Graphic Designer Job Description

Illustration of a woman standing at a desk working on a laptop

Strong graphic designers are out there, and having a top-notch job post is key to engaging with them. The job description will be your organization’s first impression for most potential candidates, illustrating your mission, values, and expectations. As job seekers pursue the right fit, your goal should be to make the job description compelling, concise, and direct. A good rule of thumb is to include no more than six bullets of information in each section. Once you have a first draft, read it carefully to ensure that it aligns with expectations for the role, and to verify that all details are accurate.

Sample graphic designer job description

At [Company X], we see graphic design as visual storytelling that engages, informs, and inspires. We're looking for a talented graphic designer who can take concepts and ideas and create visual representations, in both print and electronic media. The ideal candidate will have expert knowledge of current design software and be skilled in every step of the design process, from concept to final deliverable. Collaborating with multiple teams across the company, the graphic designer should be able to take written or spoken ideas and convert them into a design that connects. The successful candidate will have a thorough understanding of branding and marketing, and be able to find the right style and layout for every project.

Objectives of this role

Work on a wide range of projects and media, using various software programs to visualize and develop innovative graphic designs that meet business goals
Obtain input from managers to ensure that designs meet organizational standards and brand expectations, express ideas accurately, and represent the company or client appropriately
Work independently as well as cooperatively with marketing team to meet deadlines, stay within budget, and schedule project implementation based on workload, which may include five or more simultaneous projects
Examine existing processes, identify flaws, and create solutions that improve design capabilities
Update and maintain internal databases for designs, photography, and video

Responsibilities

Collaborate, brainstorm, and strategize with multiple teams or clients on a wide range of materials that may include web pages, presentations, programming collateral, signage, internal communications, newsletters, and marketing materials
Translate strategic direction into high-quality design within an established brand identity
Develop concepts by hand or with software, and execute original content by determining the ideal usage of color, text, font style, imagery, and layout
Manage the design and uploading process for all project materials, based on best practices for using a content management system
Use trend intelligence and knowledge of historical and current markets when designing and executing specific classifications

Required skills and qualifications

Exceptional creativity and innovative design skills
Five or more years of experience (academic and professional) with design software, including Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Dreamweaver
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Organizational and time-management skills for meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Desire to continue building skill set with education and training

Preferred skills and qualifications

Three or more years of experience in professional graphic design, preferably with a creative or marketing agency
Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in graphic design, art, or related discipline
Working knowledge of CSS3, HTML5, and JavaScript
Knowledge of WordPress and content management systems
Photography experience and proficiency with photo-editing software

How to write a graphic designer job description