Junior Creative Designer (m/w/d)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Creative Designer (m/w/d)
Company: ADBAKER
Location: Köln, Germany
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Design / Marketing / Art & Design
Date Posted: October 7, 2025
Experience Level: 0-2 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on the creation of high-impact visual assets for online marketing campaigns, with a strong emphasis on performance and conversion optimization.
• The Junior Creative Designer will be responsible for developing engaging static and motion graphics, animations, and sound design tailored for paid social media advertising across various client brands and industries.
• Collaboration with both Creative and Performance Marketing teams is a core aspect, ensuring design strategies align with campaign objectives and deliver measurable results.
• The position requires proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud suite and a keen understanding of how design contributes to the success of online marketing efforts.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Creative Designer," has a strong leaning towards performance marketing and GTM (Go-To-Market) strategies, as indicated by the emphasis on conversion, measurable success, and paid social ads. This positions it within the broader GTM operations ecosystem, bridging creative output with business outcomes.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and produce compelling static and motion creatives, including animations and sound design, for paid social media advertising campaigns.
• Transform existing or newly shot photo and video assets into high-performing marketing materials that resonate with target audiences.
• Manage creative asset production for a diverse portfolio of clients across various industries, ensuring brand consistency and campaign effectiveness.
• Collaborate closely with the Creative and Performance Marketing teams to align design concepts with campaign goals, audience insights, and performance metrics.
• Execute design tasks with a focus on conversion optimization, ensuring that visual elements drive desired user actions and contribute to measurable campaign success.
• Stay updated on the latest design trends, social media platform best practices, and performance marketing strategies to continuously enhance creative output.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and performance-driven design. The emphasis on "measurable successes" and "conversion" indicates that design is not just about aesthetics but about direct impact on business goals, a key characteristic of GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• A degree in Design, Marketing, Communication, or a related field is required.
• While a Bachelor's degree is preferred, equivalent practical experience in a design or marketing role will be considered.

Experience:

• 0-2 years of initial experience in online marketing, with a specific focus on paid social media advertising campaigns.
• Demonstrated success in creating visually appealing and effective static and motion graphics for digital advertising platforms.

Required Skills:

• Adobe Creative Cloud Proficiency: Comprehensive knowledge and practical application of Adobe Photoshop, Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Illustrator for design and video editing.
• Social Media Marketing & Design Expertise: Proven ability to visually showcase products and services in static banners and dynamic video formats for paid social ads, with a strong sense for motion graphics and storytelling.
• Performance-Oriented Mindset: A clear focus on results and the ability to translate design choices into measurable campaign success and conversion rates.
• Proactive & Hands-on Approach: Self-motivated, responsible work style with a strong "get-it-done" mentality and enthusiasm for the fast-paced online marketing industry.
• Excellent German Communication: Proficient in German (written and spoken) to ensure effective collaboration with the team and clients.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with sound design for video advertisements.
• Basic understanding of A/B testing principles for creative assets.
• Familiarity with project management or task tracking tools.
• Exposure to client management or agency environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Cloud and practical experience in paid social ads points to a need for candidates who can not only design but also understand the performance implications of their work, aligning with GTM operational needs for effective campaign execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A portfolio showcasing successful paid social media ad creatives (static and motion graphics) that demonstrate creativity and a clear understanding of conversion-driven design.
• Examples of work that highlight your ability to adapt designs for different client brands and industries.
• Case studies or descriptions of how your designs contributed to campaign performance, ideally with quantifiable results.
• Demonstrations of proficiency in using Adobe Creative Cloud tools for creating engaging visual content.

Process Documentation:

• While formal process documentation is not explicitly requested, the ability to articulate your creative process, from concept to execution and optimization, will be crucial.
• Be prepared to discuss how you approach asset creation, client feedback integration, and iterative improvements based on performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Junior Creative Designer role with a performance focus, the portfolio is paramount. It should not only display aesthetic talent but also evidence an understanding of how design directly contributes to marketing objectives and revenue generation, a key aspect of GTM operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on industry benchmarks for Junior Creative Designers in Cologne, Germany, with 0-2 years of experience, the estimated annual salary range is €30,000 - €38,000. This estimate considers the cost of living in Cologne and typical compensation for roles requiring proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and online marketing.

Benefits:

• 30 Days Vacation: Generous annual leave to ensure work-life balance.
• Workation: Up to two weeks of opportunity to work remotely from a different location.
• Health Benefits: Access to Urban Sports Club and Deutschland Ticket for mobility and well-being.
• Free Drinks & Snacks: Complimentary beverages (including ADBAKER coffee) and a healthy snack bar.
• Team Events: Regular company-sponsored events to foster team cohesion.
• Flexible Work Hours: A hybrid work model combining office and home office days.
• Latest Apple Products: Provided with the newest Apple devices for work.
• Warm Lunch: Daily catered warm lunch provided at the office.
• Corporate Benefits: Access to a platform offering discounts and special offers.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time working hours are approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through a hybrid work arrangement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on regional data for similar roles in Germany. The comprehensive benefits package indicates a focus on employee well-being and work-life balance, which is attractive to professionals in demanding creative and operational roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Marketing / Online Advertising / Performance Marketing. ADBAKER operates within the dynamic digital advertising space, specializing in paid social media campaigns for major brands. Company Size: ADBAKER is part of a growing agency, likely employing between 50-200 employees, indicated by the "Top 5% of best-rated companies on Kununu" and "450 sqm loft office." This size suggests a structured environment with opportunities for growth while maintaining a close-knit team feel. Founded: While the founding date isn't explicitly stated, the company's established presence and partnerships with Meta & TikTok suggest it has been operating for several years, building a strong reputation in the DACH region.

Team Structure:

• The Junior Creative Designer will be part of a larger Creative team and will collaborate closely with the Performance Marketing team.
• Reporting likely to a Creative Lead or Art Director, with direct interaction with account managers and performance specialists.
• Cross-functional collaboration is key, bridging the gap between creative ideation and campaign execution/optimization.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: ADBAKER emphasizes designs that are not only visually appealing but also strategically driven by data and focused on measurable results (conversion).
• Agile Workflow: The fast-paced online marketing industry necessitates an agile approach to creative production, allowing for quick iteration and adaptation based on campaign performance.
• Performance Optimization: Continuous improvement of creative assets based on A/B testing and performance analytics is a core operational practice.

Company Website: http://adbaker.de

📝 Enhancement Note: ADBAKER's culture appears to be a blend of creative excellence and rigorous performance marketing. The emphasis on data, measurable results, and collaboration with performance teams suggests a GTM-oriented environment where creative output is directly tied to business objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a "Junior" level, indicating an entry to mid-level position within the creative operations spectrum. It's ideal for individuals with nascent experience looking to build a strong foundation in performance-driven design. Reporting Structure: The Junior Creative Designer will likely report to a Creative Lead or Art Director. They will work closely with Performance Marketing Managers and Account Managers, fostering cross-functional relationships vital for GTM success. Operations Impact: The role's impact is directly linked to the performance of paid social media campaigns. By creating effective creatives, the designer contributes to lead generation, customer acquisition, and ultimately, revenue growth for ADBAKER's clients. This direct link to business outcomes is a hallmark of operational roles within GTM.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in motion graphics, animation, sound design, or specific paid social platforms (Meta, TikTok).
• Performance Marketing Acumen: Develop a strong understanding of marketing analytics, A/B testing, and conversion optimization strategies by working closely with the performance team.
• Client Management Exposure: Gain experience in client communication and presentation, understanding their business objectives and how creative solutions meet them.
• Leadership Potential: With proven performance and growth, opportunities to advance to Senior Creative Designer, Art Director, or even specialized roles within performance creative strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path for a Junior Creative Designer in a performance-focused agency like ADBAKER is rich with opportunities to develop a unique skillset that bridges creative talent with business acumen. This dual focus is highly valuable in GTM operations.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: ADBAKER offers a modern, open-plan loft office space (450 sqm²) designed to foster a collaborative and dynamic work atmosphere. Office Location(s): The office is located in Köln (Cologne), Germany, providing a central hub for hybrid work. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The loft setup encourages interaction among team members, facilitating seamless communication and idea exchange between creative and performance teams.
• Operations Tools & Technology: Employees are equipped with the latest Apple products, ensuring access to high-performance tools necessary for creative production and campaign management.
• Team Interaction: Regular team events and a casual atmosphere promote strong working relationships and a positive company culture.

Work Schedule: A hybrid model is in place, offering a flexible mix of in-office and home office days. This allows operations professionals to balance focused work with collaborative sessions and maintain work-life integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the office space and hybrid work model suggests an environment that values both focused, individual work (crucial for detailed design and analysis) and collaborative, team-based problem-solving (essential for GTM strategy execution).

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Screening of resumes and portfolios for relevant experience, skills, and alignment with ADBAKER's culture.
• Creative Challenge/Portfolio Presentation: Candidates will likely be asked to present their portfolio, discuss their creative process, and potentially complete a short creative task or case study related to paid social ads.
• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Conversation with the Creative Lead or Hiring Manager to assess technical skills, cultural fit, and understanding of performance marketing principles.
• Final Interview: Potentially a discussion with a senior leader or HR to finalize the offer and discuss terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Performance: Highlight projects where your creative work directly led to positive campaign results (e.g., increased click-through rates, conversions, engagement). Quantify success whenever possible.
• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples of work across different formats (statics, motion graphics, animation) and for diverse industries or client types.
• Articulate Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your workflow for creating an asset, explaining your rationale behind design choices, tool usage, and any iterative adjustments made based on feedback or performance data.
• Tailor to ADBAKER: Research ADBAKER's clients and their typical campaign styles. If possible, include a speculative creative concept or adaptation that aligns with their known work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Paid Social: Brush up on the nuances of creative best practices for platforms like Meta and TikTok. Consider what makes ads effective in these environments.
• Focus on Conversion: Think about how design elements can influence user behavior, such as call-to-action buttons, compelling visuals, and clear messaging.
• Be Ready to Discuss Data: While you're a designer, understanding how to interpret basic performance metrics (CTR, CPC, CPA, ROAS) will be a significant advantage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical skills and a results-oriented approach. Applicants should focus on demonstrating how their creative abilities translate into tangible business outcomes, a key requirement for GTM roles.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Cloud Suite: This is the core requirement, specifically:
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and static ad creation.
  • Adobe Premiere Pro: For video editing, assembly, and basic motion graphics.
  • Adobe After Effects: For advanced animation, motion graphics, and visual effects.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and graphic elements.
• Project Management: Potentially tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira for task tracking and workflow management, though not explicitly stated.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary tool for the designer, familiarity with how creatives are tracked and reported on is beneficial. This might include exposure to:
  • Platform Ad Managers: Facebook Ads Manager, TikTok Ads Manager.
  • Basic Analytics Dashboards: Understanding how to view performance metrics for assets.

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core responsibilities of this design role, but an understanding of how marketing campaigns are managed and automated in broader CRM/marketing automation systems could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Cloud suite is non-negotiable for this role. The mention of working with performance teams implies an indirect interaction with ad platform analytics, making a basic understanding of performance metrics highly advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Performance-Driven Creativity: A core value is that design must serve a purpose – driving measurable results and conversions for clients.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working together across departments (Creative, Performance) to achieve common goals.
• Proactivity & Ownership: Employees are encouraged to take initiative, be self-starters, and own their responsibilities.
• Continuous Learning: The fast-evolving nature of digital marketing requires a commitment to staying updated on trends, tools, and platform best practices.
• Client Focus: Dedication to delivering high-quality work that meets and exceeds client expectations.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Approach: Creative and performance teams work in tandem, with feedback loops that ensure designs are optimized for campaign objectives.
• Open Communication: A culture that encourages direct and constructive feedback to improve creative output and campaign effectiveness.
• Knowledge Sharing: Opportunities to learn from colleagues with different specializations, fostering a well-rounded understanding of the digital marketing ecosystem.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values highlight a pragmatic approach to creativity, where artistic expression is channeled towards achieving concrete business objectives. This aligns well with operations-centric roles that focus on efficiency and impact.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Performance Demands: The primary challenge will be to produce aesthetically pleasing designs that also meet strict performance metrics and conversion goals.
• Rapid Iteration in a Fast-Paced Environment: Keeping up with the speed of digital marketing campaigns, client feedback, and platform updates requires agility and efficiency.
• Adapting to Diverse Client Needs: Working with a variety of clients across different industries means constantly adapting creative styles and strategies.
• Staying Ahead of Trends: The digital creative landscape evolves rapidly; continuous learning is essential to remain relevant and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Creative Skills: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses to master advanced techniques in animation, motion graphics, or specific software features.
• Performance Marketing Fundamentals: Gaining deeper insights into paid social advertising strategies, audience targeting, and campaign analytics through collaboration with the performance team.
• Industry Certifications: Potential to pursue certifications from platforms like Meta or Google that enhance understanding of digital advertising.
• Mentorship: Guidance from senior designers and performance marketers to navigate career growth and skill development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for roles at the intersection of creative and operations, requiring adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement. The growth opportunities are geared towards enhancing both creative and analytical skill sets.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Creative Process: "Walk me through your process for creating a set of paid social ad creatives from brief to delivery." Be ready to discuss your ideation, design tools, collaboration, and optimization steps.
• Performance Impact: "Describe a time your creative work significantly impacted a campaign's performance. What were the results, and how did you achieve them?" Prepare a specific example with quantifiable data.
• Client Adaptation: "How do you approach designing for a brand or industry you're not familiar with? How do you ensure your designs align with their identity and goals?"

Company & Culture Questions:

• ADBAKER's Work: "What do you admire about ADBAKER's work or the clients you partner with?" Demonstrate you've researched their portfolio.
• Team Collaboration: "How do you prefer to collaborate with performance marketers? What kind of input do you find most valuable from them?"
• Motivation: "What excites you most about performance-driven creative design in the online marketing space?"

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Focus on Results: For each piece in your portfolio, clearly state the objective, your role, the tools used, and the outcome. Use metrics wherever possible.
• Tell a Story: Don't just show the final product; explain the problem you were solving, your creative approach, and the lessons learned.
• Highlight Relevant Skills: Emphasize work that directly relates to paid social ads, motion graphics, and conversion optimization.
• Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure it flows well and stays within the allotted time. Be prepared for questions about your design choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a clear understanding of how creative design directly contributes to marketing performance and business objectives. Candidates should be ready to articulate their process and showcase tangible results.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Creative Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on join.com.
• Customize Your Resume: Highlight experience with Adobe Creative Cloud, paid social media advertising, and any quantifiable achievements in design or marketing campaigns. Ensure keywords like "motion graphics," "animation," "conversion optimization," and "performance marketing" are present.
• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest pieces that showcase your ability to create effective static and motion ads for digital platforms. Prioritize examples with demonstrated performance results. Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (e.g., a personal website, Behance, or a shared drive link).
• Prepare Your Story: Practice articulating your creative process, your understanding of performance marketing goals, and why you're a good fit for ADBAKER's culture. Be ready to discuss specific projects from your portfolio in detail.
• Research ADBAKER: Thoroughly review ADBAKER's website, client roster, and case studies. Understand their approach to paid social and performance marketing to tailor your application and interview responses.

⚠️ 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.