Designer, Signage and Packaging @ San Diego SSC

Summary
The Graphic Designer, Signage & Packaging is a highly creative, production-minded designer responsible for bringing retail experiences to life through signage, packaging, environmental graphics, displays, and other physical branded touchpoints.

This role combines a strong design eye with deep attention to craft and production detail. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable developing an original creative concept and translating that concept into a beautifully executed, production-ready solution. They understand how two-dimensional design becomes a physical object or experience - from material, scale, color, and finish to fabrication, installation, and final presentation.

Beyond executing established creative direction, this designer is expected to bring a fresh, forward-thinking perspective to the work. They should actively explore new approaches to packaging, signage, materials, formats, finishes, and graphic applications, continually looking for opportunities to elevate the guest experience and push the creative expression of our brands and partner environments.

Working closely with the Director of Print & Graphics and cross-functional creative teams, this role helps ensure that every physical graphic touchpoint is visually compelling, brand-right, thoughtfully considered, and successfully executed from concept through production.

Key Responsibilities

Job duties include but are not limited to…

Creative Design & Development

Design signage, packaging, environmental graphics, and displays across a diverse portfolio of venues and brands.
Develop original layouts, concepts, and graphic solutions that balance strong visual storytelling with practical production requirements.
Bring a fresh and contemporary design perspective to projects, continually looking for ways to evolve how graphics and packaging show up within the retail experience.
Explore new materials, substrates, finishes, formats, printing techniques, and fabrication approaches that can elevate creative concepts and create more distinctive experiences.
Apply a keen design eye to typography, color, composition, scale, materiality, and detail.
Interpret established brand guidelines while identifying opportunities to create work that feels distinctive, relevant, and tailored to each partner or venue.
Adapt creative concepts across multiple sizes, formats, products, materials, and applications while maintaining visual consistency and design integrity.
Collaborate with Store Design, Product Design & Development, Visual Merchandising, and other internal partners to create cohesive physical brand experiences.

Production & Execution

Translate creative concepts and approved designs into accurate, production-ready files for print, fabrication, finishing, and installation.
Understand and account for substrates, coatings, laminations, mounting methods, hardware, dimensional elements, construction methods, and finishing techniques.
Prepare and review files for color, scale, bleeds, dielines, folds, trim, placement, resolution, tolerances, and other production specifications.
Collaborate directly with printers, fabricators, packaging vendors, installers, and other production partners to ensure design intent is maintained through execution.
Review proofs, prototypes, samples, and mockups for design accuracy, quality, color, materials, and overall execution.
Identify potential production challenges early and recommend creative, practical solutions.
Support quality control throughout the full process, from initial concept through final production and delivery.
Proofread copy and artwork carefully before files are released for print or fabrication.

Project & File Management

Organize and maintain design files, templates, specifications, dielines, production documentation, and other creative assets.
Manage revisions and version control across multiple concurrent projects.
Balance multiple deadlines, stakeholders, and project priorities while maintaining a high level of creative and technical quality.
Communicate proactively with internal teams and external production partners throughout the project lifecycle.
Help maintain consistency and quality across retail locations, product lines, branded environments, and physical graphic applications.
Manage partnership display systems and packages, ensuring consistency and brand integrity.

Print, Signage & Production Support

Provide coordination and execution support for the production and ordering of signage, display graphics, printed materials, and other physical creative assets as needed.
Coordinate requests with internal teams and approved print and signage partners.
Ensure approved creative files, specifications, quantities, locations, and deadlines are communicated accurately.

Skills / Qualifications

BA or BFA in Graphic Design, Production Design, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
3+ years of experience in graphic design, production design, print production, packaging, signage, environmental graphics, or a related field.
Strong portfolio demonstrating a sophisticated design eye alongside production-focused work.
Demonstrated ability to develop creative concepts as well as execute highly detailed production files.
Strong understanding of typography, composition, color, hierarchy, scale, and visual storytelling.
Experience preparing artwork and communicating with printers, fabricators, and production vendors.
Working knowledge of signage production, packaging construction, large-format printing, print manufacturing, and/or environmental graphics.
Understanding of substrates, materials, fabrication techniques, finishing processes, and installation considerations.
Solid understanding of prepress, color management, file preparation, bleeds, dielines, tolerances, and production specifications.
Excellent proofreading and communication skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, revisions, and stakeholders simultaneously.
Ability to move fluidly between conceptual design thinking, detailed production work, and administrative follow-through.
Advanced proficiency in

Adobe Illustrator
Photoshop
InDesign
Canva

Preferred Qualifications

Experience designing and producing retail signage, packaging, displays, environmental graphics, or branded fixtures.
Experience with specialty substrates, dimensional signage, custom fabrication, structural packaging, or unusual print applications.
Experience reviewing physical samples, prototypes, proofs, and vendor mockups.
Experience taking projects from initial creative concept through production and final delivery.
Experience working across multiple brands or environments while maintaining distinct visual identities.

Travel Requirements
Travel is expected to be minimal. Occasional travel to print vendors, production facilities, retail locations, or installation sites may be required based on business needs.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.

This role is primarily computer-based. The team member is frequently required to sit and use a computer keyboard and mouse. The role may occasionally require standing, walking, reaching, bending, stooping, kneeling, or crouching while reviewing samples, materials, proofs, mockups, or installations.

The team member must occasionally lift and/or move materials, packages, and production samples weighing up to 10 pounds.

Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000