R&D Print & Production Designer

Job Description

• A leading e-commerce, gifting and retail company is looking for an experienced R&D Print & Production Designer with strong experience in graphic design, print production, pre-press, prototyping and production-ready artwork to join their team in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The successful candidate will bridge the gap between creative design and physical production, transforming product and creative concepts into technically feasible, commercially viable and repeatable production solutions.

Responsibilities

• Assess creative and product concepts to determine production feasibility.
• Identify suitable materials, printing processes, machinery, equipment and production techniques.
• Recommend design changes to improve manufacturability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
• Create and adapt production-ready artwork for products, packaging and printed materials.
• Prepare print-ready artwork and ensure files meet technical production requirements.
• Create and maintain die-lines, templates, cutting guides, print specifications and production layouts.
• Manage colour, dimensions, bleed, resolution, finishing requirements and other pre-press specifications.
• Specify suitable substrates, materials, finishes, inks and production techniques.
• Develop physical prototypes and production samples to validate product concepts.
• Test and evaluate different materials, substrates, finishes and production methods.
• Develop practical, repeatable production processes for new and existing products.
• Create templates, jigs, guides, cutting layouts and other production aids where required.
• Support product costing by providing inputs relating to material usage, print costs, labour, machine time, consumables and wastage.
• Prepare production-ready files, technical documentation, SOPs, work instructions and visual production guides.
• Support Production during product launches, trials and initial production runs.
• Train Production teams on new products, production techniques and quality requirements.
• Investigate production and quality issues and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Research new printing technologies, materials, substrates, finishes and production capabilities.
• Maintain accurate records of approved artwork, samples, prototypes, die-lines, templates and production files.
• Liaise with printers, manufacturers and suppliers regarding artwork, materials, production methods and technical specifications.

Requirements

• Graphic Design qualification or equivalent practical experience.
• Minimum of 2–3 years' experience in Graphic Design.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign.
• Strong understanding of print production and pre-press requirements.
• Experience preparing production-ready artwork.
• Strong understanding of die-lines, templates, cutting paths, print specifications and finishing requirements.
• Practical understanding of different printing and production processes.
• Ability to work with physical materials and develop prototypes and samples.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Strong technical and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to understand how designs translate from screen to physical production.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Creative, Product Development, suppliers and Production teams.
• Strong organisational and file-management skills.
• Experience in product development or packaging development would be advantageous.
• Experience with laser cutting, engraving, vinyl cutting, sublimation, digital printing or similar technologies would be advantageous.
• CAD or basic 3D design experience would be advantageous.
• Experience with costing, production calculations, SOPs and production instructions would be advantageous.
• Experience in a fast-paced e-commerce, gifting, retail or manufacturing environment would be advantageous.