Freelance Structural Packaging Design Jobs in Appleton, WI

Dixon Ticonderoga Company (formerly known as Pacon Corporation) is seeking an experienced Senior Production Designer – Packaging to support the execution, extension, and accuracy of packaging artwork across a portfolio of iconic brands, including Ticonderoga®, Prang®, Tru-Ray®, and ArtKraft®.

Our mission is to engage, inspire and empower teachers, students and artists to be at their best by providing them superior educational and art products. The Dixon Ticonderoga Company portfolio includes trusted brands across art and education products, including the iconic Ticonderoga #2 pencil, and serves both School and Retail Markets. The Dixon Ticonderoga Company is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Position Summary:

The Senior Production Designer operates with a high degree of autonomy and is a key owner of packaging production accuracy, file integrity, and print readiness. This-execution based role applies established brand systems to a wide range of products, packaging sizes, and structures while managing production files from adaptation through proofing and final release.  

The ideal candidate combines deep packaging and commercial print knowledge with disciplined file management, exceptional attention to detail, and a calm, methodical approach to high-volume, deadline-driven work. This person must be able to exercise sound production judgment, identify risks early, communicate clearly, and escalate situations that require new creative direction or specialized compliance review.

Essential Functions:

Packaging Production & Execution:

• Extend approved packaging designs across multiple package sizes, formats, substrates, and structures.
• Apply established brand architecture consistently across SKUs while preserving approved creative intent and escalating situation that require new design direction.
• Support company-owned, retailer-specific, customer-specific, private-label, seasonal and promotional packaging programs. 
• Prepare, manage, and maintain accurate print-ready production files for manufacturing, including live and outlined release files when required.
• Manage controlled versioning and SKU proliferation with consistent naming conventions, organized folder structure and strong file discipline.

Proofing, Accuracy & Risk Management:

• Review production artwork, vendor proofs, prepress files, prototypes, first-run samples, and production samples for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with approved artwork.
• Confirm that vendor corrections and requested revisions have been completed accurately before final release.
• Identify and communicate potential downstream impacts of packaging changes, including production, inventory, versioning, and compliance considerations.
• Approve items within established structured review and escalate unresolved production, regulatory, brand, or quality concerns to the appropriate internal owner.
• Use established, structured reviews, documented approvals, and checklist-based processes to minimize production errors and prevent repeat issues.

Print Production & Technical Preflight:

• Support packaging produced through offset, flexographic, gravure, digital, and screen-printing processes.

• Preflight production files for image resolution, color space, spot colors, bleeds, trim and safe areas, fonts, embedded or linked assets, transparency, overprints, trapping, separations, and other technical print requirements.

• Apply working knowledge of spot colors and ink systems, print specifications, coatings, varnishes, foils, embossing, debossing, and other specialty production requirements.

• Verify barcode size, placement, quiet zones, contrast, and scannability in accordance with approved specifications.
• Review dielines and structural packaging files for correct use, artwork placement, production tolerances, and technical accuracy.
• Collaborate with vendors and internal partners to resolve technical file issues before artwork is released to manufacturing.

Retail, Regulatory, & Sustainability Requirements:

• Apply approved retail, regulatory, safety, and compliance requirements to packaging artwork, including country of origin, required disclosures, markings, warnings, claims, product descriptors, and age or safety statements when required.
• Implement approved translations and manage bilingual or multilingual packaging versions while maintaining hierarchy, legibility, required warnings, and accurate version control.
• Apply and verify approved sustainability, recycling, and certification markings in accordance with provided standards, usage guidelines, and authorization requirements.
• Support retailer-specific and customer-specific labeling, barcode, and packaging requirements.
• Collaborate with internal Legal, Quality Assurance, Product Safety, Marketing, Sourcing, and Manufacturing teams as needed, and escalate requirements that need interpretation or formal approval.

Vendor & Cross-Functional Communication:

• Communicate clearly and concisely with domestic and overseas vendors and suppliers, including partners who are non-English speakers.
• Provide unambiguous production instructions, annotated PDFs, visual markups and correction summaries.
• Partner closely with internal design, marketing, sourcing, quality, operations, and manufacturing teams to move work efficiently through review and approval.
• Participate in production discussions, clarify open questions, document decisions and follow through on outstanding action items.

Workflow, File Management, & Continious Improvement:

• Maintain accurate project status, production documentation, approvals, and communications within the company’s project management and artwork review systems.
• Maintain organized working files and approved final artwork within shared file systems and digital asset management platforms.
• Contribute to and maintain production standards, templates, checklists, file specifications, and documented best practices.
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, accuracy, consistency, and communication across high-volume workflows.
• Support the onboarding and coordination of designers, freelancers, and external production resources when needed.

Senior Production Leadership:

• Serve as a production subject-matter expert and a dependable resource for packaging, print, file preparation, and proofing questions.
• Provide practical production guidance to designers and cross-functional partners while maintaining established brand and technical standards
• Help identify recurring risks, recommend solutions, and reinforce consistent production practices across the team.
• Preform other duties as assigned.

Travel Requirement:

• This position requires occasional travel up to 15%, which may include international travel. A valid passport, or the ability to obtain on is required. 

Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in production design, with significant packaging experience.
• Demonstrated success extending designs across multiple SKUs and packaging structures.
• Strong understanding of full cycle commercial print processes and production workflows.
• Exceptional attention to detail, commitment to accuracy, and ability to identify inconsistencies before release.
• Proven experience reviewing and approving production files and first-run samples.
• Experience working with global or overseas manufacturing partners and providing clear production instructions.
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and remain focused and effective in a high-volume environment.
• Advance proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Acrobat Pro is required.
• Strong proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign is preferred. 
• Experience with project management and artwork review platforms is required. Experience with Monday.com is preferred. 

Candidates located within approximately 2.5 hours of Appleton, WI are strongly preferred to support onboarding and collaboration. Exceptional remote candidates with demonstrated packaging production expertise will also be considered.

BENEFITS:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

Note:  The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee and are not be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, abilities and skills required of personnel so classified.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Dixon Ticonderoga Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.