Marketing Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Designer

Company: Readerlink Distribution Services (Printers Row Publishing Group - PRPG)

Location: San Diego, California, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-06-24

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Develop compelling visual assets for both B2B and B2C marketing channels, with a strong emphasis on e-commerce platforms and retail environments.

• Execute digital design strategies for major e-commerce retailers, including product imagery, A+ content, and promotional graphics, ensuring brand consistency and platform compliance.

• Design impactful retail signage, sales brochures, and marketing collateral that drive awareness and sell-through of published titles across various retail partners.

• Collaborate closely with the in-house studio photographer on photo editing, asset management, and potentially on-set photography to ensure cohesive visual storytelling.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role sits within the marketing and creative function of a publishing group, requiring a blend of design expertise, e-commerce optimization, and an understanding of retail marketing. The focus is on creating visually engaging assets that support sales and brand presence across diverse digital and physical retail touchpoints.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce high-impact retail signage and marketing materials, adhering to retailer specifications and brand style guides for key accounts.

• Create compelling e-commerce digital assets, including optimized product images, lifestyle graphics, Amazon A+ Content modules, and Brand Store pages to enhance online product visibility and conversion rates.

• Develop and maintain sales collateral such as one-sheets and brochures for trade, gift, and specialty sales channels, ensuring professional presentation and brand alignment.

• Execute 3D retail renderings and planogram visualizations using software like Lightwave for sales presentations and client approvals, designing new fixture concepts as needed.

• Provide essential support for studio photography, including post-production editing (retouching, color correction) in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop, and meticulous asset management within DAM systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus on static and 3D design for retail environments and dynamic digital assets for e-commerce platforms. The emphasis on retailer-specific requirements and conversion optimization suggests a need for data-informed design decisions within the creative process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree required in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Marketing, or a related field.

Experience: 1-3 years of professional experience in graphic design, with a specific focus on marketing collateral, e-commerce assets, and/or retail design.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in 3D design or modeling software, such as Lightwave (required).

• Strong understanding of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Adobe Lightroom for photo editing and graphic creation.

• Experience in designing for e-commerce platforms (e.g., Amazon A+ Content, retailer websites) and understanding their specific asset requirements.

• Ability to design and produce retail signage, planograms, and marketing collateral according to retailer specifications.

• Excellent visual communication, typography, and layout design skills.

• Proven ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with DAM systems (e.g., PhotoShelter) and asset management best practices.

• Experience in the publishing industry or a related creative field.

• Knowledge of digital marketing design principles and social media graphics creation.

• Basic understanding of studio photography principles and on-set support capabilities.

• Ability to interpret and apply brand style guides consistently across all assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific requirement for Lightwave experience is a key differentiator. While Adobe Creative Suite is preferred, Lightwave is listed as a core technical requirement, indicating its critical role in the role's 3D rendering responsibilities.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a strong range of design work, with a significant emphasis on e-commerce visual merchandising, digital ad banners, and product imagery optimization.

• Demonstrations of retail signage design, including examples of compliance with retailer specifications and brand guidelines.

• Case studies or examples of 3D retail renderings, planogram visualizations, or fixture designs.

• Examples of photo editing and retouching work, highlighting before-and-after transformations.

• Documentation of projects where design contributed to increased conversion rates or sales performance on e-commerce platforms. Process Documentation:

• Showcase understanding of workflow for creating and delivering digital assets for various e-commerce platforms, including version control and asset organization.

• Demonstrate experience with managing project timelines, gathering asset requirements, and communicating progress to internal stakeholders.

• Illustrate a process for adapting designs based on retailer feedback and evolving platform guidelines.

• Examples of how you've ensured brand consistency across different marketing channels and asset types.

📝 Enhancement Note: For this role, the portfolio should strongly emphasize visual merchandising and conversion-focused e-commerce design, alongside traditional print and 3D rendering capabilities. A clear demonstration of understanding retailer-specific requirements and the ability to translate them into effective visual assets will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $75,000 - $80,000 per year.

Explanation of Range: This range is typical for a Marketing Designer with 1-3 years of experience in a major metropolitan area like San Diego, California, considering the specialized skills in 3D rendering (Lightwave) and e-commerce design.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Plans: Medical, Dental, and Prescription coverage.

• Flexible Spending Accounts: For Health and Dependent Care expenses.

• Insurance: Disability, Life, and Accident Insurance.

• Paid Time Off: Vacation Pay and Paid Holidays.

• Retirement Savings: 401(k) with Company Match.

• Professional Development: Author Events and Publisher-sponsored Book Club participation, fostering industry knowledge and networking.

Working Hours: Standard 40-hour work week, typically Monday through Friday, with potential for occasional overtime depending on project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided, and the benefits package is robust, offering a good mix of health, financial, and professional development opportunities relevant to a creative role within a publishing environment.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Publishing (Trade Books) - Specifically, Printers Row Publishing Group (PRPG) is a premier trade publisher in the United States, operating under Readerlink Distribution Services. This industry context means a focus on creative content, market trends, and strong relationships with retailers and distributors.

Company Size: Readerlink Distribution Services is a significant player in book distribution. PRPG, as one of its publishing imprints, likely operates with a lean but dedicated marketing and creative team, fostering a collaborative and agile environment.

Founded: Printers Row Publishing Group (PRPG) is part of Readerlink Distribution Services. While specific founding dates for PRPG aren't provided, Readerlink's established presence suggests a stable and experienced organization.

Team Structure:

• The Marketing Designer will likely be part of a broader marketing or creative department, potentially working closely with editorial, sales, and production teams.

• Collaboration will be key, with frequent interaction with the in-house studio photographer and marketing managers.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Marketing Manager or Creative Director, overseeing the visual output for PRPG's seven publishing imprints. Methodology:

• Emphasis on data-driven design for e-commerce, using platform analytics and retailer feedback to inform visual strategies.

• Agile workflow for asset creation to meet dynamic retail and e-commerce demands.

• Collaborative approach to concept development and design execution, ensuring alignment with publishing imprints' brand identities and marketing objectives.

Company Website: [Readerlink Distribution Services Website URL - Note: Actual URL not provided in input, would be readerlink.com if available]

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding PRPG's position as a trade publisher within a larger distribution network is key. The culture likely values creativity, efficiency, and strong execution to support diverse publishing imprints and their retail partners.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an entry-to-mid-level designer (2-5 years experience), focused on execution and tactical design implementation. It offers a solid foundation in marketing design for consumer-facing products and retail environments within the publishing sector.

Reporting Structure: The Marketing Designer will report to a Marketing Manager or Creative Director, working within a team that supports multiple publishing imprints. This provides exposure to different brand aesthetics and market strategies.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts sales and brand visibility by creating assets that drive customer engagement and purchase decisions on e-commerce platforms and in physical retail spaces. Effective design is crucial for sell-through and brand perception in a competitive market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Deepen expertise in e-commerce design, 3D rendering, or specific Adobe Suite tools, becoming a subject matter expert within the team.

• Leadership Potential: Progress to a Senior Marketing Designer or Art Director role, potentially leading design projects or managing junior designers.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain broader understanding of the publishing lifecycle, from editorial and production to sales and distribution, enabling more strategic design contributions.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role provides a clear path for growth within a creative operations function, moving from execution to strategic contribution. The opportunity to work across multiple imprints offers diverse project experience beneficial for career development.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position, indicating a traditional office setting within Readerlink Distribution Services' San Diego location.

Office Location(s): San Diego, California. This location likely offers a vibrant work environment with access to creative talent and industry connections. Specific office amenities or accessibility details would need to be confirmed.

Workspace Context:

• The workspace is expected to be collaborative, with shared studio facilities for photography and design workstations.

• Access to necessary design software and hardware, including specialized 3D modeling tools, will be provided.

• Opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, photographers, marketing managers, and potentially editorial/sales teams.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, likely Monday through Friday. Flexibility may be offered based on project needs and company policy, but the on-site nature implies a structured schedule within office hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests an emphasis on in-person collaboration, direct mentorship, and utilization of shared studio resources, which can be beneficial for creative development and team cohesion.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by HR and the hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Assessment: A deeper dive into your portfolio, potentially with a design exercise or challenge focused on e-commerce assets or retail signage. This stage will likely assess proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Lightwave.

• Interview(s) with Hiring Team: Discussions about your experience, design approach, project management skills, and how you handle collaboration and feedback. Expect questions related to your experience with retailer specifications and 3D rendering.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior leader to ensure cultural fit and alignment with company goals.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest projects that align directly with the job description, especially e-commerce and retail design examples.

• Highlight Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the outcome (e.g., increased conversion, positive retailer feedback).

• Quantify Impact: If possible, include metrics or results that demonstrate the effectiveness of your designs.

• Showcase Technical Skills: Ensure your portfolio clearly displays your proficiency in Lightwave and Adobe Creative Suite, with examples that highlight your 3D rendering capabilities.

• Organize for Clarity: Present your portfolio in a clean, easy-to-navigate format (PDF or online platform).

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve creating a mock-up for an Amazon A+ product page, a retail endcap display, or a digital ad banner.

• Practice articulating your design rationale clearly and concisely, focusing on how your design meets business objectives and retailer requirements.

• Familiarize yourself with common e-commerce design best practices and current retail visual merchandising trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will likely heavily weigh your portfolio and demonstrated ability to meet specific technical requirements (Lightwave) and creative objectives for e-commerce and retail channels.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• 3D Design Software: Lightwave (Required core competency for 3D rendering and visualization).

• Graphic Design Software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign - Preferred).

• Photo Editing Software: Adobe Lightroom (for post-production editing, retouching, color correction).

Analytics & Reporting:

• E-commerce Platform Tools: Familiarity with the design interfaces and content upload mechanisms for major platforms like Amazon, Target.com, Walmart.com.

• DAM Systems: PhotoShelter (for asset management, organization, and metadata tagging).

CRM & Automation:

• Not explicitly mentioned, but an understanding of how design assets integrate into marketing automation platforms or CRM workflows could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Lightwave is a non-negotiable technical requirement for this role, alongside strong skills in the Adobe Creative Suite for broader graphic and photo editing tasks.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Driving fresh, high-impact visual concepts that capture attention and effectively communicate product value.

• Customer-Centric Design: Focusing on creating assets that resonate with consumers and enhance their online shopping experience.

• Retailer Partnership: Understanding and adhering to the specific requirements and brand standards of various retail partners.

• Efficiency & Organization: Managing project timelines, assets, and specifications effectively to ensure timely delivery and maintain high quality.

• Collaboration: Working seamlessly with photographers, marketing teams, and other stakeholders to achieve unified campaign goals.

Collaboration Style:

• A highly collaborative environment where designers, photographers, and marketing teams work together to bring books and brands to life visually.

• Openness to feedback and iterative design processes to refine assets for optimal performance.

• Emphasis on clear communication and proactive problem-solving to navigate the complexities of multi-imprint publishing and diverse retail channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture likely values a blend of creative excellence, a strong understanding of commercial objectives, and the ability to work effectively within a production-oriented environment that serves multiple distinct publishing brands.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Multiple Brands: Designing for seven different publishing imprints, each with its own aesthetic and target audience, requires adaptability and brand discernment.

• Evolving E-commerce Standards: Keeping pace with the constantly changing design guidelines and technical specifications of major online retailers.

• 3D Rendering Demands: Mastering Lightwave for complex retail visualizations and ensuring high-quality output within project timelines.

• Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensuring design assets effectively meet the needs of sales, marketing, and editorial departments while adhering to retailer constraints.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced 3D Modeling & Rendering: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Lightwave and potentially explore other 3D software relevant to retail design.

• E-commerce Optimization: Learning advanced techniques for conversion rate optimization through visual design on platforms like Amazon.

• Publishing Industry Immersion: Gaining in-depth knowledge of the book publishing lifecycle and market dynamics.

• Professional Development: Mentorship from senior creative staff and exposure to industry best practices through company-sponsored events like author events and book clubs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role presents challenges in managing diverse brand needs and technical requirements, but offers significant growth in specialized design skills and exposure to the dynamic publishing and retail sectors.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design for a retailer with very specific, strict guidelines. How did you ensure compliance while still creating an effective design?"

• "Walk us through your process for creating Amazon A+ Content. What elements do you prioritize, and how do you measure success?"

• "How do you approach translating a book's concept or genre into compelling visual assets for marketing?"

• "Tell us about your experience with 3D rendering software, specifically Lightwave. What types of projects have you used it for?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about the publishing industry and Printers Row Publishing Group specifically?"

• "How do you stay updated on design trends, particularly in e-commerce and retail?"

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you prefer to work with photographers and marketing teams?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your presentation logically, starting with an overview of your relevant experience, then diving into 2-3 key projects.

• Highlight Key Projects: Focus on examples that best demonstrate your skills in e-commerce design, retail graphics, and 3D rendering.

• Explain Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate the problem, your approach, the tools used (especially Lightwave), and the results.

• Showcase Retailer Compliance: If possible, include examples where you successfully adapted designs to meet specific retailer requirements.

• Be Ready for Technical Questions: Anticipate questions about your workflow, software proficiency, and how you handle technical challenges.

📝 Enhancement Note: Be prepared to demonstrate not only your creative talent but also your technical proficiency, particularly with Lightwave, and your understanding of the commercial objectives driving design decisions in retail and e-commerce.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided jobvite link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature examples of e-commerce asset design, retail signage, and any 3D rendering work. Prioritize projects that demonstrate creativity within retailer constraints.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly highlights your experience with Lightwave, Adobe Creative Suite, e-commerce platforms, and relevant design responsibilities. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, the impact of your work, and your enthusiasm for the publishing industry and this specific role. Practice presenting your portfolio with confidence.

• Research PRPG: Familiarize yourself with Printers Row Publishing Group's imprints and their general market presence to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their creative needs.

⚠️ 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.

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