Designer

The company

You might think we’re just another creative agency driven by client deadlines, profitability and corporate culture. Think again – when it comes to collaborating with new clients, one of the pillars we assess is the people behind the brand. Since 2014, HRVST began with a simple mission – to treat every project like our own. What exactly do we do? Everything from ecommerce to brand building, design and content. As Shopify Plus Partners, we’re building for brands migrating to, already on, or ready to develop a new store on the platform.

We’re not a boutique agency, we’re a small shop. We’re strong because of our team – the best idea always wins. We out-perform bigger agencies by applying small shop smarts to every project. Thinking small means attention to detail, but it also means having the time and energy to focus on our clients’ needs. Our small but specialized team is designed to create efficient systems that are tailor-made for our clients.

The role

The Designer is responsible for ensuring HRVST’s creative output is high-quality, strategic, and aligned with client goals. You’ll be expected to evaluate design options, push big ideas based on strategy and creative briefs, and solve complex challenges across packaging, branding, digital, and web projects. You’ll work with fellow designers, coordinate efforts with external partners (when applicable), oversee timelines and team execution, collaborate cross-functionally, and help ensure every project reflects HRVST’s high standards.

Success in this role requires sharp attention to detail, conceptual thinking, a wide variety of styles, and a well-organized, solutions-oriented mindset. A sense of humour, a love of design, and a taste for challenge are essential – along with the curiosity and confidence to lead by example and help shape the future of creative at HRVST.

You will work closely with the Account team to ensure alignment between strategy, scope, and execution across all projects.

This role reports directly to the Account Director. During periods where the Account Director is unavailable, reporting will shift to the Creative Director.

The culture

• Remote-first, by design: We believe great work is about outcomes, not desks. Work where you are most productive.
• Health, dental, and life insurance: We support your mental and physical well-being so you can do your best work and feel good doing it.
• A proper home office setup: Every team member is outfitted with a new MacBook Pro and an external monitor so you are set up for success from day one.
• Generous time off that is actually encouraged: Enjoy summer Fridays, up to five weeks of vacation per year, and your birthday off to celebrate however you want.
• Protected focus time: Deep work matters here. We intentionally protect focus time so meaningful work can actually get done.
• High standards, no agency ego: We care deeply about quality, collaboration, and doing the work right. The best idea wins.
• Intentional time together: While we are remote-first, we make time to connect through off-sites, retreats, happy hours, lunch and learns, and holiday events.
• Bonus and referral programs that reward impact: We value contributions and recognize great work through company-wide bonus programs, referral opportunities, and role-specific incentives tied to growth and performance.
• Growth that’s intentional: We offer development plans, regular performance check-ins, and support for skills training, courses, conferences, and industry events so you always know where you stand and how you can continue to grow.
• A commitment to giving back: We partner with Bread & Beyond to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and we empower our team to contribute to meaningful causes.

The responsibilities

Creative strategy and execution

• Think strategically to understand client brand and business needs, arriving at insights that drive creative decisions.
• Lead the creation of moodboards and early creative direction for branding and website projects, aligning with strategy and supporting team execution.
• Work on a variety of project types including custom and templated website designs, newsletters, print collateral, brand identity systems, packaging, animations, and illustrations.
• Create pixel-perfect design work that upholds HRVST’s standards and is worthy of recognition.
• Take ownership of creative decisions and ensure alignment with both strategy and client objectives.

Project delivery

• Own design deliverables from concept through final output, ensuring quality and alignment with project goals.
• Triage and quote on-demand design tasks, clarifying briefs, providing estimates, and collaborating with the Account Manager to finalize scope.
• Identify out-of-scope feedback or requests during production and proactively flag them to the Account Manager, collaborating on alternative solutions.
• Communicate regularly with production members and the Account team via Slack and Asana to address updates, questions, and feedback, ensuring alignment on goals, deadlines, and tasks.
• Maintain an organized file structure across project files and shared folders to support efficient collaboration.
• Review and provide QA on designs and development work before sharing with the Creative Director or clients.
• Ensure quality delivery of all contracted design deliverables to the Account team.

Client engagement and collaboration

• Join client discovery and kickoff calls to gather context, clarify scope, and advocate for creative strategy.
• Present design work to clients alongside the Account team when applicable, articulating rationale and creative decisions.
• Coordinate with external partners when applicable, briefing them on requirements and maintaining clear communication throughout the project lifecycle.

Systems, standards, and improvements

• Maintain and update shared internal resources and project templates in Asana, Notion, Figma, and Google Docs.
• Support in the evolution of HRVST’s internal design systems, ensuring consistency, quality, and flexibility across deliverables.
• Collaborate with developers and Account Managers on approaches, scoping, and long-term process improvements.

People, culture, and growth

• Contribute to the hiring and onboarding process for new designers, including creating assessments, conducting interviews, and managing onboarding and training.
• Collaborate with fellow designers through feedback and creative guidance.
• Participate in team meetings, production meetings, and other strategic discussions.
• Participate in performance reviews, reflecting on strengths, setting goals, and identifying areas for growth.
• Embrace and display passion and curiosity for design, branding, and industry trends.

The requirements

• 2+ years of agency or in-house experience in branding, logo, and packaging design, with proven ability to lead creative work from concept to execution across diverse industries and cultural contexts.
• Strong portfolio showcasing a range of visual styles, with a track record of developing strategic, high-quality design systems that meet both business and creative goals.
• Deep understanding of branding principles, including corporate identity, visual storytelling, packaging systems, and digital experience design.
• Proficiency in Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign; experience with After Effects, or similar tools is a plus.
• Solid grasp of UX/UI design best practices and the ability to collaborate closely with development teams on digital builds (Webflow experience a plus, and Shopify experience a must).
• Strong communication skills, a collaborative mindset, and a calm, solutions-first approach to creative feedback.
• Comfort working with cross-functional teams, with a clear understanding of how design fits into broader project goals.
• Organized, reliable, and proactive, with a high level of ownership, strong time management skills, and the ability to balance hands-on design work with team and process leadership.

Progression to Senior Designer

A Senior Designer operates with a higher level of creative ownership, strategic thinking, and leadership across projects. Key indicators of progression include:

• Leading creative direction across projects, from concept through execution, with minimal oversight.
• Translating business objectives and strategy into strong, defensible creative decisions.
• Presenting work confidently and articulating design rationale clearly to internal teams and clients.
• Anticipating challenges and proactively solving design problems before they arise.
• Mentoring and supporting other designers through feedback, guidance, and collaboration.
• Contributing to and improving internal design systems, workflows, and standards.
• Raising the overall quality and consistency of creative output across projects.