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Associate Creative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

SharkNinja

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

About the Role SharkNinja Studios is looking for an Associate Creative Director, Content Studio to ... Partner with producers, directors, DPs, editors, designers, motion teams, CG/VFX artists, stylists ...

SharkNinja

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

About the Role SharkNinja Studios is looking for an Associate Creative Director, Content Studio to ... Partner with producers, directors, DPs, editors, designers, motion teams, CG/VFX artists, stylists ...

Ninjakitchen

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$118 - $196/hr

About the Role SharkNinja Studios is looking for an Associate Creative Director, Content Studio to ... Partner with producers, directors, DPs, editors, designers, motion teams, CG/VFX artists, stylists ...

Tubi

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

$135K - $192K/yr

Tubi's Creative Studio is looking for an Associate Creative Director to lead creative across a ... You'll report to the Sr. Creative Director and work closely with art directors, motion designers ...

Tubi Tv

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · On-site

$135 - $192.80/hr

Tubi's Creative Studio is looking for an Associate Creative Director to lead creative across a ... You'll report to the Sr. Creative Director and work closely with art directors, motion designers ...

Tubi

Associate Creative Director

Los Angeles, CA · Hybrid

Tubi's Creative Studio is looking for an Associate Creative Director to lead creative across a ... You'll report to the Sr. Creative Director and work closely with art directors, motion designers ...

E. & J. Gallo

Associate Creative Director

Modesto, CA · On-site

As an Associate Creative Director, you'll be a key creative leader on that team, someone who's just ... Mobilize and direct designers, copywriters, and content creators - and manage external partners ...

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Associate Creative Designer information

What does an associate creative designer do?

An Associate Creative Designer assists in developing visual concepts and designs for marketing materials, advertisements, digital content, and branding projects. They collaborate with senior designers and creative teams to execute design projects that align with a company's goals and client needs. Their responsibilities often include creating layouts, selecting images, preparing files for production, and ensuring consistency in visual communication. This role is ideal for individuals with a strong eye for design, creativity, and proficiency in graphic design tools.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an associate creative designer?

To thrive as an Associate Creative Designer, you need a solid understanding of design principles, proficiency in visual storytelling, and a relevant degree or portfolio showcasing creative work. Familiarity with industry-standard design tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is typically required. Strong communication, adaptability, and collaboration skills help you interpret client needs and work effectively within creative teams. These skills and qualities are crucial for producing compelling designs that meet project objectives and client expectations in a fast-paced environment.

How does an associate creative designer typically collaborate with other departments in a creative agency?

As an Associate Creative Designer, you'll regularly work alongside copywriters, account managers, and digital strategists to develop cohesive visual concepts that align with client goals. Collaboration often involves brainstorming sessions, design reviews, and feedback loops to refine deliverables. You'll also communicate with production teams to ensure designs are executed accurately, and may present ideas to clients with support from senior designers. This cross-functional teamwork not only enhances project outcomes but also helps you build valuable communication and project management skills.

What is the difference between Associate Creative Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectAssociate Creative DesignerGraphic Designer
CredentialsTypically a bachelor's degree in design or related fieldUsually requires a bachelor's degree in graphic design or similar
Work EnvironmentCollaborates within creative teams, often in marketing or advertising agenciesWorks on visual content creation for print, digital, or branding projects
Employer & Industry UsageCommonly employed in advertising, marketing, and media companiesFound across various industries including publishing, advertising, and corporate branding

The main difference between an Associate Creative Designer and a Graphic Designer lies in their roles and scope. An Associate Creative Designer often supports senior designers and works within a broader creative team, focusing on assisting with design projects. A Graphic Designer typically takes on more independent responsibilities, creating visual content from concept to completion. Both roles require similar educational backgrounds and are integral to visual communication in many industries.

What are the most commonly searched types of Creative Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Creative Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Associate Creative Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Associate Creative Designer job openings:

Associate Creative Designer jobs near you

Associate Creative Director

Clearly Filtered, Inc.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA • On-site

$110K - $135K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 19 days ago

Job description

Location: Rancho Santa Margarita, CA
Work Type: Hybrid (3 days onsite required)
FLSA Status: Exempt
Compensation: $110,000 to $135,000 annually, depending on experience and alignment with the role
About Clearly Filtered
At Clearly Filtered, we exist to help people, starting with the water they drink. We build high-performance filtration products backed by science and transparency, and we hold ourselves to a simple standard: every person who comes into contact with Clearly Filtered should be better off for it.
We're based in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA and we're building out our creative function as we scale. This is a chance to own something real at a brand that takes the work seriously.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for an Associate Creative Director who leads by creating. This is a hands-on role for a senior designer with deep DTC and e-commerce experience who is ready for more ownership, greater influence, and a larger role in shaping how a brand comes to life.
The ACD owns creative across every customer touchpoint and personally designs, builds, and refines work across web, paid, social, email, and other digital channels. You'll also lead and develop a small creative team, providing direction, feedback, and mentorship while maintaining a high bar for creative excellence.
This is a role for a maker, not just a manager. The right person combines strong creative instincts with strategic thinking and enjoys leading others while staying deeply involved in the work.
**This role is based in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA with a minimum of 3 days in office per week. Candidates should only apply if they are able to meet this requirement.
What You'll Do
Brand & Creative Leadership
Defines and continuously evolves Clearly Filtered's creative expression, ensuring consistency and premium positioning across every customer touchpoint.
  • Define and own the brand's visual identity, creative standards, tone, and aesthetic, and be its most fluent practitioner, not just its gatekeeper
  • Translate business strategies and marketing priorities into compelling creative concepts, then execute them personally
  • Build scalable design systems and creative frameworks that support iteration and cross-channel deployment
  • Maintain and evolve brand guidelines that keep the team aligned as output scales

Campaign & Content Creation
Leads the creative development of all marketing initiatives from concept through final production, personally creating video, social, and campaign assets across every channel.
  • Lead creative development for all initiatives including seasonal campaigns, product launches, promotions, partnerships, and brand moments
  • Take a project strategy and translate it into a cohesive creative system across web, social, paid, and email; concept it, design it, deliver it
  • Personally create and edit social media videos including Reels, TikTok, and paid video ads from raw footage or UGC through final cut
  • Design social-first graphics, statics, and motion assets optimized for Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, YouTube, and emerging platforms
  • Produce campaign assets end to end: photography direction, video editing, graphics, and copy-adjacent layout work

E-Commerce & Performance Creative
Designs conversion-focused creative across the e-commerce funnel and iterates based on performance data, treating results as creative feedback.
  • Design conversion-focused creative for the e-commerce funnel: landing pages, PDP assets, homepage heroes, promotional site takeovers, and CRO tests
  • Create and iterate paid ad creative for Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, and Google in static, carousel, and video formats
  • Design email and SMS campaign creative built for how subscribers actually read and click
  • Treat performance data as creative feedback: iterate on winners, eliminate losers, apply learnings to the next round

Team Leadership & Creative Operations
Leads and develops the creative team, owns workflow and creative operations, and partners cross-functionally to ensure creative is integrated into every initiative from the start.
  • Select exceptional creative talent and build a team that reflects the standard you hold
  • Set clear expectations, coach and develop team members, and hold the bar without holding people back
  • Own creative workflow, prioritization, and asset management across all projects
  • Manage relationships with external freelancers, photographers, videographers, and production partners
  • Partner closely with Marketing, Growth, and E-Commerce teams and get into the room early so creative shapes the work, not just executes it
  • Continuously explore new formats, tools, and storytelling approaches including AI-assisted workflows to keep the brand creatively distinctive

What You Bring
Required
  • 8+ years of design experience with a portfolio that demonstrates craft and range across digital channels
  • Deep DTC and e-commerce digital marketing experience; you've designed for conversion and know what performs on web, social, paid, and email
  • Proven experience creating and editing social media videos as well as graphics; fluent in Premiere Pro, After Effects, or CapCut alongside expert-level Figma and Adobe Creative Suite
  • Experience designing content for Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Pinterest with a strong understanding of what makes creative perform on each
  • Ability to receive a strategy and independently translate it into channel-right creative, not one asset resized four ways
  • Experience building, evolving, or enforcing a brand system across a growing creative output
  • A clear point of view: you can articulate why a piece of creative works, defend it, and change your mind when the data says to

Preferred
  • Packaging design experience: unboxing, product packaging, inserts, and retail-ready materials
  • Print production knowledge including dielines, materials, and finishes
  • Experience in health, wellness, or consumer products where trust and substantiated claims matter

What Success Looks Like
  • The Clearly Filtered brand is stronger, more consistent, and more distinctive across every channel
  • Creative is delivering measurable performance results across paid, owned, and earned channels
  • Campaign assets are delivered on time, on brief, and without requiring significant rework
  • The design system is documented, scalable, and being applied consistently across all touchpoints
  • Cross-functional partners describe Creative as a strategic, collaborative, and reliable partner
  • New formats, tools, and creative approaches are being tested on a regular cadence

What We Offer
  • Hybrid work flexibility with 9am to 4pm working hours
  • Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance benefits
  • 401(k) with company match
  • Paid holidays, floating holiday, and PTO
  • The opportunity to be part of a growing brand focused on helping people live healthier lives

Our Interview Process
Our interview process is designed to help us get to know you beyond your resume while giving you a clear picture of the role, team, and our work environment.
The process typically includes:
  • An initial video screen with a member of our People team
  • A portfolio review and video interview with the hiring manager, focused on your creative approach and technical expertise
  • A potential creative assessment to understand how you think and work
  • A final onsite interview with Clearly Filtered team members with cross-functional partners

We aim to keep the process thoughtful, communicative, and respectful of your time.
Clearly Filtered is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive workplace for all employees and applicants. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

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