Creative Sr. Designer

ntrs; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 83,000 - 141,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Trust in Chicago is seeking a Senior Designer to join the Creative team, shaping high-impact creative across marketing campaigns, digital assets, brochures, and event materials while aligning with brand standards and business goals.

The role requires strong layout and typography skills, multi-channel design experience, collaboration with marketers and creative leads, and delivering production-ready files on tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design or equivalent.
• 5-7+ years of professional design experience (agency or in-house).
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), Figma, and presentation design tools/libraries.
• Experience with MS Office (Word, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and deliver high-quality work under deadlines.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating cross-channel design across integrated campaigns, digital destinations, and print.

Responsibilities

• Produce high-quality digital and print designs including web assets, display ads, social creative, brochures, flyers, one-pagers, and signage.
• Create materials for marketing campaigns, product launches, and advertising initiatives.
• Support environmental and experiential design needs such as event graphics and large-format layouts.
• Translate briefs and concepts into compelling visual solutions.
• Collaborate with Marketing strategists and creative leads to ensure cohesive storytelling across deliverables.
• Develop visual narratives and presentation materials that elevate storytelling.

Skills

Adobe CC

Figma

Presentation design

Cross-channel design

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Job description

About Northern Trust

As a global leader in innovative wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking services, Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) is proud to guide the world's most successful individuals, families, corporations and institutions.

Since 1889, we have aligned our efforts with our three guiding Principles That Endure: Service, Expertise, and Integrity. Together, they reflect the three cornerstones of business conduct which we strive to instill in our employees, whom we call partners, and to provide to our clients and the communities we serve worldwide.

With more than 135 years of financial experience and over 24,000 partners, we serve the world's most sophisticated clients using leading technology and exceptional service.

We're looking for a Senior Designer to join our Creative team - a versatile creative who brings strong conceptual thinking, refined design craft, and the ability to execute beautifully across a range of mediums. From marketing campaigns to advertising, collateral, experiential design, and digital assets, this role will shape high-impact creative work seen across our business.

About the Role:

The Senior Designer is a core contributor within the Creative organization, responsible for developing visually compelling designs that align with brand standards and support strategic marketing and communication goals. You'll collaborate with marketing strategists and creative leads across the enterprise to produce high-quality creative assets. This role requires deep experience in layout, typography, systems thinking, integrated campaign development, and channel specific applications. You'll work on a broad mix of deliverables - from campaign concepts and digital advertising to digital destinations, brochures, sales collateral, event materials, and environmental/experiential designs. The ideal candidate is a well-rounded designer who's comfortable owning complex assignments, refining creative details, and contributing to the evolution of the brand.

What You'll Do:

Design Across Multiple Mediums

• Produce high-quality digital and print designs including web assets, display ads, social creative, brochures, flyers, one-pagers, and signage.
• Create materials for marketing campaigns, product launches, and advertising initiatives.
• Support environmental and experiential design needs such as event graphics, trade show materials, and large-format layouts.

Bring Concepts & Storytelling to Life

• Translate creative briefs and concept direction into compelling visual solutions.
• Partner with Marketing strategists and creative leads to express ideas clearly and cohesively across deliverables.
• Develop visual narratives, frameworks, and presentation materials that enhance storytelling.

Support Brand Consistency & Quality

• Apply the enterprise visual identity system across all mediums with precision and consistency.
• Contribute ideas to refine and enhance templates, design systems, and best practices.
• Participate in design reviews and incorporate feedback to improve work.

Collaborate Across Creative & Marketing Teams

• Work closely with the Creative Leads, marketing partners, and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Communicate design decisions clearly and present work with rationale.
• Balance multiple assignments, deadlines, and priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Deliver on Craft, Detail & Production

• Prepare final files for print and digital production with accuracy.
• Ensure deliverables meet technical specifications and accessibility standards.
• Collaborate with vendors, print partners or production teams as needed.

Key Mindsets

• Collaborative and adaptable: able to navigate team dynamics, timelines, and client contexts while delivering exceptional design with low ego.
• Story-First Problem Solving: They don't just decorate - they clarify. Your instinct is to always ask: "What's the problem we're solving, and how do we visually communicate it with simplicity and impact?"
• 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. They seek context, ask smart questions, and surface ideas or risks early. They are the kind of designer who takes initiative and pushes the work to be better, not just "done."

What You Bring

• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphic Design, Bachelor of Design or equivalent
• 5-7+ years of professional design experience (agency or in-house)
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, Figma, and presentation design tools and libraries
• Experience in using MS Office (Word, Power Point)
• Ability to work independently, manage complex projects, and deliver high-quality work under deadlines
• Strong portfolio demonstrating crosschannel design work across integrated campaigns, digital destinations, and print

Salary Range:
$83,100 - 141,300 USD
Salary range is a good faith estimate of base