Graphic Designer

About Motown Museum

In the 1960s, Hitsville U.S.A. was buzzing with activity. These modest buildings on Detroit’s West Grand Boulevard housed dozens of the music industry’s most talented, passionate and successful people. More than half a century later, the walls of Motown Museum continue to hold that entrepreneurial energy for its staff—and you could be part of our team. 

As a museum and cultural institution, we seek to hire talented and skilled individuals interested in careers, internships, and volunteers across a variety of functions—including staff for collections, programming, fund development, guest services, retail, management, and more.

Overview

The Graphic Designer’s core responsibilities are to assist the Creative Team in producing engaging digital and print creative solutions to innovate, evolve, inspire, and maintain brand consistency and marketing strategy. This role supports the development and execution of Museum multi-brand guidelines and its application across key consumer touchpoints to enhance consumer experiences.

To be successful in this position, the Graphic Designer should have exceptional skills in the creation of comprehensive, impactful visual assets across digital, print, exhibition, product, and packaging platforms. In addition, this individual is responsible for developing various marketing and design projects, simultaneously, from conception to completion, while collaborating closely and effectively with cross-functional department teams and vendors.

Essential Functions

• Lead multiple projects, with the direction and supervision of the Creative Director and Museum departments’ network.
• Produce high-end design assets for various platforms, including print, digital and interactive media.
• Develop strategic brand graphics for Museum annual programs and special events.
• Collaborate well with the Creative Director, brand consultants, copywriters, printers, and other team members for art direction and technical design implementation, to produce engaging, on-brand campaigns for print and digital assets.
• Execute informative and compelling layout presentations for print, various media, and exhibit installation production that inspire and touch audiences.
• Work jointly with agency partners and contractors to prepare technical packs for product production, prioritizing tasks, and adhering to project budgets.
• Ideate and execute new creative ways to visually communicate products, Museum features, and program developments to consumers while maintaining brand identity.
• Ensure all visual design adheres to existing brand guidelines to maintain standards and brand consistency.
• Provide design support to various teams cross-functional departments and executives.
• Assist in maintaining a curated archive of annual design collaterals, film, and photography.
• Maintain current training needs and new technologies, including in-house printers and software.
• Continually expand knowledge of innovations in graphic design and print industry resources and educate findings to creative team members.
• Translate proposed multi-sourced research into conceptual storyboards and design plans.
  
  

Competencies

• Advanced skills and ability to work efficiently, and accurately within all required aspects of the Adobe Creative Suite: (Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, and After Effects)
• Experienced in typography, color theory, and layout design to develop captivating, creative visuals.
• Strong presentation skills with the ability to interpret creative briefs and present brand messaging clearly and concisely.
• Experience with motion graphics is recommended.
• Illustration Capabilities: print charts, graphs, illustrations, and other, original artwork.
• Knowledge of Museum brands and market trends.
• Excellent teamwork skills/willingness to work collaboratively.
• Ability to effectively listen to and understand information and ideas through written and verbal communication.
• Views innovation, communication, history, and art as important components of the design process.
• A meticulous eye for both brand consistency and accuracy and can identify niches in creative opportunities to look for new ways to implement design messaging.
• Proficient with Mac computers and applications.
• Outstanding organizational skills with the ability to prioritize workloads, meet deadlines/goals, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, ability to develop strong relationships, and work effectively in a team environment.
  
  

Work Environment

This position operates in an office setting and a public environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, cameras, phones, printers/photocopiers, scanners, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

Physical Demands/Strength

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to listen, talk, and create. This position is frequently required to sit. This position requires the individual to walk, climb, reach, bend, lift, and use repetitive motions and eye/hand/foot coordination. The position requires a high workload with moderate physical effort. Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

Environmental Conditions

Moderate conditions.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This position requires occasional weekends and evenings.

Salaried

Travel

This position may have some travel.

Education/Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or equivalent working experience.
• 5 years of professional experience as a graphic designer, with a proven track record in leading design projects.
  
  

AAP/EEO

Motown Museum is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.