Junior Graphic Designer (all genders)

Maniko Nails GmbH
Full-time

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer

Company: Maniko Nails GmbH

Location: Berlin, Germany or Remote

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Retail

Date Posted: August 10, 2026

Experience Level: Junior (0-2 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid/Remote (100% Remote within Germany option)

🚀 Role Summary

  • Support the design team in creating and adapting visual assets for a wide range of channels, including digital, social media, CRM, e-commerce, and print.

  • Translate campaign concepts and key visuals into various formats and touchpoints, ensuring brand consistency.

  • Develop visually appealing and brand-compliant layouts, graphics, and product-focused assets.

  • Collaborate closely with Art Directors, Brand, Social Media, and Marketing teams to ensure cohesive campaign execution.

  • Contribute to the maintenance and development of design templates and brand guidelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is ideal for an early-career graphic designer looking to gain broad experience across multiple marketing and sales touchpoints within a fast-growing company. The emphasis on adapting existing concepts highlights a need for strong execution skills and an understanding of brand application.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

  • Assist the design team in developing creative assets for digital channels, social media, CRM, e-commerce, retail, and print initiatives.

  • Adapt campaign concepts and key visuals into various formats and across different customer touchpoints.

  • Create visually appealing and brand-consistent layouts, graphics, and product-focused assets.

  • Prepare production-ready files for both digital and print applications, ensuring accuracy and quality.

  • Work collaboratively with Art Directors, Brand, Social Media, and Marketing teams to align on project goals and brand messaging.

  • Support the maintenance and evolution of design templates and brand guidelines to ensure consistent brand representation.

  • Respond to daily design requests, prioritizing consistency and meticulous attention to detail.

  • Research visual trends and contribute fresh ideas to campaigns and content strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities indicate a hands-on role focused on execution and adaptation, rather than pure conceptualization. The need to support daily design requests suggests a dynamic workflow with a variety of tasks.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a degree or equivalent practical experience in Graphic Design, Communication Design, or a related field is implied.

Experience: 1-2 years of practical experience in graphic or communication design. Previous internships, freelance projects, or a junior-level role are highly valued.

Required Skills:

  • Demonstrated strong portfolio showcasing an excellent eye for typography, layout, color, and composition.

  • Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

  • Solid understanding of fundamental print and digital design requirements.

  • Ability to consistently apply an existing brand identity across diverse formats.

  • Professional fluency in both German and English (written and spoken).

  • High standard for quality and meticulous attention to detail.

  • Eagerness to learn, curiosity, and openness to constructive feedback.

  • Reliable, organized, and capable of managing multiple small tasks concurrently.

  • Collaborative spirit and comfort within a fast-paced team environment.

  • Proactive attitude and willingness to take ownership and responsibility.

  • Genuine passion for design, brands, and visual storytelling. Preferred Skills:

  • Basic knowledge of After Effects, Premiere Pro, or other motion design tools.

  • Experience with Figma.

  • Experience in designing for social media, CRM, or e-commerce platforms.

  • Basic understanding of print production processes and packaging design.

  • Familiarity with AI-powered design tools.

  • Interest in the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle industries, and contemporary visual culture.

  • Good grasp of current social media and design trends.

  • Confidence in contributing own ideas and asking clarifying questions.

  • Flexibility and a hands-on mentality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Required Skills" list is comprehensive, emphasizing core design competencies and soft skills. The "Preferred Skills" offer clear pathways for candidates to stand out, particularly those with digital specialization and an interest in the company's industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

  • A strong, curated portfolio demonstrating a keen eye for typography, layout, color theory, and composition across various design applications.

  • Examples of adapting campaign concepts and key visuals into different formats (e.g., social media posts, banner ads, email graphics).

  • Visualizations of brand consistency across multiple touchpoints and marketing materials.

  • Evidence of creating visually appealing and brand-compliant layouts and graphics.

  • Samples showcasing the preparation of production-ready files for digital and print. Process Documentation:

  • While not explicitly requested, candidates are advised to be prepared to discuss their design process, including how they approach briefs, iterate on designs, manage feedback, and ensure brand consistency.

  • Be ready to articulate how you ensure the quality and accuracy of files prepared for production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary requirement is a strong portfolio showcasing practical design application and brand adherence. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their workflow and how they translate concepts into tangible assets, demonstrating their understanding of the design lifecycle.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: As this is a Junior Graphic Designer role with 1-2 years of experience, and considering Berlin, Germany, a competitive salary range would typically be between €30,000 - €40,000 annually. This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for junior creative roles in major German cities, factoring in the cost of living and the company's growth stage.

Benefits:

  • 100% Remote in Germany: Option for fully remote work within Germany, offering significant flexibility.

  • Flexible Working Hours: Allows for a balanced integration of personal and professional life.

  • Deutschlandticket: Provides nationwide public transport access, enhancing mobility.

  • Urban Sports Club Membership: Encourages physical health and work-life balance.

  • Ownership & Impact: High degree of trust and creative freedom, allowing direct influence on company growth and success.

  • Workation: Opportunity to combine vacation with work.

  • Growth Opportunities: Personal and professional development, including an annual training budget of €300 (adjustable upon agreement).

  • Team Events: Regular company-sponsored events, often in Berlin, to foster team connection.

  • Home Office Equipment: Full provision of necessary equipment for a productive remote setup.

  • Individual Travel Budget: For visits to the Berlin office.

  • Collaborative Team: Access to a fast-paced, young, dynamic, and highly motivated team.

Working Hours: Full-time (assumed 40 hours per week), with flexible scheduling options.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is robust, with a strong emphasis on flexibility (remote work, flexible hours, workation) and employee well-being (Deutschlandticket, Urban Sports Club, home office setup). The training budget and growth opportunities are key for a junior role. The salary estimate is based on general market data for junior roles in Berlin; actual compensation may vary.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Nail polish and beauty industry, with a focus on innovative, self-adhesive nail polish technology.

Company Size: The description implies a growing, dynamic team, likely a scale-up or mid-sized company that has moved beyond startup phase but retains a fast-paced culture. The mention of "fast-growing team" and "hands-on team" suggests an agile environment.

Founded: Not specified, but the company is described as "innovative, fast-growing" and offering "revolutionary" technology, indicating a relatively modern company.

Team Structure:

  • The Junior Graphic Designer will be part of the Design Team, working closely with Art Directors.

  • Cross-functional collaboration is expected with Brand, Social Media, and Marketing teams.

  • The company emphasizes flat hierarchies and quick decision-making. Methodology:

  • Data-Driven Decisions: "Facts over Ego" is a core value, indicating a preference for data and results in decision-making.

  • Agile & Proactive: "Challenge accepted" and "Who if not you?" reflect a culture that embraces challenges, encourages proactivity, and empowers individuals.

  • Empowerment: "Power to the people" highlights trust, responsibility, and the importance of individual impact.

Company Website: www.maniko-nails.de

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is characterized by a strong emphasis on results, proactivity, and individual empowerment within a fast-paced, innovative environment. The core values ("Facts over Ego," "Challenge accepted," "Power to the people," "Who if not you?") are central to how the team operates and makes decisions.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is an entry-level (Junior) role in Graphic Design, not directly in Revenue or Sales Operations. However, it sits within the broader GTM (Go-To-Market) function by supporting marketing and brand initiatives. The role offers foundational experience in applying brand guidelines and creating assets across various customer touchpoints.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer will report to an Art Director or a lead designer within the Design Team. They will collaborate closely with Brand, Social Media, and Marketing teams.

Operations Impact: While not a direct operations role, the visual assets created by the Junior Graphic Designer are crucial for the company's Go-To-Market strategy. High-quality, on-brand creatives directly influence customer perception, engagement on social media, effectiveness of CRM campaigns, and sales conversion on e-commerce platforms. Strong visual branding supports overall market penetration and brand recognition.

Growth Opportunities:

  • Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific areas like social media design, e-commerce visuals, or even motion graphics if preferred.

  • Career Progression: Potential to advance to a Graphic Designer, Senior Graphic Designer, or Art Director role within Maniko Nails, or to specialize in related fields like Brand Design or UI/UX.

  • Industry Exposure: Gaining experience in the dynamic beauty and lifestyle industry.

  • Continuous Learning: Supported by the annual training budget and exposure to new design tools and trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path is clearly defined from Junior to potentially more senior design roles or specialized creative functions. The "Operations Impact" section clarifies how a creative role contributes to broader GTM and business objectives, even if it's not a traditional Revenue/Sales Operations position.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The company offers a hybrid work model with a significant remote option. While there is an office in Berlin (Hackescher Markt), the "100% Remote in Deutschland" option suggests that physical presence in the office is not mandatory for all roles or all the time. Team events in Berlin indicate a central hub for collaboration and social interaction.

Office Location(s): The company is based in Berlin, Germany, specifically near Hackescher Markt, described as the "heart of Berlin."

Workspace Context:

  • Flexibility: Employees can choose to work from home or in the office, accommodating personal preferences.

  • Tools & Technology: The company provides complete home office equipment and likely has a well-equipped office space with necessary design software and hardware.

  • Collaboration: Despite remote options, the emphasis on team events and close collaboration with other departments suggests a culture that values connection and shared work, whether virtually or in person.

Work Schedule: Full-time with flexible working hours, allowing employees to manage their schedules effectively. This flexibility is beneficial for creative roles that may require focused work periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The work environment is designed for maximum flexibility, catering to remote and hybrid preferences while maintaining a strong sense of team connection through office presence for events and collaborative opportunities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

  • Initial Screening: Likely involves a review of the resume and portfolio. Candidates should ensure their portfolio clearly showcases the required skills and experience.

  • First Interview: May be a video call with HR or a hiring manager to assess cultural fit, motivation, and basic qualifications. Be prepared to discuss your career aspirations and interest in Maniko Nails.

  • Design Task/Challenge: A practical design exercise is probable, where candidates are asked to create a specific asset or adapt a concept. This assesses their design skills, tool proficiency, and ability to work within brand guidelines.

  • Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio with the Art Director or Design Lead. Be ready to explain your creative process, design choices, and the impact of your work.

  • Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager or founder to discuss role expectations, company culture, and growth opportunities.

Portfolio Review Tips:

  • Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best represent your skills in typography, layout, color, and brand application.

  • Showcase Variety: Include examples that demonstrate your ability to work across different formats (digital, social, print) and adapt existing concepts.

  • Explain Your Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your approach, key design decisions, and the outcome or impact.

  • Highlight Brand Consistency: Ensure at least one project clearly shows how you applied brand guidelines effectively.

  • Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your technical skills with Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools.

  • Professionalism: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and professionally presented.

Challenge Preparation:

  • Understand the Brand: Thoroughly research Maniko Nails, their current marketing campaigns, social media presence, and overall brand aesthetic.

  • Practice Adaptation: If a task involves adapting an existing visual, practice creating variations for different platforms.

  • Focus on Execution: For a junior role, strong execution, attention to detail, and adherence to guidelines are often prioritized over radical innovation.

  • Time Management: Be mindful of any time limits provided for the design challenge.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily feature a portfolio review and a practical design task. Candidates should focus on demonstrating their core design competencies, ability to work within brand constraints, and enthusiasm for the company's industry.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

  • Adobe Creative Suite:

    • Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
    • Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, icons, and complex illustrations.
    • InDesign: For layout design of brochures, flyers, social media templates, and print materials.
  • Figma (Preferred): For collaborative design, prototyping, and UI design elements.

Analytics & Reporting: While not a direct responsibility, familiarity with how design impacts engagement metrics on social media, CRM, and e-commerce platforms is beneficial. Understanding basic analytics to inform design choices would be a plus.

CRM & Automation: Experience designing assets for CRM campaigns (e.g., email newsletters) is a plus.

Other Potential Tools (Preferred):

  • Motion Design Tools: After Effects, Premiere Pro for creating animated graphics or short videos.

  • AI-Powered Design Tools: Familiarity with emerging AI tools for design assistance.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite is non-negotiable. Experience with Figma and other digital design tools, along with an interest in motion graphics or AI tools, would be advantageous.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

  • Facts over Ego: Decisions are driven by data and results, fostering a meritocratic environment where the best ideas prevail.

  • Challenge Accepted: A proactive approach to problem-solving and embracing difficulties as opportunities for growth.

  • Power to the People: Emphasizes trust, autonomy, and empowering individuals to make an impact.

  • Who if not You?: Encourages initiative, accountability, and a hands-on attitude.

Collaboration Style:

  • Cross-functional Integration: Close collaboration with Brand, Social Media, and Marketing teams is essential for cohesive campaign execution.

  • Feedback Culture: Openness to constructive feedback is mentioned, indicating a willingness to iterate and improve designs collectively.

  • Agile & Dynamic: Working within a fast-paced team environment requires adaptability and quick communication.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is strongly aligned with a growth mindset, data-driven decision-making, and individual empowerment. Collaboration is key, with an expectation of proactivity and a willingness to embrace challenges.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

  • Adapting to a Fast-Paced Environment: The rapid growth and dynamic nature of the company can be demanding; learning to manage multiple tasks and deadlines effectively will be crucial.

  • Balancing Brand Consistency with Creative Innovation: Ensuring all designs adhere to brand guidelines while still being fresh and engaging for different channels.

  • Translating Concepts Across Diverse Channels: Effectively adapting campaign visuals for vastly different platforms like social media, email, and print requires strategic thinking.

  • Staying Ahead of Design Trends: Continuously researching and incorporating current visual trends, especially in the fast-evolving beauty and digital marketing space.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

  • Skill Advancement: Opportunities to learn and master new design tools and techniques, particularly in digital and potentially motion graphics.

  • Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the beauty, fashion, and lifestyle markets, and understanding how design drives engagement and sales in these sectors.

  • Mentorship: Learning directly from Art Directors and experienced designers within the team.

  • Professional Development Budget: Annual budget for courses, workshops, or conferences to enhance design skills.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents opportunities to grow by tackling diverse design challenges and leveraging company-provided learning resources, all within a dynamic industry context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

  • "Tell me about a time you had to adapt a key visual for different platforms. What was your process and what challenges did you face?" (Assesses adaptability, process, and problem-solving.)

  • "How do you ensure brand consistency across various design outputs, especially when working with existing brand guidelines?" (Evaluates understanding of brand management and attention to detail.)

  • "Describe a project where you received constructive feedback that significantly changed your design. How did you handle it?" (Tests openness to feedback and collaboration.)

  • "What are your favorite design trends in the beauty or fashion industry right now, and how might you incorporate them into Maniko Nails' visuals?" (Gauges industry awareness and creative thinking.) Company & Culture Questions:

  • "Why are you interested in Maniko Nails and our specific product innovation?" (Assesses genuine interest and research.)

  • "How do you embody our core values like 'Facts over Ego' or 'Who if not you?' in your work?" (Tests cultural fit and understanding of company ethos.)

  • "How do you approach collaboration with non-design teams like marketing or social media?" (Evaluates teamwork and communication skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

  • Structured Walkthrough: Begin with a brief overview of your portfolio, then delve into 2-3 key projects.

  • Highlight Impact: For each project, discuss the objective, your role, your design process, and the outcome or impact (if quantifiable).

  • Demonstrate Skills: Clearly show examples of typography, layout, color usage, and brand application.

  • Address Requirements: Explicitly point to examples that showcase your experience with digital, social media, CRM, or print design, as relevant to the job description.

  • Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, challenges, and how you handle feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on showcasing practical design skills, understanding of brand application, alignment with company values, and the ability to articulate one's design process effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Graphic Designer position:

  • Submit your application through the provided application link on the Maniko Nails GmbH careers page.

  • Curate and optimize your portfolio: Select 4-6 of your strongest design projects that best highlight your skills in typography, layout, color, and brand consistency. Ensure it includes examples of adapting concepts for different channels and preparing production-ready files.

  • Tailor your resume: Emphasize your 1-2 years of relevant design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and fluency in German and English. Quantify achievements where possible.

  • Prepare for a design challenge: Research Maniko Nails' brand and current marketing. Practice adapting visuals for different platforms and be ready to present your work and process clearly.

  • Research the company and its values: Understand Maniko Nails' mission, products, and core values ("Facts over Ego," "Challenge accepted," etc.) to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural fit.

⚠️ 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.

Application Requirements

Candidates should have 1-2 years of practical experience in graphic or communication design and a strong portfolio demonstrating design fundamentals. Proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite and professional fluency in both German and English are required.