Graphic Design Product Development

I'm looking for an experienced graphic designer with a strong creative eye to help develop a new product for a business I'm launching. The concept is simple: customers send us a photo of their most memorable fish, and we transform that individual fish into premium digital artwork that will ultimately be manufactured as high-end home decoration. Some pieces will be printed in full color on canvas, while others will be laser engraved or otherwise manufactured on metal. The artwork should be versatile enough to work beautifully across multiple production methods. Our target customers are trophy fishermen who want something more meaningful than a standard photograph or traditional wildlife artwork. Instead of highly detailed illustrations or paintings, our goal is to create artwork that is modern, clean, minimalist, and premium while still capturing the unique characteristics that make each fish recognizable as *their* fish. I've already created several prototype designs that communicate the direction I'm envisioning, and I'll share those with you before we begin. However, I'm not looking for someone to simply recreate my concepts. I'm looking for a designer who can improve upon them, explore new creative directions, and help develop a distinctive visual style for the brand. The ideal designer will: * Have strong graphic design and illustration skills. * Be able to take an abstract idea and turn it into a polished product. * Think creatively rather than simply follow instructions. * Be comfortable giving feedback and proposing new concepts. * Have experience creating clean, modern, premium-looking artwork. * Be proficient in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. * Understand how artwork translates to different manufacturing processes, such as full-color printing and laser engraving. This will be a collaborative process with multiple rounds of exploration and refinement. If we're a good fit, I'd love for this to become a long-term relationship as we continue developing new products and expanding the brand. Hiring Process To start, I'd love to review your portfolio and learn more about your experience. If you'd like to include an initial concept or design direction with your proposal, you're more than welcome to, but it is not required. After reviewing applications, I'll invite a small group of finalists to participate in a short **paid** design exercise. This will give us a chance to see how each designer interprets the project, collaborates, and approaches the creative process. I'm hoping to find a long term creative partner. As the business grows, I'd love to continue working with the right designer (or designers) to develop new products, expand into new markets, and help shape the visual direction of the brand. I'm excited to find someone who enjoys building something from the ground up. I have a clear vision for this business, but I also recognize that I don't have the design expertise to make this product everything it can be. I'm looking for someone who's excited to collaborate, bring fresh ideas to the table, and help create something that customers will proudly display in their homes for years to come.