Middleweight Graphic Designer (Packaging)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Middleweight Graphic Designer (Packaging)

Company: Goliath

Location: Hattem, Gelderland, Netherlands

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Graphic Design / Packaging Operations

Date Posted: 2026-06-02

Experience Level: 5-7 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and develop innovative packaging solutions for a global toy and game portfolio.

• Collaborate with international multidisciplinary teams including graphic designers, product designers, and brand managers.

• Translate creative briefs and concepts into visually compelling and commercially effective packaging graphics and POS materials.

• Ensure brand consistency and adherence to technical specifications across a diverse range of product lines.

• Drive product presentation from concept through to production, including art direction for imagery.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Graphic Designer," the emphasis on "Packaging," "pack structure," "print production," and "technical specs to our Far East office" strongly indicates a role deeply embedded within the operational aspects of product realization and GTM readiness, aligning it with Operations functions that support product launches.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute eye-catching packaging designs for new and existing toy and game brands, ensuring commercial appeal and brand alignment.

• Create stand-out Point of Sale (POS) materials and exhibition graphics to enhance product visibility in retail environments.

• Maintain and enforce brand consistency across all packaging and marketing collateral for the Toys and Games ranges.

• Translate complex concepts and briefs into clear, impactful graphics, managing the entire design lifecycle from ideation to final artwork.

• Produce high-quality mockups and visuals for internal meetings, presentations, and stakeholder reviews.

• Brainstorm and research innovative pack structure solutions for new product concepts, considering functionality and marketability.

• Art direct photo shoots for both product and lifestyle imagery to support packaging and marketing campaigns.

• Prepare and communicate detailed technical specifications, pack briefs, translations, and safety information to international production teams, particularly in the Far East.

• Manage multiple projects concurrently, ensuring deadlines are met and quality standards are upheld in a fast-paced environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly highlight the operational aspects of packaging design, including technical specification management, international coordination, and ensuring compliance with safety and translation requirements, which are critical for GTM execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

Experience:

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Expert-level skills in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign are essential for creating and manipulating design assets and layouts.

• Comprehensive Pack Structure Expertise: Deep understanding of packaging construction, materials, and structural design principles to create functional and appealing packaging.

• Commercial Packaging Design: Proven ability to create effective, distinctive, and commercially viable packaging solutions that drive sales.

• Logo Creation & Style Guide Generation: Skilled in developing distinctive logos and rapidly creating style guides or concept development documentation.

• Print Production Knowledge: Excellent understanding of print production techniques, processes, and troubleshooting to ensure high-quality output.

• Project Management: Ability to effectively manage large and complex projects, demonstrating strong organizational and time management skills.

• Brand Consistency Management: Skill in applying and maintaining brand guidelines across diverse product ranges.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in the Toys/Games/Arts & Crafts (A&C) or Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors.

• Experience with art direction for product and lifestyle photography.

• Familiarity with preparing and sending technical specifications to overseas production facilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requested experience level and specific software proficiencies are standard for a "Middleweight" role, indicating a need for an individual who can operate with a degree of autonomy but still requires guidance on highly strategic or complex GTM initiatives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a diverse range of successful packaging design projects, emphasizing creativity, commercial effectiveness, and brand alignment.

• Demonstrable examples of pack structure development and problem-solving in packaging design.

• Visuals of POS materials and exhibition graphics that highlight impact and design execution.

• Case studies detailing the design process from brief to final artwork, including any collaboration or problem-solving phases.

Process Documentation:

• Evidence of managing the design process from concept to final production-ready artwork, including technical specifications.

• Examples of how brand consistency was maintained across multiple SKUs or product lines.

• Case studies that illustrate the ability to translate briefs and concepts into tangible packaging solutions.

• Documentation of experience in art directing photo shoots or managing visual asset creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a packaging design role with operational responsibilities, the portfolio is critical for demonstrating not just aesthetic skill but also the ability to manage the end-to-end process, including technical handoffs and brand governance.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: A salary commensurate with experience and the responsibilities of the role.

• Full-time Position: Offering stability and a comprehensive work schedule.

• Challenging and Varied Role: Opportunities to work on unique, playful products with international scope.

• Creative Collaboration: Membership in an international multidisciplinary team.

• Ownership: The chance to see packaging creations in stores worldwide and have a significant impact.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time position in the Netherlands. Flexibility may be available, but the role is primarily on-site, requiring presence during core business hours for team collaboration and production oversight.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on Netherlands market data for a middleweight designer with specialized packaging experience. The benefits are derived from the job description's emphasis on a "challenging and varied position" and "competitive salary."

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Toys and Games Manufacturing & Distribution. Goliath operates globally, emphasizing product innovation and quality.

Company Size: Goliath is a significant international player, with offices in 15 countries and distribution channels in over 100. This implies a mid-to-large enterprise structure with established processes but also a dynamic, growth-oriented culture.

Founded: 1980. This long history suggests stability, established market presence, and a deep understanding of the toy and game industry.

Team Structure:

• The role involves working within an international multidisciplinary team of graphic designers, product designers, and brand managers.

• This suggests a collaborative, cross-functional environment where design is integrated early in the product development lifecycle.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the emphasis on commercial effectiveness and seeing creations in stores implies a results-oriented approach where design decisions are informed by market trends and potential sales impact.

• Innovation & Playfulness: The company's focus on toys and games suggests a culture that values creativity, fun, and innovative product development.

• Global Collaboration: The need to work with international teams and agencies highlights a methodology that accommodates diverse perspectives and global market demands.

• Process Rigor: The mention of technical specs, translations, and safety information points to a structured approach to ensure product compliance and successful global distribution.

Company Website: https://www.goliathgames.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's focus on toys and games, coupled with its global reach and founding principles, suggests a culture that balances creativity and fun with a professional, results-driven approach to product development and market execution.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Middleweight Graphic Designer (Packaging). This level signifies a professional with solid foundational skills and experience, capable of handling significant project components independently but still developing strategic oversight and leadership capabilities. The role is crucial in the GTM operational pipeline, translating product concepts into market-ready packaging.

Reporting Structure: The role reports into a design leadership position and collaborates closely with product design and brand management. This structure ensures that packaging design is integrated into the broader GTM strategy and product development lifecycle.

Operations Impact: The graphic designer's work directly impacts the perceived value, marketability, and retail presence of Goliath's products. Effective packaging operations, including design, technical specifications, and brand consistency, are critical for successful product launches, sales performance, and overall brand perception in a competitive global market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Packaging Designer: Progression to a senior role, with increased responsibility for leading major packaging projects, mentoring junior designers, and contributing more significantly to design strategy.

• Design Management: Opportunity to move into a management position, overseeing a team of designers and leading the design department's operational execution.

• Brand Management: Potential to leverage packaging design expertise to transition into brand management roles, focusing on overall brand strategy and product positioning.

• Specialization: Deepening expertise in specific areas such as sustainable packaging solutions, advanced structural design, or digital asset creation for e-commerce.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is positioned as a key operational contributor to the GTM process, with clear pathways for advancement within design or related business functions, leveraging a blend of creative and operational execution skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is based in Goliath's NL office in Hattem, Gelderland. This suggests a dedicated office environment designed for creative and collaborative work.

Office Location(s): Hattem, Gelderland, Netherlands. This location is likely accessible by public transport and car, with amenities for employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes working within an international multidisciplinary team, indicating a workspace that fosters interaction, brainstorming, and cross-functional communication.

• Creative Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially advanced visualization tools for mockups and presentations.

• International Interaction: Opportunities to connect with global teams, agencies, and production facilities, providing exposure to diverse operational workflows and market nuances.

• Hands-on Workspace: The nature of packaging design suggests a practical workspace where physical mockups and material samples might be utilized.

Work Schedule: A full-time position, likely adhering to standard Dutch business hours (e.g., 9 AM - 5 PM), with potential for some flexibility. The on-site requirement is crucial for team collaboration and direct involvement in creative and production oversight processes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is critical for this role, underscoring the need for in-person collaboration, hands-on work with materials, and direct team interaction essential for effective packaging operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of CV and portfolio to assess experience, skills, and alignment with role requirements.

• Portfolio Presentation & Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing key projects, design process, problem-solving approaches, and their role in bringing packaging concepts to life. This stage will also involve behavioral and technical questions.

• Skills Assessment: A practical design exercise or challenge focused on packaging design, potentially involving concept development, mock-up creation, or graphic application to a brief.

• Team/Manager Interview: Further discussion with the hiring manager and potential team members to assess cultural fit, collaborative style, and specific technical expertise.

• Final Interview: Possibly with senior leadership to discuss overall fit and long-term potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Showcase Packaging Expertise: Prioritize projects that clearly demonstrate your understanding of pack structure, materials, print production, and commercial effectiveness.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, explain your thought process, how you interpreted the brief, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the final outcome. Highlight your role specifically.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics or outcomes related to your designs (e.g., increased shelf appeal, successful product launch, positive retailer feedback).

• Highlight Collaboration: Include examples of projects where you collaborated with cross-functional teams (product design, marketing, production) and how you managed those relationships.

• Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio demonstrates proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and any relevant 3D rendering or mock-up tools.

• Brand Consistency: Include examples that show your ability to apply and maintain brand guidelines across different packaging formats.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand Goliath's Brands: Familiarize yourself with Goliath's current toy and game portfolio to grasp their brand aesthetic and target audiences.

• Practice Design Briefs: Be prepared to respond to a typical packaging design brief, focusing on concept generation, visual execution, and rationale.

• Mock-up Skills: Brush up on creating quick, effective mock-ups (digital or physical) to present your ideas.

• Print Production Scenarios: Be ready to discuss potential print production challenges and how you would troubleshoot them.

• Efficiency Focus: Consider how your design choices contribute to production efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio review and potential design challenge highlights the practical, execution-focused nature of this role within the broader operational framework of product development and launch.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: For vector-based graphics, logo creation, and technical artwork.

• Adobe Photoshop: For image manipulation, retouching, creating mockups, and raster-based design elements.

• Adobe InDesign: For layout design, typesetting, and assembling final print-ready artwork and documentation.

• 3D Visualization Software (Potential): Tools like Adobe Dimension, Keyshot, or similar for creating realistic packaging mockups and presentations.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tools are specified for this role, but understanding how design assets are managed and distributed within a larger DAM (Digital Asset Management) system or project management tool could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The tools listed are standard for packaging design. The "operations" aspect comes into play with how these tools are used to generate production-ready files and communicate technical specifications effectively for global manufacturing.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A core value driving the creation of unique and playful products.

• Quality & Excellence: Commitment to high standards in design execution, print production, and overall product presentation.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Strong emphasis on working effectively within multidisciplinary and international teams.

• Customer & Result Orientation: Focus on creating designs that are commercially successful and resonate with target consumers.

• Efficiency & Problem-Solving: Proactive, solution-oriented approach to design challenges and production requirements.

• Flexibility & Adaptability: Willingness to be flexible, accept constructive criticism, and adapt to evolving project needs.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with product designers and brand managers, ensuring packaging aligns with product features and brand strategy.

• Open Communication: Encouragement to speak up, share ideas, and provide feedback in a constructive manner.

• Global Perspective: Collaboration extends internationally, requiring sensitivity to different market needs and communication styles.

• Process-Oriented: A structured approach to design, from brief to final artwork, with clear handoffs and documentation for production.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's values emphasize a blend of creative freedom and operational discipline, essential for bringing playful products to a global market successfully.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Commercial Demands: Creating designs that are both innovative and highly effective in driving sales in competitive markets.

• International Production Coordination: Managing technical specifications, translations, and cultural nuances for production in the Far East and distribution worldwide.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring a cohesive brand image across a wide range of products and markets.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Meeting tight deadlines for new product launches and seasonal campaigns in the dynamic toy and game industry.

• Adapting to New Technologies: Staying current with evolving design software, production techniques, and sustainable packaging materials.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Global Market Exposure: Gaining insights into diverse international markets and consumer preferences.

• Advanced Packaging Techniques: Learning about new materials, sustainable solutions, and innovative structural designs.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Deepening understanding of product development, brand strategy, and marketing operations.

• Mentorship: Opportunities to learn from experienced designers, product managers, and brand strategists within Goliath.

• Industry Trends: Staying abreast of the latest trends in toy design, packaging innovation, and consumer engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities are tied to the operational complexities of a global consumer goods company, offering significant potential for professional development in both creative and business execution aspects.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a complex packaging project you managed from concept to production. What were the key challenges, and how did you overcome them?" (Focus on process, problem-solving, and collaboration).

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across multiple product lines and international markets?" (Highlight your understanding of brand guidelines and operational implementation).

• "Walk us through your process for creating technical specifications for packaging. What critical information do you include?" (Demonstrate your operational rigor and attention to detail for production).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about designing for the toy and game industry, specifically with Goliath?" (Research Goliath's brands and values).

• "How do you approach collaboration with international teams and external agencies?" (Emphasize communication skills and adaptability).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, the solution, and the outcome.

• Highlight Operational Aspects: Emphasize how your designs were production-ready, included necessary technical details, and considered brand consistency and market impact.

• Showcase Pack Structure: Dedicate time to explaining any structural design elements and their functional or commercial benefits.

• Be Ready for Technical Q&A: Prepare to discuss print production techniques, color management, and file preparation for manufacturing.

• Enthusiasm for the Brand: Convey genuine excitement about Goliath's products and the opportunity to contribute to their global presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design talent but also the operational discipline, collaborative skills, and problem-solving abilities required to succeed in a global manufacturing and distribution environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Middleweight Graphic Designer (Packaging) position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 5-7 years of relevant packaging design experience, emphasizing proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, pack structure knowledge, and print production expertise. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest packaging design projects that showcase creativity, commercial effectiveness, and technical execution. Include examples of pack structure, POS materials, and brand consistency. Prepare to discuss your process and the operational aspects of each project.

• Prepare for the Design Challenge: Familiarize yourself with Goliath's brands and be ready to tackle a packaging design brief, demonstrating your conceptual thinking and technical skills.

• Research Goliath: Understand their product lines, target markets, and company values to articulate your interest and cultural fit during interviews.

⚠️ 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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