Product Visual Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Product Visual Graphic Designer

Company: Kohler Co.

Location: Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-13

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Drive visual design excellence across digital, physical, and packaging touchpoints for market-leading brands like Mira Showers, Rada, and Recoup.

• Develop compelling graphic design concepts for product launches, service offerings, and integrated marketing campaigns, ensuring brand consistency.

• Manage and maintain design assets, documentation, and digital files, establishing clear version control and accessibility.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including Brand, Marketing, Product, and Merchandising, to achieve shared objectives and deliver impactful creative solutions.

• Contribute to establishing and evolving the visual character and look-and-feel of products in alignment with established brand guidelines and customer insights.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Product Visual Graphic Designer," has significant operational components related to asset management, process adherence, and cross-functional collaboration, placing it within the broader "Creative & Design Operations" sphere. The emphasis on "data-informed design" and "trend analysis" also hints at a structured, operations-minded approach to creative execution.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop physical and digital graphic design assets for new products, services, and marketing campaigns, aligning with brand identity and strategic goals.

• Create visually striking design concepts for product website pages and campaign landing pages, optimizing user engagement and conversion potential.

• Translate design concepts into production-ready artwork for both digital and physical formats, working effectively with external creative and production agencies.

• Develop design ideas and prototypes to support packaging requirements, ensuring aesthetic appeal and functional integrity.

• Support quality assurance processes by meticulously reviewing design outputs to ensure they meet required brand, technical, and production standards.

• Maintain and organize design files, digital assets, and associated documentation, ensuring efficient retrieval, version control, and archival.

• Prepare clear and accurate documentation to facilitate design handovers, production workflows, and ongoing archival needs.

• Provide expert design-related information and guidance to internal teams, acting as a key resource for visual communication best practices.

• Conduct thorough research into design trends, competitive benchmarks, and customer insights to inform creative direction and foster innovation.

• Contribute to capturing and documenting best practices, case studies, and key design learnings to drive continuous improvement within the creative function.

• Proactively stay informed about emerging tools, technologies, and industry trends to continuously build professional capability and enhance design outputs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and operational rigor, emphasizing the need for structured workflows in asset management, documentation, and stakeholder communication, which are core tenets of operations roles.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Product Design, or a closely related field. This foundational education ensures a strong understanding of design principles, theory, and application. Experience:

• Typically 2 years of relevant professional experience in a graphic design or visual design role. This experience should demonstrate a track record of delivering high-quality creative work and navigating design projects from concept to completion. Required Skills:

• Visual Design & Layout: Strong proficiency in creating visually compelling designs and layouts that are aesthetically pleasing and strategically aligned with brand objectives.

• Digital Design: Expertise in designing for digital platforms, including web pages, landing pages, and digital marketing assets, with an understanding of user experience (UX) principles.

• Packaging Design: Experience in developing design concepts and artwork for product packaging, considering both visual appeal and production feasibility.

• Concept Development: Ability to generate innovative and impactful design concepts that address project briefs and brand requirements.

• File & Asset Management: Proven ability to organize, maintain, and manage digital design files, assets, and documentation, ensuring version control and accessibility.

• Attention to Detail: Exceptional meticulousness in all aspects of design work, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and adherence to brand guidelines.

• Collaboration: Demonstrated ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams, fostering positive relationships and contributing to shared goals.

• Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design ideas, present concepts, and provide constructive feedback.

Preferred Skills:

• Data-Informed Design: Experience utilizing data, customer insights, and benchmarks to inform creative decisions and optimize design outcomes.

• Trend Analysis: Capability to research, interpret, and apply current and emerging design trends to keep creative work fresh and relevant.

• Agency Collaboration: Experience working with external creative and production agencies, managing briefs, and ensuring seamless integration of their work.

• Prototyping: Familiarity with creating design prototypes to visualize concepts and test usability, particularly for packaging or digital interfaces.

• Quality Assurance: A proactive approach to quality assurance, ensuring all design outputs meet rigorous standards before final delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "data-informed design," "trend analysis," and "quality assurance" suggests a need for analytical and process-oriented thinking, aligning with operations principles. The requirement for agency collaboration also points to project management and stakeholder communication skills crucial in operations.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Visual Design Showcase: A curated collection of high-quality visual design work across digital, physical, and packaging mediums, demonstrating a strong aesthetic sense and technical proficiency.

• Concept to Completion Case Studies: Detailed examples of projects that illustrate the entire design process, from initial brief and concept development through to final execution and stakeholder approval.

• Brand Guideline Adherence: Evidence of creating work that successfully adheres to established brand guidelines, showcasing an understanding of maintaining brand consistency.

• Problem/Solution Examples: Projects that highlight how design thinking was applied to solve specific business or user challenges, demonstrating strategic application of design skills.

• Digital Asset Management Examples: If possible, showcase examples of organized file structures or asset libraries to demonstrate proficiency in file and asset management.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Visualization: Ability to document the design process, illustrating key stages, decision points, and collaboration touchpoints, particularly for complex projects.

• Brief Interpretation and Execution: Examples of how design briefs were interpreted and translated into actionable design tasks, demonstrating understanding of project scoping and requirements.

• Feedback Integration: Showcase instances where feedback from stakeholders or clients was incorporated to refine designs, demonstrating an iterative and collaborative process.

• Cross-functional Collaboration Documentation: If available, highlight examples of how design processes were integrated with other departments (e.g., marketing, product development) through documentation or process mapping.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio content that demonstrates process, problem-solving, and collaboration, alongside documentation of workflows, directly aligns with the operational aspects of design roles and the need to showcase efficiency and structured execution.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Up to £37,000 per annum, subject to skills and experience.

• Methodology: This range is derived directly from the provided job description, which states "Salary up to £37k (subject to skills and experience)". The "up to" indicates a maximum potential salary, implying that the actual offer will be commensurate with the candidate's demonstrated skills, experience, and qualifications relative to the role's requirements.

Benefits:

• Company Bonuses: Potential for performance-based financial rewards, contributing to overall compensation and recognizing employee contributions.

• Healthcare Plan: Comprehensive health coverage to support employee well-being, likely including medical, dental, and vision benefits.

• Generous Pension Scheme: A robust retirement savings plan, indicating the company's commitment to long-term employee financial security.

Working Hours:

• Approximately 40 hours per week, typical for a full-time, on-site role. While a standard work week is outlined, the operational nature of the role might necessitate flexibility for project deadlines or urgent creative needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary information is explicit. The benefits listed are standard for a professional role of this nature and contribute to the overall value proposition for potential candidates. The working hours are typical for an on-site position.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Manufacturing (specifically bathroom and kitchen products), with strong emphasis on award-winning product design and innovation.

Company Size: Kohler Co. is a large, global organization. While specific UK numbers for Kohler Mira aren't provided, Kohler Co. globally employs over 40,000 associates. This scale suggests a structured corporate environment with established processes and opportunities for diverse career paths.

Founded: Kohler Co. was founded in 1873. Kohler Mira, the UK entity, comprises established brands like Mira Showers, Rada Controls, and Recoup, indicating a long history and deep expertise within their respective markets.

Team Structure:

• Content & Creative Team: This role sits within the Content & Creative team, suggesting a focus on producing high-quality visual and written content to support product launches, marketing campaigns, and brand initiatives.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role explicitly requires collaboration with Brand, Marketing, Product, and Merchandising teams. This indicates a matrixed structure where design integrates with various business functions to achieve cohesive go-to-market strategies.

• Reporting: While not explicitly stated, designers typically report to a Creative Lead, Design Manager, or Head of Content & Creative, with potential for senior designers or managers overseeing multiple projects and team members.

Methodology:

• Data-Informed Design: The company values using research, data, benchmarks, and customer insights to guide creative direction, reflecting an analytical and strategic approach to design.

• Process-Driven Execution: Emphasis on established tools, systems, and processes for design delivery, quality assurance, and documentation highlights a commitment to operational efficiency and consistency.

• Collaborative Innovation: A culture that encourages bringing fresh ideas while working within brand and process frameworks, balancing creative exploration with practical execution.

Company Website: https://www.kohler.com/ (Global) and https://www.mirashowers.co.uk/ (Mira Showers brand, relevant to the role)

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context emphasizes a blend of historical strength, innovative product development, and a structured, collaborative approach to its operations, including its creative functions. The scale of Kohler Co. suggests robust internal processes and career development frameworks.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level individual contributor, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It's a "hands-on" role focused on executing design tasks, but with exposure to strategic elements like trend analysis and concept development. It represents a step beyond an entry-level graphic designer, demanding more autonomy and a deeper understanding of brand and product integration.

Reporting Structure: The Product Visual Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Manager or Head of Content & Creative within the Content & Creative team. They will collaborate extensively with peers in marketing, product development, and merchandising, and potentially with external agencies.

Operations Impact: The role's impact is primarily on the visual appeal, brand consistency, and marketability of Kohler Mira's products and campaigns. High-quality visual assets directly influence customer perception, brand engagement, and ultimately, sales conversion rates for brands like Mira Showers, Rada, and Recoup. The role contributes to operational efficiency through well-managed assets and clear documentation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Designer/Specialist: Progression to a Senior Product Visual Graphic Designer role, taking on more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, and having a greater influence on creative direction.

• Creative Lead/Manager: Moving into a leadership position, managing a team of designers, overseeing creative strategy, and being responsible for project delivery and team performance.

• Brand/Marketing Specialization: Developing expertise in specific areas such as digital marketing design, packaging design strategy, or product visualization, potentially leading to roles in those specialized functions.

• Cross-functional Moves: Leveraging design expertise and understanding of product/market to transition into roles within Brand Management, Product Marketing, or Merchandising.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory for a design role within a large manufacturing company like Kohler is typically structured, offering paths for specialization, leadership, and even lateral moves into related business functions, all underpinned by operational excellence.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is explicitly "On-site" in Cheltenham, UK. This indicates a traditional office-based work environment within Kohler Mira's facilities.

Office Location(s): Cheltenham, England, United Kingdom. This location is a key operational hub for Kohler Mira's brands.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The description emphasizes a "collaborative, forward-focused team" and the need to work with "cross-functional teams." This suggests an open or semi-open office layout designed to facilitate interaction, brainstorming, and seamless communication.

• Tools & Technology: As a graphic designer, expect access to industry-standard design software (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite), potentially digital asset management (DAM) systems, project management tools, and company-specific creative platforms.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for regular interaction with colleagues within the Content & Creative team, as well as frequent collaboration with marketing, product development, and merchandising teams. This fosters a dynamic and integrated work experience.

Work Schedule:

• The role is full-time, with standard working hours likely aligning with business needs (e.g., 9 am to 5 pm), totaling approximately 40 hours per week. While the on-site nature suggests a structured schedule, the operational demands of project deadlines may require occasional flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement in Cheltenham points to a traditional corporate office setting where collaboration and access to company resources are paramount. The emphasis on teamwork and cross-functional interaction is a key aspect of the work environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your CV and portfolio to assess suitability against the core requirements and experience level.

• Creative Assessment/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session to walk through your portfolio, discuss your design process, and present specific case studies. Be prepared to articulate your decision-making, problem-solving, and how you adhere to briefs and brand guidelines.

• Skills & Behavioural Interview: Questions focusing on your technical design skills, experience with specific tools, and behavioural competencies (e.g., managing complexity, ensuring accountability, communication).

• Team/Stakeholder Interaction: Potentially an interview with key stakeholders from marketing, product, or merchandising teams to assess collaboration potential and alignment with their needs.

• Final Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or a senior leader to confirm fit and discuss overall terms.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience required for this role (digital, physical, packaging, concept development).

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly outline the brief, your role, the challenges, your process, the solutions you developed, and the impact/outcome. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Emphasize your approach to problem-solving, how you interpret briefs, conduct research, and iterate based on feedback. This demonstrates operational thinking.

• Show Brand Adherence: Include examples where you've successfully worked within or developed brand guidelines.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: Mention the software and tools you used, and be ready to discuss your comfort level.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, use metrics or qualitative feedback to demonstrate the success of your designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Exercise: Be prepared for a potential design task or case study. This might involve creating a concept for a new product visual, adapting existing assets, or solving a design problem related to their brands.

• Process Focus: If given a task, think about your approach: how you'd gather information, develop concepts, consider constraints (brand, production), and present your solution.

• Time Management: Practice working under timed conditions for any exercises to simulate real-world project pressures.

• Articulation: Be ready to clearly explain your rationale and design decisions, connecting them back to the brief and business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on portfolio review and potential design challenges highlights the need for candidates to not only showcase creative talent but also demonstrate a structured, process-oriented approach to design execution, which is a key aspect of operations.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for graphic design tasks. This includes Photoshop (image editing, manipulation), Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, illustrations), and InDesign (layout, page design for print and digital).

• Prototyping Tools: Software for creating interactive mockups and prototypes for digital interfaces or packaging concepts (e.g., Figma, Adobe XD, Sketch).

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with systems for organizing, storing, and retrieving digital assets, ensuring version control and accessibility.

• File & Document Management Systems: Proficiency with tools for managing project files and documentation, ensuring clear organization and backups.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Web Analytics Tools (Basic Understanding): Familiarity with how website performance is measured (e.g., Google Analytics) to understand the impact of digital design elements on user engagement.

• Trend Analysis Tools: Resources and methods for researching and analyzing design trends, market benchmarks, and customer insights.

CRM & Automation:

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or Jira for managing design tasks, deadlines, and team collaboration.

• Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Microsoft Teams or Slack for day-to-day communication and team coordination.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite is a given. The inclusion of DAM systems, project management tools, and an understanding of analytics and trend analysis tools points to the operational requirements of managing creative assets and processes efficiently.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on working together across departments to achieve unified goals. This means actively participating in team meetings, sharing ideas, and supporting colleagues.

• Innovation: Encouraging fresh ideas and creative problem-solving, but within defined brand and process frameworks. This implies a balance between pushing creative boundaries and maintaining operational consistency.

• Quality & Detail: A commitment to high standards in all design outputs, with meticulous attention to detail and accuracy. This aligns with operational precision.

• Customer Focus: A drive to delight customers through innovative products and services, meaning design decisions should ultimately serve customer needs and brand perception.

• Continuous Improvement: A culture of learning and development, actively seeking to improve processes, capture learnings, and stay current with industry advancements.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Brand, Marketing, and Product teams, requiring strong communication and the ability to translate creative concepts into business objectives and vice versa.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: An open approach to receiving and acting upon feedback from colleagues and stakeholders, fostering an iterative design process.

• Knowledge Sharing: Encouraging the sharing of best practices, design learnings, and industry insights within the team and across departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values emphasize a structured yet innovative environment where collaboration and quality are paramount, reflecting a mature operational approach to creative functions.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Constraints: Effectively merging innovative design ideas with strict brand guidelines, production limitations, and project timelines. This requires strong problem-solving skills and an understanding of operational realities.

• Managing Multiple Briefs: Juggling various design projects simultaneously, each with different requirements, stakeholders, and deadlines, demanding excellent organizational and prioritization skills.

• Translating Abstract Concepts: Developing visual representations for new products, services, or campaigns that may be in early stages of development, requiring strong conceptual thinking and communication.

• Staying Current: Continuously adapting to evolving design tools, technologies, and industry trends while maintaining a consistent brand aesthetic.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite or explore new design and prototyping tools.

• Brand Strategy Workshops: Learning more about Kohler Mira's brand architecture, target audiences, and marketing strategies to inform design decisions.

• Product Development Insights: Gaining a deeper understanding of the product design and manufacturing processes to enhance packaging and product visualization work.

• Cross-functional Skill Development: Exposure to marketing analytics, project management methodologies, or UX principles through collaboration with other teams.

• Industry Conferences & Webinars: Support for attending relevant design events to network and learn about the latest trends and technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges and growth opportunities highlight the dynamic nature of design roles within a corporate setting, requiring continuous learning and adaptability, which are key operational imperatives.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure both were met?" (Focus on process, compromise, and achieving objectives)

• "Walk me through a project where you had to manage multiple design briefs with competing deadlines. How did you prioritize and ensure timely delivery?" (Highlight organizational skills, time management, and workflow)

• "How do you approach creating visual concepts for a new product or campaign that is still in its early stages of definition?" (Discuss research, ideation, collaboration, and iterative development)

• "What is your process for gathering and incorporating feedback from stakeholders, especially when there are conflicting opinions?" (Emphasize communication, active listening, and constructive resolution) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your research, what excites you most about Kohler Mira's brands (Mira Showers, Rada, Recoup) and our approach to product design?" (Showcase genuine interest and alignment with company values)

• "How do you see your role contributing to the company's mission of helping people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives?" (Connect your design work to broader company goals)

• "Describe your ideal team environment and how you contribute to a positive and collaborative culture." (Align with the company's emphasis on teamwork and innovation) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure is Key: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by showcasing your process. Have a clear introduction for each project: the brief, your role, and the goal.

• Focus on Process & Problem-Solving: For each case study, clearly articulate the problem you were solving, your thought process, the tools and techniques you used, and how you arrived at your solution. This demonstrates operational thinking.

• Highlight Collaboration: Mention how you worked with others (clients, team members, agencies) and how collaboration influenced the outcome.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, share metrics or qualitative results that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, positive feedback, successful product launch).

• Be Ready for Deep Dives: Anticipate questions about specific design choices, technical aspects, and your decision-making rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview preparation focuses on assessing both creative talent and operational capabilities, such as process adherence, problem-solving, and stakeholder management, which are crucial for success in this role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Product Visual Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Kohler careersite.

• Tailor your Resume: Highlight specific experience in visual design, packaging design, digital assets, and brand guideline adherence. Use keywords from the job description such as "concept development," "asset management," and "stakeholder support." Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed visuals for X campaigns," "Managed a library of Y assets").

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select projects that best showcase your skills relevant to this role, focusing on digital, physical, and packaging design. Prepare 1-2 detailed case studies that illustrate your design process from brief to completion, emphasizing problem-solving and collaboration.

• Prepare for the Interview: Research Kohler Mira, its brands (Mira Showers, Rada, Recoup), and its company values. Practice articulating your design process, explaining your portfolio projects, and answering behavioural questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and managing complexity.

• Understand the Role's Operational Aspects: Be ready to discuss how you manage your workload, organize files, adhere to processes, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams. This demonstrates your suitability for a role that blends creativity with operational efficiency.

⚠️ 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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