Senior Visual Communication Designer

IDEO; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee benefits

Work-life balance

Autonomy in design process

Job summary

IDEO is seeking a Visual Communication Designer in Chicago who excels in crafting compelling visual narratives. This role demands collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to translate research into high-quality design experiences across various mediums. Ideal candidates will possess a strong graphic design foundation, a robust portfolio demonstrating visual storytelling, and proficiency in tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma. This full-time position offers a salary range of $80,000–$100,000, along with comprehensive benefits.

Qualifications

• Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated design craft and visual storytelling.
• Experience in interactive/graphic design across various applications.
• Familiarity with prototyping platforms and motion tools.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate to create visual narratives from research and strategy.
• Design experiences across digital and physical touchpoints.
• Produce high-quality deliverables that communicate strategic intent.

Skills

Graphic design

Visual storytelling

Collaboration

Brand identity

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

Motion design

Education

Relevant experience in design

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Figma

After Effects

Job description

In a Nutshell

Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to bring ideas, research, strategy, and stories to life through strong craft execution.

The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in graphic design and experience applying practical and conceptual design principles across brand expression, interaction and digital product experiences, motion, and storytelling. We’re looking for designers who bring a distinct visual voice, curiosity, and a commitment to craft excellence.

In this role, you will…

Once Here You Will

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate research and strategy into compelling visual narratives.
• Contribute to the development and expression of brand identities across mediums.
• Create looks-like/works-like prototypes at varying levels of fidelity to explore and communicate design directions.
• Design thoughtful experiences across digital, physical, and hybrid touchpoints with the end user in mind.
• Produce high‑quality visual deliverables that communicate user stories and strategic intent across a variety of industries (health, financial services, consumer products, etc.).
• Advocate for exceptional visual craft through making, iteration, and collaboration.

Some Previous Projects To Check Out

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology Brand
• Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
• The Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California Berkeley
• Cities United Rebrand

Design Craft

• Relevant experience and/or educational background required in interactive/graphic design across a variety of applications and media.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated design craft, typography, layout, and visual storytelling.
• Extensive experience with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma.
• Familiarity with motion and interaction tools (After Effects, prototyping platforms, etc.).
• Comfort collaborating in client‑facing presentation environments such as Google Slides and FigJam/Figma Slides.
• Curiosity and openness to experimenting with emerging mediums including 3D, motion, and AI-assisted design.

Diverse Experience

• Experience establishing and expressing brand identity, from understanding strategy through creative interpretation and execution, including visual identities, brand systems, and guidelines for implementation.
• Experience in concept ideation, design research, and prototyping, with a curiosity for learning and experimenting across visual, digital, and experiential mediums.
• Ability to work across a wide range of design challenges, recognizing patterns, and translating insights into thoughtful visual solutions.
• Comfort moving between exploratory and polished work, helping teams bring ideas to life through strong craft and storytelling.

Key Mindsets

• Collaborative and adaptable: able to navigate team dynamics, timelines, and client contexts while delivering exceptional design.
• 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.

What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work‑life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.

Payscale & Benefits

The salary range for this role is $80,000–$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full‑time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.