Senior Creative Designer

Location: 2 Lascelles Road, Meadowbrook, Edenvale

Hours: 08:00 - 17:00 weekdays

Reporting to: Head of Creative

About the Company

SMD Technologies is one of South Africa's fastest-growing brand developers and distributors, representing leading consumer technology and lifestyle brands including Volkano, Sony, Rocka, Eiger, and many more. Our people are at the heart of our success, and we are committed to creating an engaging, innovative, and rewarding work environment where employees can grow and thrive.

Job Overview

We are looking for a highly capable Senior Creative Designer to work as a dedicated creative resource for our USA and European business.

The role will focus heavily on concept development, packaging design and brand development for international markets and requires a designer with strong conceptual thinking as well as excellent packaging execution skills.

This is a hands-on creative position for someone who can take a brief from initial idea through concept development, presentation and final packaging execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop original packaging and creative concepts for products launching into USA and European markets.
• Translate product and commercial briefs into compelling consumer-facing creative.
• Develop packaging concepts, range identities and scalable visual systems.
• Create strong presentation concepts and visualisations for internal and external stakeholders.
• Adapt existing brands and packaging systems appropriately for different international markets.
• Work across packaging, branding, product launches and supporting campaign material where required.
• Build clear visual hierarchy around product benefits, features and consumer messaging.
• Work closely with head of department, traffic and china teams.
• Develop creative solutions from incomplete or technically focused product information.
• Prepare and execute production-ready packaging artwork.
• Maintain consistency across product families and international ranges.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines independently.
• Build pack 3Ds using SketchUp pro or similar.
• Respond constructively to feedback while maintaining the integrity of the creative solution.

Essential Requirements

• Proven professional experience as a Senior Designer with brand and packaging experience.
• Strong commercial packaging experience is essential.
• Agency experience is essential.
• Portfolio demonstrating conceptual development as well as finished commercial work.
• Excellent typography, layout, composition and visual hierarchy skills.
• Strong understanding of branding and packaging systems.
• Advanced Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, 3D skills.
• Solid understanding of packaging production, dielines and print requirements.
• Ability to work independently from brief through to finished artwork.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately under deadline pressure.
• Excellent written and visual communication skills.

Advantageous

• Previous experience designing packaging for tech and electronics.
• Consumer electronics, FMCG, retail or consumer-product packaging experience.
• Experience developing new brands or packaging systems from the ground up.
• Experience working across multiple brands simultaneously.

Portfolio Requirement

Applications must include a portfolio demonstrating real commercial packaging work and strong conceptual thinking.

We are specifically looking for evidence of how the designer thinks, not only finished artwork. Concept development, packaging systems, range development and examples of work produced for recognised brands will be highly valued.

SMD Technologies is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to the principles of employment equity. In accordance with the Company's Employment Equity Plan and the requirements of the Employment Equity Act, preference may be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups. Applications from persons with disabilities are encouraged.