Graphic Designer

The Corrugated Packaging Graphic Designer at Tavens Packaging and Display sits at the intersection of creativity and manufacturing precision. This role is central to Tavens’ mission to deliver packaging that sells — creating graphic packaging designs that capture customer brand identity and translate it into print-ready corrugated artwork that performs on press.

In this role, you will partner closely with Structural Designers, Sales, and Customer Service to translate customer-supplied artwork and brand requirements into compelling corrugated packaging solutions. You will prepare print-ready files for flexographic printing, manage prepress workflows, and ensure that every job enters production accurately and on time. You will also support the broader Tavens organization with digital and offline design work — sales presentations, marketing materials, and more.

This role demands a self-starter with a strong eye for visual design, deep knowledge of corrugated print production, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

The Corrugated Packaging Graphic Designer embodies Tavens’ core values:

Think Different, Unapologetically Transparent, and Do Hard Things.

THE 3 THINGS: DESIGN & CREATIVE SERVICES

In addition to Tavens’ company-wide core values, the Design team is guided by three foundational priorities that define how we show up for our customers and each other every day:

1

DESIGN THAT SELLS

Every graphic we create must serve a purpose — to help Tavens win business and help our customers win on shelf. Design with the end result in mind.

2

FILE ACCURACY & PRINT READINESS

Get it right before it hits the press. Artwork prepared with proper specs, correct color profiles, and zero errors protects our customers, our press time, and our reputation.

3

COLLABORATIVE BY DEFAULT

Great packaging is never designed in a vacuum. Work closely with Sales, Customer Service, Structural Design, and Production to deliver solutions — not just files.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Corrugated Packaging Graphic Design

• Develop compelling, press-ready graphic packaging designs for corrugated boxes, displays, and point-of-purchase structures using customer-supplied artwork and brand materials.
• Work closely with Structural Designers to integrate graphic elements into corrugated die-line layouts, ensuring artwork properly aligns with structural specifications, flute direction, print zones, and manufacturing constraints.
• Translate customer brand identities, logos, and artwork into packaging designs that capture brand intent while remaining manufacturable within Tavens’ flexo printing capabilities.
• Create print-ready files in accordance with prepress requirements, including proper color profiles (spot and process), trapping, bleed, barcodes, and file resolution standards.
• Conduct design reviews to verify artwork accuracy, color match requirements, and structural alignment prior to submitting to prepress.
• Prepare and present design proofs to customers and Sales representatives; incorporate revision feedback efficiently and professionally.
• Develop mock-ups and 3D visualizations of packaging designs to support customer presentations and Sales pitches.

2. Prepress & Print Production Coordination

• Prepare and submit print-ready files to the prepress workflow, ensuring all specifications meet machine center requirements and minimize press-side corrections.
• Understand and apply Tavens’ flexo printing capabilities by machine, including color limits, size constraints, substrate characteristics, and ink coverage requirements.
• Work with production and prepress teams to resolve file issues, color discrepancies, and print-quality concerns before and after press runs.
• Review press proofs and color drawdowns to verify print accuracy against approved artwork; communicate approvals and corrections to production clearly and promptly.
• Maintain organized, version-controlled digital file libraries for all active and archived customer artwork.

3. Sales & Marketing Design Support

• Create digital and printed sales collateral to support the Tavens sales team in both face-to-face and virtual customer encounters, including sell sheets, capability presentations, and product samples.
• Develop marketing assets for digital channels (website, social media, email campaigns) and offline uses (trade shows, direct mail, printed materials) in support of Tavens’ business development mission.
• Collaborate with Sales and Marketing to produce graphic content that attracts new accounts and strengthens relationships with existing customers.
• Assist in the development of branded templates and asset libraries to ensure design consistency across the organization.
• Support special projects including new product launches, customer co-branding initiatives, and promotional campaigns.

4. Customer & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Communicate directly with customers about packaging design requirements, brand guidelines, and artwork expectations; manage feedback professionally and efficiently.
• Partner with Customer Service representatives to understand new account design needs and ensure seamless handoff from design to order entry.
• Coordinate with outside agencies, print vendors, photographers, and other creative resources as needed to support design projects.
• Participate in design reviews and project status meetings with Sales, CS, and production teams to ensure projects stay on track.
• Provide technical design guidance to Sales and CS teams on graphic packaging capabilities, print limitations, and artwork requirements.

REQUIRED TECHNICAL KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

Corrugated Printing & Manufacturing

• Working knowledge of flexographic printing processes as applied to corrugated substrates, including pre-print and post-print corrugated graphic packaging production.
• Understanding of Tavens’ machine centers and their graphic printing capabilities: size limits, color capabilities, ink coverage, and speed considerations.
• Knowledge of board grades, flute profiles, and paper weights — and how substrate choices affect print quality, color vibrancy, and design feasibility.
• Understanding of die-line construction, score and fold lines, and how structural design decisions impact graphic layout zones.
• Familiarity with POP (point-of-purchase) display design requirements and how graphic and structural elements interact in display applications.

Graphic Design & Prepress

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Illustrator (primary), Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Strong understanding of prepress fundamentals: color management (CMYK, Pantone/spot colors), trapping, bleed, resolution requirements, and file formats for print production.
• Familiarity with Esko ArtiosCAD, or equivalent packaging prepress tools for working with structural die-line files and preparing corrugated-specific artwork.
• Knowledge of barcode standards and placement requirements for corrugated packaging (UPC, ITF-14, GS1).
• Understanding of typography principles and visual hierarchy as applied to product packaging.

Design Craft & Business Acumen

• Strong eye for visual composition, color theory, and brand consistency in the context of retail packaging and display.
• Ability to assess customer artwork for printability and proactively identify issues before production.
• Understanding of how packaging design affects consumer behavior, retail shelf presence, and brand perception.
• Ability to manage multiple active design projects with competing deadlines in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Company Culture & Values

• Embody and demonstrate our core values: Think Different, Unapologetically Transparent, and Do Hard Things.
• Model the 3 Things for the Design team: Design That Sells, File Accuracy & Print Readiness, and Collaborative by Default.
• Approach every project with a solutions-first mindset, transparency about timelines and constraints, and a commitment to continuous improvement.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Packaging Design, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• Minimum 2–3 years of professional graphic design experience, with a demonstrable portfolio including packaging, print, or related design work.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop; working knowledge of InDesign.
• Strong understanding of print production fundamentals: color management, file preparation, preflight, and prepress workflows.
• Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy, particularly in preparing files for print.
• Effective time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills; ability to present design concepts clearly to both creative and non-creative audiences.
• Ability to give and receive constructive creative feedback professionally and productively.
• Comfort working in a manufacturing environment and willingness to engage directly with production processes.

Preferred

• Direct experience in the corrugated packaging, folding carton, or flexible packaging industry.
• Familiarity with Esko tools (ArtiosCAD, DeskPack, Studio) or equivalent corrugated/packaging prepress software.
• Understanding of flexographic printing processes and corrugated substrate characteristics.
• Experience designing POP displays, retail-ready packaging, or trade show graphics.
• Exposure to structural packaging design concepts and die-line construction.
• Experience supporting sales teams with design collateral, presentations, and customer-facing materials.
• Knowledge of barcode standards and packaging compliance requirements.

PERFORMANCE METRICS

Metric

Target

File Accuracy Rate

Zero press-stoppage reprints due to designer error; 100% file accuracy on first proof submission

Proof Turnaround Time

Customer proofs delivered within agreed SLA (target: within 1 business day of complete artwork receipt)

Print-Ready File Quality

100% of files submitted to prepress pass preflight checks without rework

Customer Revision Rounds

Average of 2 rounds or fewer per job from initial proof to final approval

Sales Support Responsiveness

Sales collateral and support materials delivered on time per Sales team request schedule

New Account Design Onboarding

All new graphic packaging customers receive a complete design consultation and first proof within the agreed implementation window

Cross-Functional Satisfaction

Positive feedback from Sales, CS, Structural Design, and Production on responsiveness and file quality

Portfolio & Capability Development

Completion of assigned training milestones (flexo fundamentals, Esko tools, board and print knowledge); demonstrated skill growth each quarter

Project Load Management

Zero missed deadlines on active design projects; proactive communication to Sales when timelines are at risk

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

The Corrugated Packaging Graphic Designer is where creativity meets manufacturing reality — the role that transforms a customer's vision into a printed box that performs.

When a customer walks in with a brand identity and a need to stand out on shelf, you are the person who makes it happen within the constraints of flexographic printing, board grades, and production timelines. You turn raw customer artwork into press-ready files that print right the first time — saving cost, protecting relationships, and winning repeat business.

You also support Tavens beyond the press — creating sales collateral, marketing materials, and presentations that help our team compete and win in the market every day.

This is a role where technical skill, creative vision, and the drive to Do Hard Things make a visible difference every single day.

Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person