Lead Designer – Print Applications

Position Summary:

The Lead Designer – Print Applications is responsible for the creation, preparation, and technical execution of artwork across M&R’s print applications, marketing, and demonstration activities. This role supports the strategic direction of the Product and Commercial teams in the creation of company art, trade show and event art, and demo art from concept through production-ready output, including color separations, digital file analysis, and the preparation of files optimized for screen printing and digital print workflows. It is a hands-on design position that combines creative capability with deep production and prepress expertise. Serving as both a creative and technical resource, this position bridges Engineering, Product Management, Marketing, Applications, Sales, and executive leadership, and interacts directly with customers and outside partners. The role also supports digital RIP software integration and evaluation, ensuring that artwork, separations, and output profiles perform as intended across M&R equipment. The position operates in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift quickly and requires an individual who can independently evaluate competing demands, communicate workload and roadblocks clearly in all directions, and articulate the risks and trade-offs behind prioritization decisions.

Key Responsibilities:

Design & Art Development

• Design and produce company art, including marketing, branding, product, and sales support artwork across print and digital channels.
• Create demo art used for equipment demonstrations, customer trials, training, and internal testing, balancing visual impact with technical demonstration objectives.
• Adapt and rework existing artwork and customer-supplied files for varied substrates, print methods, and machine configurations for samples and training purposes.
• Maintain brand consistency, file organization, and version control across all artwork libraries and archives.
• Partner with Marketing on campaign, collateral, and promotional artwork requiring production-level print expertise.

Separations, Digital File Preparation & RIP Integration

• Produce high-quality color separations for screen printing, including index, simulated process, four-color process, and specialty separation techniques.
• Perform digital file analysis to assess artwork quality, resolution, color construction, and print feasibility prior to production.
• Prepare and optimize files for digital printing workflows, including Direct-to-Film (DTF) and Direct-to-Garment (DTG) applications.
• Support the setup, testing, and integration of digital RIP software, including color management, profiles, output settings, and workflow validation.
• Troubleshoot artwork, separation, and output issues, identifying root causes and implementing repeatable corrections.
• Document art preparation standards, separation methods, and file specifications for internal teams, dealers, and customers.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Priority Management

• Communicate workload, capacity, roadblocks, and delivery timelines clearly to both peers and leadership.
• Solicit, accept, and apply feedback from stakeholders at all levels, iterating quickly while maintaining quality standards.
• Develop trade show, open house, and event artwork that showcases M&R equipment capabilities to target audiences and market segments.
• Contribute creative direction and visual recommendations that advance how M&R products are presented in the market.

Competencies:

• Advanced print design, separation, and prepress execution.
• Digital file analysis, correction, and production-readiness assessment.
• Digital printing workflow and RIP software integration.
• Color theory, color management, and output profiling.
• Self-directed prioritization with clear upward and downward communication.
• Cross-functional collaboration with technical, commercial, and executive stakeholders.
• Receptiveness to feedback and rapid, disciplined iteration.
• Ability to operate independently in fast-paced, evolving print product environments.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design, Graphic Arts, Printing Technology, or equivalent industry experience.
• 5+ years of professional design experience with heavy emphasis on print production, separations, and print applications.
• Extensive hands-on experience creating color separations for screen printing across multiple separation methodologies.
• Strong working knowledge of digital printing workflows and consumables, with DTF and DTG experience preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with digital RIP software, color management, and output profile configuration.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and related prepress and file analysis tools.
• Proven ability to manage a complex, high-volume workload with frequently shifting priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Cross-training in each process from art creation to production and understanding the entire process is critical to this role.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present, explain, and defend design and production decisions to technical and executive audiences.
• Availability to travel several times per year for trade shows, events, and customer engagements; Chicagoland area preferred.

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