A graphic designer is an artist who creates imagery and visual text. They might either be freelancing or under contract with a company. They design creative content for a company’s print ads, websites and other digital marketing material, videos and campaigns. Some responsibilities that a graphic designer needs to undertake are testing graphics across various types of media, creating images and layouts (either by hand or with a design software), and conceptualizing visuals based on a company’s requirements.

If you are looking for a graphic designer for your company, this graphic designer job description template lists out a brief, duties and responsibilities for the role and can be customized to fit your company’s specific needs. Once completed, you can post and let prospective talents find a job.

Job Brief

We are seeking a graphic designer to create engaging, compelling and on-brand graphics for a range of media. You will be handling the visual aspect of our company, and the content that you create might potentially be the first impression that a customer has of our company. We are seeking an experienced graphic designer who can ensure that our branding is consistent across all of our media channels.

What Will Your Role Entail?

As a graphic designer, you are the one who will be crafting the visual aspects of our company’s collateral. This will include books, websites, product packaging, magazines, exhibitions and more. You will handle the entire process, from defining requirements, conceptualizing and visualizing, to creating graphics which can include logos, illustrations, photos and layouts. 

As your work needs to be immediately compelling and appropriately capture our company’s values, visions and goals, you will need to have both a strong creative flair as well as the ability to translate our concepts into designs. If you have exceptional communication skills, are detail-oriented, and can work both independently and as part of a team, we would love to meet you. 

As a graphic designer, your impetus should be to inspire and attract the appropriate target audience for our company. You are a professional that relies on your innate sense of creativity and data-driven methodologies to solve our business problems. Your skill in creating visual assets for our company will help communicate our ideas, as well as inspire and delight others. The content that you create will often be the first impression that consumers will have of our company. 

Roles and Responsibilities

As a graphic designer, you will need to undertake the following responsibilities on a regular basis:

  • Closely study design briefs and assess any requirements
  • Take the initiative to schedule projects 
  • Define any budget constraints that will go into the design process
  • Prepare rough drafts and present your ideas to the team
  • Develop the necessary logos, illustrations, or other designs either by hand or with a digital software
  • Exhibit a keen awareness of our company’s branding through the use of appropriate layouts and colors for each graphic
  • Work with the creative director, copywriters and other members of our marketing team to produce a final design
  • Test graphics across various media
  • Amend any design elements if necessary
  • Ensure that the final graphics are both visually compelling and fit the company’s image

Requirements and Skills

As a graphic designer, it is recommended that you possess the following requirements and skills

  • A track record of graphic design experience
  • A strong portfolio of your illustrations or other relevant graphics
  • Testimonials or references from previous clients or postings
  • Familiarity with design software and technologies such as Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver and InDesign
  • A well-developed eye for aesthetics
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to work both independently as a team
  • Ability to work methodically
  • Impeccable communication skills
  • Time-management skills and ability to meet deadlines
  • While not strictly necessary, a degree in the Fine Arts, Design or a related field is a plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly do graphic designers do?

Graphic designers translate ideas and concepts into engaging, compelling and informative visuals. When working for clients, the visuals that they create should effectively communicate the company’s brand identity and the client’s specific messaging, while remaining aesthetically appealing to consumers.

What are the responsibilities and duties of a graphic designer?

Graphic designers develop various types of content across a variety of media. This media can be either digital or physical, and some examples include website design, brochures, advertisements, or magazines. Graphic designers utilize several tools – once again, both by hand and digital – depending on the project’s medium and final goals. 

What are the qualities of a good graphic designer?

A good graphic designer should have a keen eye for aesthetics, a creative flair, and the communication skills necessary to translate their client’s ideas into a message that is accessible to consumers. They possess an eye for color and design and can create compelling content that resonates with their target audience. They should also be adept with various forms of marketing collateral, both print and online, so that they can create designs that work effectively for their specific platforms. For instance, a design that works well online might not necessarily translate well in print. A good graphic designer is adept at recognizing these nuances and adapting their work to suit their final medium. 

What elements should a graphic designer be well-versed in?

A graphic designer should be confident in working with various design elements such as typography, colors, images, shapes and more to successfully convey a client’s ideas to an audience.

Who does a graphic designer work with?

A graphic designer typically works closely with a team of marketing experts and other designers to complete a project. The design team often includes a senior designer who supervises a project and directs the individual members of a team in their respective roles. Other roles that a graphic designer typically interacts with could include the social media manager or digital marketing team. You might also be collaborating with writers, programmers and business analysts to help create cohesive, successful campaigns, websites or products.