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Creative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Senior Creative Designer (HYBRID)

Cerritos, CA · On-site

$66K - $91K/yr

We are looking for a Senior Creative Designer to maintain the company's creative assets and brand consistency for all design projects. You will be responsible for owning and maintaining creative ...

... designing assets for paid social media advertising campaigns (i.e. performance creative) * Portfolio of paid social work (static and motion) that demonstrates both craft and taste for great ...

At coDesign we are seeking a dynamic individual to join our Design team in the role of Creative Designer. Our team is rapidly expanding, and we're on the lookout for someone who is very proficient in ...

Pro Workflow (PWF) team, within Apple's Hardware Engineering organization, joins creative domain experts with computer system architects to drive innovation and deliver astounding new features to ...

Digitizer 2026

Chula Vista, CA · On-site

$20 - $25/hr

We are in search of a creative designer who possesses strong technical abilities and is interested in learning a new medium. If you are interested in a unique industry and think you have what it ...

Designer Are you a creative Designer who excels in a fast paced environment? Do you enjoy creating great work across B2B and B2C markets? If so, please keep reading! At Sparkpr we work with some of ...

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Creative Designer information

See California salary details

$38K

$86K

$138.2K

How much do creative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative designer in California is $85,968.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $59,700.00 and $113,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is AI replacing designers?

AI tools are increasingly used in creative design to automate repetitive tasks and generate ideas, but they do not fully replace creative designers. Creative designers bring human intuition, originality, and problem-solving skills that AI cannot replicate, making their role essential in the design process. AI serves as a complement to enhance productivity and creativity rather than a complete substitute.

How much does a creative designer get paid?

The average salary for a creative designer varies by experience and location but typically ranges from $45,000 to $85,000 annually. Entry-level positions may start around $40,000, while experienced designers with specialized skills can earn over $100,000. Salaries often depend on the industry, company size, and whether the role is freelance or full-time.

What is a Creative Designer?

A Creative Designer is a professional responsible for developing visual concepts and designs for various media, such as advertisements, branding, websites, and product packaging. They use their artistic skills and knowledge of design software to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. Creative Designers often work with marketing teams, clients, or art directors to create visually appealing content that aligns with a brand's identity. Their role may involve brainstorming, sketching, creating digital assets, and ensuring that all visuals meet project objectives. They play a key role in shaping the visual aspects of a company's communications.

What is the difference between Creative Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative DesignerGraphic Designer
Primary FocusConcept development, branding, and visual storytellingCreating visual content like logos, posters, and digital graphics
Skills & ToolsDesign software, creativity, branding knowledgeAdobe Photoshop, Illustrator, layout skills
Work EnvironmentAdvertising agencies, branding firms, marketing teamsPrint and digital media companies, design studios
CredentialsDesign degree or portfolio, sometimes certificationsDesign degree or portfolio, certifications optional

While both roles involve visual creation, a Creative Designer focuses on conceptualizing branding and storytelling, whereas a Graphic Designer primarily produces visual content for specific projects. The roles often overlap, but the Creative Designer has a broader scope in the creative process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Creative Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative Designer, you need a strong grasp of design principles, proficiency in visual storytelling, and typically a degree in graphic design or a related field. Mastery of tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with digital design platforms are essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication help set standout designers apart in collaborative environments. These skills ensure the creation of visually impactful, brand-consistent work that meets client needs and drives project success.

What does a creative designer do?

A creative designer develops visual concepts to communicate ideas and solve design problems, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. They create graphics, layouts, and branding materials for various media, collaborating with clients or teams to meet project goals.

What's the highest paying creative job?

Creative directors and senior art directors often earn the highest salaries in creative fields, especially in advertising, film, and digital media. These roles typically require extensive experience, leadership skills, and proficiency with design and project management tools. Salaries can vary based on industry, location, and company size but are generally among the top-paying positions in creative careers.

How does a Creative Designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Creative Designers frequently work closely with marketing, product, and development teams to ensure visual concepts align with overall business goals. They participate in brainstorming sessions, gather input from stakeholders, and adjust designs based on feedback from cross-functional colleagues. This collaborative process helps ensure that creative outputs not only look appealing but also support strategic objectives, meet technical requirements, and resonate with the target audience. Maintaining open communication and adaptability is key for success in these collaborative environments.

What Is a Creative Designer?

A creative designer, also known as a graphic designer, is involved with advertising and marketing. Some creative designers are employed directly by an organization while others work for an advertising agency. Another option is to work as a self-employed freelance creative designer. Your main job duties involve creating advertising materials for a company. As a creative designer, you create a rough layout for design projects and follow them through to completion. You use digital illustration software to create the finished products. It is often essential to collaborate with other designers as well as writers, marketers, advertisers, and vendors on the project.

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 Creative Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Creative Designer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Creative Designer jobs in CA? For Creative Designer jobs in CA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Designer, Global Consumer Products Creative

Designer, Global Consumer Products Creative

Netflix

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 3 days ago


Netflix rating

5.8

Company rating: 5.8 out of 10

Based on 15 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

58th of 67 rated media


Job description

At Netflix, our mission is to entertain the world. Together, we are writing the next episode - pushing the boundaries of storytelling, global fandom and making the unimaginable a reality. We are a dream team obsessed with the uncomfortable excitement of discovering what happens when you merge creativity, intuition and cutting-edge technology. Come be a part of what's next.
The Consumer Products Global Creative team is seeking a Designer to support the development of style guides, asset kits, character art packs, and creative assets across Netflix's global portfolio of franchises.
This role will work across a wide range of titles and audiences-preschool properties to globally recognized franchises including Stranger Things, Bridgerton, One Piece, KPOP Demon Hunters, and beyond. The ideal candidate is comfortable adapting their creative approach across genres and demographics while maintaining a high standard of craft, storytelling, and brand integrity.
We're looking for a highly skilled designer with exceptional design instincts, strong visual storytelling abilities, and a passion for character-driven brands. This person will be hands-on in the development of global creative tools and assets, partnering closely with the Global Creative team to help bring Netflix stories and characters to life for fans around the world. Illustration experience and familiarity working with character art are a plus, but not required.
The ideal candidate is a self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment, embraces ambiguity, and approaches challenges with curiosity, ownership, and a solutions-oriented mindset.
Responsibilities
  • Design and develop global style guides, asset kits, and character art packs across Netflix franchises
  • Create original design assets, guide layouts, and visual systems that support style guides, asset packs, and character art stylizations
  • Design across a wide range of audiences and genres, adapting visual language, tone, and creative execution accordingly
  • Translate narrative, character, and world-building elements into compelling visual systems that support consumer products globally
  • Develop layouts, graphics, visual assets, and supporting creative materials across a variety of franchise creative programs
  • Integrate character art, typography, and graphic systems into cohesive design solutions
  • Partner with external agencies, illustrators, and vendors to develop and refine creative assets
  • Provide clear, actionable creative feedback to external partners to ensure quality and brand consistency
  • Balance long-lead foundational projects with fast-moving business priorities
  • Manage assigned projects from concept through final production while maintaining timelines and creative quality
  • Contribute creative ideas and solutions that elevate the quality and effectiveness of the work
  • Support the organization, evolution, and maintenance of Netflix's global creative asset libraries and design resources

What Success Looks Like
  • Produces visually compelling work rooted in the story, audience, and brand of each title
  • Demonstrates strong design judgment and exceptional attention to detail
  • Creates clear, scalable creative tools and assets that are easy for partners to use and apply globally
  • Successfully translates narrative themes and character-driven storytelling into consumer-facing creative
  • Delivers high-quality work efficiently while managing multiple priorities
  • Communicates clearly and collaborates effectively across internal and external partners
  • Demonstrates strong ownership and accountability for assigned workstreams
  • Brings curiosity, adaptability, and a solutions-oriented approach to creative challenges
  • Comfortable being hands-on and jumping into design execution when needed

Skills & Experience
  • 5+ years of experience in graphic design, brand design, licensing, consumer products creative, entertainment, or related fields
  • Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign)
  • Strong design craft with an exceptional understanding of composition, typography, color, and visual storytelling
  • Experience developing style guides, visual systems, and brand standards
  • Strong character art integration and visual storytelling skills
  • Understanding of color management, repro, and global production standards
  • Experience working within established brand systems and style guides
  • Ability to create design solutions that support storytelling, audience engagement, and brand objectives
  • Proven ability to deliver production-ready assets for global markets
  • Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and asset management discipline
  • Strong communication skills and the ability to articulate creative rationale
  • Consumer products experience preferred; experience supporting entertainment, licensing, or franchise brands is a plus
  • Illustration experience and familiarity working with character art are a plus

Mindset & Industry Knowledge
  • Passion for design, fandom, character storytelling, and consumer products
  • Understands how design can strengthen storytelling and create meaningful connections with fans
  • Naturally curious and solutions-oriented
  • Comfortable navigating ambiguity while maintaining a high bar for creative output
  • Understanding of consumer product categories including apparel, accessories, toys, home, publishing, and related categories
  • Nimble and adaptable, able to shift between franchises, audiences, and priorities with ease

Collaboration
  • Experience working with external agencies, illustrators, and creative vendors
  • Comfortable providing clear, constructive feedback to support creative development
  • Able to translate creative direction into actionable design solutions
  • Strong communication skills with the ability to collaborate across global teams and stakeholders
  • Experience working across regions and time zones

Additional Information
This role is based in Los Angeles and requires on-site work (Tuesday-Thursday) at the Netflix EPIC office in Hollywood. The team collaborates closely with partners in London and other global regions.
Generally, our compensation structure consists solely of an annual salary; we do not have bonuses. You choose each year how much of your compensation you want in salary versus stock options. To determine your personal top of market compensation, we rely on market indicators and consider your specific job family, background, skills, and experience to determine your compensation in the market range. The range for this role is $147,000.00 - $242,000.00.
Netflix provides comprehensive benefits including Health Plans, Mental Health support, a 401(k) Retirement Plan with employer match, Stock Option Program, Disability Programs, Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts, Family-forming benefits, and Life and Serious Injury Benefits. We also offer paid leave of absence programs. Full-time hourly employees accrue 35 days annually for paid time off to be used for vacation, holidays, and sick paid time off. Full-time salaried employees are immediately entitled to flexible time off. See more details about our Benefits here.
Netflix is a unique culture and environment. Learn more here.
Inclusion is a Netflix value and we strive to host a meaningful interview experience for all candidates. If you want an accommodation/adjustment for a disability or any other reason during the hiring process, please send a request to your recruiting partner.
We are an equal-opportunity employer and celebrate diversity, recognizing that diversity builds stronger teams. We approach diversity and inclusion seriously and thoughtfully. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, national origin, caste, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, age, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic makeup, marital status, or military service.

What Netflix employees say

Pay

Benefits

Hours and flexibility

Workplace

Get the full story on Breakroom


Netflix logo

About Netflix

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Netflix is the world's leading streaming entertainment service with 222 million paid memberships in over 190 countries enjoying TV series, documentaries, feature films and mobile games across a wide variety of genres and languages. Members can watch as much as they want, anytime, anywhere, on any Internet-connected screen. Members can play, pause and resume watching, all without commercials or commitments.

Industry

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Los Gatos, CA, US

Year founded

1997