Graphic Designer (Contract)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (Contract)
Company: Exploding Kittens
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Job Type: Contract
Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations
Date Posted: August 26, 2025
Experience Level: 3+ Years
Remote Status: Remote OK (with potential for hybrid/on-site collaboration in Los Angeles)

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role focuses on driving online sales and enhancing customer experience through visually compelling and user-friendly graphic design across digital platforms.
• Key responsibilities include designing Product Detail Pages (PDPs) and email campaigns, with support for paid advertising and social media content.
• The role requires a strong understanding of e-commerce best practices and the ability to maintain brand consistency while optimizing for conversion.
• Collaboration with Senior Graphic Designers, marketing, and e-commerce teams is essential to achieve strategic business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the listing specifies "Contract," the responsibilities and collaboration requirements suggest a need for consistent engagement, potentially leading to longer-term contract work or a transition to a full-time role for exceptional candidates. The "Remote OK" status indicates flexibility for candidates outside of Los Angeles, but proximity to the Los Angeles hub might be beneficial for occasional in-person collaboration or events.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a wide range of marketing assets for the Exploding Kittens brand and its diverse game portfolio across both print and digital channels.
• Develop high-impact content for Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) channels and online retailers, with a specific emphasis on Product Detail Page (PDP) imagery and Amazon A+ Content.
• Create engaging and conversion-optimized email and SMS marketing campaigns designed to drive sales and foster customer loyalty.
• Provide creative support for additional marketing initiatives, including promotional materials, paid advertising creative, event and trade show visuals, and social media content.
• Ensure strict adherence to brand guidelines and consistency across all creative outputs, while simultaneously optimizing designs for peak performance on various digital platforms.
• Effectively manage and prioritize multiple design projects simultaneously within a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment, ensuring the timely delivery of high-quality creative assets.
• Collaborate closely with marketing and e-commerce teams to guarantee that all visual content aligns with brand identity, technical specifications, and platform requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "conversion-focused" creative and "optimizing designs for performance" indicates a need for a designer who understands marketing analytics and can translate data into design decisions, rather than solely focusing on aesthetic appeal. Proficiency with A/B testing design elements within campaigns would be a significant advantage.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience, is typically expected for this level of responsibility in the design industry.

Experience: A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in graphic design is required, with a demonstrated track record of creating impactful visual assets for brands.

Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Expert-level command of core design principles and best practices.
• Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: Advanced proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for asset creation and manipulation.
• E-commerce Design: Proven experience designing assets specifically for online retail environments, including Product Detail Pages (PDPs) and Amazon A+ Content, with a strong understanding of retailer image specifications and best practices.
• Brand Consistency Management: Ability to maintain and enforce brand guidelines across all design outputs to ensure a cohesive brand identity.
• Organizational and Time Management: Excellent organizational skills and the proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet tight deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Project Management Tool Familiarity: Experience utilizing project management platforms such as Monday.com or similar tools for task tracking, collaboration, and workflow management.
• Digital Marketing Asset Creation: Experience in designing creative for paid advertisements and social media content.

Preferred Skills:

• Illustration Skills: Ability to create original illustrations to enhance brand storytelling and visual appeal.
• Animation/Motion Graphics: Experience with creating animated elements or motion graphics for digital campaigns.
• Video Editing Capabilities: Basic video editing skills for short-form promotional content.
• Interest in Games: A genuine passion for or interest in card and board games, which can inform design choices and brand understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "bonus points" for illustration, animation, and video editing suggest that candidates with a broader skillset beyond static graphic design will be highly competitive. Demonstrating these skills in the portfolio will significantly strengthen an application. The "interest in card and board games" is a cultural fit indicator, suggesting candidates who can connect with the company's core product.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of graphic design work, with a strong emphasis on digital marketing assets.
• Specific examples of Product Detail Page (PDP) designs and Amazon A+ Content, highlighting how the designs drove engagement or sales.
• Demonstrations of email campaign designs, illustrating effective use of visual hierarchy, call-to-actions, and brand storytelling.
• Case studies or project examples that illustrate the design process, from concept to final execution, including any optimization or iteration based on performance data.
• Evidence of maintaining brand consistency across various digital platforms and marketing materials.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly required for submission, applicants should be prepared to discuss their design process, including:
  • Workflow for receiving briefs, ideation, design execution, and revisions.
  • Methods for collaborating with marketing and e-commerce teams to gather feedback and ensure alignment.
  • Strategies for optimizing designs based on performance metrics and conversion data.
  • How they manage project timelines and deliverables using project management tools.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for a portfolio submission is critical. Candidates should curate their portfolio to prominently feature work directly relevant to the responsibilities outlined, particularly e-commerce and email design. Quantifiable results or metrics associated with design projects (e.g., increased click-through rates, improved conversion rates) are highly valuable.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a contract position without a specified rate, and given the Los Angeles location and 3+ years of experience requirement, a competitive hourly rate would likely fall within the range of $25 - $45 USD per hour, depending on the depth of experience, specific skill set (especially preferred skills), and the exact nature of the contract (full-time equivalent hours vs. part-time).

Benefits: As this is a contract role, standard full-time employee benefits are typically not included. However, potential benefits might include:

• Flexible work arrangements (remote work).
• Opportunity to work with a well-known and innovative entertainment brand.
• Exposure to high-volume e-commerce and digital marketing projects.
• Potential for extension or future contract opportunities based on performance.

Working Hours: The position likely requires a commitment of approximately 40 hours per week, consistent with a full-time contract role, unless otherwise specified by the contract terms. Flexibility in daily hours may be possible, provided project deadlines and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: Contract roles often have different compensation structures than full-time positions. It's advisable for candidates to research typical contract graphic designer rates in the Los Angeles area for similar experience levels. Freelancers or contractors often factor in self-employment taxes, benefits, and potential downtime when setting their rates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: The company operates in the Entertainment & Gaming industry, specifically focusing on innovative and engaging tabletop games, digital games, and related media. This industry is characterized by creativity, a strong sense of community, and a focus on fun and playfulness.

Company Size: Exploding Kittens has grown significantly since its Kickstarter origins, now a substantial company with a considerable employee base. Being a mid-to-large sized company means there are established processes and structures, but also opportunities for direct impact and cross-functional collaboration.

Founded: Exploding Kittens was founded in 2015, originating from a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Its history is rooted in disrupting traditional game markets and building a strong, passionate community around its products. This founding ethos likely influences its current culture, emphasizing innovation, creativity, and direct engagement with its audience.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will likely report to a Senior Graphic Designer or a Creative Director.
• Close collaboration is expected with the Marketing team (including digital marketers, content creators, and campaign managers) and the E-commerce team (responsible for online sales platforms and conversion optimization).
• Cross-functional interaction will also occur with product development, licensing, and potentially animation/media production teams to ensure cohesive brand representation across all touchpoints.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: The role emphasizes designing for conversion and performance, suggesting a data-informed approach where design decisions are validated through analytics and user behavior.
• Agile Workflow: Given the fast-paced nature of e-commerce and marketing, designs are likely developed and iterated upon within agile frameworks, requiring quick turnarounds and adaptability.
• Brand-Centric Creativity: While performance is key, maintaining the unique, playful, and often quirky brand identity of Exploding Kittens is paramount. Creativity is applied within brand guardrails.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Exploding Kittens" brand is known for its humor and distinctive visual style. Candidates who can not only execute technically but also embody and extend this unique brand personality will be highly valued. Understanding the company's products and target audience is crucial for effective design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level Graphic Designer, requiring a solid foundation of professional experience (3+ years) and specific technical skills (Adobe Suite, e-commerce design). It's a hands-on contributor role focused on execution and design quality.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a more senior design lead (e.g., Senior Graphic Designer) and work closely with project managers and marketing stakeholders. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance while providing opportunities to manage specific design projects independently.

Operations Impact: The designs produced in this role have a direct impact on Exploding Kittens' revenue and customer engagement. Effective PDP and email designs can significantly influence conversion rates, average order value, and customer retention, contributing directly to the company's e-commerce success and overall brand perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in e-commerce design, Amazon A+ content optimization, and email marketing creative best practices.
• Portfolio Expansion: Build a strong portfolio with high-profile projects for a recognized entertainment brand, showcasing measurable impact on sales and engagement.
• Contract Extension/Full-Time Conversion: For exceptional performance and alignment with company needs, there may be opportunities for contract extensions or conversion to a full-time employee role.
• Broader Creative Involvement: Potential to contribute to a wider array of creative projects as experience and understanding of the brand grow, possibly including social media campaigns, website assets, or even packaging elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contract designers, demonstrating consistent high performance, proactive communication, and an ability to integrate seamlessly with the existing team are key to unlocking further opportunities. Highlighting how your design work directly contributed to business objectives (e.g., "Increased email CTR by X% through redesign") will be crucial for growth discussions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: While the role is listed as "Remote OK," Exploding Kittens has a presence in Los Angeles. The company culture might lean towards a hybrid model or offer occasional opportunities for in-person collaboration, team events, or brainstorming sessions at a physical office location.

Office Location(s): The primary company location is Los Angeles, California. While remote work is permitted, candidates should consider their proximity to Los Angeles if occasional on-site presence is a possibility or preference.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Digital Environment: Expect to use digital collaboration tools (e.g., Slack, Monday.com, cloud storage) to communicate with team members and share design assets.
• Technology Access: Access to necessary design software and potentially company-specific platforms will be provided or expected. Ensure reliable internet connectivity and a suitable home workspace for remote work.
• Team Interaction: Regular virtual meetings with the design, marketing, and e-commerce teams will be part of the workflow, fostering a sense of connection and shared purpose despite the remote arrangement.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely Monday to Friday, with approximately 40 hours per week. Flexibility in daily start and end times may be available, provided that core collaboration hours and project deadlines are met. This structure supports the need for focused design work while allowing for integration with team meetings and cross-functional communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should clarify expectations regarding any potential need for in-person meetings or collaboration in Los Angeles during the interview process. Demonstrating a proactive approach to communication and collaboration in a remote setting is vital for success in this environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of resumes and mandatory portfolio submissions. Applications without a portfolio will be automatically disqualified.
• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: Candidates whose portfolios align with Exploding Kittens' needs will be invited for an initial interview, likely with a hiring manager or Senior Graphic Designer. This stage focuses on design philosophy, technical skills, and relevant experience.
• Design Challenge/Skills Assessment: A practical design exercise may be administered to assess specific skills related to PDP or email design, brand application, and problem-solving under timed conditions.
• Team/Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from marketing and e-commerce teams to evaluate collaboration style, understanding of business objectives, and cultural fit.
• Final Interview/Offer: A final discussion with the hiring manager or a senior leader, followed by an offer for the contract position.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight E-commerce Success: Prioritize showcasing work on Product Detail Pages, Amazon A+ Content, and email campaigns. Include metrics or results if possible (e.g., "This design contributed to a 15% increase in conversion rate").
• Demonstrate Brand Adaptability: Show examples of how you've applied different brand guidelines effectively, proving your ability to work within constraints while maintaining creativity.
• Showcase Process: Include brief explanations of your design process for key projects, demonstrating how you approach problem-solving, iterations, and collaboration.
• Quality Over Quantity: Select your strongest, most relevant pieces. A few exceptional examples are better than many mediocre ones.
• Platform Optimization: If possible, include examples that show an understanding of responsive design for various devices (desktop, mobile).

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Exploding Kittens' Brand: Familiarize yourself with their games, marketing materials, website, and overall tone (humorous, playful, slightly quirky).
• Review E-commerce Best Practices: Refresh your knowledge of effective PDP layouts, A+ content strategies, and email marketing design principles, specifically for driving sales.
• Prepare to Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your design choices, the rationale behind them, and how you would approach a specific design challenge presented by the interviewer.
• Focus on Conversion: Frame your design thinking around user experience and conversion goals. How does your design encourage a purchase or engagement?

📝 Enhancement Note: The mandatory portfolio submission is the most critical hurdle. Candidates should treat this as a core part of their application and ensure it is polished, targeted, and easily navigable. Highlighting quantifiable results is paramount for demonstrating impact.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential. Expert proficiency in Photoshop (for image editing, manipulation, and web graphics), Illustrator (for vector graphics, logos, and layout elements), and InDesign (for layout, multi-page documents, and print materials) is required.
• Project Management Software: Familiarity with tools like Monday.com or similar (e.g., Asana, Trello, Jira) for task management, workflow tracking, and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not direct tools the designer will manage, understanding and interpreting data from platforms like Google Analytics, e-commerce platform analytics (e.g., Shopify, Amazon Seller Central reports), and email marketing platform analytics (e.g., Mailchimp, Klaviyo) will be beneficial for optimizing designs.

CRM & Automation:

• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) is not directly required for this role, but an understanding of how marketing campaigns integrate with customer data is helpful. Familiarity with email marketing automation platforms is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Monday.com suggests it's a key tool for project management collaboration. Proficiency with this or similar tools demonstrates an ability to integrate into the company's operational workflows. A basic understanding of how designs translate into measurable outcomes via analytics platforms will be highly valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Playfulness & Creativity: Reflecting the core brand ethos, the team likely values innovative thinking, a sense of humor, and a willingness to experiment with creative approaches.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: As a contract role requiring close work with multiple teams, a strong collaborative spirit and effective communication are essential.
• Customer Focus: Designs are created with the end-user in mind, aiming to enhance their experience and drive engagement, aligning with the company's mission to connect people through play.
• Efficiency & Results-Oriented: While creativity is celebrated, the emphasis on driving online sales and conversions means that efficiency in execution and a focus on measurable results are also highly valued.
• Adaptability: In a fast-paced industry and with evolving digital platforms, the ability to adapt to new trends, tools, and project requirements is crucial.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work seamlessly with marketing strategists, e-commerce managers, and potentially product teams, requiring clear communication and a shared understanding of project goals.
• Feedback-Driven Improvement: A culture that embraces constructive feedback from peers and stakeholders to refine designs and improve outcomes.
• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design trends, and insights across the team to foster continuous learning and collective improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract designer, demonstrating an understanding of and alignment with these values during interviews will be important. Consider how your past experiences reflect these principles, especially in collaborative or results-driven projects.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Identity with Performance: The primary challenge will be creating designs that are both true to the quirky, fun Exploding Kittens brand and effectively drive conversions on e-commerce platforms.
• Fast-Paced Production Demands: Meeting tight deadlines for multiple marketing campaigns and platform updates requires efficient workflow management and prioritization.
• Adapting to Platform Specifics: Designing for diverse platforms like Amazon, email, and social media each requires understanding unique technical constraints and user expectations.
• Remote Collaboration Nuances: Maintaining effective communication and creative synergy with a distributed team requires proactive effort and strong digital collaboration skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• E-commerce Design Specialization: Deepen expertise in conversion-rate optimization (CRO) principles as applied to graphic design for digital retail.
• Platform Best Practices: Gain hands-on experience with the specific requirements and optimization strategies for major e-commerce platforms like Amazon.
• Brand Storytelling: Develop a nuanced understanding of how to translate a unique brand voice and narrative into compelling visual assets across various mediums.
• Industry Exposure: Work within a successful and innovative entertainment company, gaining exposure to product development, marketing strategy, and digital media production.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should be prepared to discuss how they approach challenges like balancing brand with performance. Highlighting past successes in similar situations will strengthen their candidacy. The growth opportunities are primarily focused on deepening specialized skills within the e-commerce and digital marketing design domain.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Brand Alignment: "How would you approach designing a new product listing for an Exploding Kittens game, ensuring it captures the brand's humor while also being optimized for Amazon's algorithm and user experience?" (Preparation: Research Amazon PDP best practices, review Exploding Kittens' current Amazon presence, think about visual hierarchy, key messaging, and Calls to Action).
• E-commerce Optimization: "Describe a time you designed an email campaign or PDP element that significantly improved conversion rates or user engagement. What was your process, and what were the key design elements that contributed to its success?" (Preparation: Prepare a specific case study from your portfolio, focusing on the problem, your solution, and the quantifiable results. Quantify if possible).
• Collaboration & Process: "How do you typically collaborate with marketing and e-commerce teams to ensure design projects meet both creative and business objectives? What tools do you use to manage your workflow?" (Preparation: Be ready to discuss your experience with project management tools and how you solicit and incorporate feedback from stakeholders).

Company & Culture Questions:

• Brand Understanding: "What excites you about the Exploding Kittens brand, and how do you see your design skills contributing to its unique identity?" (Preparation: Research the company's history, games, and current media presence. Think about how your design style complements their playful yet professional approach).
• Team Dynamics: "How do you prefer to work within a team, especially in a remote or hybrid setting? How do you ensure clear communication and alignment on projects?" (Preparation: Discuss your preferred communication methods, experience with collaboration tools, and how you handle receiving and giving feedback).
• Problem-Solving: "Imagine we need to quickly create a set of social media ads for a new game launch with a very short turnaround. How would you approach this task to ensure quality and brand consistency?" (Preparation: Outline your process for rapid creative development, including prioritization, efficient asset creation, and quality checks).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation with a clear narrative for each project: the challenge, your approach/process, the solution (your design), and the outcome/impact.
• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out examples that showcase your proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and your experience with PDP/A+ content and email design.
• Quantify Impact: Whenever possible, present metrics or data that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs (e.g., increased click-through rates, conversion uplift, engagement metrics).
• Brand Consistency Examples: Show how you've successfully maintained brand consistency across different projects or platforms.
• Concise Explanations: Be prepared to speak articulately about your design choices, but keep explanations focused and relevant to the project's goals and your role. Avoid jargon where possible, or explain it clearly.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should anticipate being asked to "walk through" specific projects in their portfolio. Being able to clearly articulate the "why" behind design decisions, the process, and the results is as important as the final visual output itself.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobs.lever.co/explodingkittens.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your submitted portfolio prominently features your strongest work relevant to e-commerce (PDPs, Amazon A+ Content) and email marketing design. Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate brand consistency and conversion-focused creativity.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly articulate your 3+ years of relevant graphic design experience, specifically mentioning proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and any experience with project management tools like Monday.com. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed email campaigns that increased CTR by X%").
• Interview Preparation: Practice walking through 2-3 key portfolio projects, focusing on your design process, rationale, and any measurable results. Prepare to discuss your understanding of the Exploding Kittens brand and how your skills align with their needs.
• Company Research: Thoroughly review the Exploding Kittens website, games, and any available marketing materials to understand their brand voice, target audience, and overall company culture. This research will be invaluable for both your application and any subsequent 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.