Michigan State University
Graphic Designer / Graphic Artist III
Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, United States, 48823
Working/Functional Title
Graphic Designer
Position Summary
As a Graphic Designer in University Communications and Marketing, you will create and coordinate production of dynamic, brand-aligned designs for a range of marketing and communications efforts. You will play a vital role as a member of an award-winning team working to support and achieve strategic goals for Michigan State University. You contribute to visual leadership for the MSU brand by designing official brand elements, integrating the university’s brand identity across projects and creating resources such as templates and tutorials. You provide creative direction or assistance to enhance visual storytelling and collaborate on content development for owned, social, paid and earned channels. This includes creating designs, creative products and visual approaches for websites, social media, email, advertising, print pieces, signage and other products. You stay ahead of trends and technologies influencing designs for marketing, bringing guidance and new ideas to our work. This job requires strong partnership across and beyond campus, and problem-solving skills to deliver innovative and versatile designs that achieve key outcomes with priority audiences.
About University Communications and Marketing
University Communications and Marketing increases awareness of and appreciation for Michigan State University, its people and its impact as a leading global public research university, builds trust and inspires connection to cultivate support and make MSU a preferred choice.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
Creates and produces original, brand-aligned designs for a range of university-level marketing and communications efforts to help achieve strategic goals
Contributes to visual storytelling and content development for owned, social, paid and earned channels and products and provides creative direction for assigned initiatives, projects and campaigns
Prepares digital graphics and visual assets for websites, stories, social media, email and advertising campaigns
Meets design needs for various print materials, digital properties, occasions and events, presentations and reports
Develops and maintains knowledge of accessibility requirements and helps ensure content and projects meet accessibility standards
Works across teams (within University Communications and Marketing, with others on campus and outside agencies) to provide design consulting and collaborate on projects
Helps design, define and evolve university brand identity elements and standards, provides guidance on visual brand standards to colleagues across campus, creates templates and tutorials, helps with partnership and cobranding identity systems
May supervise design intern(s)
Learns and uses university systems that support content development and management, including for content operations, web content management system (CMS), and digital asset management (DAM)
Assists with content development in the university CMS, and works within and helps maintain digital asset management system for storing and organizing design files and assets
Explores and understands the role that AI and other emerging technologies can bring to graphic design to enhance capabilities and increase efficiency
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Commercial Art, Graphic Design or a related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in commercial or graphic art including marketing and supervision, print production, graphic techniques and procedures, computer graphics, web page design software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
Knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree in graphic design, advertising, commercial art, digital media arts and technology or a related field
Five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work in graphic design, including web sites and digital executions
Mastery or very strong skills with the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
Experience in Microsoft Office, including Word and PowerPoint
Knowledge of and experience in design and layout principles, including typography
Experience with logo design and visual identity system development
Demonstrated understanding of marketing and branding principles
Knowledge and experience in meeting accessibility standards
Demonstrated ability to balance creativity and detail-oriented work in a deadline-driven environment, to quickly produce high-quality work meeting the needs of multiple digital channels, to learn new skills quickly and to collaborate effectively as part of a team
Exceptional creative thinking skills and the ability to adapt to new technology or communications avenues
Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong digital portfolio of design work for review
Demonstrated ability to create original creative concepts across multiple digital and print media
Knowledge of or experience working in foundational arts, illustration, photography, print design and PowerPoint
Strong knowledge of digital content trends (social, web, etc.), including evolving use of artificial intelligence, and understanding of how graphics work and interplay across all platforms
Some background or proficiency in HTML and CSS and experience creating responsive website designs
Some background or proficiency in elements/manipulation of photo, video, animation
Experience working in marketing or advertising environments and/or in higher education or other service-oriented environments
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Cover letter
Resume
3 professional references
Portfolio of design work
Special Instructions
Remote Work Statement
University Communications and Marketing supports a hybrid schedule allowing for both in-office and remote work opportunities. Our in-office time is used primarily for team meetings along with formal and informal collaboration. We support our employees to do their best work by providing technology to support both remote collaboration and in-office collaboration, as well as intentional strategies to foster a positive work culture. Remote work and hybrid schedules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change based on the needs of the organization.
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
https://comms.msu.edu/
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding eligibility ends January 14, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.
Graphic Designer
Position Summary
As a Graphic Designer in University Communications and Marketing, you will create and coordinate production of dynamic, brand-aligned designs for a range of marketing and communications efforts. You will play a vital role as a member of an award-winning team working to support and achieve strategic goals for Michigan State University. You contribute to visual leadership for the MSU brand by designing official brand elements, integrating the university’s brand identity across projects and creating resources such as templates and tutorials. You provide creative direction or assistance to enhance visual storytelling and collaborate on content development for owned, social, paid and earned channels. This includes creating designs, creative products and visual approaches for websites, social media, email, advertising, print pieces, signage and other products. You stay ahead of trends and technologies influencing designs for marketing, bringing guidance and new ideas to our work. This job requires strong partnership across and beyond campus, and problem-solving skills to deliver innovative and versatile designs that achieve key outcomes with priority audiences.
About University Communications and Marketing
University Communications and Marketing increases awareness of and appreciation for Michigan State University, its people and its impact as a leading global public research university, builds trust and inspires connection to cultivate support and make MSU a preferred choice.
Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities
Creates and produces original, brand-aligned designs for a range of university-level marketing and communications efforts to help achieve strategic goals
Contributes to visual storytelling and content development for owned, social, paid and earned channels and products and provides creative direction for assigned initiatives, projects and campaigns
Prepares digital graphics and visual assets for websites, stories, social media, email and advertising campaigns
Meets design needs for various print materials, digital properties, occasions and events, presentations and reports
Develops and maintains knowledge of accessibility requirements and helps ensure content and projects meet accessibility standards
Works across teams (within University Communications and Marketing, with others on campus and outside agencies) to provide design consulting and collaborate on projects
Helps design, define and evolve university brand identity elements and standards, provides guidance on visual brand standards to colleagues across campus, creates templates and tutorials, helps with partnership and cobranding identity systems
May supervise design intern(s)
Learns and uses university systems that support content development and management, including for content operations, web content management system (CMS), and digital asset management (DAM)
Assists with content development in the university CMS, and works within and helps maintain digital asset management system for storing and organizing design files and assets
Explores and understands the role that AI and other emerging technologies can bring to graphic design to enhance capabilities and increase efficiency
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Commercial Art, Graphic Design or a related field; five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in commercial or graphic art including marketing and supervision, print production, graphic techniques and procedures, computer graphics, web page design software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
Knowledge equivalent to that which would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree in graphic design, advertising, commercial art, digital media arts and technology or a related field
Five to eight years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work in graphic design, including web sites and digital executions
Mastery or very strong skills with the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, including Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop
Experience in Microsoft Office, including Word and PowerPoint
Knowledge of and experience in design and layout principles, including typography
Experience with logo design and visual identity system development
Demonstrated understanding of marketing and branding principles
Knowledge and experience in meeting accessibility standards
Demonstrated ability to balance creativity and detail-oriented work in a deadline-driven environment, to quickly produce high-quality work meeting the needs of multiple digital channels, to learn new skills quickly and to collaborate effectively as part of a team
Exceptional creative thinking skills and the ability to adapt to new technology or communications avenues
Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong digital portfolio of design work for review
Demonstrated ability to create original creative concepts across multiple digital and print media
Knowledge of or experience working in foundational arts, illustration, photography, print design and PowerPoint
Strong knowledge of digital content trends (social, web, etc.), including evolving use of artificial intelligence, and understanding of how graphics work and interplay across all platforms
Some background or proficiency in HTML and CSS and experience creating responsive website designs
Some background or proficiency in elements/manipulation of photo, video, animation
Experience working in marketing or advertising environments and/or in higher education or other service-oriented environments
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.
Required Application Materials
Cover letter
Resume
3 professional references
Portfolio of design work
Special Instructions
Remote Work Statement
University Communications and Marketing supports a hybrid schedule allowing for both in-office and remote work opportunities. Our in-office time is used primarily for team meetings along with formal and informal collaboration. We support our employees to do their best work by providing technology to support both remote collaboration and in-office collaboration, as well as intentional strategies to foster a positive work culture. Remote work and hybrid schedules are reviewed annually and may be subject to change based on the needs of the organization.
Work Hours
STANDARD 8-5
Website
https://comms.msu.edu/
Remote Work Statement
MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.
Bidding eligibility ends January 14, 2025 at 11:55 P.M.