Senior Designer in Brooklyn, New York at Uncommon Goods

About Uncommon Goods

Uncommon Goods partners with independent makers and small businesses to offer a wide and constantly evolving assortment of original, creative products.­

We are built on better business practices and committed to having a positive impact. Learn more here.

The best part of Uncommon Goods is us—our team. We've been around for over 20 years because of all the wonderful people who make UG the one-of-a-kind company it is.

Learn more about our products, B Corp certification, guiding principles, Better to Give program, and team members you might be working with. Listen to the story of Uncommon Goods from our Founder and CEO here and here.

About the role

We’re looking for a Senior Designer to join our Creative team and help shape how Uncommon Goods shows up in the world.

This is a hands-on design role with a lot of creative range. You’ll concept and design campaigns across catalog, homepage, email, social, packaging, and other brand touchpoints. You’ll work closely with our Senior Art Director and Design Director, as well as partners across Marketing, Merchandising, Product Management, and our photo and production teams.

You’ll bring strong visual thinking, great taste, and the ability to turn a creative brief into thoughtful, compelling work. You’ll have the opportunity to influence not just individual projects, but the evolution of the Uncommon Goods visual brand.

We’re looking for someone who is equally comfortable developing the big idea and obsessing over the details, whether that means figuring out the right visual direction for a campaign, refining a catalog spread, developing a packaging concept, creating an illustration, or making sure the type and crop are just right.

What you'll do

• Concept and design multi-channel campaigns across catalog, homepage, email, social, and other customer touchpoints, determining the right mix of photography, illustration, typography, and graphic elements.
• Collaborate with our production designers and photo team on catalog design, including developing layouts, brainstorming photo direction, exploring graphic treatments, and refining crop, type, and other visual details.
• Lead or contribute to brand projects including packaging, mailers, logos, and other brand experiences.
• Create original illustrations, from icons and spot art to more developed pieces, that bring campaigns, packaging, and branding to life.
• Develop and present multiple design and art direction solutions in response to creative briefs and project needs.
• Work closely with Marketing, Merchandising, Product Management, and other internal partners to understand seasonal strategies and translate them into strong creative concepts and visual solutions.
• Partner with external vendors, including printers, to bring work from concept through production.
• Research inspiration, emerging design trends, and the competitive landscape, while maintaining a strong understanding of both current and historical design.
• Collaborate with other members of the Creative team to ensure a consistent and cohesive visual experience across platforms and customer touchpoints.
• Help maintain and evolve our brand guidelines and visual design systems so the brand stays consistent while continuing to grow.
• Use performance and engagement data when relevant to inform and refine creative decisions.
• Mentor and provide thoughtful, constructive creative feedback to junior designers and freelance or contract designers.
• Be a proactive problem solver who looks for opportunities to make our visual communication clearer, more interesting, and more effective.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines while maintaining a high level of craft and attention to detail.
• Work closely with the Senior Art Director and Design Director to push the Uncommon Goods visual brand forward.

About You
You’re a thoughtful, highly visual designer who cares about both the idea and the execution. You have strong instincts, a high bar for craft, and the ability to explain why a design works. You’re collaborative and open to feedback, but you’re also comfortable taking ownership and pushing an idea forward.
You’re curious by nature. You pay attention to what’s happening in design, culture, retail, and beyond, and you bring that curiosity into your work. You can move comfortably between a big campaign concept and the tiny details that make the final design feel right.
Most importantly, you’re excited by the opportunity to help shape a distinctive, evolving brand.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 5+ years of professional design experience. Experience in e-commerce, retail, editorial, or consumer brands is a plus.
• A strong portfolio demonstrating range across branding, campaigns, print, digital, and/or other relevant design work.
• High level of taste and a strong visual point of view.
• Strong command of typography, layout, form, composition, and color.
• Strong illustration skills and fluency with illustration as a design tool.
• Proficiency in Figma, InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.
• Ability to develop concepts from a creative brief and carry them through to polished final execution.
• Ability to work quickly and efficiently, balance multiple projects, and manage individual responsibilities while contributing to a broader team effort.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to give and receive honest, thoughtful, and constructive feedback.
• Comfort working cross-functionally with partners in Marketing, Merchandising, Product Management, and other teams.
• Familiarity with and curiosity about AI-assisted design tools.
• A degree in Graphic Design or a related field is preferred, but not required if your experience and portfolio demonstrate the right skills.

Nice to Have

• Experience with motion design tools such as After Effects or Premiere.
• Experience providing creative direction or mentoring junior designers.
• Experience working across both print and digital production.
• Experience developing brand guidelines or visual design systems.

You Are

• Immersed in design and knowledgeable about both current and historical design trends.
• Curious and always looking for inspiration in unexpected places.
• Open, positive, and collaborative in how you communicate.
• Comfortable giving and receiving direct, thoughtful feedback.
• Solution-oriented and willing to roll up your sleeves to figure things out.
• Flexible and comfortable working in an environment where priorities and projects can change.
• Detail-oriented without losing sight of the bigger picture.
• Excited by the opportunity to push the Uncommon Goods visual brand forward.

Everyone Is Welcome Here
At Uncommon Goods, we believe we’re all out of the ordinary. That’s why we’re committed to making diversity, inclusion, equity, and belonging part of everything we do. We strive to make significant changes to our business, from how we find our products to how we build and cultivate our team, so we can be everyone’s favorite place to work.
We are an equal opportunity employer. If you would like to request any accommodation during the application process, please email people@uncommongoods.com.

Company Perks

• Hybrid work environment, with 2 days onsite per week in our Sunset Park, Brooklyn office. Prefer to be in the office more? Fully onsite is also an option.
• Casual work atmosphere and a creative, collaborative team
• 40% discount on Uncommon Goods products
• Opportunities to learn, grow, and develop your skills
• Fun company events and ways to stay connected as a team

To Apply
Please submit your resume and a portfolio that demonstrates your range, creative thinking, and design craft. We’d especially love to see work that shows how you approach campaigns, branding, typography, illustration, and both print and digital experiences.