Graphic Designer (Maitland)

Curve Gear is a South African workwear and technical clothing brand that has grown to 16 retail stores in approximately four years. The business originated in the mining industry and supplies durable, quality workwear to individual customers through retail and online channels, as well as to businesses through its Kit Your Crew division, which offers branded and embroidered corporate workwear. The brand serves working South Africans and the companies that employ them.

Job Purpose
The Creative Director / Graphic Designer / Content Creator is responsible for producing high-quality graphic design and photo/video content, and for contributing creative direction and strategic input that supports Curve Gear’s marketing and brand objectives across all channels. The role combines hands-on graphic design and in-house content creation with a creative-direction element, and works closely with the marketing team, external creative partners and store teams to plan, create and deliver brand-aligned material on time and to a consistent standard.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Direction and Strategy

• Contribute creative direction across campaigns, product launches and brand content, helping to shape the look, feel and messaging of Curve Gear’s output.
• Provide strategic input into the content plan, including which content and formats best suit each channel and audience.
• Develop creative concepts and campaign ideas from brief through to execution.
• Help maintain a consistent creative standard and brand direction across all channels and stores.
• Provide creative guidance to external partners, ambassadors and store teams where required.

Graphic Design

• Design print and digital assets, including in-store posters and point-of-sale material, catalogues, packaging, banners, signage, social media graphics, email templates and web assets.
• Maintain and apply the Curve Gear visual identity consistently across all stores and channels.
• Prepare and supply print-ready and production-ready artwork, including for embroidery and the Kit Your Crew division.
• Create and manage brand templates in Canva to enable store and sales teams to produce compliant material.

Content Creation

• Plan, shoot and edit photographic and video content on location and in-house.
• Produce content optimised for social media platforms, including short-form video, reels, carousels and stories.
• Edit video content for social media, YouTube and advertising, including cutting, colour grading, captioning and audio.
• Direct subjects and brand ambassadors during shoots to achieve the required output.

Collaboration and Planning

• Work with the marketing team, external creative partners and store teams to plan and deliver the content calendar.
• Translate brand strategy and messaging into finished creative work.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet agreed deadlines.

Minimum Requirements

• A relevant qualification in graphic design, visual communication, media or a related field, or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Proven experience in both graphic design and content creation, supported by a portfolio.
• Experience in, or demonstrable ability in, creative direction and creative concept development.
• A working understanding of content and social media strategy, including how content and formats suit different channels and audiences.
• A portfolio or showreel demonstrating graphic design work, self-produced photo/video content, and examples of creative concepts or campaigns.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, in particular Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign.
• Proficiency in Canva.
• Competence in shooting and editing video for social media (for example Premiere Pro, CapCut or similar).
• A valid South African driver’s licence and willingness to travel to stores and shoots.

Advantageous

• Motion graphics or After Effects experience.
• Photography lighting and basic audio skills.
• Experience in retail, apparel or workwear.
• Understanding of print and embroidery production processes.
• Proficiency in Afrikaans.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong creative, conceptual and strategic thinking ability.
• High attention to detail and a consistent standard of work.
• Ability to work independently and manage own workflow.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Good communication and collaboration skills.
• A practical, reliable and accountable approach to work.

Recruitment Process
Shortlisted candidates will be required to:
1. Submit a portfolio demonstrating both graphic design and self-produced content.
2. Complete a short practical assessment comprising one design task and one content task.
3. Attend an interview with the marketing team.