Senior Designer

Overall Summary:

The Senior Designer partners with the creative team and other internal teams to deliver compelling creative concepts, formats, and layouts. They work with multiple clients to create strategic, highly effective communications and campaigns, with a primary focus on direct mail print creative.

Primary Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead direct mail creative development from concept to execution from a blank page or format spec sheet; partner with a copywriter and others as needed.
• Oversee freelance designers or copywriters and/or partner with them.
• Utilize outside production resources to execute concepts for the marketplace if needed.
• Apply a client’s brand voice to execution; ensure it is present in all creative deliverables.
• Apply best practices of information hierarchy, emotionally resonant messaging, and persuasive creative concept; appropriately following brand standard guidelines.
• Craft solutions using creativity and best practices to generate response in multiple verticals including Insurance, Financial Services, Healthcare, and Automotive.

• Manage deadlines for multiple projects, sometimes with multiple versions.
• Create a portfolio filled with creatively applied persuasion; including direct mail and print, as well as any other media that exhibits creative abilities.
• Collaborate with IWCO team, including Strategists, Data Analysts, the Creative Director, internal and freelance creatives, the Account Team and Sales to deliver timely and impactful execution.
• Find and modify stock imagery as needed.
• Build and shape agency-level, strategically driven creative presentations in PowerPoint or other creative platforms.
• Create and execute multi-channel marketing campaigns where applicable.
• Design and develop branded collateral and materials.
• Support content initiatives for IWCO branding and promotion under our Making Better Happen® platform.
• Perform other related duties as applicable or assigned.

Required Skills/Abilities/Competencies:

• Proven history and strong interest in creating compelling direct mail print creative, including a strong understanding of direct mail best practices and design conventions.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and prioritize effectively.
• Composure in quick turnaround and/or high-stress situations.

• Strong presentation skills; ability and willingness to engage with clients and persuasively deliver presentation content.
• Knowledge of, or desire to learn, video editing and simple motion graphics.

• General understanding of paper and weights.

• Ability to clearly communicate ideas verbally and in writing.
• Ability to sketch or draw a plus.

• Ability to work in a variety of project formats.
• Understanding of universal proofreading marks.
• Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite proficiency.

• Understanding of trade show booth design and engagement a plus.

Education and Experience:

• 12+ years of agency experience.
• Bachelor’s degree with Graphic Design focus.
• Previous experience with both conventional and digital printing.
• Experience with digital design (email, web design, mobile).
• B2B and B2C experience.
• Direct response marketing experience.
• Extensive experience with color separations (both spot-color and CMYK printing) and file building requirements for projects with four-color and/or black/spot color plate changes on press.
• Experience working in an agency environment.
• Cross-channel creative development including direct mail, email and display ads.
• Experience with MacOS, Adobe Creative Suite, font management, color spaces: CMYK vs RGB, Hex, file formants.

• Experience using project management software.
• Experience with UI & UX strategy and best practices, digital design, video concepting, storyboarding and production a plus.
• Cutting, assembling comps/proofs experience a plus.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to work 8 hours consecutively.
• Ability to work on-site at our Chanhassen office 3 days a week.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.