Senior Graphic Artist Lead - Boys Licensed Apparel (New York City Metropolitan Area)

Position Description

The Senior Graphic Artist partners with the Creative Director, Design, Merchandising, and Sales teams to develop trend-right, original graphics and seasonal assortments for boys apparel. This role is responsible for creating compelling licensed and original artwork across multiple product categories, translating market trends into age-appropriate, retail-specific designs, and ensuring all artwork is production-ready. The ideal candidate has a strong background in children's apparel, character art, textile graphics, and print production, with the ability to manage multiple seasons and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.

Main Responsibilities

• Direct and execute original graphics across tees, fleece, sets, and seasonal assortments for boys, and tween categories.
• Develop artwork from concept through final production-ready files, including both licensed character and original generic graphics.
• Interpret fashion, consumer, and market trends into age-appropriate, high-volume graphics tailored to key Mass retail channels.
• Create product specifically for major retailers including Target, Walmart, Carter's, and other strategic accounts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Creative Director, Design, Other Artists, Merchandising, and Sales to develop cohesive seasonal assortments that support business objectives.
• Work within licensing guidelines to adapt approved assets into original retail-ready executions while supporting submission and approval processes.
• Ensure all artwork meets production standards with a strong understanding of textile printing, color separations, heat transfers, screen printing, and manufacturing requirements.
• Conduct ongoing trend forecasting, competitive shopping, and market research to inform graphic direction and identify new opportunities.
• Stay current on design software, production techniques, and industry innovations, recommending process improvements where appropriate.
• Maintain strong organization while managing multiple seasons, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• 5+ years of graphic design experience within children's apparel, retail, or textile design.
• Strong experience developing licensed character artwork and original graphics for children's products.
• Thorough understanding of apparel graphics production, including screen printing, color separation, heat transfers, and production-ready artwork.
• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Strong understanding of typography, color, composition, and design fundamentals.
• Knowledge of children's apparel trends, retail marketplaces, and product development processes.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience leading a team is a plus
• Ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment while consistently delivering high-quality creative work.

Salary: $95,000 - $105,000 DOE