Designer/Art Director, Freelance

Freelance Creative Designer (4-5 Month Contract, Full-Time, Potential for Extension)

Location: Remote (team based in San Diego)

Duration: 4-5 months, full-time (potential for extension or permanent role)

Compensation: $6K – $8K per month (not to exceed)

About the Role

A boutique branding and design agency is seeking a freelance creative designer for a full-time contract with the potential for a long-term role. The agency works with local and national clients in industries like non-alcoholic beverages, restaurants, and high-end jewelry brands.

This is a fast-moving, high-output role where you’ll collaborate with a seasoned executive creative director, agency director, and two long-standing art director/designers. You’ll execute brand development, digital design, packaging, collateral, and mechanical production work while working within established brand guidelines.

The ideal candidate is available to start immediately.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Execute design tasks across multiple client projects
• Develop and refine visual identities, brand collateral, marketing assets, and campaign materials
• Design for brand systems, digital content, packaging, experiential projects, and advertising
• Ensure all work aligns with the agency’s aesthetic and strategic standards
• Prepare and execute final mechanical production files as needed
• Work efficiently in a high-volume, fast-paced environment with daily deliverables
• Collaborate with internal teams, strategists, copywriters, and external production vendors
• Participate in daily Zoom check-ins and real-time feedback sessions
• Present work and incorporate feedback quickly and effectively

What We’re Looking For

• Mid-to-senior level experience (no strict year requirement, but portfolio must show strong proficiency)
• Background in agency or brand studio environments-must be comfortable with fast turnarounds
• Expert in Adobe InDesign & Photoshop (Figma is nice to have but not required)
• Strong conceptual and visual storytelling skills
• Ability to juggle multiple projects and meet tight deadlines
• Experience preparing final mechanicals for print and production
• Strong sense of typography, layout, and composition

Bonus Skills (Nice to Have, But Not Required)

• Experience with Illustrator, Figma, After Effects, Ai
• Ability to art direct photoshoots or video production

Work Environment & Expectations

• Fast-paced studio with daily Zoom check-ins and real-time feedback
• Multiple projects and deliverables per week-high-volume workload
• Quick, constant deadlines-must turn around work efficiently
• Flexibility is key-projects can shift frequently based on client needs
• Fully remote, but team has a presence in San Diego
• Pacific Time business hours (West Coast preferred)
• No expected overtime or weekend work