Associate Designer

Job Summary:

National Geographic Media is the publisher behind National Geographic's signature content, breathtaking photography, iconic magazine, and unsurpassed social media presence. This division is responsible for engaging Nat Geo’s audience with unparalleled storytelling and pulling them into a recurring revenue relationship with the brand. The Nat Geo Media team covers everything on the consumer journey, from creating and publishing print, digital, social, video, and audio content to generating awareness through social and newsletters, acquisition, and retention marketing; managing print operations and international licensing; and developing the brand’s digital and social platforms. Nat Geo Media aims to become the largest publisher for everyone passionate about exploring the world and learning how to care for it.

Situated within NG Media’s Editorial team, the Creative department is the center of excellence for all things visual, from the ways we use elements like graphics and maps to tell our stories in both print and digital experiences to conceptualizing and building interactive ways for users to engage with our content. The team establishes and implements the brand’s visual identity across all touchpoints and ensures that excellence and innovation are at the heart of how we execute our work.

At National Geographic, we are looking for a detailed Assistant Designer to join our team. The Assistant Designer is comfortable working across digital platforms in addition to our multiple print products. They possess high quality design skills and can closely collaborate with members of graphics, cartography, interactive, photography and other special publications departments to plan, shape, design and produce our highest quality products. The Assistant Designer is responsible for creating imaginative solutions, with a keen eye for design and typography – especially when creating bespoke issues, layouts, and digital storytelling.

The ideal candidate will have a strong design sensibility and some experience with editorial content. We will consider candidates who have a strong leaning either to design or user experience, but editorial judgment skills are a must.

We are looking for a self-starting design peer with self-management skills, who is an enthusiastic collaborator, readily willing to take on tasks outside of the wide range of responsibilities for the betterment of the company and the team. 

Responsibilities:

• Conceptualize, plan, shape, design, and produce layouts for NGM, Bookazines and special issues, NG Kids and Little Kids, along with Interactive Storytelling.
• Commission and art direct illustrators and collaborate closely with the editorial and photography departments, along with the rest of the Creative Team.
• Work with the production department to color proof, responsible for Production and Preflight for release of multiple print products
• Continuously communicate effectively with managers, peers, and all other project stakeholders, ensuring high quality work and best practices.
• Collaborate with design managers to maintain production schedule
   

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 2 years of experience in hands-on design or user experience role(s)
• OR Minimum of 2 years of experience using design to develop engaging content-based experiences across print and digital media for consumer audiences
• Fluency with Adobe Creative Cloud.
• Comfortable with digital storytelling and UX design.
• Keen eye for typography and story packaging.
• Strategic thinker with a solutions-based mindset and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communicator with strong collaboration skills.
• Positive attitude with an eagerness to be involved with many different projects, and excited to push them to the next level.
• Driven self-starter with ability to handle and prioritize simultaneous projects and meet deadlines
• Self-motivated and resourceful, with the ability to work with minimal supervision and exercise independent judgment
• Portfolio demonstrating application of your ideas and work 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Publishing or editorial design
• Digital / UX experience
• Experience using Figma

Required Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree (preferably in Design) or equivalent experience

***Please note, this team is in office 4x/week (Monday – Thursday, working from home on Friday) from our Washington, DC office.  This role is not open to any other location.