Graphic Designer (Senior Graphic Designer) - Creative & Digital Services, VC Student Affairs

University of Illinois Chicago; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Illinois Chicago is seeking a Senior Graphic Designer in Creative & Digital Services to support long-form and multi-page publications. The role emphasizes brand-aligned visual solutions, production-ready files, and coordination with clients and production teams.

The Senior Designer will manage complex projects across print, digital, and environmental media, maintaining editorial hierarchy and accessibility standards while mentoring junior staff in a collaborative, hybrid

Qualifications

• Equivalent to 36 months of graphic design education or experience.
• 24 months of graphic design experience.
• Master's degree in visual design is acceptable.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with clients and CDS staff to define goals, audiences, deliverables, schedules, and budgets.
• Develop complex visual concepts for print, digital, web, presentation, display, environmental, multimedia needs.
• Design multi-page publications with strong editorial hierarchy, typography, grids, pagination, and image integration.
• Resolve production problems and coordinate with external production when needed.
• Prepare mockups, proofs, and presentation materials to communicate design concepts.
• Apply university brand standards and accessibility across deliverables.

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Graphic/Visual Arts or related field

Job description

Graphic Designer (Senior Graphic Designer) - Creative & Digital Services, VC Student Affairs

Hiring Department

Creative & Digital Services

Location

Chicago, IL USA

Requisition ID

1042563

FTE

1

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30AM - 5:00PM

Shift

Days

# of Positions

1

Workplace Type

Hybrid

Posting Close Date

9/18/2026

Salary Range (commensurate with experience):

$29.35 - $33.33 / Hourly Wage

About the University of Illinois Chicago

UIC is among the nation's preeminent urban public research universities, a Carnegie RU/VH research institution, and the largest university in Chicago. UIC serves over 34,000 students, comprising one of the most diverse student bodies in the nation and is designated as a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPSI) and a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). Through its 16 colleges, UIC produces nationally and internationally recognized multidisciplinary academic programs in concert with civic, corporate and community partners worldwide, including a full complement of health sciences colleges. By emphasizing cutting-edge and transformational research along with a commitment to the success of all students, UIC embodies the dynamic, vibrant and engaged urban university. Recent "Best Colleges" rankings published by U.S. News & World Report, found UIC climbed up in its rankings among top public schools in the nation and among all national universities. UIC has nearly 260,000 alumni, and is one of the largest employers in the city of Chicago.

Benefits

This position is intended to be eligible for benefits. This includes Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, a Retirement Plan, Paid time Off, and Tuition waivers for employees and dependents.

Position Overview

The position performs highly complex graphic design work across print, publication, digital, web, presentation, environmental, and multimedia applications, with particular emphasis on long-form and multi-page publication design. The Senior Graphic Designer works directly with clients and Creative & Digital Services staff to translate complex communication needs into effective, brand-aligned visual solutions; resolves technical and production challenges; prepares concepts and production-ready files; and coordinates specifications, cost/time estimates, and production requirements for in-house and approved external production. The position is expected to exercise advanced design judgment, manage multiple assignments and deadlines, and provide design guidance or technical support to less-experienced staff as assigned.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Work closely with clients and CDS colleagues to clarify project goals, audiences, deliverables, schedules, budgets, and design requirements, including complex projects with multiple media applications.
• Develop and refine highly complex visual concepts, layouts, and design solutions for print, publications, digital, web, presentation, display, environmental, multimedia, and other communication needs.
• Design and produce multi-page and long-form publications such as annual reports, viewbooks, catalogs, guides, booklets, programs, magazines, and similar materials, applying strong editorial hierarchy, typography, grid systems, pagination, image integration, and visual consistency.
• Resolve or advise on complex design, technical, and production problems, including projects that span multiple media or require advanced production knowledge.
• Select and apply typography, imagery, illustration, photography, layout, and other visual elements to create clear, cohesive, and effective communications.
• Prepare mockups, proofs, and presentation materials to communicate design concepts, support client review, and coordinate production.
• Create and prepare high-quality electronic artwork and production-ready files for in-house print, digital delivery, display, multimedia, and approved external production.
• Develop technical specifications and provide cost/time estimates and procedural information for projects requiring outside services, materials, or specialized production.
• Coordinate with customer service, print production, photographers, videographers, web staff, vendors, and other partners to confirm production methods, requirements, schedules, and quality standards.
• Help resolve production or technical issues with outside vendors when advanced design or production expertise is required.
• Create web graphics, presentation materials, and other digital assets and perform image editing, manipulation, and optimization using current professional design tools.
• Apply university and departmental brand standards and established production practices while maintaining accuracy, visual quality, accessibility considerations, and consistency across deliverables.
• Maintain organized project files and accurately record labor, materials, project status, and other required information in departmental business and project-management systems.
• Manage multiple projects and deadlines, communicate status or production concerns promptly, and collaborate with team members to resolve design or production issues.
• Provide design advice, technical guidance, and informal mentoring to student employees, junior designers, or other less-experienced staff as assigned; may assist supervisors with workload coordination, interviews, or performance feedback when appropriate.
• Advise supervisors regarding design software, equipment, technology, and production needs based on project requirements and evolving industry practices.
• Maintain current knowledge of graphic design, publication and editorial design, print production, digital media, accessibility, multimedia, and evolving creative technologies and practices.
• Perform other related duties and participate in special projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications Required

1. Any one or any combination that equals thirty-six (36) months from the categories below:

A. credit for progressively more advanced college or art-school course work that would lead to a major in graphic/visual arts communication and/or design

• 60 semester hours equals 12 months
• 90 semester hours equals 24 months
• 120 semester hours or a Bachelor's Degree equals 36 months

B. work experience and/or on-the-job training that provided knowledge of progressively more advanced, generally accepted principles, theories, practices, and methods used in graphic designs and their applications to visual communications problems that are/is comparable to the training provided in the programs such as graphic/visual arts communication and/or design

2. Twenty-Four (24) months of graphic design experience comparable to that performed at the Graphic Designer Associate level of this series

A Master's degree in visual design, with emphasis in visual arts communication or a closely related field, meets the requirements of this Minimum Acceptable Qualification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a higher education, agency, in-house creative, print production, or similarly collaborative service environment.
• Strong preference for demonstrated publication and editorial design experience, particularly long-form and multi-page materials such as annual reports, viewbooks, catalogs, guides, booklets, programs, magazines, or similar publications.
• Portfolio demonstrating advanced typography, editorial hierarchy, grid systems, pagination, image integration, and visual consistency across complex publications.
• Knowledge of university or institutional brand standards and experience applying brand systems across multiple media.
• Experience designing for both print and digital environments, including web graphics, presentations, large-format or environmental applications, and multimedia projects.
• Familiarity with accessible design practices and preparing digital materials for diverse audiences.
• Experience coordinating projects that move between design, print production, photography, video, web, vendors, or other creative service areas.
• Experience providing design guidance, technical assistance, or informal mentoring to junior designers, students, or other creative staff.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates.

Accommodations Available

The university provides accommodations to applicants and employees. Request an Accommodation

AI Usage Disclosure

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools may be used in some portions of the candidate review process for this position, however, all employment decisions will be made by a person.