Cincinnati, Ohio – Equator Design, Ltd. (Equator), part of the brand development group of SGK, a division of Matthews International Corporation, today announced plans to expand the Company’s presence in the United States with the launch of a new creative workspace in Cincinnati, Ohio.  

The $1 million investment in a 12,000-square foot design space will bring Equator Design’s dynamic, creative culture to Queen City, replicating an award-winning office concept that has been rolled out across all four of the company’s current locations worldwide. The move builds on Equator Design’s flagship Chicago office and will leverage Cincinnati’s creative culture, generating opportunities for creatives at all levels to join an agency with a global reputation for re-writing the rulebook on packaging design.

The new space will be located at 15 East 14^th Street and Equator Design will move in when construction is completed in the late Spring or early Summer of 2018. It will add to a growing global footprint for Equator Design, which already has award-winning operations in Manchester and Nottingham in the UK and in Dublin, Ireland. 

The Company has a global reputation for attracting the best design talent and offers an “under one roof” approach to innovative packaging design from strategy and concept through to final product on shelf. The new location in Cincinnati is seen by Equator Design as the ideal creative hub for attracting the right skills, experience and talent to the Company to fuel growth and provide an ideal environment for the Company’s industry-leading packaging design and branding capabilities. 

The company’s decision to locate in the City of Cincinnati is contingent upon approvals of the Ohio JCTC and Cincinnati JCTC.

With its entry into the Cincinnati market, Equator Design will be creating up to 50 full-time positions, including roles in creative design, artwork and photography as well as support functions. The Company is committed to filling at least 75% of these positions with City residents. Cincinnati job seekers are encouraged to apply and can obtain more information about opportunities at www.equator-design.com.

“Our acquisition of Equator Design last year was just one important step in activating SGK’s growth strategy,” said Gary Kohl, president, SGK. “Their proven ‘under one roof’ model, which they’ve replicated successfully across all their studios, resonates with the demanding needs of marketers today. We are pleased to introduce Equator Design to Cincinnati and greater Ohio, home to dozens of retail companies and world-class brands.”

“The space will reflect the company ethos,” continued Gary Flynn, global managing director at Equator Design. It makes the whole way we work very visible, which is a proven and critical element in our success. Our thriving and open work environments have been key to bringing new staff up to speed on our process and culture very quickly, which is important when working within the fast-paced retail packaging and branding world.”

“We are proud to welcome Equator Design to our region,” said Johnna Reeder, President & CEO of REDI Cincinnati, which worked closely with JobsOhio on the project. “Innovators and doers are what our region is known for and these new jobs enhance the opportunities available to our globally known creative talent.”

Founded in 1998 and acquired by SGK in March 2017, Equator Design is a packaging design specialist with vast experience in grocery retail and CPG brands with the unique capability to take brands from concept to shelf entirely under one roof with a single inter-disciplinary team across all its locations. 

Each Equator Design site is home to strategy, design, photography and color management with complete in-house prepress and a packaging development studio. From impeccable file preparation to color management, graphic reproduction and regulatory compliance, Equator Design manages large scale complex packaging solutions globally. Equator Design’s highly skilled team offers the perfect combination of strategic, technical, and creative expertise to enhance the desirability of private brands and well-established household names.