Freelance Production Designer (Part-Time)

AKQA is seeking a freelance Print Production Designer to support client work across print and large-format deliverables. The role prepares and manages production-ready files, coordinates with vendors, and partners with creative, design, and account teams to ensure accurate, on-brand work.

Responsibilities:

• Prepare and manage print-ready files across a range of formats, including large-format and out-of-home applications, with meticulous attention to specs, color, and production standards
• Work from existing design concepts and brand guidelines to produce accurate, production-ready mechanicals across multiple deliverable types
• Demonstrate fluency in out-of-home production requirements, including billboard, transit, and large-format specifications, bleed, resolution, and vendor submission standards
• Manage color accurately across print workflows, including CMYK, Pantone, and spot color considerations
• Coordinate with print vendors and production partners as needed, ensuring files are delivered correctly and on time
• Maintain organized, clearly labeled file systems and documentation that are easy for teammates and partners to navigate
• Support creative and design teams throughout the production lifecycle, from initial file setup through final delivery
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional teammates including designers, art directors, and account managers in a fast-paced environment

Requirements:

• Deep production craft with a practiced eye for detail across typography, color, spacing, and layout accuracy
• Significant out-of-home production experience is an important part of your background, alongside broader print expertise
• Fluent in Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, with a highly organized approach to file management
• Understands the full arc of print production and brings both technical precision and sound creative judgment to the work
• Clear communicator who collaborates constructively, responds well to feedback, and keeps work moving with minimal friction
• Adaptable and composed in a high-velocity environment, comfortable managing multiple deliverables with shifting timelines
• Proactive about catching errors, closing gaps, and ensuring nothing goes to production without being truly ready