On-Call Senior Graphic Designer

The Senior Graphic Designer is responsible for developing graphics for various projects, ensuring high-quality design work with minimal supervision. This role involves collaboration with different departments and managing the design and production of graphics for exhibitions and events.

Responsibilities

• Consistently deliver high-quality project graphics, publications, collateral, and digital media across a number of projects with minimum supervision
• Execute printed labels, exhibition, and event signage
• Model best practices in all areas of graphic design
• Coordinate with other designers and with printers/vendors; handle all related billing duties
• Scope work within time and budget parameters; meet project milestone and final deadlines
• Organize and coordinate design and production of graphics for special exhibitions and for large events such as the annual gala
• Contribute to content development as needed
• Reliably produce a wide variety of compelling and engaging design ideas
• Work closely with project leadership and project partners institution-wide, such as Development, Marketing, Membership, Public Programs, and Temporary Exhibitions, to ensure projects meet overall design and communication goals; participate in a continuing dialogue with other staff about exhibit ideas, audiences, and informal science education
• Adapt to project constraints with proactive solutions; work comfortably and productively on a range of projects (e.g. grant-based R&D, client-facing, marketing campaigns) and across a range of media (e.g. print, web, screen, and environmental)
• Make timely design choices; show strong creative discernment and good discipline around editing of ideas. Respond to internal collaborators’ needs while balancing aesthetic considerations

Requirements

• BA/BS degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, preferably in graphic design
• Minimum five years’ prior graphic design experience, preferably in a non-profit environment
• Advanced skills in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as traditional graphics craft
• Working knowledge of Sketch-up or AfterEffects a plus
• Advanced skills with color and color manipulation
• Versatile layout and design abilities, with strong knowledge of typography
• Ability to collaboratively produce design concepts and translate them into visual models, including creative briefs and mockups
• Dedication to accuracy and detail; willing to work through multiple revisions of projects
• Talent for collaboration and effective teamwork, and demonstrated ability to work with people at all levels of an organization
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, with minimal supervision
• Ability to meet deadlines and make accurate estimates in respect to time and expense
• Familiarity with visitor use principles and design affordances. Ability to work with visitor research and evaluation department to address visitor use issues
• Interest in science or education a plus
• Two years’ Exploratorium experience preferred
• Experience in marketing campaigns and assets, web and social media design, institutional collateral, exhibit graphics, environmental design and wayfinding a plus

Key Skills

• Advanced skills in InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Microsoft Word and Excel, as well as traditional graphics craft
• Working knowledge of Sketch-up or AfterEffects a plus
• Advanced skills with color and color manipulation
• Versatile layout and design abilities, with strong knowledge of typography
• Ability to collaboratively produce design concepts and translate them into visual models, including creative briefs and mockups
• Dedication to accuracy and detail; willing to work through multiple revisions of projects
• Talent for collaboration and effective teamwork, and demonstrated ability to work with people at all levels of an organization
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, with minimal supervision
• Ability to meet deadlines and make accurate estimates in respect to time and expense
• Familiarity with visitor use principles and design affordances. Ability to work with visitor research and evaluation department to address visitor use issues
• Interest in science or education a plus