent, technical skill, and a deep, authentic connection to K-Pop culture. Your portfolio presentation is your primary opportunity to showcase this blend.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

  • Submit your resume and a link to your professional online portfolio through the application portal.

  • Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio highlights projects demonstrating your graphic design skills, with a strong emphasis on any work related to music, entertainment, K-Pop culture, merchandise, or album art.

  • Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your experience with Adobe Creative Suite, your understanding of K-Pop visual trends, and your ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Interview Preparation: Practice discussing your portfolio projects, focusing on your creative process, problem-solving approach, and how your designs align with K-Pop aesthetics and fan engagement. Be ready to articulate your passion for K-Pop.

  • Company Research: Thoroughly research hello82, its artists, and recent campaigns to demonstrate your understanding of their brand and your enthusiasm for contributing to their mission. Understand the implications of the remote work schedule.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions tailored for a Graphic Designer role within the K-Pop industry. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Application Requirements

1–3 years of professional experience in graphic design is required, along with a strong portfolio. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and a deep understanding of K-Pop culture are essential.