Carbonate is a national creative agency specializing in food, beverage, restaurants, hotels & hospitality tech. From brand strategy and identity design to social media and communications, we work with a range of clients to build, reinvigorate, and grow brands with a focus on crafting thoughtful and impactful solutions.
At the heart of every project and client relationship is a dedication to helping our clients rise above their competition. Design plays a crucial role in our agency’s success. Carbonate is looking for an exceptional Graphic Designer with top-notch technical abilities, a portfolio that shows an ability to produce compelling design work, and a demonstrated ability to think creatively, critically, and strategically. As a Graphic Designer at Carbonate, you'll use your design experience to work across multiple projects, creating engaging solutions for a variety of brand identity systems, print materials, digital marketing, and campaign support needs. You'll work collaboratively with team members to develop creative concepts and possess the ability to clearly articulate your thought process and design decisions. This is a contract position with the potential to transition into a full-time role based on performance, business needs, and overall workload. This position reports to the Senior Director of Creative Services.
This is a contract full-time position, available immediately through December 31, 2026.
Requirements:
- 2+ years of relevant work experience
- Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design or commercial art-related equivalent
- Portfolio that demonstrates design ability
- Prior agency experience preferred
- Motion and web experience highly desirable
- Hospitality-related experience highly desirable
- This role will have the ability to work in our Cincinnati office with work-from-home/remote options.
- This role is based in Ohio.
Responsibilities:
Strategic Thinking & Analytical Abilities
- Can concept, design, and develop compelling assets for a variety of client projects including brand identity systems, printed materials, marketing material, and digital content including web design, image editing, emails, and social media content
- Create innovative designs that comply with client brand standards
- Regularly present compelling concepts that find ways to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of a project in order to find design solutions that deliver exceptional results
- Stays up-to-date with design trends and is knowledgeable about current best practice
- Works collaboratively on projects with various team members, yet is also able to execute work independently
- Identifies and initiates problem-solving when working through projects
- Displays strategic thinking and exceptional problem-solving skills using judgment, past experience, and knowledge to find the right solutions
Technical Skills
- Fluent in Adobe Creative Cloud platforms and Figma and skilled in typography, layout, and hierarchy
- Has a deep understanding of basic print and production methods, and materials, and is able to lead print production projects from idea to execution
- Knows how to prepare files for various print production needs
- Meticulous attention to detail; ensures all files are organized and succinct, appropriate for client turnover and subsequent use
- Excellent verbal, written, and visual communication and organizational skills
- Highly productive and efficient in time management
- Proficient in GSuite and Microsoft Office-related software
- Possesses a basic understanding of how the web development process works and stays up to date on best practices for various desktop and mobile design requirements
People & Team
- Builds positive relationships within the team by preparing for and actively participating in agency meetings, project check-ins, and reviews as a team member and support to senior managers, directors, and agency president
- Demonstrates interest and ability to work directly with clients as a project lead when appropriate
- Brings out the best in others by interacting with colleagues and clients in a positive and professional manner
- Rises to challenges set by senior team members with ambition and a clear understanding of opportunities and goals
- Ability to ensure every project achieves defined strategic business goals and is able to clearly and confidently articulate thinking to team members and clients
- Shows a clear understanding of project priorities to senior team members
- Able to handle multiple design projects simultaneously, keep track of deadlines and handle a fast-paced work environment
- Displays a strong sense of professionalism, ownership, and accountability
- Proactively raises concerns in a timely fashion so that action can be taken to solve potential issues
- Proactively checks in with supervisor on project status
- Participates in project tracking activities including time reporting, updating status reports, material sourcing sheets, meeting agendas, summaries, audits, etc.
Benefits at Carbonate:
- Health, vision, and dental insurance
- 401K with company match (up to 4%)
- PTO & Company Holidays
- $500 annual educational stipend
- Company-paid short-term disability insurance
- Paid parental leave
- New business incentive
To apply, please submit your Resume & Portfolio via our website (applications without a portfolio will not be considered): carbonategroup.com/open-positions
Candidates must be based in Ohio.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.
Equal Employment Opportunity
All employment decisions shall be made without regard to age, race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, citizenship status or any other basis as protected by federal, state, or local law.
Note
This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee(s) incumbent in this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments. All duties and responsibilities are essential functions and requirements and are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. To perform this job successfully, the incumbents will possess the skills, aptitudes, and abilities to perform each duty proficiently. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health or safety of themselves or others. The requirements listed in this document are the minimum levels of knowledge, skills, or abilities. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an “at will” relationship.
