Senior Packaging Designer | Beauty Innovation - Industrial Color Extended
About the Role
Description
Industrial Color is seeking a Packaging Designer to support a leading prestige beauty client. This highly visible role is ideal for a designer who thrives at the intersection of packaging innovation, brand storytelling, and technical execution.
We are looking for a creative, detail-oriented thinker with deep experience in beauty, skincare, personal care, or consumer packaged goods who understands how thoughtful design can build trust communicates product efficacy. The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in primary packaging and structural design, paired with exceptional visual design skills across print and brand communications.
This role is particularly well-suited for a designer who balances clinical credibility with modern beauty aesthetics, developing designs that feel premium, approachable, trusted, and results-driven.
As a key collaborative team player in our fast-paced environment, your primary focus will be the technical execution, layout, and quality control of primary and secondary packaging. You will bridge the gap between creative concept and final production – requiring a hands-on technical expert who thrives in rapid workflows, works seamlessly with packaging vendors, and ensures every dieline, specification, and layout is executed flawlessly.
Requirements
What You'll Do
- Design & Technical Execution (Core Focus)
- Collaborate with the team on packaging design iterations, layouts, and artwork production for both primary (containers, bottles, tubes, jars, pumps, closures, compacts, applicators, and custom engineered forms) and secondary (cartons, sleeves, boxes) packaging.
- Design the full physical system of the package, not just its surface decoration–considering ergonomics, usability, functionality, and consumer interaction.
- Explore materials, finishes, coatings, textures, and decoration techniques with a strong understanding of manufacturing constraints.
- Prepare, review, and finalize precise mechanical artwork and layout files ready for production.
- Execute precise typography setting, copy layout, and annotation of design elements/callouts to ensure smooth and efficient production.
- Cross-functional Collaboration & Technical Support
- Work closely with Creative, Marketing, Product Development, Packaging Engineering, and global vendor partners.
- Provide clear, accurate packaging specs and technical notes to internal teams to ensure seamless communication with vendors.
- Step in to consult or communicate directly on complex technical details with vendors whenever specialized production input is needed.
- Deliver precise, production-ready packaging assets and callouts to internal cross-functional teams for smooth project handoffs.
- Work efficiently within fast-turnaround production timelines while maintaining high accuracy and quality standards.
- Quality Control & Benchmarking
- Conduct strict Quality Assurance (QA) on color accuracy (Pantone/CMYK), print finishes, paper stocks, and proof approvals.
- Conduct competitive market research and packaging benchmarking to source best technical practices, materials, and finishing options.
- Teamwork & Collaboration
- Act as a dependable team player, providing technical support to creative teams and cross-functional partners.
Benefits
The anticipated salary range for this role is $105,000 - $120,000 annually. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience, and skills relative to the defined job requirements.
This is a hybrid role requiring flexibility to work in-office and remotely. Evening or weekend work may occasionally be required during major projects.
We offer a competitive benefits package including major medical, dental and vision insurance, FSA, HSA, and employee discounts.
Industrial Color is a division of CoCreativ, a family of integrated creative production companies. Industrial Color partners with top brands, agencies, and creative professionals providing a full range of essential production services. For over 30 years, we've led the industry through a culture of innovation, bringing state-of-the-art digital production and post-production solutions to our clients.
Our headquarters is based in Tribeca, NY, with offices in Los Angeles and studios in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Our clients include: L'Oreal, Publicis, Procter & Gamble, Tommy Hilfiger, Absolut Vodka, Nike, Estee Lauder, Amazon...
Skills
As published by workable · 27 questions
Basics
First name, Last name, Email, Headline, Phone, Address, Photo, Education, Experience, Summary, Resume, Cover letter
Short answers (1)
- Please provide a link to your portfolio (and password if needed) so we may view your work.
Pick from a list (26)
- Lead the concept, sketching, and development of primary packaging and structural components from concept through production.
- Design bottles, tubes, jars, pumps, caps, closures, compacts, applicators, and custom packaging systems that balance aesthetics, functionality, ergonomics, and manufacturability.
- Create and refine 3D CAD models using Rhino to translate concepts into production-ready designs.
- Develop high-quality KeyShot renderings for presentations, concept reviews, and executive approvals.
- Explore innovative materials, finishes, coatings, textures, decoration techniques, and manufacturing processes.
- Review prototypes, evaluate consumer usability, and refine designs through multiple development stages before final production.
- Stay current on beauty trends, packaging innovation, sustainability, and emerging manufacturing technologies.
- Review technical drawings and engineering documentation to ensure they align with the approved design direction.
- Follow up with Product Development, Packaging Engineering, and vendors throughout development to maintain design integrity.
- Prepare and manage Pantone color standards, color callouts, and benchmark references.
- Set up, organize, and annotate artwork files with detailed production specifications, finishes, decoration techniques, and manufacturing requirements.
- Prepare and deliver production-ready artwork files to vendors and manufacturing partners.
- Review proofs and prepress files to ensure artwork accuracy, print quality, and color consistency.
- Participate in press checks and color approvals to ensure final production meets design expectations.
- Collaborate closely with Packaging Engineering, Product Development, manufacturers, and suppliers to resolve technical, artwork, and production challenges through commercialization.
- Design packaging graphics that clearly communicate product benefits while reinforcing the overall brand identity.
- Develop cohesive visual systems across packaging, retail, and marketing collateral.
- Create original design solutions rooted in consumer insight and brand strategy.
- Ensure consistency across all physical consumer touchpoints.
- Support product launches by creating digital and e-commerce assets, including Product Detail Pages (PDPs), retail.com imagery, promotional graphics, launch assets, and digital marketing materials.
- Collaborate with Marketing and Creative teams to ensure product storytelling translates seamlessly across retail, digital, and social channels.
- Maintain visual consistency across physical packaging and digital consumer experiences.
- Partner with Product Development, Packaging Engineering, Marketing, Creative, Merchandising, and global manufacturing partners throughout the product lifecycle.
- Present concepts, prototypes, renderings, mood boards, and design rationale with confidence and clarity.
- Balance creativity with technical requirements, manufacturing constraints, timelines, and budgets.
- Foster a collaborative, detail-oriented, and innovation-driven creative environment.