Graphic Designer / Production Artist
Employment Type: Full-Time
Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Location: On-site in Waterloo, Iowa
Reports To: Assistant Production Manager, with daily direction and support from Art Department leadership
About Image Pointe
Image Pointe is a family-friendly, business-to-business apparel decoration company that has served customers for more than 49 years. Our approximately 85 employees work together to provide outstanding design, customer service, and in-house production.
We strive to create a culture that brings out the best in every employee. We value:
- Excellence
- Relationships
- Honesty and integrity
- Family
- Dignity
- Innovation and continuous improvement
We pursue ambitious goals, invest in employee development, and strive to hire and train the best people in our industry.
Position Overview
Image Pointe is seeking a talented and dependable Graphic Designer / Production Artist to join our Art Department.
This position combines creative design with technical production artwork. The Graphic Designer will create original designs, revise customer-provided artwork, prepare production-ready files, and collaborate with Sales and Production to ensure every job is completed accurately and at the highest possible quality.
Our ideal candidate has strong Adobe Illustrator skills, a solid understanding of design fundamentals, excellent attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a deadline-driven production environment.
Illustration skills and previous experience with decorated apparel, screen printing, embroidery, direct-to-film printing, or promotional products are strongly preferred.
Primary Responsibilities
Design and Artwork Creation
- Create original, concept-driven artwork based on customer ideas, brand standards, and project requirements.
- Produce designs for screen-printed apparel, embroidery, direct-to-film printing, sublimation, and promotional products.
- Recreate, redraw, clean up, or enhance customer-provided artwork.
- Modify existing designs while maintaining brand consistency and overall design quality.
- Customize and manipulate established design templates.
- Select and apply appropriate typography, color, composition, and illustration techniques.
- Prepare customer proofs and complete revisions accurately and efficiently.
Production Artwork
- Review incoming artwork to determine whether it meets production requirements.
- Identify missing information, artwork concerns, or potential production limitations before a job moves forward.
- Prepare accurate, organized, and production-ready artwork files.
- Set up artwork using the correct dimensions, placement, colors, file formats, and production specifications.
- Prepare standard screen-printing separations and understand concepts such as spot colors, underbases, trapping, choking, registration, and print positioning.
- Prepare or modify files for embroidery, direct-to-film printing, sublimation, and other decoration methods.
- Ensure artwork is saved, named, documented, and filed according to department standards.
- Follow established art approval, revision, and handoff processes.
Communication and Collaboration
- Work closely with Sales representatives to understand customer concepts, revisions, deadlines, and expectations.
- Clearly communicate artwork concerns, production limitations, or recommended alternatives.
- Collaborate with Screen Printing, Screens, Embroidery, DTF, Finishing, and other Production departments.
- Provide clear and timely handoffs when artwork is ready for the next stage of production.
- Assist Production with artwork-related questions, print concerns, or necessary adjustments.
- Participate in team reviews, workload planning, training, and process-improvement discussions.
- Receive feedback professionally and make revisions without losing sight of the customer’s goals or production requirements.
Quality, Organization, and Continuous Improvement
- Proofread and inspect artwork for spelling, accuracy, sizing, placement, colors, and production readiness.
- Complete assignments within established turnaround times and communicate promptly when a deadline may be at risk.
- Maintain an organized digital workspace and follow company file-management standards.
- Manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
- Learn and follow Image Pointe’s artwork, approval, and production procedures.
- Support cross-training and continued development within the Art Department.
- Use available technology and design tools to improve quality, consistency, and efficiency.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Professional, educational, freelance, or equivalent experience in graphic design or production art.
- Strong working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator.
- Working knowledge of Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Creative Cloud.
- Strong understanding of typography, layout, composition, color, and visual hierarchy.
- Ability to create clean vector artwork and properly prepare production files.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Ability to follow technical instructions and established processes.
- Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet production deadlines.
- Strong organizational and file-management skills.
- Effective written and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively and respond professionally to feedback.
- Ability to work on-site using a Mac-based computer environment.
- A portfolio demonstrating relevant design, illustration, production artwork, or apparel-design experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience designing for screen-printed apparel or decorated garments.
- Understanding of screen-printing separations, spot colors, underbases, trapping, choking, and registration.
- Experience preparing artwork for embroidery, direct-to-film printing, dye sublimation, or promotional products.
- Strong illustration or custom lettering skills.
- Experience working within customer brand standards.
- Experience in a production-focused, deadline-driven design environment.
- Familiarity with automated templates, variable designs, or repeat-order artwork.
- Ability and willingness to continue developing advanced separation and production-art skills.
Characteristics of a Successful Candidate
A successful Graphic Designer / Production Artist at Image Pointe will be:
- Creative while remaining attentive to production requirements.
- Dependable, organized, and accountable.
- Comfortable balancing quality, accuracy, and turnaround time.
- Willing to ask questions before preventable mistakes occur.
- Open to coaching, feedback, cross-training, and continuous improvement.
- Able to communicate concerns respectfully and offer practical solutions.
- Focused on helping the entire team succeed—not simply completing individual assignments.
- Committed to treating customers and coworkers with dignity and professionalism.
What Success Looks Like
During the first several months, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
- Learn Image Pointe’s artwork and production processes.
- Consistently create accurate, production-ready artwork.
- Complete customer revisions and proofs within expected turnaround times.
- Communicate effectively with Sales and Production.
- Maintain organized and complete artwork files.
- Identify potential artwork or production concerns before they create delays.
- Produce work that meets Image Pointe’s standards for creativity, quality, and accuracy.
- Progress toward independently managing a daily workload with limited follow-up.
Benefits
Image Pointe offers a competitive benefits package that include:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- 401(k)
- Company 401(k) match
- Paid holidays
- Paid vacation
- Paid sick time
Before applying, candidates are encouraged to visit the Image Pointe website www.imagepointe.com to become familiar with the type of artwork and decorated apparel we produce.
Please submit:
- A current résumé
- A brief cover letter
- A portfolio or work samples demonstrating relevant design ability
Portfolios should include examples of original design work, vector artwork, illustration, apparel graphics, production artwork, logo development, typography, or other work comparable to the responsibilities of this position.
Applicants may be asked to complete a brief, job-related design or production-art assessment as part of the interview process.
Image Pointe is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, business needs, and the ability to perform the responsibilities of the position.
Benefits:
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Experience:
- Graphic design/Production: 1 year (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
