Junior Creative Designer - Acquisition

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Creative Designer - Acquisition Company: Hard Rock Digital Location: Florida, United States Job Type: Full-time Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Operations Date Posted: September 12, 2025 Experience Level: Junior (0-2 years) Remote Status: Remote (United States)

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive customer acquisition through the creation of high-impact visual assets for performance marketing campaigns.
• Translate marketing strategies and promotional offers into compelling static ads, banners, and other digital visuals designed to optimize click-through rates (CTR) and conversion rates.
• Collaborate closely with Creative Strategists and Performance Producers to ensure designs are engaging, on-brand, and effective in capturing attention within fast-paced digital environments.
• Leverage data insights from campaign performance to iterate on designs, demonstrating a direct link between creative output and business success in customer acquisition.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role title is "Junior Creative Designer," the focus on "Acquisition" and "performance marketing" strongly suggests a need to understand and apply marketing operations principles. The emphasis on data-driven iteration and direct response visuals places this role within a performance-oriented marketing function, requiring an understanding of how creative assets directly impact key business metrics like CPA and customer acquisition cost.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a high volume of digital assets for direct response marketing, including static social media ads, display banners, app store visuals, email graphics, and landing page elements.
• Execute creative briefs and campaign concepts by translating marketing strategies into engaging, on-brand visual designs that resonate with target audiences.
• Analyze campaign performance data in collaboration with the marketing team to inform design decisions and rapidly iterate on creative assets to improve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as CTR and conversion rates.
• Ensure all designed assets strictly adhere to Hard Rock Digital's brand guidelines and the specific regulatory compliance requirements for each market within the iGaming and sports betting industry.
• Support senior creative staff on larger campaign initiatives, contributing to asset library organization and maintenance.
• Stay current with emerging design trends, best practices in digital advertising, and visual communication techniques relevant to social media, mobile, and gaming platforms.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibility to "Iterate Based on Data" is a critical aspect of modern marketing operations. This implies the need for a designer who can not only create visually appealing assets but also understand performance metrics and translate them into actionable design improvements, a key skill for driving marketing efficiency.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience. Experience: 1-3 years of experience in a graphic design role, with a preference for experience in performance marketing, digital advertising, or an in-house brand environment.

Required Skills:

• Digital Design Proficiency: Demonstrated ability to create visually compelling digital assets for various platforms.
• Adobe Creative Suite Mastery: Expert-level skills in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator are essential for asset creation and manipulation.
• Portfolio Excellence: A strong, diverse portfolio showcasing skills in digital design, typography, layout, and a clear emphasis on marketing or advertising assets.
• Brand Adherence: Ability to consistently apply brand guidelines and maintain visual integrity across all creative outputs.
• Data-Driven Design: Foundational understanding of marketing principles and a genuine curiosity for how design directly impacts customer acquisition metrics.
• Fast-Paced Execution: Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, meet tight deadlines, and maintain high-quality output in a high-volume environment.
• Communication & Collaboration: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a collaborative spirit and a proactive, solutions-oriented attitude.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Experience: Proficiency or familiarity with Figma for collaborative design workflows.
• iGaming/Sports Betting Interest: A passion for or interest in sports, casino games, or the iGaming industry is a significant advantage.
• Understanding of Direct Response: Familiarity with the principles of direct response marketing and how creative elements drive user action.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite" and "Experience with Figma" highlights the essential technical tools for this role. The emphasis on a "strong portfolio" with a focus on "marketing or advertising assets" indicates that practical application and results-oriented design are highly valued over purely aesthetic portfolios.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 5-10 diverse digital ad campaigns or projects, demonstrating a range of creative executions for customer acquisition.
• Include examples of static social media ads, display banners, and ideally, mobile-first or app-specific visual assets.
• Highlight projects where performance data (e.g., CTR, conversion rate improvements) can be inferred or discussed, demonstrating an understanding of design's impact on business goals.
• Feature work that clearly adheres to brand guidelines, showcasing an ability to maintain brand consistency while executing marketing objectives.
• Present case studies or project descriptions that articulate the problem, the design solution, and the intended or actual outcome for acquisition efforts.

Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly required for submission, candidates should be prepared to discuss their personal design workflow, from brief interpretation and concept development to asset creation, iteration, and final delivery.
• Be ready to articulate how you would approach a typical design request for a performance marketing campaign, including steps for understanding objectives, gathering assets, designing, seeking feedback, and iterating based on performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role focused on acquisition, the portfolio is paramount. The emphasis is on demonstrating practical design skills applied to direct response marketing and an understanding of how creative contributes to measurable business outcomes like customer acquisition, rather than purely conceptual or branding-focused design work.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Junior Graphic Designers with 1-3 years of experience in the US, particularly in remote roles, a competitive salary range is estimated between $50,000 - $70,000 annually. This estimate considers the specialized nature of iGaming marketing and the demand for performance-driven creative talent.

Benefits:

• Competitive Pay: Acknowledged as a key benefit, indicating a commitment to fair compensation.
• Flexible Vacation Allowance: Offers flexibility in managing personal time off, supporting work-life balance.
• Flexible Work From Home: Reinforces the remote nature of the role, providing autonomy and convenience.
• Startup Culture Backed by a Secure, Global Brand: Combines the agility and innovation of a startup with the stability and resources of an established global brand.

Working Hours: The role is full-time. While specific hours aren't detailed, a standard 40-hour work week is typical, with flexibility often afforded in remote roles, provided deadlines and collaboration needs are met.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided benefits are standard for many tech and creative roles, but the "Startup culture backed by a secure, global brand" is a unique selling point that appeals to candidates seeking both innovation and stability. The salary estimate is based on typical US market rates for junior creative roles with a performance marketing focus.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: iGaming, Sports Betting, Digital Entertainment, Hospitality. Hard Rock Digital leverages the global Hard Rock brand, renowned for entertainment and hospitality, to build a leading online sportsbook, casino, and social gaming platform. Company Size: While not explicitly stated, Hard Rock Digital operates as a new venture backed by a large, established global brand (Seminole Tribe of Florida and Hard Rock International), suggesting a dynamic environment with the potential for significant growth and scale. Founded: Hard Rock Digital is a newer entity, building upon the legacy of the Hard Rock brand, which has a long history in entertainment and hospitality. This implies a culture that blends established brand values with the agility of a digital-first startup.

Team Structure:

• The Junior Creative Designer will be part of the Acquisition team, working closely with Creative Strategists and Performance Producers.
• This structure suggests a "pod" or small, focused team model common in agile marketing environments, facilitating rapid collaboration and execution.
• Collaboration with broader marketing teams and potentially product teams is expected, given the nature of acquisition campaigns.

Methodology:

• Agile Marketing: The emphasis on high-volume, data-driven iteration points to agile marketing methodologies, where creative teams work in short cycles, responding quickly to performance feedback.
• Data-Informed Creativity: Decisions regarding design direction and asset optimization are expected to be heavily influenced by campaign performance data, metrics, and analytics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: A close working relationship with marketing strategists and performance specialists is crucial for translating campaign goals into effective creative outputs.

Company Website: https://www.hardrockdigital.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for the careers portal; this is a general company site)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's positioning as a "startup culture backed by a secure, global brand" suggests a unique work environment. Candidates should expect a fast-paced, results-oriented atmosphere with the potential for significant learning and growth, leveraging the brand recognition and resources of Hard Rock.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a Junior-level position (0-2 years experience), focused on executing creative assets for customer acquisition. It’s an entry point into performance marketing creative operations within the iGaming sector. Reporting Structure: The Junior Creative Designer will report to a Creative Strategist or Producer within the Acquisition team. This structure provides mentorship and guidance from experienced professionals in marketing and creative execution. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts customer acquisition by creating visual assets that drive new player sign-ups. Success in this role contributes to key business objectives such as user growth, cost per acquisition (CPA), and overall marketing campaign effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to develop deep expertise in digital advertising creative, performance marketing design, and specific iGaming/sports betting industry visual trends.
• Career Progression: Potential to advance to roles such as Creative Designer, Senior Creative Designer, Creative Strategist, or Marketing Producer within Hard Rock Digital.
• Learning & Development: Exposure to data-driven marketing strategies and the opportunity to learn how creative performance is measured, contributing to a well-rounded understanding of marketing operations.
• Industry Exposure: Gain valuable experience in a rapidly growing and exciting industry (iGaming/Sports Betting) that often offers significant career advancement potential.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior role, the emphasis is on foundational skill development and understanding the direct impact of creative work on business metrics. Growth opportunities will likely involve expanding responsibilities within acquisition campaigns and potentially moving into more strategic or leadership roles within the creative or marketing operations functions.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as "TELECOMMUTE," indicating a fully remote work arrangement. Office Location(s): While the company is based in Florida, United States, the position is remote, allowing candidates within the United States to work from their preferred location.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Candidates should be comfortable working independently and collaborating effectively through digital communication tools.
• Digital Tools & Technology: Access to reliable internet and a suitable home workspace is essential for productivity and seamless integration with the team's digital workflows.
• Team Interaction: While remote, expect regular virtual meetings, team check-ins, and collaborative sessions using tools like Slack, email, and video conferencing. The "startup culture" may foster informal communication channels alongside structured team meetings.

Work Schedule: Full-time, likely aligning with standard US business hours for collaboration purposes, though specific daily schedules may offer some flexibility inherent in remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The fully remote nature of the role requires strong self-discipline and communication skills. Candidates should be adept at managing their time and workflow independently while actively participating in virtual team environments.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Application Submission: Submit resume and a link to your portfolio.
• Portfolio Review: Hiring managers will review portfolios to assess design skills, relevance of work to acquisition marketing, and adherence to brand standards.
• Initial Screening: Likely a brief call with HR or a recruiter to discuss background, interest, and basic qualifications.
• Hiring Manager/Team Interview: A more in-depth interview with the hiring manager and potentially team members (Creative Strategists, Producers) to discuss experience, design philosophy, problem-solving skills, and cultural fit. This stage will heavily focus on portfolio walkthroughs.
• Potential Design Challenge: A small, timed design exercise relevant to acquisition marketing might be administered to evaluate practical skills and speed.
• Final Interview: May involve a conversation with a senior leader or cross-functional stakeholder.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Prioritize work that demonstrates your ability to create effective digital ads for customer acquisition. Include examples of static social media ads, display banners, or similar performance-oriented visuals.
• Showcase Impact: If possible, include brief descriptions of campaign goals or results (e.g., "designed ads for a campaign that saw a 15% increase in CTR"). Even if specific metrics aren't available, framing your work in terms of marketing objectives is key.
• Highlight Technical Skills: Ensure your portfolio clearly features your proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. Mention any Figma experience.
• Brand Consistency: Include at least one project that demonstrates your ability to work within established brand guidelines.
• Organize and Present Clearly: Ensure your portfolio is easy to navigate, with clear labels for each project and a logical flow. A personal website or Behance profile is ideal.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss your design process for a typical acquisition ad.
• Practice articulating how you would approach translating a marketing brief into visual concepts.
• Prepare to explain your design choices and how they align with marketing objectives and target audience.
• Familiarize yourself with Hard Rock Digital's brand and current marketing efforts if possible.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical component of the application for this role. Candidates should meticulously curate their submissions to highlight performance-driven design skills and their understanding of marketing objectives. The interview process will likely involve a deep dive into these portfolio pieces.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:
  • Photoshop: Essential for image editing, manipulation, and creating static ad assets.
  • Illustrator: Crucial for vector graphics, logos, typography, and layout design.
• Figma: A highly preferred tool for collaborative design, prototyping, and asset management, indicating a modern design workflow.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a direct requirement for the designer, understanding basic analytics concepts (CTR, conversion rates, CPA) is important for iterating on designs. Familiarity with how these metrics are tracked and reported would be beneficial.

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool experience is explicitly required for this role, as it's focused on creative asset production rather than marketing automation execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is non-negotiable. Figma experience is a strong differentiator, indicating a candidate's adaptability to modern collaborative design workflows. An awareness of marketing analytics terminology is crucial for effective collaboration and design iteration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Authenticity: Encouraged to be authentic and bring full talent to play, fostering an inclusive environment.
• Passion for Learning: A core value for the team, suggesting a culture of continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Customer Focus: Caring deeply about every customer interaction, experience, behavior, and insight.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Implicit in the need to iterate based on campaign performance data.
• Collaboration: Working closely with strategists and producers to achieve shared goals.
• Efficiency & Impact: Creating high-impact visuals that drive business success, implying a focus on effective and efficient design execution.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: Works closely with Creative Strategists and Performance Producers, implying a collaborative "pod" structure.
• Feedback-Driven: Expected to iterate based on performance data, suggesting an openness to feedback and continuous improvement.
• Proactive Communication: Essential for a remote team, requiring active participation in discussions and updates.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company emphasizes inclusivity and authenticity. For a creative role, this means bringing your unique design perspective while also being receptive to team collaboration and data-driven feedback to achieve collective marketing goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• High-Volume Output: The need to design a wide variety of digital assets under tight deadlines.
• Data Interpretation: Translating abstract performance metrics into actionable design improvements.
• Brand & Compliance: Balancing creative expression with strict brand guidelines and regulatory requirements in a regulated industry.
• Remote Collaboration: Maintaining effective communication and collaboration as a fully remote team member.
• Industry Pace: Keeping up with the fast-paced nature of digital advertising and the iGaming industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Performance Marketing Acumen: Deepen understanding of how creative directly impacts customer acquisition KPIs.
• Industry Trends: Gain expertise in visual trends specific to social media, mobile advertising, and the iGaming sector.
• Tool Proficiency: Enhance skills in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially learn or master Figma.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Learn from marketing strategists and performance specialists about campaign planning and optimization.
• Brand Building: Contribute to the visual identity of a major brand in a growing digital space.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents a strong opportunity for a junior designer to gain practical experience in performance marketing creative operations, specifically within a high-growth industry. The primary challenge will be balancing creative output with data-driven optimization and strict compliance.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to present your portfolio and discuss 2-3 key projects in detail, explaining your design process, rationale, challenges, and outcomes. Focus on projects relevant to digital advertising or customer acquisition.
• Design Process: Describe your typical workflow for creating digital ad assets, from receiving a brief to final delivery and iteration. How do you incorporate feedback?
• Data-Informed Design: How do you use data or performance metrics to inform your design decisions? Can you provide an example?
• Brand Adherence: How do you ensure your designs stay on-brand while still being creative and effective for marketing campaigns?
• Problem-Solving: Describe a time you faced a creative challenge or a tight deadline. How did you overcome it?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Why Hard Rock Digital? What interests you about the iGaming industry?
• How do you approach collaboration with non-designers (e.g., marketers, strategists)?
• What are your thoughts on the company's stated values (authenticity, passion for learning)? How do you embody these?
• How do you stay updated on design and marketing trends?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Acquisition: Select portfolio pieces that best showcase your ability to create effective digital ads for performance marketing.
• Tell a Story: For each project, explain the objective, your role, the creative process, the challenges, and the results (even if qualitative).
• Highlight Key Skills: Explicitly point out where you used Photoshop, Illustrator, and any other relevant tools. If you have Figma examples, showcase them.
• Keep it Concise: Be prepared to present your portfolio efficiently, focusing on the most impactful pieces.
• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean and professional, mirroring the quality you aim to deliver in your work.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be ready to discuss your work in the context of marketing objectives and performance. The interviewers will be looking for not just design talent, but also an understanding of how design serves business goals in a fast-paced, data-driven environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Hard Rock Digital careers portal.
• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is tailored to highlight digital advertising and customer acquisition work. If you have specific examples of static ads, social media graphics, or display banners, make sure these are prominently featured.
• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to emphasize relevant skills such as Adobe Creative Suite mastery, digital design, typography, layout, and any experience with performance marketing or direct response creative. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed ad creatives that contributed to a X% increase in engagement").
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, your understanding of marketing principles, and how you use data to inform your creative decisions. Prepare to walk through your portfolio with confidence.
• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Hard Rock Digital's brand, its offerings in the iGaming and sports betting space, and any publicly available information about its marketing efforts. Understand the unique blend of a startup culture with a global brand.

⚠️ 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.