Packaging Designer

Position Overview

Aquent Studios is seeking a highly conceptual and strategically minded Senior Creative Designer to join our growing packaging design team for an immediate freelance engagement. This role has the potential to evolve into a longer-term partnership with recurring design opportunities. Thiis role is ideal for a creative leader who excels at transforming consumer insights, brand strategy, and market trends into compelling packaging concepts that drive shelf impact and brand growth.

The successful candidate will combine exceptional design craftsmanship with strong conceptual thinking, leading the development of innovative packaging systems, product launches, and brand experiences across a diverse portfolio of consumer goods. This individual will play a key role in shaping creative direction, mentoring designers, and partnering closely with cross-functional teams to bring breakthrough ideas from concept through execution.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Concept Development

• Lead the ideation and development of innovative packaging concepts that align with brand strategy, consumer insights, and business objectives.
• Translate marketing briefs into compelling creative solutions that differentiate products in highly competitive retail environments.
• Develop multiple creative territories and strategic design approaches for new product launches, line extensions, and brand refreshes.
• Present concepts and creative rationale confidently to internal stakeholders and clients.
• Drive creative excellence while balancing innovation, feasibility, budget, and speed-to-market requirements.

Packaging Design Leadership

• Create and oversee packaging designs across primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging formats.
• Establish and evolve visual identity systems that maintain brand consistency while supporting portfolio growth.
• Ensure designs are consumer-centric, on-brand, and optimized for shelf visibility and purchase consideration.
• Guide the development of structural and graphic packaging solutions in collaboration with packaging engineers and production teams.
• Maintain high standards of typography, color, layout, photography, illustration, and visual storytelling.

Team Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and provide creative guidance to junior and mid-level designers.
• Foster a collaborative and inspiring creative culture that encourages experimentation and innovation.
• Provide constructive feedback and art direction throughout the design process.
• Collaborate closely with project managers to ensure creative quality while meeting timelines and project objectives.
• Production & Execution (may be required if resource becomes hourly "full time")
• Ensure concepts are translated effectively through production-ready artwork and packaging execution.
• Partner with print production, prepress, and vendor teams to maintain design integrity throughout manufacturing.
• Understand packaging materials, printing methods, sustainability considerations, and production constraints.

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Visual Communications, or a related field.
• 8-12+ years of creative design experience, with significant focus on consumer packaged goods packaging.
• Proven experience developing packaging concepts for products sold in retail environments.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking, brand-building, packaging innovation, and design excellence.
• Experience presenting creative work to senior stakeholders and clients.

Required Skills

Exceptional concept development and visual storytelling abilities.

Strong understanding of consumer behavior, retail environments, and packaging as a marketing vehicle.

Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).

Expertise in packaging design systems, branding, typography, color theory, and layout.

Ability to move seamlessly from strategic thinking to hands-on design execution.

Strong presentation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience across multiple CPG categories, including home care, oral care, beauty, personal care, household products.

Knowledge of structural packaging design and packaging engineering considerations.

Familiarity with sustainable packaging solutions and emerging packaging technologies.

Previous experience leading creative teams or serving in a creative leadership capacity.

Success Profile

The ideal candidate is:

A highly creative thinker who consistently generates fresh, strategically grounded ideas.

Passionate about packaging and its ability to influence consumer decisions.

Equally comfortable leading creative discussions and executing design work.

Skilled at balancing innovation with practical business and production requirements.

A mentor and collaborator who elevates the work of those around them.

Naturally curious about consumer trends, culture, retail environments, and emerging design approaches.

Experience presenting to executive stakeholders and brand leadership.

Demonstrated success developing packaging systems across multiple SKUs and product portfolios.

Ability to provide creative direction to designers, photographers, illustrators, and external agency partners.

Experience balancing consumer insights, retail strategy, and design excellence to drive business results.

What You'll Impact

In this role, you will help shape the visual identity and market presence of consumer brands by creating packaging that not only captures attention but also builds brand equity, drives purchase intent, and creates meaningful consumer connections. Your concepts and creative leadership will directly influence how products are experienced on shelf and in consumers' homes.

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