Hiring a Junior Designer
MSLK, an award-winning boutique beauty branding studio in Long Island City, is seeking a Junior Designer with 1-3 years experience. Must have experience with branding — brand strategy, packaging & digital experience (experience or a personal interest in the beauty/luxury space a plus) and managing their own clients. In this role, the Junior Designer will be working within a small team of well-regarded industry leaders to help indie beauty companies build brands from the ground up. This role will include brand strategy/story building, consumer research, packaging design, as well as digital marketing and web work. Only those that have the necessary experience should apply.
This role is perfect for someone who enjoys working in a relaxed environment among people who are truly passionate about what they do. If you believe that design is in the details and strive for style and substance in your work, you will be among like minds. If you enjoy working across a variety of tasks/media while deepening your knowledge of beauty and wellness, this position is sure to inspire you. If you are talented, self-motivated, and yearning for more creative control/impact on the designs you create — this is the perfect opportunity for you!
The Junior Designer will work with MSLK’s Creative Director/Senior Strategist as well as independently to:
Ensure development of compelling and brand-relevant creative solutions across all brand touch points (branding, packaging, social media, digital). These solutions must meet our defined-strategies, client’s business objectives, and marketing goals. In short we seek to turn all subjective creative decisions into objective ones. The secondary responsibility is to collaborate with the entire creative team throughout the design development process and help mentor and groom other designers on our team.
Required Skills and Qualifications:
1-3 years experience with a solid portfolio of work that demonstrates proven conceptual, design, typography and production skills and experience creating conceptual solutions that meet client’s business and marketing objectives.
Experience must include at least:
1+ years of experience in the beauty / luxury space.
1+ years of experience managing their own clients and projects.
Strong typography and branding skills, with some experience in packaging design, print production, user interface design and information architecture using UX/UI best practices (and developing .psd files)
Interest or experience with brand strategy, writing, illustration and/or photography a plus.
Experience and/or willingness to work in an “all-hands-on-deck” small creative team and wear many hats (prima donna’s need not apply)
Comfortable taking direction and criticism well and can work quickly
Must have experience managing their own projects from start to finish; thus demonstrating skills in time, schedule and project management
Proficient in Adobe Suite (familiar with latest shortcuts)
Organized, detail-oriented, multi-tasker and self-motivated
Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
Thoughtful, flexible teammate who’s genuinely curious and interested and brings positivity, passion, energy and enthusiasm to the team.
Responsibilities:
Concept/Design Development (45%)
Interest in learning about business fundamentals as well as the positioning/marketing goals and overall needs and strategies of our client’s indie beauty brands
Stay abreast of current trends in branding and those related to the beauty industry/business by reading related publications and, as needed, attending events (budget for events to be determined by MSLK).
• Understand and research, as needed, client’s competition environment.
• Conceptualize, develop, implement and refine innovative and compelling branding and visual concepts/solutions that solve the client’s stated design and business problems across all brand touch points (branding, packaging, social media, digital)
Review and discuss all concepts with Sheri Koetting (MSLK’s Creative Director/Senior Strategist) and, on select projects, our external experts (in marketing, social media, etc.).
Prepare branding, design and strategic presentations to client.
• Research, review, mentor, and supervise quality of creative resources (freelancers, interns, illustrators, stock imagery, photographers, videographer, developers, writers, etc.).
Layout and Production (30%)
• Produce/implement/execute projects including: type formatting, revisions, scanning, mechanicals, generate .psd files, any necessary artwork and guidelines for digital projects.
Proofread all work to ensure accuracy of content and revisions.
• Prepare final electronic files for printer-ready output, ensure quality and accuracy of all electronic files released to printers, mark-up laser copies for color breaks etc.
Research, review samples and select printers and other production-related vendors.
• Write or approve printing specs, prototypes, review and approve bluelines and matchprints, and attend press checks.
Maintain expertise in appropriate and latest design and production software (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Sketch or InVision).
Learn new programs (and or recent updates) to adapt to industry trends and become fluent in use and mentor entire team.
Organize, monitor archive, and maintain files on the server.
Client and Project Management (20%)
• Utilize workflow technologies and processes that support the creative team.
• Communicate and respond to clients in a professional, responsive and client-centric manner.
Actively participate in internal creative brainstorming sessions, client meetings, calls and presentations related to concepts, periodically represent MSLK on issues related to explaining/presenting concepts and keep feedback/approvals on concepts within defined parameters (as defined by proposals and or strategy documentation).
Liaise with clients, throughout project, on issues related to design, revisions and production; provide necessary guidance and updates to project manager, as needed.
• Communicate internal or external client relationship or creative obstacles to Sheri and/or Project Manager and recommend improvement opportunities and solutions.
• Prioritize and schedule project tasks to meet budgets and deadlines and keep Sheri and/or Project Manager informed, by recommending solutions, when these may not be able to be met.
Provide necessary updates to Project Manager, as needed, particularly as it relates to revision requests, scope of work and schedule changes.
Advise clients throughout the relationship and identify new and/or existing opportunities for MSLK-driven services that align with client needs/objectives. Keep Sheri updated on these potential opportunities.
General Studio Responsibilities/Administration (5%)
• Attend and actively participate in design and beauty-related conferences, seminars, events, etc to stay abreast of trends.
• Attend and contribute honest input during performance reviews and monthly one-to-ones with Sheri to ensure own professional development and define and understand yearly and quarterly personal goals.
• Check and respond to phone and email messages daily (all written communication, including emails, should be professionally written and without spelling/grammatical errors).
• Enter all hours (billable and non-billable) accurately in time-keeping system (completed daily by end of day).
• Actively participate in weekly staff and project meetings and creative-led conversations.
• Check and respond to phone and email messages daily (all written communication, including emails, should be professionally written and without spelling/grammatical errors).
• Support MSLK’s overall culture, values and mission.
• Contribute to environment that is efficient, professional, proactive, and team oriented.
About MSLK:
MSLK is a branding agency based in NYC and LA that specializes in helping beauty brands find their voice in today’s crowded market, sending a unified message through 360° brand positioning — from overall brand strategy to brand identity, packaging, retail experience, websites, social media campaigns and sales.
MSLK is led by its award-winning founder, who is an industry-expert, noted speaker, and has successfully mentored countless designers, interns and students.
Recent agency clients include: Amazing Lash Studio, Reserveage Nutrition, Joico Haircare, John Masters Organics, Dashing Diva Nails, in addition to numerous indie beauty brands in growth mode.
The Vibe:
Located on a quiet residential street MSLK is purposely off the grid. Our office is full of bright light, high ceilings and music. We strive to capture the feeling of the classic art studio balancing long white clean work surfaces with lots of inspiration tacked up on our walls. We believe that everyone should be comfortable while they work and offer a full kitchen full of drinks and snacks combined with outdoor space to eat, drink and relax. Office outings to discover inspiration, studio games, and cocktails is not uncommon.