Freelance Structural Packaging Design Jobs in Ontario

Senior Packaging and Graphic Designer

Oakville, Ontario | Hybrid, three days in office | Up to $80,000 plus benefits

A well-established consumer products company is seeking a Senior Packaging and Graphic Designer to lead the creative and physical development of retail packaging from initial idea through production. This is a hands-on role for a designer who sees packaging as more than a graphic surface. You will help shape how products are physically packaged, presented and understood, then bring those ideas to life through compelling visual design and production-ready artwork. 

You will work closely with a cross-functional team in the Oakville office to explore new packaging concepts, build and assess mock-ups, solve structural and merchandising challenges, and ensure the finished packaging protects the product, communicates value quickly and strengthens shelf presence.

What we are looking for:

• A packaging innovator, not solely a graphic production artist.
• Someone comfortable developing physical structures, formats, mock-ups and merchandising solutions in collaboration with Product Development and other internal partners.
• A strong visual designer who can translate product features into clear shelf communication through layout, hierarchy, typography, graphics, iconography and imagery.
• A technically grounded practitioner who understands dielines, substrates, finishes, print production, manufacturing limitations, retailer requirements and production-ready artwork.
• A proactive creative partner who introduces ideas early rather than waiting for a finished brief.

Required:

• At least five years of packaging design experience, ideally within consumer packaged goods or retail products.
• A portfolio demonstrating both physical packaging development and excellent graphic design execution.
• Hands-on experience creating mock-ups, samples or prototypes and taking packaging from concept to production.
• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite skills and strong knowledge of production artwork, print processes and packaging manufacturing.
• Experience working directly with printers and manufacturers; exposure to overseas suppliers is an asset.
• Strong project management, presentation and stakeholder communication skills.
• A collaborative, proactive and solutions-oriented approach, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.

What you will do: 

• Lead retail packaging projects from creative concept and physical development through final artwork and production.
• Generate new ideas for packaging structures, materials, finishes, formats and merchandising presentation.
• Create and evaluate hands-on mock-ups and samples with internal partners.
• Develop packaging layouts, visual hierarchy, typography, graphics, iconography and product storytelling.
• Translate product features into clear, compelling consumer benefits that can be understood within seconds.
• Prepare accurate, production-ready artwork and manage print-production requirements.
• Build packaging systems, templates and visual standards that create consistency across product lines.
• Develop realistic product, packaging and merchandising visualizations for product development, customer presentations and retail execution.
• Collaborate with Product Development, Marketing, Sales, Sourcing, Quality and Operations throughout the process.
• Work with suppliers, printers and overseas manufacturers to resolve artwork, quality and production issues.
• Ensure packaging meets retailer, regulatory, manufacturing and sustainability requirements.

This is an opportunity to influence packaging at the earliest stages, not simply execute artwork after decisions have been made. Your ideas will help determine how products are packaged, how consumers experience them and how they show up at retail. The role offers a salary of up to $80,000, benefits and a hybrid schedule with three days per week in the Oakville office.

Because physical mock-up development and close collaboration are essential to the work, candidates must be able to work in the Oakville office three days per week and should live within approximately one hour's drive.

A request for a portfolio that clearly identifies your role in each project will be initiated for selected applicants.  It should include examples showing physical packaging concepts or construction, mock-ups or prototypes, graphic design development and finished production packaging. Selected candidates will receive additional company information during the interview process.

This posting is for an existing vacancy.

Artificial intelligence will not be used to screen, assess or select applicants for this position.