Studio Designer

Fred & Friends is looking to add a clever and skilled Designer to its growing, Rhode Island-based studio. This is a full-time, hybrid position. Candidates must be able to work on-site several days per week.

Since 2004, Fred has been a leader in the giftware industry, creating well-designed products that put a smile on your face. We design and manufacture fun, innovative gifts, home goods, and personal items for specialty retailers worldwide. The company is located one minute north of Providence, in sunny Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Check out what we do at genuinefred.com. 

Fred’s independent design studio is small in size, but big on ideas. You will have the unique opportunity to work on a wide range of creative projects. We do everything in-house, from product ideation and design to packaging and marketing materials. We encourage everyone in the studio to contribute ideas and collaborate in the product development process.

The ideal candidate will be multidisciplinary, having an exceptionally strong portfolio showing both illustrative and typographic design, along with technical proficiencies in Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

 Key responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Work with the Fred studio to generate a range of innovative and inspired concepts and graphics for product and packaging design
• Be able to effectively and persuasively communicate your conceptual ideas and design rationale both verbally and visually
• Work collaboratively with the Fred studio to create images of products and packaging for seasonal marketing materials
• Work closely with the Fred product managers to help translate design concepts and details to overseas manufacturers with clear, concise direction

Candidates should possess the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Illustration, Graphic Design, or equivalent experience
• 3+ years of related design work experience
• Strong illustration, design, and visualization skills
• Strong sense of typography – you know when to use it, and when to hold back
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite – Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
• Comfortable and competent in collateral design
• Experience with digital photography and lighting
• Intuitive eye for design, innovative thinking, and a genuine love for creative work
• Stays current on industry trends and best practices
• Is self-motivated, detail-oriented and well-organized
• Adapts quickly to rapidly changing needs within the studio
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Great team collaborator, but also excels independently

Candidates with any of the additional experience will get noticed:

• Packaging and collateral design, especially in the gift industry
• Knowledge of printing processes and materials
• Strong illustration skills
• Product design
• Pattern-making for sewn and plush toys
• Knowledge of overseas manufacturing processes 
• Ability to harness AI tools for design and ideation
• A sense of humor is always a plus

Application Details:

• Applicants must be residents of the US
• Email resume and portfolio samples with your best work to hireme@fredandfriends.com
• Please save in PDF format, and limit submissions to 20MB or less in size

No phone calls please.

Call your mother instead — she never hears from you anymore.