Graphic Designer Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

A Graphic Designer, or Commercial Artist, creates designs or visual concepts that deliver information through imagery, art and photographs. Their duties include liaising with a client to determine what kind of work and concepts the client has, generate ideas and create layouts that align with the client’s wants and needs.

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Graphic Designer duties and responsibilities

A Graphic Designer conceptualises and generates complete imagery to relay a message in a way that pleases the eye of the viewer. In order to achieve this goal, the designer has to be capable of production in multiple media formats while keeping the client’s needs at the forefront during production. Some major duties and responsibilities of a Graphic Designer include:

  • Creating materials by hand or use technology and creative software suites to generate illustrations, layouts and designs
  • Designing brochures, magazine covers and backs, billboards, brochures, web pages, advertising for a variety of media formats and annual reports
  • Generating drafts and mockups of proposed designs for the client to review and make revisions as requested
  • Maintaining client communication from project start to finish
  • Reviewing final work with clients and make final revisions or deliver the product to the client
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Graphic Designer Job Description Examples:

 

Example 1

This is a fast-paced role where you will be supported by our Marketing Manager and have the opportunity to work proactively, with plenty of opportunities to grow and develop your skillset. We want you to bring your creativity to this role and have fun testing new approaches to continue developing our brand. This is an ideal opportunity for someone motivated to build and develop their career in graphic design and form part of our ambitious growth plans and overall marketing strategy.

The successful candidate will also provide support by performing other digital marketing tasks, such as content uploads to the website via CMS, managing branch listings, and creating email content for distribution.

About You:

The successful candidate will have the following skillset:

  • Proven experience in a design lead environment, ideally 2+ years
  • Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite
  • Experience in editorial skills across a range of media, including social media and video production
  • Ability to work under pressure and manage various projects
  • Able to lead visual campaigns from concept through to artwork
  • Understanding of the different requirements for web and print design
  • Excellent skills in Adobe InDesign, Illustrator & Photoshop
  • A strong portfolio that demonstrates your eye for detail across multiple platforms (physical, mobile, web)
  • Excellent organisational skills: able to prioritise a large workload according to ever-changing business needs
  • A passion for design and a creative flair
  • Ability to work across multiple projects running alongside each other
  • A collaborative approach and meticulous level of detail in all endeavours
  • A self-starter, able to work autonomously and on their own initiative

    Desired experience:

    The following experience is desired, but not necessary:

  • Photography and video editing experience
  • Working with email marketing tools
  • Management of social media accounts
  • Experience of working with CMS platforms
  • Experience in storytelling for customers in a retail space
  • Experience using video editing software such as After Effects or Premiere Pro

    Responsibilities will include but not be limited to:

  • Create both online and offline design, campaign mailers, product packaging, and other collateral

  • Create artwork to use in our social media channels and POS

  • Create templated and one-off designs to support social media strategy and campaigns

  • Create designs and templates for email campaigns, including monthly newsletters and automated nurture campaigns

  • Create drafts and mock-ups of proposed designs and present them for review and revision

  • Updating the various group websites, when required, using our CMS
  • Updating visuals for online and in-store campaigns

  • Assist with design elements to be used on landing pages and core pages of group websites, and support/suggest overall page design

  • Support the Video Editor with the creation of graphic design elements to be used in video production

  • Work with the marketing team to ensure brand guidelines are used to achieve maximum customer engagement and brand recall

  • Ensure clear communication from start to finish for all graphic design-related projects and pieces of work

  • Support with ad-hoc design requests

  • Assist with the creation of new content pieces, including PDFs, reports, and presentations

  • Support across other marketing areas as required

    Next steps:

    Apply online by submitting your CV and covering letter, along with examples of relevant work or a link to your online portfolio.

    We're looking to interview soon, so we recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

    Benefits: 30 days including bank holidays, Perkbox, casual dress, on-site parking, staff discount, and development opportunities

    Schedule: Monday to Friday

    Education: A-Level or equivalent (preferred)

    Experience: Graphic Design: 2 years (required)

    Job Type: Full-time/Part time flexible hours

    Salary: £28,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

    Job Types: Full-time, Part-time

    Salary: £28,000.00-£35,000.00 per year

    Additional pay:
  • Bonus scheme
    Benefits:
  • Discounted or free food
  • Flexible schedule
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday

    Ability to commute/relocate:
  • Stevenage, SG1 2FP: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

    Education:
  • Certificate of Higher Education design: 2 years (preferred)
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    Example 2

    Junior Graphic Designer/Artworker – for immediate start

    Three Sixty Group is a leading commercial property marketing consultancy based in Brighton, working nationwide.

    About Us

    We are a small company of 10 employees, with our business split between providing brand development, design and marketing. We provide website & email campaign development, signage and graphic solutions for commercial properties, property brochures, launch events and full marketing campaigns. A growing element to our business is our digital content through hosted websites and interactive virtual tours.

    The majority of our clients are agents working for national/international investment companies that maintain a portfolio of commercial, trade and industrial properties on large estates across the UK.

    About You

    We are looking for a Junior Graphic Designer to join our team in the Brighton Office, someone who may have recently graduated and has some proficiency in design work using a variety of applications and tools.

    We work in mixed media (websites, printed material, estate signage, interactive media, virtual tours etc.) so having an awareness of the importance of how different elements of a client’s brief complement one another would be advantageous.

    Candidates will be proficient in Adobe Creative Cloud including InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. Understanding website design and social media is an asset for any applicant, as is a confident telephone manner. An eye for detail and an enthusiasm to always bring something to the table will be key to your success.

    Other relevant skills/knowledges:

    · Web Design, HTML and CSS

    · Knowledge of virtual tour platforms (Kuula, 3dVista)

    · Designing and sending HTML based email campaigns

    ·

    Ideal candidates will have experience with our key tasks including:

    · Liaise with clients to discuss the objectives and requirements of the job as required.

    · Think creatively to produce new ideas and concepts and develop designs suitable for our clients.

    · Use innovation to define a design brief within the constraints of cost and time.

    · Keep up-to-date with trends in graphic design techniques and software.

    · Retouch images supplied to improve quality both in print and digital formats.

    · Work with senior designers to understand a brief.

    · Deliver concise, accurate documents as defined by the client and senior designers.

    · Proof-read all work to produce accurate and high-quality work before passing completed work back to senior designers.

    · Follow the calendar/schedule as far as possible, keeping accurate records of time spent on each job.

    · Review graphics, layouts, fonts, colours and sizing before passing work to the production team.

    · Ensure all library files are up to date and easy to locate.

    Please ensure you include a cover letter and most importantly a link to your portfolio as no applications will be considered without a portfolio

    Salary: £20,000 to £24, 000 – dependant on experience

    Job Type: Full-time

    Minimum Required experience: 1 year in Graphic Design

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent, Graduate

    Salary: £20,000.00-£24,000.00 per year

    Benefits:
  • Life insurance
  • On-site parking
    Schedule:
  • Monday to Friday

    Application question(s):
  • This job is office based, do you reside in Design: 1 year (required)
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    Example 3

    We’re Mauveworx, one of the UK’s most forward thinking marketing activation companies. Founded over 50 years ago, we work with global Retailers and Brands to deliver marketing communications in-store, online and through video.

    An exciting opportunity has arisen for a midweight designer to join our creative team. Working within our full service agency and product division, you’ll be working on some amazingly diverse briefs from some of the biggest brands and retailers.

    As a midweight designer, you’ll display a high level of confidence with your creative and communicative skills. This will be supported by an exciting portfolio that illustrates your passion and approach to creative across all channels.

    The role will be evenly divided between working on external client projects and developing our in-house product department offering. From conceptual stage through to delivery, you’ll work across campaign activations and marketing activities, in a fast paced and dynamic environment.

    As our primary creative resource for our in-house product division, you’ll take ownership for helping to develop the brand and its offering moving forward. Working alongside our Head of Product Development and supported by our Head of Creative, tasks will include packaging design, product development, print and social marketing.

    Versatility is a key attribute. Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite is a must, as is the ability to create assets across different touch points within our customers’ campaign marketing journey – you’ll demonstrate high levels of creative expertise, presenting your ideas both visually and verbally.

    The role is ideally suited to an individual with 4 years+ agency experience, who is ambitious and keen to step up into a more senior position in the near future.

    What we’ll need

    · Existing agency environment experience (4 years+) - Essential

    · Experience in designing for a variety of channels; press ads, digital screens, in-store signage and social campaigns. You will be comfortable working across all stages of the design process from conception of ideas through to presenting them as finished visuals

    · Excellent Adobe Creative Suite skills

    · An ability to take ownership of a brand and its development

    · Existing experience designing for the retail sector and FMCG would be highly desirable

    · Drawing and scamping skills would be highly desirable

    · Experience with motion graphics would be beneficial

    · Meticulous attention to detail, alongside an ability to take your ideas and design to high level of finish

    · An ability to confidently present to, and interact with clients

    · A commitment to keeping in touch with current trends and innovation within the market place

    What you’ll get

    · Competitive Salary

    · 23 days annual leave entitlement, rising to 25 days after 5 years’ service

    · Birthday day off

    · 4pm Team Social Hour on Fridays

    · Modern, spacious offices including a brand new canteen

    · Free car parking

    · Bike to Work Scheme

    · Discounted gym membership

    · Health cash plan

    · Quarterly company events

    · Relaxed dress code

    · Dog friendly offices

    · Sports clubs including paddleboarding, mountain biking and walking!

    There is the opportunity to work from home 2 days per week, our core working hours are 8.30am-5pm with a 45 minute break for lunch.

    Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

    Benefits:
  • Casual dress
  • Company events
  • Company pension
  • Gym membership
  • Life insurance
  • On-site parking
  • Private medical insurance
  • Sick pay
  • Work from to Friday
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    What does a Graphic Designer do?

    Companies hire a Graphic Designer to solve the problem of how to stimulate a consumer to go from reading an advertisement to making a purchase. They create designs and logos and develop layouts for everything from annual reports to magazines. A Graphic Designer is not necessarily an artist even though they arrange imagery or language into a finished product for advertising. The role of the graphic artist is to perform client intake and learn about the client’s desires and expectations for the end product, create artwork in a variety of formats and layouts that may appeal to the client, have a cultural sensitivity in order to avoid inadvertently offending audiences and review the final work with the client for final adjustments and approval.

    Graphic Designer skills and qualifications

    A successful Graphic Designer candidate will possess skills that include the ability to manage time, produce artwork in a variety of styles, understand font design and have excellent communication skills. Some of the skills and qualifications a Graphic Designer needs are:

    • Ability to work as part of a team and independently
    • Artistic skills
    • Proficiency in graphic illustration software
    • Capable of planning a strategy in relation to client needs
    • Maintain a portfolio of prior work and maintain a client archive
    • Analytical skills

    Graphic Designer experience requirements

    Most Graphic Designer roles require a qualified candidate to have experience in editing or creating illustrations using illustration software, building multi-layer compositions digitally or by hand, creating final artwork with lettering suitable for advertising and editing photographic images to suit the needs of the client.

    Graphic Designer education and training requirements

    There are no defined entry requirements for the role of a Graphic Designer, but a majority of Graphic Designers have earned a degree in graphic design, fine art, illustration or product design. Educational requirements for a Graphic Designer include a bachelor’s degree or completion of an equivalent apprenticeship. Training for a Graphic Designer includes familiarity with a variety of photo editing and illustration software products, ability to write in HTML and CSS for web pages and the ability to do work by hand when necessary.

    Graphic Designer salary expectations

    According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a Graphic Designer is £25,359. Starting salary for this role may be dependent on experience, location and company.

    Job description samples for similar positions

    Other job description samples are available if this job description is not quite what you’re seeking.

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    Graphic Designer job description FAQs

    What is a Creative Designer job description?

    A Creative Designer, or Graphic Designer, job description is an advertisement placed by an organisation that’s seeking to hire a qualified Graphic Designer for an open position. The function of the job description is to target the desired type of candidate to fulfil the role. The description may include information such as educational requirements, years of experience preferred, types of software proficiencies and request a portfolio for viewing.

    What skills do you need to be a Graphic Designer?

    The skills needed to be a Graphic Designer include the ability to think in abstract imagery to create artwork, use critical thinking skills to delineate imagery into a rough draft and use manual and digital tools to refine the imagery into a finished product. A Graphic Designer also has to be proficient in time management, be able to communicate ideas and concepts clearly and be able to accept input or criticism from clients.

    What do you do as a Graphic Designer?

    A Graphic Designer draws upon their training, skills and talent to create artwork for the advertising and marketing industry. A designer may create a new logo for a company or create a novel packaging idea for a new product. 

    Job Description Examples

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