Designer

Location: Apex, NC (On-site) - Open to relocation

Department: Design

Reports To: Creative Director

Type: Full-time

Our Client is a fast-growing, women-owned lifestyle and apparel brand known for inspiring product

design, meaningful gifts, and bold seasonal collec- tions. With a customer base of over 4,000 boutiques nationwide, this company blends thoughtful artistry with quality craftsmanship to bring products to life that uplift and connect.

As they continue expanding, theyâ re hiring a Prod- uct Designer to join their on-site team in Apex, NC. This is a fantastic opportunity to be part of a mis- sion-driven, highly collaborative design department that values creativity, ownership, and fresh ideas. What Youâ ll Do

Product Design & Development

Concept, design, and execute seasonal product lines across categories like gifts, jewelry, and apparel Build and iterate on design presentations in align- ment with brand and leadership feedback

Create detailed sample specs and collaborate with

the Product Manager on development cycles

Provide factory-ready artwork and revise based on

internal or external input

Catalog & Print Design

Support seasonal catalog design and layout devel-

opment

Produce original surface prints and graphics for vari- ous product lines

Align design deliverables with broader marketing and brand objectives

Creative Collaboration

Participate in regular design meetings to share ideas and maintain seasonal cohesion

Collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, prod- uct, and sales teams

Contribute to a culture of innovation, teamwork, and continuous improvement

Tools & Trend Awareness

Maintain fluency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)

Stay up to date on industry trends and bring forward fresh concepts

Research new materials, formats, and production

techniques to enhance design innovation

What Weâ re Looking For

Bachelorâ s degree in Graphic Design, Product

Design, or related field

2+ years of professional design experience in con- sumer goods, fashion, or giftware

Strong portfolio showcasing creativity, attention to detail, and versatility

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite

Excellent time management and communication

skills

Comfort working in a fast-paced, collaborative envi- ronment with multiple project deadlines

davidkirincic 773-***-**** *****@*************.*** Portfolio LinkedIn Hi Emerging Blue Team,

I’m excited about the Product Designer role at Emerging Blue — the focus on thoughtful, uplifting design and meaningful products really resonates with me.

Most of my career has been spent in senior creative roles where I led teams and oversaw brand direction. While I’m proud of that work, I’ve found myself missing the hands-on, creative problem-solving that drew me to design in the first place. I’m now intentionally looking to return to those roots — to be closer to the work, collaborate with other creatives, and contribute in a more focused, design-driven way. I bring a wide range of experience in product development, trend research, retail, and team collaboration — along with a strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite. But more than that, I bring a true love for designing things that connect with people. Your brand’s mission and aesthetic really speak to me, and I’d be honored to help bring seasonal collections to life in a way that feels fresh, intentional, and aligned with your voice. You can check out my portfolio and get a feel for the range and flexibility of my work—I’d like the opportunity to walk you through it and share more about how I approach content and creative strategy. Thanks for reading—looking forward to what’s next. David Kirincic

davidkirincic 773-***-**** *****@*************.*** Portfolio LinkedIn Consultant and Creative Director — May 2024–Present As a Creative Director, I lead strategic and creative initiatives for clients across industries, offering a blend of brand vision, campaign strategy, and hands-on creative leadership. My work spans digital marketing, brand development, and visual storytelling, with a focus on delivering performance-driven creative that aligns with business objectives. Responsibilities:

• P artner with executive stakeholders to develop brand strategy and marketing communications across channels.

• L ead concept development and execution of campaigns, RFPs, and social content tailored to both B2B2C.

• D irect teams, including designers, developers, copywriters, and freelancers to deliver polished, on-brand assets.

• P rovide art direction for photography and video projects, ensuring visual cohesion across marketing materials.

• C onsult on marketing operations, including workflow optimization, creative resourcing, and team structure. Achievements:

• D elivered high-impact executive presentations and creative proposals that helped clients secure competitive contracts and business growth.

• B uilt and implemented creative workflows that improved project turnaround time and quality control.

• Successfully guided multiple clients through brand refreshes and content strategy pivots, leading to increased engagement and visibility.

Creative Director at Buck, a Gallagher Company — July 2022–May 2024 In that role, I initiated weekly design development workshops to sharpen the team’s innovation capabilities, resulting in a 30% reduction in the concepting phase. I also introduced collaborative Miro boards that aligned creative efforts with the global marketing team’s standards. One of my key accomplishments was developing custom RFP microsites using Foleon, which earned a 90% internal approval rating for enhancing efficiency and engagement. Collaborating with the senior leadership team, I analyzed campaign performance and identified areas for improving the client experience. Additionally, I established a new creative workflow and approval process that boosted team productivity and brand consistency. Creative Director at Phenom — December 2021–July 2022 I led an internal creative team of art directors, designers, and videographers. I partnered with senior leadership to launch a new website and refreshed content strategy, while also ensuring brand compliance across all materials. I implemented a digital KPI scorecard that helped ensure our creative deliverables aligned with performance metrics. Senior Design Lead at IBM/Kyndryl — July 2021–December 2021 I played a pivotal role in shaping the brand and design experience for Kyndryl as it was spun off from IBM. As Senior Brand Design Lead, I managed creative quality, brand delivery, and purchasing for revenue-generating projects. I also built a comprehensive internal creative database to maintain consistency across global teams and partner agencies. Content Marketing Manager, Designer at IBM — February 2019 to July 2021 I spearheaded a major overhaul of the digital media strategy that resulted in a 60% increase in social engagement. I led weekly agency meetings to ensure brand consistency and created a wide range of marketing assets, from infographics and web banners to interactive content and event signage. I also developed an international shared library of photography, icons, and illustrations to support content production and ensure efficiency and consistency. Senior Creative Lead at IBM — April 2018 to February 2019 As a Senior Creative for IBM’s Cloud/Hybrid Cloud and Analytics division, I supported branding efforts for SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS solutions, delivering creative content across digital and print platforms, aligning with brand guidelines. My work spanned design, copywriting, editing, and production. Creative Director/Consultant — July 2017 to April 2018 I worked as a Consultant serving clients such as benefitexpress Services, Inc., Northwestern University, and Ticketmaster. My responsibilities included conducting competitive social media analyses and leading the creation of digital and print assets such as microsites, landing pages, executive presentations, email templates, mobile campaigns, banners, signage, and copywriting. I also provided photo art direction and concept development, ensuring that all deliverables met brand and strategic objectives.

Creative Director at BlueSoho — August 2016 to July 2017 I served as Creative Director, where I oversaw the creative, production, and copywriting teams for the Family Dollar account on-site. I also managed an in-house photo studio to ensure brand consistency from concept through to final release. My role involved handling multiple digital campaigns across social media, PR, outdoor, broadcast, in-store, and email, often under tight deadlines and within strict budget constraints. I was instrumental in initiating a cultural shift within the team to integrate market and financial data into the creative process and to collaborate closely with marketing leadership to execute strategic plans.

Senior Creative at FTD Companies — July 2010 to August 2016 I directed end-to-end campaign development for both B2B and B2C divisions, conceptualizing and producing a wide range of creative content. My work spanned websites, social media, email marketing, brochures, ad campaigns, direct mail, and packaging. I developed design standards, implemented template systems, and created budget plans that improved efficiency and reduced costs. I also collaborated with key partners, including Starbucks, Better Homes & Gardens, Vera Wang, and major grocery chains on integrated product launches and marketing efforts across digital and traditional media. Senior Creative at True Value Company — December 2009 to July 2010 I orchestrated the development and production of a variety of marketing collateral for both B2B and B2C channels. My work included weekly circulars, in-store signage, outdoor advertising, trade show materials, POP, newsletters, and direct mail. I was responsible for ensuring brand consistency and high-quality execution across all touchpoints. Creative Director at Purohit Navigation, Inc. — February 2006 to December 2009 I managed the development and production of medical advertising and continuing medical education materials, and events. I introduced a standardized design system for both print and web, which significantly streamlined the agency’s workflow and cut project costs by 40%. I led creative direction for both client work and new business pitches, contributing to the agency’s recognition through multiple RX Awards of Excellence over three consecutive years. Education

American Academy of Art Received an A.A.S. in Graphic Design and Advertising School of the Art Institute of Chicago – Advanced Graphic Design – Pursued a Bachelor’s Degree DePaul University – College of Commerce; Accounting and French – Pursued a Bachelor’s Degree Technical

Adobe Creative Cloud, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Dreamweaver, Acrobat, Media Encoder, Sketch, MS Office Suite, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Excel Outlook, Drupal, Trello, Kapost, and Foleon davidkirincic 773-***-**** *****@*************.*** Portfolio LinkedIn

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