Graphic Designer – Retail & Brand Experiences (Beverage Industry)

BDA•Chicago, IL

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

At BDA, we create merchandise, retail experiences, and branded moments that connect people to the world’s most recognized brands. We are looking for a highly creative and strategic Beverage Industry Designer to join our growing creative team. As the Designer for our beverage industry clients, you will be the driving force behind innovative creative solutions that blend brand storytelling, retail strategy, and design excellence. This role requires a balance of creative vision, industry awareness, organization, and communication skills to develop impactful work that stands out in a competitive marketplace. You will concept and execute a wide range of creative deliverables including branded merchandise, packaging, Point of Purchase (POP) displays, retail activations, product presentations, and client-facing visual storytelling. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, is highly collaborative, and understands how to create design solutions that elevate brand presence and drive consumer engagement.

Requirements

Must live within commuting distance of Chicago, IL, as regular in-person collaboration is a key part of the role.
Must be 18 years or older to apply.

Nice To Haves

Beverage Industry Designer experience
Experience in creating branded merchandise, packaging, Point of Purchase (POP) displays, retail activations, product presentations, and client-facing visual storytelling.
Experience in a fast-paced environment.
Highly collaborative.
Understands how to create design solutions that elevate brand presence and drive consumer engagement.

Responsibilities

Research and compile trend boards that highlight emerging design trends relevant to the beverage industry. These trend boards should serve as inspiration and strategic guidance for design concepts aimed at driving sales and brand differentiation.
Develop fresh, compelling creative that aligns with BDA’s brand promises while pushing boundaries in the marketplace. Designs should resonate with the target audience and clearly communicate the client’s brand identity across all touchpoints.
Concept, design, and develop impactful product presentations and Point of Purchase (POP) displays that elevate in-store presence and drive shopper engagement. This includes creating visually compelling retail experiences such as endcaps, countertop displays, signage, and environmental elements that bring the brand to life at the moment of purchase.
Craft comprehensive product and concept decks that showcase ideas in a visually engaging, organized, and client-ready format. Decks should include strong storytelling, detailed descriptions, and high-quality visual representations to clearly communicate design intent.
Ensure designs are adaptable across a wide range of merchandise, including soft goods (e.g., apparel), hard goods (e.g., drinkware, packaging), and retail display environments. Designs should be scalable and optimized for various mediums and materials.
Prepare production-ready design files that meet vendor specifications for product decoration and display manufacturing. This includes managing file formats, color profiles, dielines, resolution, and production guidelines.
Maintain a high level of organization across all design files to support efficient collaboration. This includes consistent file naming conventions, folder structures, and version control to streamline workflows across teams.
Confidently present design concepts to clients in a clear, engaging, and persuasive manner. Effectively articulate design decisions, incorporate feedback, and ensure alignment throughout the creative process to drive client satisfaction.