Design Director, Packaging & Brand

MERIT Beauty

Design

New York, NY, USA

Posted on Jun 19, 2026

Apply now

MERIT is seeking a Design Director to lead packaging and brand expressions, including packaging, merch, retail, mailers and experiential touchpoints, while ensuring brand cohesion across digital. This role requires exceptional taste, deep knowledge of type setting and layout, and a strong point of view on beauty.

Role & Responsibilities

You will work closely with the rest of the Creative team, Product Development, Brand Marketing, and Retail to ensure work feels elevated, cohesive, and distinctly MERIT. reports directly to the VP, Creative, and mentors and manages junior and mid level creatives.

• Lead creative direction for all physical brand expressions:
• Lead the design and evolution of our packaging system, including primary forms, secondary packaging, and future object innovation. Includes high-fidelity mockups, renderings, engineering handoffs, and mechanicals.
• Creatively lead on brand partnership activations, from design of objects, trims and packaging, and other physical touchpoints.
• Oversee global retail creative, including gondolas, in-store signage, pop-ups, and visual merchandising:
• Work closely with Retail to update the creative of MERIT retail displays, setting the vision for design of the fixtures and the content within them.
• Collaborate closely with Art Directors to ensure capture of assets for retail.
• Partner with external partners on fixture and spatial design to evolve MERIT’s retail environments.
• Direct the look and feel of our digital touchpoints, including website and newsletter design:
• Guide the look and feel of the DTC website, working closely with the Web team to ensure typography and layout are implemented per brand standards.
• Direct the refresh of digital assets for every campaign or launch.
• Manage and mentor a team of designers specializing in digital and retail.
• Lead the creative direction of mailers and gifting programs, including seasonal sends, influencer mailers, and press kits, from concept through material selection, vendor briefs and overseeing execution.
• Set creative direction for brand activations, press events, and product launches, defining the experiential vision of MERIT's IRL presence.
• Ideate and design limited-edition GWPs, seasonal objects, and co-branded gifting packaging that deepen brand equity and feel distinctly MERIT.
  
  

Requirements

• 8–12 years experience in branding and design, packaging, and digital.
• Exceptionally strong typography and graphic design skills.
• Strong sensitivity to craft and materiality.
• BFA not required but strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of the beauty industry.
• Maintain a deep working knowledge of materials and resources.
• Advanced in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D / rendering tools.
• Strong knowledge of printing techniques, materials, and finishes.
• Comfortable working independently and owning projects end-to-end.
• Highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and taste-driven.
  
  

MERIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

Apply now

See more open positions at MERIT Beauty

MERIT is seeking a Design Director to lead packaging and brand expressions, including packaging, merch, retail, mailers and experiential touchpoints, while ensuring brand cohesion across digital. This role requires exceptional taste, deep knowledge of type setting and layout, and a strong point of view on beauty.

Role & Responsibilities

You will work closely with the rest of the Creative team, Product Development, Brand Marketing, and Retail to ensure work feels elevated, cohesive, and distinctly MERIT. reports directly to the VP, Creative, and mentors and manages junior and mid level creatives.

• Lead creative direction for all physical brand expressions:
• Lead the design and evolution of our packaging system, including primary forms, secondary packaging, and future object innovation. Includes high-fidelity mockups, renderings, engineering handoffs, and mechanicals.
• Creatively lead on brand partnership activations, from design of objects, trims and packaging, and other physical touchpoints.
• Oversee global retail creative, including gondolas, in-store signage, pop-ups, and visual merchandising:
• Work closely with Retail to update the creative of MERIT retail displays, setting the vision for design of the fixtures and the content within them.
• Collaborate closely with Art Directors to ensure capture of assets for retail.
• Partner with external partners on fixture and spatial design to evolve MERIT’s retail environments.
• Direct the look and feel of our digital touchpoints, including website and newsletter design:
• Guide the look and feel of the DTC website, working closely with the Web team to ensure typography and layout are implemented per brand standards.
• Direct the refresh of digital assets for every campaign or launch.
• Manage and mentor a team of designers specializing in digital and retail.
• Lead the creative direction of mailers and gifting programs, including seasonal sends, influencer mailers, and press kits, from concept through material selection, vendor briefs and overseeing execution.
• Set creative direction for brand activations, press events, and product launches, defining the experiential vision of MERIT's IRL presence.
• Ideate and design limited-edition GWPs, seasonal objects, and co-branded gifting packaging that deepen brand equity and feel distinctly MERIT.
  
  

Requirements

• 8–12 years experience in branding and design, packaging, and digital.
• Exceptionally strong typography and graphic design skills.
• Strong sensitivity to craft and materiality.
• BFA not required but strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of the beauty industry.
• Maintain a deep working knowledge of materials and resources.
• Advanced in Adobe Creative Suite and 3D / rendering tools.
• Strong knowledge of printing techniques, materials, and finishes.
• Comfortable working independently and owning projects end-to-end.
• Highly collaborative, detail-oriented, and taste-driven.
  
  

MERIT is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.