Artworker

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Artworker - Brand & Visual Identity Compliance Specialist - who will be responsible for supporting the Africa OU Central Team in developing, adapting and executing new packaging designs for existing or new brands or pack types.

This involves working directly with the Central Team Project Leads at the design concept stage of a project right through to execution in Egypt market. This role serves as a guardian of Brand design attributes and consistency: ensuring all artworks for a certain brand are in line with global standards and approved templates.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Support the AOU Design Team in all matters relating to adaptive pack design, including but not limited to:
• To act as a representative of the SGK business ensuring a first class service is consistently provided to the Client with professionalism and excellence.
• Understand minute and specific details that are part of a global guideline for a specific brand
• Ability to understand the design rationale of brand guidelines and how to adapt for OU packaging design templates as well as how to include additional non-standard elements like promo messaging etc.
• Understanding the adaptation requirements for specific markets and supports the OU Packaging Liaison and the VIS Compliance Manager to create accurate design templates, as well as inputs into the studio to create masters and clones in line with the global guidelines and specific local requirements
• Creation of specific templates for AOU for specific markets.
• Managing VIS compliancy with template generation and adaptations, uploads to Artwork approval Tool for template approvals
• Collaboration with the OU Packaging Liaison and the Print Technical Manager to identify potential issues with printing, and design agencies to grasp design intent and packaging limitations, advising on necessary provisions to make VIS fit for purpose
• Understand the reprographic process and delivering correctly-formatted artwork for that purpose
• Creating and maintaining an accurate critical path to ensure that all key milestones are met, and the project launches on time
• Organize and attend pre-artwork meetings as required and is expected to provide a specialist level of adaptive design expertise
• Supporting the review of creative work from OU design agencies, identifying potential layout or technical concerns
• Supporting the OU Packaging Liaison and Print Technical manager where necessary with prototyping, print trials, scans optimization for different print processes, and colour management protocols
• Understanding and providing pack render guidance (when applicable) and pre-checks, including execution of GS1 product imagery to ensure customer image requirements are met during product data set-up
• Performs quality assurance review for GS1 product imagery by reviewing each image against the approved packaging production artwork, package shape, closure and product liquid colour
• Assisting PM's and Brand Champions with VIS compliance checks and suggests solutions to local artwork development that may require brand exceptions
• Ability to support local teams in preparing the local brand exception requests
• Provides support on optimization of dual/multi language layouts or more complicated artwork development
• Provides support on OU Templates incorporating foreign language elements and symbols to ensure that they meet Global Brand guidelines
• Responsible for upload of AOU Design Templates to Artwork approval tool and filing in Design Template One Drive repository when approved.
• Development of continuous improvement initiatives, for the benefit of COMPANY
• Providing regular updates to key stakeholders and escalating any concerns and risk or support required to unblock at the bi-weekly update meetings

Key Requirements:

• Demonstrable expertise and proficiency with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop (a test will be required)
• Design Principles & Stewardship
• Proven, extensive FMCG packaging design and artwork development experience
• Experience of the client facing environment and ability to professionally present and interact with the client
• Experience and ability in working to strict deadlines in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Detail and Accuracy-driven
• Good knowledge of print process and artwork set up and reprographic considerations
• Advantageous - Bachelors degree in Marketing, Design, Graphic Design or a related field
• A excellent eye for detail in checking and executing finished design.
• Strong analytical skills
• Proficiency in colour theory and relevant printing requirements
• Excellent communication and collaboration abilities
• Creative mindset with the ability to think outside the box while adhering to regulatory constraints

Matthews International endeavors to make our employment website and application process accessible to all users and applicants. In doing so, Matthews International provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you have a disability and require a reasonable accommodation or assistance completing the application process, please contact a member of our Human Resource Team.

At Matthews International, what makes us different is what makes us great. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.