R&D Print & Production Designer

In brief

**Overview** This role is for an experienced R&D Print & Production Designer within a leading e-commerce, gifting, and retail company located in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The core purpose of the position is to act as a bridge between creative design and physical production, ensuring that product and creative concepts are transformed into technically feasible, commercially viable, and repeatable production solutions. **What you will do** * Assess creative and product concepts to determine production feasibility. * Identify suitable materials, printing processes, machinery, equipment and production techniques. * Recommend design changes to improve manufacturability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. * Create and adapt production-ready artwork for products, packaging and printed materials. * Prepare print-ready artwork and ensure files meet technical production requirements. * Create and maintain die-lines, templates, cutting guides, print specifications and production layouts. * Manage colour, dimensions, bleed, resolution, finishing requirements and other pre-press specifications. * Specify suitable substrates, materials, finishes, inks and production techniques. * Develop physical prototypes and production samples to validate product concepts. * Test and evaluate different materials, substrates, finishes and production methods. * Develop practical, repeatable production processes for new and existing products. * Create templates, jigs, guides, cutting layouts and other production aids where required. * Support product costing by providing inputs relating to material usage, print costs, labour, machine time, consumables and wastage. * Prepare production-ready files, technical documentation, SOPs, work instructions and visual production guides. * Support Production during product launches, trials and initial production runs. * Train Production teams on new products, production techniques and quality requirements. * Investigate production and quality issues and identify opportunities for continuous improvement. * Research new printing technologies, materials, substrates, finishes and production capabilities. * Maintain accurate records of approved artwork, samples, prototypes, die-lines, templates and production files. * Liaise with printers, manufacturers and suppliers regarding artwork, materials, production methods and technical specifications. **Requirements (from the original advert)** * Graphic Design qualification or equivalent practical experience. * Minimum of 2–3 years’ experience in Graphic Design. * Strong proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop and InDesign. * Strong understanding of print production and pre-press requirements. * Experience preparing production-ready artwork. * Strong understanding of die-lines, templates, cutting paths, print specifications and finishing requirements. * Practical understanding of different printing and production processes. * Ability to work with physical materials and develop prototypes and samples. * Strong attention to detail and accuracy. * Strong technical and problem-solving abilities. * Ability to understand how designs translate from screen to physical production. * Ability to work collaboratively with Creative, Product Development, suppliers and Production teams. * Strong organisational and file-management skills. * Experience in product development or packaging development would be advantageous. * Experience with laser cutting, engraving, vinyl cutting, sublimation, digital printing or similar technologies would be advantageous. * CAD or basic 3D design experience would be advantageous. * Experience with costing, production calculations, SOPs and production instructions would be advantageous. * Experience in a fast-paced e-commerce, gifting, retail or manufacturing environment would be advantageous. **Who should apply** This role is suitable for an experienced R&D Print & Production Designer with a strong background in graphic design, print production, pre-press, prototyping, and preparing production-ready artwork. The ideal candidate will possess a Graphic Design qualification or equivalent practical experience, coupled with at least 2-3 years in Graphic Design. They must be highly proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and have a strong understanding of print production processes, pre-press requirements, die-lines, templates, and finishing specifications. The role requires practical ability in developing physical prototypes and samples, strong attention to detail, and excellent technical and problem-solving skills to translate designs from screen to physical production. The successful candidate will be a collaborative team player with strong organisational and file-management abilities, capable of working with various internal and external stakeholders. **Deadline** Not specified **Reference** Original posting: https://www.jobmail.co.za/jobs/professions/other-professions/johannesburg/r-d-print-production-designer-id-7572286 Source: jobmail

Summary drafted with AI assistance from the original advert. The advert itself is the authority — how we use AI.

At a glance

• At least 2 years of experience.

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Agile / Scrum

Extracted automatically from the advert; confirm requirements on the original listing.

Job description

Before you apply

• Confirm the requirements and closing date on the original listing (jobmail). SPANi lists vacancies from other sites and may not reflect last-minute changes.
• Legitimate employers do not charge application, registration or training fees.
• Don't send your ID or bank details before you have confirmed the employer is real.

How to spot a job scam

Applying for permanent roles

• Mirror the job title and top three requirements in your CV summary and most recent experience.
• Quantify results where possible: sales targets, cases handled, tickets closed, or team size.
• Proofread contact details and filenames before submitting — small errors cost interviews.
• Verify the company and role on the source page before sharing ID copies or banking details.