Content Graphic Designer – Pop Culture + Sports
Budget: $750 – $1,500 USD
KONICK Static Social Post Test: Creative Brief for Junior Designers
About IKONICK:
IKONICK is a lifestyle brand that creates motivational wall art and apparel inspired by pop culture, sports, and entrepreneurship. Our voice is bold, sharp, and no-BS. The visual representation of that inner drive pushing you to build, compete, and win.
We combine:
Iconic imagery (especially from sports and cinematic pop culture)
-Short, powerful quotes
-A clean, modern design aesthetic
We speak to people chasing greatness. Including athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators. Every piece we make should feel like something you'd hang on your wall or wear with pride.
The Opportunity
We’re currently hiring a full-time Junior Designer (monthly retainer, terms TBD) to join our creative team.
This test is the first step in the application process. It’s open only to candidates located outside the U.S. and Canada.The best single design submission will win a $250 cash prize and receive an official job offer to join our team.
-Application Deadline: Thursday at 12:00 PM PST
-Email assignment to: jeff@ ikonick.com
-Winner Announced: The following Monday
Objective
Create 2–5 static image posts designed for the Instagram feed that match IKONICK’s visual and conceptual style. These should feel scroll-stopping, emotional, and instantly shareable — like something that makes someone say: “Damn, that hits. I gotta post this.”
Key Concept
You're combining:
High-impact photography (sports or pop culture icons)
-Short, motivational quotes
-Clean, minimal typography
The image should carry emotional weight, and the quote should elevate the moment, not just describe it.
Guidelines
1. Imagery: Use Iconic Sports Moments & Athletes
Source high-quality, emotionally charged photos.
Look for motion, intensity, pressure, triumph, failure, or focus.
You can use:
-Google Images
-Fan accounts
-Social media
-Editorial archives (This is for test purposes only; no licensing required.)
Do Not Use:
-Michael Jordan
-LeBron James
-Tiger Woods
-Wayne Gretzky
-Muhammad Ali
2. Quotes: Choose from the List or Create One
Use a different quote for each image. You're encouraged to include 1 original quote of your own.
Browse our Instagram for tone reference.
Approved Examples:
-No Risk, No Story
-Keep Going
-Pressure is a Privilege
-Take The Risk
-Calm Under Pressure
-Tell Me I Can’t
-Outwork Everyone
-Mindset is Everything
Quote Tip:
The best quotes match the emotion of the image. Don’t describe what’s happening and show people what they can feel from it. The quote should be something someone would use in their own life, not just in sports. If it's too functional or literal, it won’t go viral. Aim for emotion over explanation.
3. Typography: Simple, Clean, and Readable
Stick to classic serif fonts:
-Apple Garamond
-Perfectly Nineties
-Garamond
-Tiempos Headline
Quotes should be easy to read at a glance
Avoid overused effects, drop shadows, outlines, or anything gimmicky
4. Design Style: Match the IKONICK Look
Our aesthetic is:
-Bold but minimal
-Gritty but clean
-Timeless, not trendy
Check our Instagram and the provided reference board for examples of:
-Composition
-Mood
-Quote placement
-Color treatment, overlays, grain, etc.
5.Technical Specs
-Format: JPG
-Size: 4:5 ratio (Instagram feed) – 1080x1350px
-Quantity: 10–15 image posts
-Each must feature a different athlete/image
-Save quote text in layers in PSD or Figma in case we need to tweak
6. Submission Checklist
-2–5 static JPG image posts
-Each uses a unique, high-quality photo
-Each uses a different approved quote (one must be original)
-Clean, minimal serif typography
-Quotes are legible and well-placed
-Files are sized correctly (1080x1350px)
-No restricted athletes used
-Submit JPGs and a ZIP folder with working files
Final Tips:
-Think like a poster designer, not a meme creator.
-Let the emotion of the photo lead the design.
-Don’t overcomplicate. Simplicity is power.
Ask yourself:
-Would I hang this on my wall?
-Would this stop someone mid-scroll?
About IKONICK:
IKONICK is a lifestyle brand that creates motivational wall art and apparel inspired by pop culture, sports, and entrepreneurship. Our voice is bold, sharp, and no-BS. The visual representation of that inner drive pushing you to build, compete, and win.
We combine:
Iconic imagery (especially from sports and cinematic pop culture)
-Short, powerful quotes
-A clean, modern design aesthetic
We speak to people chasing greatness. Including athletes, entrepreneurs, and creators. Every piece we make should feel like something you'd hang on your wall or wear with pride.
The Opportunity
We’re currently hiring a full-time Junior Designer (monthly retainer, terms TBD) to join our creative team.
This test is the first step in the application process. It’s open only to candidates located outside the U.S. and Canada.The best single design submission will win a $250 cash prize and receive an official job offer to join our team.
-Application Deadline: Thursday at 12:00 PM PST
-Email assignment to: jeff@ ikonick.com
-Winner Announced: The following Monday
Objective
Create 2–5 static image posts designed for the Instagram feed that match IKONICK’s visual and conceptual style. These should feel scroll-stopping, emotional, and instantly shareable — like something that makes someone say: “Damn, that hits. I gotta post this.”
Key Concept
You're combining:
High-impact photography (sports or pop culture icons)
-Short, motivational quotes
-Clean, minimal typography
The image should carry emotional weight, and the quote should elevate the moment, not just describe it.
Guidelines
1. Imagery: Use Iconic Sports Moments & Athletes
Source high-quality, emotionally charged photos.
Look for motion, intensity, pressure, triumph, failure, or focus.
You can use:
-Google Images
-Fan accounts
-Social media
-Editorial archives (This is for test purposes only; no licensing required.)
Do Not Use:
-Michael Jordan
-LeBron James
-Tiger Woods
-Wayne Gretzky
-Muhammad Ali
2. Quotes: Choose from the List or Create One
Use a different quote for each image. You're encouraged to include 1 original quote of your own.
Browse our Instagram for tone reference.
Approved Examples:
-No Risk, No Story
-Keep Going
-Pressure is a Privilege
-Take The Risk
-Calm Under Pressure
-Tell Me I Can’t
-Outwork Everyone
-Mindset is Everything
Quote Tip:
The best quotes match the emotion of the image. Don’t describe what’s happening and show people what they can feel from it. The quote should be something someone would use in their own life, not just in sports. If it's too functional or literal, it won’t go viral. Aim for emotion over explanation.
3. Typography: Simple, Clean, and Readable
Stick to classic serif fonts:
-Apple Garamond
-Perfectly Nineties
-Garamond
-Tiempos Headline
Quotes should be easy to read at a glance
Avoid overused effects, drop shadows, outlines, or anything gimmicky
4. Design Style: Match the IKONICK Look
Our aesthetic is:
-Bold but minimal
-Gritty but clean
-Timeless, not trendy
Check our Instagram and the provided reference board for examples of:
-Composition
-Mood
-Quote placement
-Color treatment, overlays, grain, etc.
5.Technical Specs
-Format: JPG
-Size: 4:5 ratio (Instagram feed) – 1080x1350px
-Quantity: 10–15 image posts
-Each must feature a different athlete/image
-Save quote text in layers in PSD or Figma in case we need to tweak
6. Submission Checklist
-2–5 static JPG image posts
-Each uses a unique, high-quality photo
-Each uses a different approved quote (one must be original)
-Clean, minimal serif typography
-Quotes are legible and well-placed
-Files are sized correctly (1080x1350px)
-No restricted athletes used
-Submit JPGs and a ZIP folder with working files
Final Tips:
-Think like a poster designer, not a meme creator.
-Let the emotion of the photo lead the design.
-Don’t overcomplicate. Simplicity is power.
Ask yourself:
-Would I hang this on my wall?
-Would this stop someone mid-scroll?