Junior Brand + Web Designer — Squarespace, Editorial Design & E-Commerce

Junior Brand + Web Designer — Squarespace, Editorial Design & E-Commerce Project Overview: I’m looking for a strong freelance designer to join me for an immediate **3–4 week creative sprint** across a small group of related creative projects. The core creative direction already exists. I’m **not** looking for a complete rebrand or someone to start from a blank page. I need a thoughtful designer who can take an existing visual direction, refine it into a cohesive system, and execute quickly across web, editorial, product, and launch materials. The aesthetic should feel: **Editorial / culturally rooted / quiet / premium / contemporary / photography-led** Think closer to an **independent publication, photography exhibition, cultural institution, or independent film studio** than a traditional marketing agency or startup. **Immediate Scope** The work may include: - refining existing brand identities and visual systems - typography, grids, spacing, and layout systems - photography-led art direction - refining and populating an existing Squarespace website - creating reusable story/profile page templates - mobile-responsive web QA - light ecommerce/shop design - setting up product presentation for print-on-demand merchandise - apparel concepts and mockups - fine-art print / publication presentation - podcast cover artwork and repeatable episode artwork - social, email, and launch graphics - organizing final design assets and templates This is primarily an **execution + refinement role**, with room for thoughtful creative input. I’ll remain closely involved as creative director and provide photography, references, existing branding, project context, copy, and feedback. **What I’m Looking For** Strong candidates should have excellent taste in: - typography - editorial layout - photography-led design - restrained brand systems - Squarespace or similar web platforms - ecommerce/product presentation - print/publication design - apparel or merchandise design Figma, Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and/or InDesign experience is helpful. The right person should be comfortable working independently, making smart design decisions without needing constant direction, and moving quickly while maintaining a high level of polish. **What I Don’t Want** I’m probably not the right client for someone whose portfolio primarily consists of: - generic social-media templates - highly trendy branding - flashy startup/SaaS design - heavy maximalism - template-driven Canva-style work I’m looking for restraint, precision, excellent typography, and an understanding of how photography can lead a design system. **Timeline** **Start:** Immediately **Duration:** Approximately 3–4 weeks I’d like to select someone **as soon as possible**, ideally today. The first priorities will likely be the visual system, website execution, and several time-sensitive project assets. **Budget** Target budget is around **$750**, depending on portfolio, experience, scope, and speed. We can structure this through milestones. **To Apply** Please send: 1. **3–5 portfolio examples** most relevant to this project. 2. At least one example demonstrating strong **typography/editorial layout**. 3. Any **Squarespace or photography-led web work** you’ve completed. 4. Relevant apparel, publication, packaging, ecommerce, or merchandise work if available. 5. Your availability over the next **3–4 weeks**. 6. Your proposed fixed price within the stated budget range. Please don’t send a long generic cover letter. I care much more about seeing relevant work and understanding your design judgment. **Screening Question** If you were designing a brand that needed to feel **culturally rooted, editorial, quiet, premium, and contemporary without becoming trendy**, what would you pay the most attention to? **Suggested Upwork settings:** fixed-price project, **$750 target budget**, Intermediate level, 1–2 month duration, with skills including Graphic Design, Brand Identity & Guidelines, Squarespace, Web Design, Typography, Editorial Design, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Figma, E-Commerce, Print Design, Packaging Design, and Merchandise Design.