Senior Designer - Designer-Visual Design

Blue Pearl PTY; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 800,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design firm in Johannesburg is seeking a Senior Designer to join their team. The ideal candidate will have over 5 years of design experience and a strong portfolio showcasing their skills in visual communication. As a member of a collaborative team, you will work on delivering creative solutions for clients while utilizing AI tools within Adobe and other applications. This role offers significant growth opportunities and the chance to engage with senior stakeholders across various projects.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of relevant professional design experience, preferably in agency/consultancy.
• Strong portfolio showing excellence in design and visual communication.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% across the MEA region.

Responsibilities

• Synthesize complex information into engaging presentations and assets.
• Engage with senior executives to recommend visual strategies.
• Manage project work both independently and collaboratively.

Skills

Outstanding written and verbal communication skills

Fluency in Adobe Creative Suite

Strong collaboration and presentation skills

Organisational skills and attention to detail

Ability to manage ambiguity under tight deadlines

Leadership capabilities

Education

Degree in Graphic Design or related discipline

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft PowerPoint

Keynote

After Effects

Job description

Senior Designer - Designer-Visual Design

Johannesburg, South Africa | Posted on 02/27/2026

As Design Strategists, you will be core members of our close-knit, multi-disciplinary creative team, working to conceive, prototype, and deliver 360-degree campaign solutions for our clients’ most complex challenges.

Our designers are expected to think big, challenge convention, and help shape how IBM’s solutions are brought to life visually and experientially.

If you are passionate about being part of a high-performing, like-minded creative community—locally and globally—with strong opportunities for mentorship and career growth, this role will give you exposure to some of IBM’s most strategic pursuits.

Work You’ll Deliver

As members of the Strategic Sales team, Senior Design Strategists synthesize complex and varied information from numerous inputs into cohesive, compelling stories delivered through presentations, posters, videos, websites, and other digital and physical assets for large strategic sales opportunities.

Candidates must be comfortable engaging with senior executives, quickly grasping complex technical and commercial constructs, and recommending visual strategies that translate client solutions into engaging narratives.

The team, much like an external design agency, often works to tight, client-driven timelines. The ability to think creatively, prioritise effectively, and remain calm under pressure is essential.

We are championing AI across everything we do and are looking for designers who are confident using AI-enabled features within Adobe and other creative tools to enhance speed, quality, and creativity under demanding deadlines.

Project work will include both independent and highly collaborative efforts within an organisation that values quality, effective communication, creative problem-solving, and professional growth.

What We’re Looking For

• Strong self-confidence with outstanding written and verbal communication skills
• AI champion: a designer who actively uses AI to accelerate and enhance creative outputs
• Fluency across design and prototyping tools, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, After Effects, XD), Microsoft PowerPoint, and Keynote
• Natural ability to re-imagine complex information structures in ways that add tangible value to client
• Strong collaboration, communication, and presentation skills
• Ability to manage ambiguity and work professionally and calmly under pressure against tight client deadlines
• Proven experience collaborating with global teams and senior stakeholders across multiple time zones
• Exceptional organisational skills with strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proactive and constructive approach to design critique and feedback from both creative and non-creative stakeholders
• Demonstrated leadership capability, including providing guidance and feedback to more junior designers

Preferred Technical and Professional Experience

• Working knowledge of motion design, video, and web
• Plus: After Effects animation and videography experience
• Plus: Exposure to front-end web technologies (HTML5, CSS, cloud hosting and development)

Requirements

Required Qualifications and Expectations

• 5+ years of relevant professional design experience, preferably within an agency or consultancy
• Strong portfolio demonstrating excellence in composition, typography, colour, and visual communication
• Willingness to travel up to 50% across the MEA region
• Degree in Graphic Design or a related design discipline
• Foundational field of study in Graphic / Visual Design, Multimedia Design, Digital Design, or related