Designer

Company: Marks Design, NA

Reports to: Design Director

Location: Chicago or Cincinnati (Hybrid)

About the Company

Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum-from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behavior, we help brands win in an age of constant change.

We are a global, collaborative network of 1,900+ team members across 25+ studios and 20+ countries, partnering with some of the world's most recognized brands to solve complex business challenges through design, strategy, and craft.

About the Role

We're looking for a Designer who is equal parts thinker and maker. We want someone who brings strong design instincts, curiosity, and a desire to grow within a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

In this role, you'll work across a range of projects including brand identity, packaging design, and marketing communications, contributing to both the development of new ideas and the execution of design systems across multiple touchpoints.

You'll partner closely with Creative Directors, Design Directors, Strategist, and other cross-functional teams to translate strategy and briefs into thoughtful, well-crafted design solutions. You understand that great design is about translating strategy in ways that is compelling to consumers and, scales effectively in the real world.

Role Expectations

Design & Concept Development

• Contribute to the development of creative concepts across brand, packaging, and marketing communications.
• Translate briefs and strategy into compelling visual ideas and design systems.
• Explore multiple directions through sketching, references, and digital execution.
• Bring a strong point of view while remaining open to feedback and iteration.

Craft & Execution

• Execute design work with a high level of craft across typography, layout, color, and imagery.
• Support the rollout of design systems across packaging, formats, and channels.
• Build thoughtful, well-structured files that are organized and production-aware.
• Apply strong attention to detail across all stages of design.

Systems Thinking & Adaptation

• Understand how brand systems flex across SKUs, formats, and touchpoints.
• Support the extension of packaging and brand systems across line extensions and adaptations.
• Maintain consistency and integrity while adapting designs to new contexts.
• Learn and apply fundamentals of packaging structures, dielines, and production constraints.

Systems Thinking & Packaging Expertise

• Lead the development and evolution of packaging systems that work across categories, formats, and regulatory environments.
• Ensure creative integrity is maintained across adaptations, line extensions, and high-volume SKU portfolios.
• Guide teams through the complexities of private-label brand architecture and retail strategy.
• Partner with production and technical experts to ensure design intent translates effectively through print and manufacturing.

Collaboration & Communication

• Actively participate in team critiques, brainstorms, and working sessions.
• Present work clearly and confidently, articulating the thinking behind your design decisions.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners including strategy, copy, production, and account teams.
• Contribute to a positive, team-first culture.

Growth & Curiosity

• Stay curious about design, culture, retail, and emerging trends.
• Continuously seek feedback and opportunities to improve your craft and thinking.
• Take initiative in learning new tools, technologies, and ways of working.
• Bring energy, ideas, and a point of view to the team.

What Success Looks Like

• You consistently deliver thoughtful, well-crafted design work.
• You contribute ideas, not just execution.
• You understand how design systems work and how to apply them across touchpoints.
• You grow in confidence, ownership, and creative contribution over time.
• You are seen as a reliable, collaborative, and positive member of the team.

The Ideal Person

• Is passionate about design and wants to keep getting better.
• Thinks beyond aesthetics and understands how design works in the real world.
• Is collaborative, humble, and eager to learn.
• Brings both creativity and discipline to their work.
• Is comfortable working across both concept and execution.

You Bring

• 3-5+ years of experience in brand design, packaging design, or related fields.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating design thinking, craft, and creativity.
• Solid understanding of typography, layout, color, and visual systems.
• Interest or experience in packaging design and retail environments.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

About Propelis: Propelis is a portfolio of global marketing services and technology companies with a combined legacy of 150+ years, 2,000+ clients, 9,000 employees, and operations across 30 countries. Propelis provides the scale and support of a global organization while preserving the unique culture and identity of each company in its portfolio.

For more information visit: www.MakeMarks.com

EEO Statement: We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need. We offer equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled.

We strive to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants. In doing so, we provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $67,000 USD - $77,000 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.

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Bachelors (required)

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign). (required)
Interest or experience in packaging design and retail environments. (required)
Solid understanding of typography, layout, color, and visual systems. (required)
A strong portfolio demonstrating design thinking, craft, and creativity. (required)
3 - 5 years: Years of experience in brand design, packaging design, or related fields. (required)