Freelance Packaging Designer – AI-Assisted Concept Development

WHO WE ARE

We’re Talking Rain Beverage Company, we create better-for-you beverages featuring great flavors and colors from natural sources. We live life in full flavor and believe the world should too. We create connections with every sip of our iconic Sparkling Ice, Sparkling Ice Caffeine, Sparkling Ice Energy, and Popwell.

When it comes to success, we know we’re only as strong as our team. That's why we're an equal-opportunity employer. We value diversity and practice inclusivity, hiring great people who enhance our company.

Our Rain Makers are our most important asset. That’s why we invest in them with benefits and development opportunities ⁠that reflect just how much we value them. 

Request for Independent Packaging Design Services — AI-Assisted Concept Development

WHO WE ARE

We’re Talking Rain, and we’re so much more than water. We build flavorful brands, like Sparkling Ice, Sparkling Ice +Caffeine, Talking Rain Waters and AQA pH waters. We're sparking joy with every sip!

We love innovating our packaging and meeting consumers where they are in their moments in life and this means we move quickly from idea to decision. We want one or more independent creative partners who can brainstorm label and packaging concepts live and use AI tools to produce fast visual iterations before anything goes to final design. The work is project-based and comes in bursts. Some months will be busy and others quiet. This fits freelancers who run their own business and want an ongoing client relationship alongside their other work.

Project Scope and Expected Outcomes

Talking Rain is seeking an independent packaging design contractor to deliver early-stage packaging concepts for discussion and decision-making. The contractor will determine the methods, workflow, and creative process used to produce the agreed deliverables, combining packaging design expertise with AI-enabled creative tools as appropriate.

Client contacts: Designated Talking Rain stakeholders will provide project context, consolidated feedback, and approval decisions.

Timing and availability: Work will be requested through individual project briefs or statements of work. The provider will propose the schedule and workflow needed to meet mutually agreed milestones. Any live working sessions, including sessions outside standard business hours, will be scheduled by mutual agreement based on project needs and the provider’s availability.

Work location: The provider may perform the services remotely from a location of its choosing, using its own workspace, equipment, and software. Any onsite attendance will be limited to mutually agreed project needs.

Fees and invoicing: Fees will be negotiated for each statement of work and may be structured by project, milestone, day, or hour depending on the assignment. The provider will submit invoices under the payment terms agreed in the applicable services agreement or statement of work and will be responsible for its ordinary business expenses unless a specific reimbursable expense is approved in writing.

• Develop initial packaging and label concept directions based on an agreed project brief and, when useful, participate in mutually scheduled ideation sessions with designated Talking Rain stakeholders.
• Use AI image and design tools to quickly produce concept mockups, label variations, flavor extensions, and limited-edition ideas.
• Revise concepts in response to consolidated client feedback within the turnaround times agreed for the applicable project or milestone.
• Deliver concept boards and rough mockups ready to hand off to our internal design team or agency for final production art
• Offer expert input on shelf impact, CPG category trends, and how packaging communicates to the consumer
• Provide any additional services only when mutually agreed in writing through a new project brief, statement of work, or scope change.

Independent Provider Profile

• 5+ years in CPG packaging design, brand design, or packaging innovation (beverage experience is a strong plus)
• Advanced, hands-on skill with AI creative tools such as Midjourney, Adobe Firefly, ChatGPT/DALL·E, Stable Diffusion, or similar, plus traditional tools like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop
• A portfolio showing CPG packaging work and AI-assisted concept development
• Comfort working live and fast with senior executives, and the ability to take direction and generate options on the spot
• An established freelance, consulting, or design business that offers services to the market, maintains its own business registrations as applicable, and uses its own equipment and properly licensed software to perform the work.
• Ability to participate in mutually scheduled working sessions when a project requires real-time collaboration, including occasional evening or weekend sessions if accepted by both parties.

Engagement Terms

Any engagement will be governed by a separate written services agreement and one or more project-specific statements of work addressing deliverables, acceptance criteria, fees, payment terms, confidentiality, intellectual property, approved expenses, and timing. The provider will operate an independent business and retain control over the methods, means, sequence, work location, and personnel used to deliver the agreed results, subject to applicable law, brand requirements, confidentiality obligations, and the agreed acceptance criteria. No minimum volume or duration of work is promised. Contractor classification depends on the full facts and actual working relationship, not this document or the use of a 1099 form.

At Talking Rain...
We are Accountable for Results

We make clear commitments, follow through, and take responsibility for outcomes. We trust each other to do great work and support one another when things get tough.

We Innovate with Curiosity

Curiosity fuels everything we do, and innovation is core to who we are. This drives our competitive edge. Rain Makers ask questions, test ideas, and move with intention. We don’t wait for perfect. We try, learn, adjust, and grow.

We Embrace Change

Growth requires adaptability. We are resilient, agile, and energized by what’s next. Those who thrive at Talking Rain are excited by momentum, not intimidated by it.

We Are One Team

We’re better together, and our differences make us stronger. We’re all about diverse perspectives, real relationships, and authenticity at work. Ideas are welcome and encouraged. We compete externally and align internally, engaging the right people and ideas to move the business forward. Collaboration here is active, not passive. We commit. We deliver. Together.

WHAT WE OFFER

Nothing makes a great job even better than throwing in a few perks! All regular, full-time Rain Makers are equipped with everything they need to maintain their health and well-being. That means things like...

• Three Weeks of Vacation per calendar year. And that’s just to start! Spend some time with us, and you’ll accrue an additional week every few years, depending on your exempt status!
• FMLA qualifying Rain Makers receive six weeks of paid parental leave. Parents get to spend time at home bonding with their new addition (whether it arrives by birth, fostering, or adoption). For birth mothers, additional time is provided for medical leave. Depending on the state in which you reside, additional time may also be available for parents who do not require medical leave.
• Flexibility Stipend. For eligible Rain Makers, spend this extra monthly stipend as you wish, but know it’s intended to contribute to things like your phone, internet or other business uses while working remotely or needs outside of normal working hours.
• Relocation: Relocation Available (when available)
• Onsite and Hybrid Rain Makers: Get paid to carpool! Drive to work with another Rain Maker every week at least 2X a week and receive mileage reimbursement.
• 401k with Immediate Vesting. With matched contributions and investment customization, we'll help build a plan to reach your goals.
• Fitness Reimbursements. We're all about going the extra mile, so we provide reimbursements for community events and competitions like fun runs, triathlons, and cycling tours.
  • Rain Makers may also enjoy access to our on-site gym in Preston complete with a personal trainer 2 days per week.
• Medical/Dental/Vision. Not only do we offer it, but our plans are excellent and flexible to your needs. And one is even free for our Rain Makers!
• Vehicle Program –
  • Field Sales Specialist – Mileage is reimbursed at the IRS rate
  • Field Sales Managers and Market Managers – Company car or vehicle stipend included!
  • Regional Sales Managers and Sales Directors – We use the leader in vehicle reimbursement solutions, Motus. This program provides a monthly fixed and variable rate that adheres to IRS guidelines for the business use of personal vehicles.

Please note, eligibility for our full benefits package is based on an average of 30+ hours per week in regular (not temporary) positions.

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