Designer, Creative Lab
Ovative Group · Chicago, IL
- On site
- Full-time
- $132,000 / year
- Chicago, IL
Job highlights
- Design cutting-edge creative for major brands.
- Utilize AI tools to enhance creative process.
- Collaborate with a dynamic creative team.
- Work in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
- Develop digital, social, and experiential assets.
About the role
About Ovative Group
Ovative Group is an independent, full-funnel media, measurement, and creative firm. Leveraging our deep industry expertise, we help brands like Best Buy, Domino's, American Eagle, The Home Depot, Post, Disney, Tumi, Michael Kors, Boost Mobile, and UnitedHealth Group transform their media and measurement programs. The result? Profitable growth that speaks for itself.
At Ovative, we don't just track data, we redefine success. How do we do it? Our proprietary MarTech platform, EMRge helps businesses transform marketing into a driver of sustainable growth. Powered by Enterprise Marketing Return (EMR), our differentiated approach to holistic media buying, planning, and measurement, EMRge is the first MarTech platform to measure businesses holistically. We're all about raising the bar every day, and it shows. Our work has been recognized by organizations like Digiday, Google, Inc. 5000, USA Today, and Search Engine Land.
About The Role
Creative Lab is Ovative’s in-house creative engine — built on our vision of modern making. As part of the broader Creative Team (Influencer + Creative Lab), we unite brand strategy, cultural relevance, creators, AI enablement, and strategic media to create ideas people care about within systems designed to evolve.
We are seeking a Designer who blends bold conceptual thinking with exceptional craft and strong AI fluency. This is a modern maker — someone who sees AI as an extension of their creative process, thrives in a fast-moving environment, and is motivated by building what’s next. You bring a strong point of view, refined design sensibility, and curiosity for emerging tools and platforms — helping shape work that raises the bar for what modern communication can be.
Responsibilities Of a Designer
- Partner with Creative Team members to concept and design work grounded in strategic insight and elevated through bold, culturally relevant ideas.
- Bring modern making to life — using AI tools and emerging technologies to explore visual territories, accelerate ideation, and expand what creative can become.
- Design world-class creative across campaigns and channels, including digital, social, and experiential touchpoints — ensuring every execution reflects exceptional craft and clarity.
- Apply strong command of layout, typography, color, and composition with precision and taste, balancing brand integrity with forward-thinking design.
- Present ideas and creative work with confidence, clearly articulating how design decisions ladder back to strategy and creative intention.
- Contribute to a culture that champions craft, curiosity, and creative ambition — staying fluent in design trends, platform evolution, and cultural movements.
- Embrace feedback as part of the creative process, incorporating edits thoughtfully while taking ownership of timelines, changes, and communication.
- Bring energy and momentum to creative discussions, helping push ideas further and elevate the collective output of the team.
- Manage multiple projects with clarity and accountability, proactively communicating progress, risks, and delivery expectations.
- Act as a creative thought partner to cross-functional stakeholders, encouraging innovative thinking while grounding work in best-in-class design principles.
- Continuously expand platform and production knowledge, sharing learnings that strengthen the Creative Lab’s collective capability.
- Support and grow relationships with key platform partners (e.g., Meta, Google, TikTok), staying informed on emerging formats and creative opportunities.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related field.
- 5-7 years of experience in an agency, in-house creative studio, or brand environment, producing high-quality design across digital channels.
- A portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking and exceptional craft — including work developed or accelerated through AI-enabled workflows.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma, with an understanding of motion design and the ability to create purposeful, simple movement.
- Fluency in AI tools and generative workflows, with the ability to integrate them meaningfully into your creative process.
- Experience developing HTML5 display banners or understanding of digital ad production is a plus.
- Ability to operate with clarity and ownership in a fast-moving environment, managing multiple priorities without compromising craft.
- A confident and intentional point of view — you lean into creative discussions, ask smart questions, and elevate the thinking of the group.
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to clearly articulate design rationale and navigate feedback with professionalism.
- Curiosity, energy, and a growth mindset — motivated to continuously learn, experiment, and push your craft forward.
Pay Transparency
At Ovative, we offer a transparent view into three core components of your total compensation package: Base Salary, Annual Bonus, and Benefits. The salary range for this position below is inclusive of an annual bonus. Actual offers are made with consideration for relevant experience and anticipated impact. Additional benefits information is provided below.
For our Designer positions, our compensation ranges from $90,000 to $132,000, which is inclusive of a 20% bonus.
Benefits Of Working At Ovative Group
We provide strong, competitive, holistic benefits that understand the importance of your life inside and out of work.
Culture
Culture matters and we’ve been recognized as a Top Workplace for ten years running because of it. We demand trust and transparency from each other. We believe in doing the hard and complicated work others put off. We’re open in communication and floor plan. We’re flat – our interns sit next to VPs, our analysts work closely with senior leaders, and our CEO interacts with every single person daily. Put together, these elements help foster an environment where smart people can support each other in performing to their highest potential.
Ovative is committed to fostering an inclusive environment where everyone can participate and thrive. We do not tolerate discrimination of any kind, including on the basis of race, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Our policies reflect this commitment—for example, our medical leave benefits are inclusive of same-sex partners, ensuring equitable care and support for all families.
Compensation and Insurance
We strive to hire and retain the best talent. Paying fair, competitive compensation, with a large bonus incentive, and phenomenal health insurance is an important part of this mix.
We’re rewarded fairly and when the company performs well, we all benefit.
Tangible amenities we enjoy
- Access to all office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI
- Frequent, paid travel to our Minneapolis headquarters for company events, team events, and in-person collaboration with teams
- Generous paid vacation policy
- 401k match program
- Top-notch health insurance options, inclusive of same sex partners
- Family formation benefits including reimbursement options for fertility, pregnancy, and parenting needs
- Monthly stipend for your mobile phone and data plan
- Sabbatical program
- Charitable giving via our time and a financial match program
- Shenanigan’s Day
Working at Ovative won’t be easy, but if you like getting your hands dirty, driving results, and being surrounded by the best talent, it’ll be the most rewarding job you’ll ever have. If you think you can make us better, we want to hear from you!
Key skills/competency
- Graphic Design
- AI Tools
- Creative Strategy
- Digital Design
- Portfolio
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma
- Conceptual Thinking
- Brand Strategy
- Team Collaboration
Skills & topics
- Designer
- Graphic Design
- Creative Lab
- AI Design
- Digital Marketing
- Brand Strategy
- Adobe Creative Suite
- Figma
- Conceptual Thinking
- Agency Experience
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight experience with AI tools and digital design, showcasing impactful projects and results.
- Craft a compelling portfolio: Emphasize conceptual thinking, exceptional craft, and AI-accelerated workflows.
- Prepare for interviews: Articulate your design rationale clearly and demonstrate your understanding of strategy.
- Showcase your AI fluency: Be ready to discuss how you integrate AI into your creative process.
- Express your curiosity: Highlight your passion for emerging technologies and continuous learning.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What is the salary range for a Designer at Ovative Group?
- The salary range for Designer positions at Ovative Group is $90,000 to $132,000, which includes a 20% annual bonus. Actual offers will be based on relevant experience and anticipated impact.
- What kind of portfolio is Ovative Group looking for in a Designer candidate?
- Ovative Group seeks a portfolio that demonstrates strong conceptual thinking and exceptional craft. It should also include examples of work developed or accelerated through AI-enabled workflows, showcasing your ability to leverage emerging technologies.
- How important is AI fluency for the Designer role at Ovative Group?
- AI fluency is very important. The role emphasizes leveraging AI tools and generative workflows as an extension of the creative process to explore visual territories, accelerate ideation, and expand creative possibilities.
- What are the key software proficiencies required for the Designer position?
- Advanced proficiency is required in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Figma. An understanding of motion design and the ability to create purposeful movement are also necessary.
- What kind of work environment can I expect as a Designer at Ovative Group?
- You can expect a fast-moving, innovative environment focused on 'modern making.' The culture champions craft, curiosity, and creative ambition, with a flat structure that encourages collaboration across all levels.
- Does Ovative Group offer remote work options for this Designer position?
- The job description mentions access to office spaces in MSP, NYC, and CHI, and paid travel to Minneapolis. While not explicitly stated as remote-only, the mention of multiple office locations suggests potential for flexibility or hybrid arrangements depending on team needs.
- What makes Ovative Group's Creative Lab unique?
- The Creative Lab is Ovative's in-house creative engine, focusing on 'modern making.' It unites brand strategy, cultural relevance, creators, AI enablement, and strategic media to produce impactful ideas. They also have a proprietary MarTech platform called EMRge.
- What are the benefits of working at Ovative Group as a Designer?
- Benefits include competitive compensation with a bonus incentive, excellent health insurance, generous paid vacation, 401k match, family formation benefits, a sabbatical program, charitable giving, and access to multiple office locations.