Freelance Creative Production Designer, Sports & Brand
POSITION: Independent Contractor, Project Based
LOCATION: Remote, preference for candidates in Canada / EST time zone
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are building a small bench of reliable Freelance Creative Production Designers who can jump in on an as needed basis to support our Creative Studio.
You will work on a mix of sports and non sports clients. A portion of your work will support sports properties, sponsors, and sports adjacent brands, so you must bring real sports experience in your portfolio. The work is hands on production. You will take existing concepts and layouts and adapt, resize, version, and finalize files for print and digital.
The ideal contractor is fast, accurate, highly proficient in Photoshop, and comfortable working from templates and brand guidelines with limited supervision.
ABOUT SDI
SDI Marketing is a Toronto based marketing agency that specializes in creating experiences that connect brands with people in meaningful ways. Through our integrated services in creative, strategy, experiential, sports, and digital we help clients build stronger relationships with their customers and fans.
We work with a range of leading brands across sports, retail, financial services, and consumer products, supporting everything from national campaigns and sponsorship activations to on site experiences and day to day content. Our Creative Studio partners closely with our account and strategy teams to bring ideas to life in the real world, whether that is a game day environment, a retail footprint, or a digital platform.
At SDI, one of our core values is Human. We care about how work gets done, not only the result. We value collaboration, curiosity, and a practical, solutions focused mindset. Contractors who work with us are treated as true partners, and we look for people who are excited to work on a variety of brands and categories, including sports.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Take existing creative concepts and adapt them for multiple formats and channels
Build, clean up, and finalize production ready files for print and digital
Create and version assets for:
Sports properties and sponsors
Brand, retail, and experiential campaigns
Work within supplied templates and brand guidelines for campaigns and programs
Resize, reformat, and version assets for different placements and specs
Prepare and package files for printers, vendors, and digital deployment
Apply client or internal feedback quickly and accurately
Ensure all files are organized, properly named, and archived for future use
Collaborate with Creative Directors, Art Directors, and Project Managers to clarify requirements and timing
Flag any technical or spec issues and suggest practical solutions
Meet tight deadlines and occasional quick turn requests
SPORTS EXPERIENCE
Work will span multiple categories, however:
You must have prior experience designing for at least one of the following:
Sports teams or leagues
Sports betting or fantasy platforms
Athletic or sportswear brands
Sponsors of major sports properties or events
Your portfolio should include several examples of sports or fan focused work such as:
Game day or match day graphics
Schedule or hype posters
Social content for teams, athletes, or sports brands
Arena, event, or on site signage and collateral
SKILLS AND TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS
Strong production design skills with a focus on Adobe Photoshop
Solid working knowledge of InDesign and Illustrator for layout and vector work
Comfortable working on Mac OS
Ability to set up and prepare final artwork for:
Print, including signage, OOH, POS, collateral, and experiential assets
Digital, including web banners, social content, email assets, and presentations
Understanding of print production, colour, bleeds, safety, and supplier templates
High attention to detail, including file naming, layers, and version control
Strong time management skills with the ability to juggle multiple small tasks and priorities
Able to follow brand guidelines closely and maintain consistency across all outputs
Nice to have, not required:
Basic motion or video (Premiere, After Effects)
Simple 3D or mockup skills
Experience working with financial services or other corporate brands in addition to sports
Design experience in Google Slides (users able to come in and easily edit after while the design structure stays intact)
Figma experience, working with established design systems, exporting assets, auto layout, etc.
QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an accredited Graphic Design or related program, or equivalent experience
2+ years of professional design or production experience, ideally in an agency, studio, or in house marketing team
Demonstrated experience turning existing creative into clean, production ready files
Portfolio that clearly shows both:
High quality Photoshop based production work
Sports related design examples
HOW WE WORK WITH CONTRACTORS
Project based, as needed assignments with variable hours
Work may have tight turnarounds, including occasional evenings or short notice requests
You will work remotely and collaborate through email, Teams, and shared project tools
Contractors are responsible for their own equipment, software licenses, and workspace
How to Apply
Contact: Robyn Hobbs robynh@sdimktg.com
Please Include:
Portfolio link highlighting production work and sports related design projects
Brief overview of your experience with sports brands, properties, or sponsors
Your standard hourly rate in CAD and your typical weekly availability
We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.