Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Retention Marketing Designer (Contractor)

Company: UN/COMMON

Location: Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Job Type: CONTRACTOR

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Design

Date Posted: January 18, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and execute effective email marketing campaigns and customer retention flows for a portfolio of e-commerce brands.

• Collaborate closely with internal creative teams to develop visually compelling and strategically sound marketing collateral.

• Apply user-centered design principles and brand development expertise to create engaging customer experiences.

• Leverage modern design tools and a strong understanding of email best practices to drive brand growth and customer loyalty.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Retention Marketing Designer," the responsibilities heavily lean into the operational execution of marketing campaigns through design. This role requires a blend of creative design skills and an understanding of marketing operations principles, particularly within the e-commerce and DTC space. The focus on email campaigns and flows positions this as a critical function within a marketing operations or GTM strategy team, even if the primary output is creative.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and iterate on creative email campaigns, including dynamic content and promotional emails, to enhance customer engagement and drive conversions.

• Develop and implement customer retention email flows (e.g., welcome series, re-engagement campaigns, post-purchase flows) that align with brand objectives and customer journey mapping.

• Create visually appealing GIFs and motion graphics to add dynamic elements to email designs and marketing collateral.

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams (marketing, sales, product) to ensure design solutions are aligned with overall business goals and brand strategy.

• Maintain a deep understanding of email design best practices, including deliverability, accessibility, and mobile responsiveness, to optimize campaign performance.

• Support the creation of internal sales and marketing collateral, ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints.

• Proactively identify design challenges and propose innovative solutions that improve user experience and marketing effectiveness.

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, from conceptualization through to final execution and launch, within a fast-paced, iterative environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core responsibility of designing email campaigns and flows, along with supporting sales and marketing collateral, directly contributes to the operational execution of go-to-market strategies. The emphasis on retention flows specifically points to a revenue operations or customer lifecycle marketing function, where design directly impacts customer lifetime value and churn reduction.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

• 3-5 years of professional design experience, with a strong preference for work within Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands and/or digital marketing agencies.

• Proven experience in designing email marketing campaigns and automated customer journeys.

Required Skills:

• Email Design Expertise: Deep understanding of email layout best practices, responsive design principles, and crafting engaging visual narratives for retention and promotional campaigns.

• User-Centered Experience Design: Ability to design with the end-user in mind, creating intuitive and effective experiences that drive desired actions.

• Brand Development & Consistency: Skill in translating brand guidelines into compelling visual assets that maintain brand integrity across all marketing materials.

• Figma Proficiency: Advanced skills in Figma for creating wireframes, mockups, interactive prototypes, and final design assets.

• Adobe Creative Suite: Strong proficiency in Photoshop for image editing, manipulation, and graphic creation.

• GIF & Motion Graphics Creation: Ability to design animated GIFs and incorporate motion into designs to enhance engagement.

• Design Rationale Articulation: Demonstrated ability to clearly present and defend design choices, linking them to strategic objectives and user needs.

• Agile Workflow Management: Experience working in an agile, iterative process, embracing feedback and adapting designs rapidly.

• Problem-Solving: Aptitude for identifying design challenges and developing creative, effective solutions.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring high-quality output with precision.

Preferred Skills:

• Agency experience, particularly in supporting e-commerce or DTC clients.

• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms and their design implications.

• Basic understanding of HTML/CSS for email development (to ensure designs are feasible).

• Experience with A/B testing design elements for optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "modern design tools" and specific mention of Figma and Photoshop, combined with the focus on email campaigns and retention flows, suggests a role that bridges creative execution with marketing operations. The ability to "synthesize, present, and articulate design rationale" is crucial for operations roles that need to justify design choices based on potential business impact.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 years of design work, with a significant emphasis on e-commerce and DTC brands.

• Demonstrated examples of email campaign designs, including static and animated (GIF) elements, with clear explanations of their strategic purpose.

• Case studies or examples of customer retention flows (e.g., welcome series, re-engagement campaigns) illustrating your design process and impact.

• Evidence of applying user-centered design principles and brand development to create cohesive visual experiences.

• Examples of how you have iterated on designs based on feedback and project requirements.

Process Documentation:

• Ability to articulate your design process, from initial brief and concept development through to final asset delivery and iteration.

• Demonstrate how you incorporate feedback and collaborate within a team to refine designs.

• Showcase how you consider best practices (e.g., email deliverability, mobile responsiveness) within your design workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role with operational responsibilities, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as the primary evidence of a candidate's ability to execute on marketing strategies through design. The emphasis should be on demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also strategic thinking, understanding of e-commerce conversion drivers, and retention mechanics.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Flexible Remote Work: Ability to work from anywhere within the specified eligible locations, offering significant work-life balance.

• Contract Duration: A defined 12-month contract provides stability and the opportunity to delve deeply into client projects.

• Exposure to Leading Brands: Opportunity to work with a portfolio of revolutionary and emerging DTC brands.

• Collaborative Environment: Be part of a dynamic and fun agency culture that values collaboration and creativity.

• Professional Development: Gain hands-on experience and refine skills in a fast-paced, iterative design setting.

Working Hours:

• Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET). This implies a requirement to align with the US East Coast business hours for collaboration and meetings, despite the physical location of the contractor.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation for contract roles requires careful consideration of hourly rates versus project fees, local market conditions, and the specific demands of the role. Aligning with Eastern Time (ET) hours is a critical factor that can influence compensation expectations for remote contractors based in different time zones.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Digital Experience & Marketing Agency, specializing in launching and growing emerging Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) brands.

Company Size: The provided data doesn't specify exact employee count, but the agency model and the mention of working with multiple "revolutionary brands" suggest a mid-sized to growing agency with a significant client base.

Founded: UN/COMMON was founded to build authentic stories for brands, focusing on a "consumer first and brand second" approach. This implies a culture that values customer empathy and strategic storytelling.

Team Structure:

• The Retention Designer will be an extension of the UN/COMMON team, embedding within the existing creative team. This suggests a collaborative structure where designers work alongside strategists, account managers, and other creative professionals.

• Reporting is likely to a Creative Director or a Design Lead within the agency.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Creativity: While creative-focused, the agency's success with brands like Rare Beauty and Liquid Death implies a data-informed approach to marketing, where creative output is measured for impact.

• Iterative Design Process: Emphasis on working through design phases iteratively, from initial concepts to revisions, ensuring work is polished and effective before launch.

• Brand Storytelling: A core philosophy of building authentic stories tailored to the consumer, suggesting a focus on narrative and emotional connection in marketing efforts.

• Customer-Centricity: A strong emphasis on understanding and catering to consumer needs and preferences in brand development and marketing campaigns.

Company Website: uncommonagency.co

📝 Enhancement Note: The agency's focus on "emerging brands" and "revolutionary brands" implies a dynamic, fast-paced environment where adaptability and innovation are highly valued. The "consumer first and brand second" ethos suggests a culture that prioritizes genuine connection and value proposition over traditional, hard-sell tactics.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level individual contributor within the creative operations of a marketing agency. It requires significant autonomy in design execution and a proactive approach to problem-solving. The "contractor" status implies project-based engagement rather than a permanent, linear career track within the company, but offers substantial experience.

Reporting Structure: The designer will likely report to a Creative Director or a Senior Designer who oversees client creative output. Collaboration will extend to account managers and marketing strategists who define campaign objectives.

Operations Impact: As a Retention Marketing Designer, the impact is directly tied to the success of e-commerce brands' customer engagement and loyalty strategies. Effective email campaigns and flows can significantly influence:

• Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)

• Repeat Purchase Rates

• Churn Reduction

• Brand Advocacy

• Overall Revenue Growth

The designs created will be critical operational tools for client success, directly contributing to their marketing and sales objectives.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in email marketing design, GIF creation, and user-centered e-commerce experiences.

• Portfolio Expansion: Work with a diverse range of high-profile DTC brands, significantly enhancing the candidate's professional portfolio.

• Agency Operations Experience: Gain valuable insight into how a digital agency operates, manages client relationships, and executes marketing strategies.

• Network Building: Opportunity to connect with industry professionals and build a network within the DTC and agency space.

• Potential for Future Engagements: Successful performance in this contract role could lead to extended contracts or opportunities on other UN/COMMON projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: For contractor roles, "growth" is often measured by the breadth and quality of projects, skill refinement, and portfolio enhancement, rather than traditional internal promotions. The impact on client revenue through design is the primary measure of success.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, allowing contractors to work from their chosen location within the eligible countries.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, candidates must be based in one of the following locations: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), São Paulo (Brazil), Madrid (Spain), Barcelona (Spain), Lisbon (Portugal), or Buenos Aires (Argentina).

Workspace Context:

• Independent Work Environment: Candidates will need to establish their own productive home office setup.

• Digital Collaboration Tools: Reliance on digital communication and project management tools (e.g., Slack, email, project management software) for seamless integration with the UN/COMMON team.

• Cross-Functional Interaction: Opportunities to collaborate with designers, strategists, and account managers remotely through video calls and digital platforms.

• Technology Stack: Access to and proficiency with modern design software (Figma, Photoshop) is essential.

Work Schedule: The requirement to work Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Eastern Time (ET), necessitates a dedicated block of time that aligns with US East Coast business hours. This means candidates in Europe will need to adjust their daily schedule significantly to accommodate this requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The ET working hours are a critical factor for candidates in European time zones. This requires a high degree of self-discipline and time management to effectively collaborate with the US-based team while maintaining personal productivity.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Resume Review: Initial screening to assess experience, skills, and alignment with the role's requirements, particularly regarding DTC brands and email design.

• Video Interview(s): Likely includes conversations with a hiring manager and potentially members of the creative team to gauge communication style, cultural fit, and initial technical understanding.

• Manager Interview(s): Deeper dive into experience, problem-solving abilities, and strategic thinking related to retention marketing.

• Skills Assessment and/or Portfolio Review: This is a critical stage. Expect to present your portfolio, discuss your design process, and potentially complete a design challenge or case study.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select projects that best showcase your experience in e-commerce, DTC brands, and email marketing/retention flows.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your role, the design process, your strategic rationale, and the outcomes or impact. Use metrics where possible.

• Highlight Process: Show how you iterate, incorporate feedback, and collaborate. Include wireframes, mood boards, or initial concepts if they illustrate your thinking.

• Showcase Technical Skills: Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates proficiency in Figma and Photoshop. Include examples of GIF creation if applicable.

• Address Retention: Specifically highlight projects that demonstrate your understanding of customer lifecycle marketing and retention strategies.

• Be Concise and Professional: Organize your portfolio for easy navigation and ensure all presentations are polished and professional.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: Be prepared for a design task that may involve creating an email concept for a given brand or scenario, or refining an existing design. Focus on demonstrating your understanding of the brief, your creative approach, and your ability to apply best practices.

• Case Study Presentation: If a case study is requested, structure it logically: client background, challenge, your solution (design and rationale), and results.

• Time Management: If given a timed challenge, pace yourself effectively. Prioritize key elements and ensure you can deliver a complete, albeit potentially unpolished, solution within the timeframe.

• Strategic Thinking: Be ready to discuss why you made certain design choices, linking them to business objectives and user behavior.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "skills assessment and/or portfolio review" is the most critical part. Candidates should prepare to present their work as if they are pitching to a client, focusing on how their design solutions drive business results, particularly in customer retention.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Figma: The primary tool for wireframing, UI design, prototyping, and collaboration. Proficiency is essential for creating all visual assets.

• Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and creating high-quality graphic elements.

• Adobe Creative Suite (General): Familiarity with other Adobe products may be beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Email Service Providers (ESPs) / Marketing Automation Platforms: Familiarity with platforms commonly used for e-commerce and DTC brands (e.g., Klaviyo, Mailchimp, HubSpot, ActiveCampaign) is highly beneficial. Understanding their design capabilities and limitations will inform the design process.

• Project Management Tools: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, or Monday.com for managing tasks and workflows within an agency setting.

• Communication Tools: Proficiency in Slack, Zoom, or similar for remote team collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific mention of Figma and Photoshop, alongside the context of e-commerce and email marketing, points to a need for skills in modern digital design tools used for campaign execution and D2C brand building. Familiarity with ESPs will allow the designer to create assets that are readily implementable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer-Centricity: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the end consumer, ensuring designs resonate and drive value.

• Authentic Storytelling: A focus on creating genuine narratives that connect with audiences, rather than overt sales pitches.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A highly iterative and collaborative environment where sharing work and contributing positively is expected.

• Creativity & Innovation: Encouraging fresh perspectives and strategic thinking to solve design problems and drive results.

• Agility & Adaptability: Embracing feedback, iterating quickly, and being flexible in a fast-paced agency setting.

• Passion & Curiosity: A genuine enthusiasm for design, creativity, technology, and the brands they work with.

Collaboration Style:

• Embedded Team Member: The designer is expected to seamlessly integrate with the existing UN/COMMON creative team.

• Cross-functional Partnership: Working closely with marketing strategists, account managers, and potentially other designers to achieve campaign objectives.

• Open Feedback Culture: An environment where work is shared openly, and constructive feedback is given and received to improve outcomes.

• Iterative Design Process: A collaborative workflow that involves multiple rounds of feedback and refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "fun," "customer-centricity," and "authentic stories" suggests a culture that balances professional rigor with a positive, engaging work atmosphere. The contractor is expected to embody these values while contributing their specialized design skills.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Remote Collaboration: Effectively collaborating and integrating with a remote team, particularly across different time zones (ET vs. European).

• Time Zone Alignment: Working within the 9 AM - 5 PM ET schedule while based in Europe requires significant personal time management and dedication.

• Multiple Brand Management: Juggling the design needs of various e-commerce brands, each with unique brand identities and campaign objectives.

• Iterative Feedback Cycles: Navigating potentially rapid feedback loops and multiple revisions common in agency environments.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring design integrity across diverse client brands while adhering to their specific guidelines.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• E-commerce & DTC Expertise: Deepen understanding of successful marketing strategies and design principles specific to the DTC e-commerce landscape.

• Retention Marketing Strategy: Gain practical experience in designing campaigns that directly impact customer retention metrics.

• Agency Workflow: Learn best practices for project management, client communication, and creative execution within a leading digital agency.

• Diverse Brand Exposure: Work with a variety of high-profile, emerging brands, offering exposure to different market segments and brand aesthetics.

• Skill Refinement: Continuous practice in Figma, Photoshop, and GIF creation, enhancing technical proficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge is the time zone overlap requirement. Growth will come from mastering the specific demands of retention design for e-commerce and successfully navigating agency project management.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for designing an email campaign aimed at increasing customer retention for an e-commerce brand." (Focus on user journey, segmentation, content strategy, and design elements).

• "How do you ensure your designs align with a brand's identity while also incorporating best practices for email engagement?" (Highlight brand guidelines, A/B testing, and audience understanding).

• "Walk us through a time you received critical feedback on a design and how you incorporated it." (Demonstrate adaptability, professionalism, and ability to iterate).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about UN/COMMON and our work with emerging brands?" (Research their client roster and philosophy).

• "How do you handle working within a remote, collaborative team, especially with time zone differences?" (Emphasize proactive communication and time management).

• "Describe your ideal work environment and how you contribute to a positive team culture." (Align with their values of collaboration, creativity, and fun).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically: Introduction to UN/COMMON and your role, then present 2-3 key projects. For each project: client context, challenge, your creative process, design rationale, and outcomes/impact.

• Highlight Retention: Explicitly point out projects that demonstrate your ability to design for customer retention, loyalty, or repeat purchases. Quantify impact if possible.

• Showcase Figma/Photoshop Skills: Be prepared to briefly demonstrate specific techniques or features used in your work.

• Explain "Why": Focus on the strategic thinking behind your design choices, not just the aesthetic appeal.

• Be Ready for Challenges: If a design challenge is given, clearly articulate your approach, the tools you would use, and the key elements you would focus on.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will likely assess not only design skills but also the candidate's ability to operate effectively within an agency structure, manage client expectations, and contribute to a collaborative remote team, all while understanding the operational impact of design on retention marketing.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Retention Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your resume and portfolio are tailored to highlight relevant experience in DTC e-commerce, email marketing, retention flows, and proficiency with Figma and Photoshop. Select your strongest, most relevant projects for presentation.

• Resume Optimization: Clearly articulate your years of experience, key skills (especially design rationale, user-centered design, and GIF creation), and any experience with marketing automation platforms. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process and rationale. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions, especially those related to collaboration, feedback, and problem-solving. Be ready to discuss your understanding of retention marketing.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with UN/COMMON's client portfolio, their agency philosophy ("consumer first and brand second"), and recent work to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment.

⚠️ 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. The requirement to work ET hours from a European location is a significant consideration for time management and personal flexibility.