Creativer Designer: Reusable Bags; FTC Maternity Cover

Creativer Designer:
Reusable Bags (FTC Maternity Cover)
Solent Group

Location: Hybrid / Christchurch, UK
job type: Fixed term / Full-time
Sector and subsector: FMCG | Creative
Salary: Negotiable salary

Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK

Location: Hybrid (2-3 days per week in Christchurch, Dorset)

Purpose of Role

The Creative Designer:
Reusable Bags is responsible for delivering high-quality, commercially relevant creative development across Solent’s Reusable Bags category, supporting a broad portfolio of UK and international retail customers

This is a hands-on creative role covering the full design journey, from trend and market research through concept development, print and pattern design, customer presentations and production-ready artwork

Working closely with Creative, Product, Commercial and Technical teams, the role is responsible for translating customer briefs, consumer trends and commercial opportunities into compelling reusable bag concepts that are creative, relevant and achievable to manufacture

As a fixed-term maternity cover position, the individual will be expected to quickly develop a strong understanding of the category and confidently take ownership of the day-to-day creative workload across assigned Reusable Bags projects

Role Position Within the Team

This role sits within the wider Creative team and provides dedicated creative support to the Reusable Bags division

The Creative Studio Manager retains responsibility for overall studio management, creative resource and workflow priorities, while the Creative Designer takes ownership of the creative development and delivery of assigned Reusable Bags projects

The role works closely with Product, Commercial and Technical colleagues throughout the development process, ensuring creative thinking is balanced with customer requirements, commercial opportunity and manufacturing considerations

This position requires a high level of independence and ownership but does not carry formal people-management responsibility

• Research and interpret emerging consumer, retail, fashion, lifestyle, print and pattern trends relevant to the Reusable Bags category
• Maintain awareness of competitor activity and wider developments within the retail and reusable bag market
• Use relevant trend, market and consumer insight to inform creative concepts and range direction
• Contribute creative thinking and new ideas that help strengthen the category and identify future opportunities

Creative & Product Development

• Develop original 2D product concepts, print, pattern, typography and graphic designs for reusable bag ranges
• Translate customer briefs, brand requirements and commercial opportunities into compelling and well-considered creative solutions
• Develop multiple creative routes where appropriate and clearly communicate the thinking behind design recommendations
• Work within customer, brand and licensing guidelines while maintaining a high standard of creativity and originality
• Balance creative ambition with commercial relevance and manufacturing feasibility

Customer & Commercial Support

• Create clear and visually engaging presentations for customer meetings, range reviews, new business pitches and internal presentations
• Work closely with Product and Commercial teams to develop creative solutions that respond effectively to customer requirements
• Attend relevant internal and external meetings and contribute confidently to creative and product discussions
• Present creative concepts and design rationale clearly and confidently where required
• Respond constructively to customer and stakeholder feedback while maintaining the quality and integrity of the final design

Artwork, Production & Approvals

• Progress approved concepts through to accurate production-ready artwork
• Apply a strong understanding of print, colour, pattern placement and production…