Job Description

Music is Universal

It’s the passionate and dedicated team at Universal Music who help make us the world’s leading music company. From A&R to finance, legal to digital, sales to marketing, Universal Music is the place to grow and develop your career within a truly commercial and innovative business that leads in everything it does.

Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities. We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation.

We will always seek to make appropriate adjustments to recruitment, workplaces, and work processes to be fully inclusive to people with different needs and working styles. If you need us to make any reasonable adjustments for you from application onwards, including alternatives to the online form or to disclose a neurocognitive condition, please email UniversalMusicCareers@umusic.com.

About the opportunity 

Apple Corps Ltd. was founded in 1968 to oversee The Beatles’ creative and business interests. It initially served as the new outlet for The Beatles’ own recordings as well as the music of a wide-ranging roster of artists, all brought to the label personally by the band (individually and/or collectively). Apple Corps’ mission celebrates artistry in an inclusive, creative environment. Since its inception, the company has encompassed music, publishing, merchandise, electronic and film enterprises. 

For almost six decades, Apple Corps Ltd. has helped to bring The Beatles music to billions of fans in pioneering, creative manners, decade after decade.  

Apple Corps and Universal Music Group UK are coming together to build a dedicated team focused on shaping the next chapter of Beatles product, ecommerce, retail and customer experience. 

This is a rare opportunity to work at the intersection of music, culture, creativity, commerce and fan experience. The Beatles remain one of the most important and influential creative forces in the world, with a legacy that continues to inspire fans across generations. 

This team will create exceptional products, experiences and customer journeys for Beatles fans globally. From product design and packaging to retail, ecommerce, trading and fan engagement, every touchpoint must reflect the creativity, quality and cultural significance associated with The Beatles. 

These roles are employed by Apple Corps Ltd. The Universal Music Group UK Talent Acquisition team will manage the recruitment process in collaboration with Apple Corps and the wider UMG team. When you apply, you will be redirected to the Universal Music Group careers portal, where you will be required to submit your application through Workday. 

Role purpose 

The Mid-weight Designer is responsible for developing creative concepts and delivering high-quality design execution across products, graphics, packaging, and marketing materials. The role supports senior designers and creative leads, ensuring brand consistency, technical accuracy, and smooth delivery from concept through to production. This is a hands-on design role that requires strong attention to detail, solid technical capability, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.

Key responsibilities 

Design Development

• Create and develop design concepts across products, graphics, packaging, and marketing materials following the brand’s creative direction.
• Contribute ideas during brainstorming, range development, and design reviews.

Photography Management

• Manage pack-shot and product photography requirements, including preparing briefs for external photographers and coordinating shoots.
• Oversee asset organisation and ensure imagery meets brand standards.

Artwork & Production Files

• Prepare accurate artwork, layouts, and production-ready files for manufacturing, print, and digital channels.
• Ensure all files meet technical specifications for suppliers and printers.

Design Adaptation & Iteration

• Adapt existing creative into new formats, colourways, SKU extensions, and campaign variations.
• Maintain visual accuracy and brand consistency across all outputs.

Collaboration with Senior Designers

• Work closely with senior designers or creative leads to refine concepts and bring ideas to completion.
• Support in preparing presentations, boards, mock-ups, and prototypes as needed.

Supplier & Production Coordination

• Liaise with manufacturers, printers, or production teams to ensure designs are technically feasible and delivered to the required standard.
• Communicate clearly on specifications, amends, and approval points.

Brand Guideline Application

• Apply brand guidelines, visual identity rules, and licensing requirements consistently across all work.
• Help maintain and evolve internal design standards and templates

Project Deliver & Deadlines

• Manage assigned design tasks efficiently to meet deadlines across multiple projects and product launches.
• Flag risks early and support smooth end-to-end delivery.

Key skills and experience 

Creative and technical skills 

• Strong layout, typography, and visual design skills across digital and print.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign).
• Good understanding of materials, print processes, and production requirements.
• Ability to create clean, accurate artwork and technically sound production files.
• Strong organisational skills - ability to structure files, manage assets, and work methodically.
• Confident in adapting and extending existing creative into new formats.
• Comfortable taking constructive feedback and iterating quickly.

Experience requirements 

Essential

• Strong portfolio demonstrating: design development, artwork accuracy, brand consistency, cross-format adaptability (please attach your portfolio alongside your CV or include a link)
• Sufficient experience in design within retail, consumer, lifestyle, apparel, or related creative industries.
• Experience preparing artwork, production files, and technical deliverables.
• Experience collaborating with suppliers, printers, or production partners.
• Familiarity with photography processes, either managing shoots or preparing briefs.
• Confident working within established brand guidelines.

Desirable

• Experience across both product and graphic design.
• Exposure to packaging design or 3D visualisation tools.
• Experience working within multi-brand or fast-paced retail environments.
• Understanding of licensing, approvals, and brand governance.
• Help maintain and evolve internal design standards and templates.
• Knowledge of sustainability considerations within design and production.

Just So You Know…

The company presents this job description as a guide to the major areas and duties for which the jobholder is accountable. However, the business operates in an environment that demands change and the jobholder's specific responsibilities and activities will vary and develop. Therefore, the job description should be seen as indicative and not as a permanent, definitive, and exhaustive statement.

Job Category:

Universal Music Group