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Senior Visual Communication Designer

Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA

Senior Visual Communication Designer

In a nutshell:

Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to bring ideas, research, strategy, and stories to life through strong craft execution.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in graphic design and experience applying practical and conceptual design principles across brand expression, interaction and digital product experiences, motion, and storytelling. We’re looking for designers who bring a distinct visual voice, curiosity, and a commitment to craft excellence.

In this role, you will… 

In this role, you’ll work you'll work on a single multidisciplinary team that focuses on Entertainment and Technology and tackle all aspects of the design process from user research to physical prototyping and communicating the overall project story to the client team.You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that span data, experience, interaction, digital product, and service design. Your contributions may take on a variety of forms including brand expression, storytelling, information, motion, packaging, interface, wayfinding, and environmental design. You will work closely on strategic communications helping transform complex data, systems, and ideas into visuals and narratives that are intuitive, engaging, and actionable. 

Relevant experiences/skills:

  • 3+ years of experience in communications design, graphic design, or a closely related discipline, gained in a studio, agency, or in-house environment
  • A strong foundation in visual design craft, including typography, layout, composition, color, and systems thinking
  • Experience designing across multiple mediums, such as brand and brand expression, information design, digital and interactive experiences, motion, and presentation design
  • Demonstrated ability to translate complex ideas, data, and strategies into clear, compelling visual narratives
  • Comfort working from early concepting and synthesis through execution, refinement, and delivery
  • Experience collaborating closely with multidisciplinary teams
  • Confidence in explaining design decisions, and using storytelling to align teams and move projects forward
  • High level of self-direction, organization, and accountability

Once here you will:

  • Partner closely with a single, long-term Entertainment and Technology client, contributing to the ongoing evolution of their brand, platforms, and experiences over time
  • Set the visual design direction of projects through exploration, strategy, graphic design, and storytelling
  • Design environments, experiences, websites, apps, and combined digital and physical experiences with the end user in mind
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary designers with backgrounds such as industrial design, interaction design, business design, and mechanical engineering to solve problems
  • Work through all phases of a project, from translating verbal ideas into rough visual concepts to creating production-ready artwork, to create looks like/works like prototypes of different levels of fidelity to help teams determine design direction
  • Create compelling visual narratives that communicate user stories and our strategic solutions
  • Be an advocate for exceptional visual design elevating craft, clarity, and coherence while working within complex systems, constraints, and timelines

Some previous projects to check out: 

Key mindsets:

  • Collaborative and adaptable: able to navigate team dynamics, timelines, and client contexts while delivering exceptional design
  • Growth oriented and resilient: open to feedback, eager to iterate, and comfortable learning through experimentation and critique
  • Curious and proactive: able to generate ideas, take initiative, and contribute wherever needed, from early exploration to final delivery

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career. 

In this role, you’ll have the opportunity to work deeply with a single Entertainment and Technology client over time. Rather than moving quickly between projects, you’ll build sustained context, developing a nuanced understanding of the client’s strategy, systems, audiences, and organizational dynamics. This depth will enable you to contribute not just to design outcomes, but to strategic thinking, long-term vision, and the evolution of ideas as they move from concept to reality.

 

Payscale & Benefits

IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.

The salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full-time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.

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