Graphic Designer – Illustrative Product & Brand Design

About the Company

Our client is a beloved New York City-based tabletop and lifestyle brand known for an immediately recognizable design identity rooted in illustration. Every product starts with a hand-drawn concept — full of personality, wit, and a slightly rebellious spirit — that gets refined and vectorized into a finished design. Their catalog spans tableware, textiles, clothing, and accessories, all connected by a whimsical, cultural, and irreverent point of view.

This is a team that cares deeply about craft and is deliberately, stubbornly specific about their aesthetic. If you've walked into a kitchen store and laughed at a mug, this might be that brand.

Role Overview

We're sourcing a Graphic Designer with a strong foundation in illustration-based product design for a growing NYC lifestyle brand. This role starts part-time with a clear path to full-time as the working relationship develops. Project-based engagements are also on the table.

The ideal candidate is both an illustrator and a technical designer — someone who can bring personality and quirkiness to original artwork while also executing precise, production-ready deliverables like tech packs, textile specs, and brand materials. You don't just make things look good; you understand how things get made.

Key Responsibilities

• Create original illustrations and artwork in the brand's signature hand-drawn, vectorized style
• Develop and deliver accurate technical packs (tech packs) for tabletop products and apparel/clothing
• Design product graphics, labels, and textile prints that align with the brand's aesthetic
• Produce polished design assets for marketing, social media, and promotional use
• Collaborate closely with the internal team to ensure creative output matches the brand's whimsical, cultural, and rebellious identity
• Manage and execute project-based design work across multiple product categories simultaneously
• Take creative briefs from concept through to production-ready files

Requirements

• Proven experience in graphic design with a strong illustration portfolio — hand-drawn work is a must
• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and the ability to vectorize hand-drawn artwork cleanly
• Experience creating accurate tech packs for tabletop products and/or clothing/apparel
• Working knowledge of textiles and product label design
• Strong understanding of print production requirements and file preparation
• Ability to work quickly and iteratively without sacrificing quality
• Strong visual communication and the ability to receive and interpret creative feedback
• Portfolio that demonstrates range across illustration, product design, and brand assets

Nice to Have

• 3D modeling experience (especially for product or tabletop visualization)
• Background in consumer product design, housewares, or lifestyle brands
• Experience with apparel/fashion design or textile manufacturing processes
• Familiarity with U.S. retail brand standards and packaging requirements
• Video or motion graphics skills for social content

What We're Looking For (Culture & Aesthetic Fit)

This is not a generic design role. The client has a very specific, quirky design voice — one that is whimsical, culturally aware, and a little rebellious. Most of their work starts as hand-drawn artwork that gets refined and vectorized, so a strong illustration sensibility is non-negotiable.

What matters most:

• You genuinely connect with brands that have a strong, offbeat identity — you don't just execute briefs, you get the point of view
• You can move fast without losing the personality of the work
• You understand that technical precision (accurate tech packs, specs, measurements) and creative expression are not in conflict — they're both part of the same job
• You're comfortable starting part-time and growing into a larger role as trust builds
• You're open to project-based work in the early stages

Before interviewing, candidates are encouraged to review the company's product catalog to get a feel for the aesthetic. This is a brand that rewards designers who do their homework.