Temporary Brand Designer

NPR's Branding team is responsible for building brands, as well as protecting, evolving, and stewardship of the NPR brand. The team seeks to further the reach and impact of everything NPR puts out into the world - from up-to-the-minute digital and broadcast content to on-demand podcasts, events, videos, and curated app experiences. We are looking for a creative, bold, big-ideas designer to join our fast-paced team of copywriters, designers, strategists, and project managers. This individual will apply creative savvy, top-notch design expertise, and brand-building chops to strengthen NPR's brand and attract new users to its ever-growing portfolio of shows.

This individual will create brands and marketing campaigns that are seen by millions every day. They will center their work on NPR's mission: To inform and engage audiences with our compelling editorial programming and first-rate journalism.

All applicants must submit a portfolio, which will be the primary source of evaluation for this role. Please link to your online portfolio in your application and your resume.

Build Brands

• Conceptualize and create brand systems for new NPR podcasts, programs, products and properties. Elements will include (but are not limited to): Logos, podcast tiles, key art, typography, color palettes, brand patterns, brand guidelines, social media templates, and brand kit packages.
• Reimagine the brands of existing NPR editorial properties (particularly podcasts and editorial initiatives) to resonate with our diverse audiences.
• Create brands that are:




• Compelling, by visually expressing the unique ethos and editorial mission of the podcast, program, or editorial property.
• Distinctive, by exploring the visual styles of competitors, identifying what sets this product/property apart, and expressing that unique value through design.




• Carefully consider the NPR parent brand, collaborating with others to create a brand family/hierarchy that makes inherent sense to users.

Build Campaigns

• Along with the copywriters, conceptualize a unique vision for individual campaigns, creating and bringing together different elements, including original graphics, copy, social media, and other branding materials.
• Help develop the overall campaign approach: its art direction and creative concepts
• Build all campaign assets required for each campaign: digital and social ads, Apple/Spotify art, illustrations, animations, video beginning/end slates, outdoor art, photography, and graphic systems.
• Pay attention to audience research and user testing, adapting to new insights and applying learnings to your work.

Work collaboratively and present your own work

• Actively contribute to team brainstorms, sharing ideas that shape the product beyond visual design (campaign tactics, social extensions, etc.).
• Partner closely with copywriters to imagine brand directions and/or campaign visions.
• Create distinct visual styles based on target audience data, project ambitions, requirements, and limitations - articulated by strategists in creative briefs.
• Prioritize workload and produce top-notch work within tight budgets and deadlines.
• Confidently present ideas, creative concepts, and designs to project stakeholders across NPR and the public radio network.
• Ensure final graphics and layouts are high-quality, align with brand standards, and maintain consistency across brands and campaigns

The above duties and responsibilities are not an exhaustive list of required responsibilities, duties and skills. Other duties may be assigned, and this job description can be modified at any time.

• 5-8 years of experience in graphic design and digital advertising.
• Expertise in branding, typography, key art, and social media design.
• Proven ability to work in a fast-paced, news-driven environment.
• Demonstrated ability to articulate creative vision and remain open to constructive feedback from stakeholders.
• Highly motivated and able to work independently without constant creative direction.
• Expert proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator).

• Experience creating motion graphics and animation is strongly preferred
• Experience working closely with copywriters in a creative-duo capacity
• Working knowledge of Premiere and/or After Effects is a plus

• Bachelor's degree, Design degree, or equivalent in work experience required

• DMU Hybrid Permitted: This is a hybrid permitted role. Some aspects of this role include duties that are better performed at an NPR facility. The employee will be required to be in the office at the Washington, D.C. location at least 10 days a year. The employee must also reside in an NPR-supported location based on the number of on-site days they choose.

• This is a temporary (6-month) full-time position.

Hourly Rate: The U.S. based anticipated hourly rate for this opportunity is $50.63-$52.14 per hour. The range displayed reflects the minimum and maximum hourly rate NPR expects to provide for new hires for the position across all US locations.

NPR Benefits: NPR offers access to comprehensive benefits for employees and dependents. Regular, full-time employees scheduled to work 30 hours or more per week are eligible to enroll in NPR's benefits options. Benefits include access to health and wellness, paid time off, and financial well-being. Plan options include medical, dental, vision, life/ accidental death and dismemberment, long-term disability, short-term disability, and voluntary retirement savings to all eligible NPR employees.

Does this sound like you? If so, we want to hear from you.

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