Art Director, University Communications

University of Virginia

7d•$70,000 - $82,000•Hybrid

About The Position

University Communications seeks an art director to help support the office’s core mission: Through effective and engaging communications and marketing, we promote and strengthen the University’s brand, showcase UVA as a model of excellence in higher education, and elevate the University’s reputation. Reporting to the associate creative director, the art director will provide design services in support of broad University priorities. They will translate strategy into clear, effective, and on-brand design approaches in digital and print mediums. Core responsibilities will include: Applying design as a tool to support strategic goals. Working as a member of the University Communications Creative Team and broader University design community to ensure that all design content is excellent and elevates the University of Virginia brand. Creating design content for marketing, digital, news, and licensing projects and campaigns across a range of platforms, including artwork needed for daily news and social media production and design work to support new or redesigned websites. Collaborating with other Creative Team professionals including photographers and video producers to provide art direction and assist in the creation of projects, campaigns, and initiatives. Utilizing design techniques, tools and principles, and advanced layout and typography to articulate the University's brand in fresh, effective, and accessible ways. Employing the University's graphic standards, techniques, methods, and style guides and developing standards for the institution, where relevant. Producing design enhancements that bring content to life in digital and traditional spaces. Working productively as part of a talented, creative and high-performing office team that includes other designers, marketing and licensing professionals, video producers, photographers, web developers, digital content specialists, writers, editors, and media engagement professionals. Participating in creative briefings, project meetings, design review, and team meetings. Working with the associate creative director to ideate and develop concepts, ensure production tracking of day-to-day work, and estimate timelines for delivery of creative work. Coordinating and collaborating with internal teams and external partners to ensure that their project needs are met. Presenting design concepts to cross-departmental team members and leadership and clearly explaining rationales for designs. The successful candidate will be conversant with current design and digital trends with experience executing advertising and marketing concepts across a wide variety of print and digital platforms. They will have demonstrated understanding of page layout, typography, color theory, and application of assets such as photography, illustration, and other digital graphics. They will also have experience in the creation of marketing materials that are in keeping with an established brand identity, in articulating creative strategies, and in maintaining high visual standards.

Requirements

Conversant with current design and digital trends with experience executing advertising and marketing concepts across a wide variety of print and digital platforms.
Collaborative, deadline-driven, eager to learn and take creative direction, and able to manage several projects at once in a competent manner.
A highly creative, conceptual thinker with advanced knowledge of design techniques, tools and principles.
Competence in graphic design and photo editing software, including Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and Figma, and Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
Demonstrated understanding of page layout, typography, color theory and choice/application of assets such as photography, illustration, and other digital graphics.
Familiarity with the creative process, including the development and ownership of a project from concept through final production and demonstrated knowledge of pre-press and printing processes/procedures.
Art director candidates must have a bachelor’s degree with five or more years of relevant professional experience in graphic and conceptual design for print, digital, and mobile.
Experience in the creation of digital and print marketing materials that: are in keeping with an established brand identity; articulate creative strategies; and maintain high visual standards.

Nice To Haves

Multimedia capabilities such as experience designing within a content management system (e.g., Drupal), and responsive web and mobile platforms.
Experience in simple animation using Adobe After Effects.
User experience/interface design.
Editorial design.
Experience with brand development, strongly branded organizations and/or higher education.
Experience with digital accessibility requirements.

Responsibilities

Applying design as a tool to support strategic goals.
Working as a member of the University Communications Creative Team and broader University design community to ensure that all design content is excellent and elevates the University of Virginia brand.
Creating design content for marketing, digital, news, and licensing projects and campaigns across a range of platforms, including artwork needed for daily news and social media production and design work to support new or redesigned websites.
Collaborating with other Creative Team professionals including photographers and video producers to provide art direction and assist in the creation of projects, campaigns, and initiatives.
Utilizing design techniques, tools and principles, and advanced layout and typography to articulate the University's brand in fresh, effective, and accessible ways.
Employing the University's graphic standards, techniques, methods, and style guides and developing standards for the institution, where relevant.
Producing design enhancements that bring content to life in digital and traditional spaces.
Working productively as part of a talented, creative and high-performing office team that includes other designers, marketing and licensing professionals, video producers, photographers, web developers, digital content specialists, writers, editors, and media engagement professionals.
Participating in creative briefings, project meetings, design review, and team meetings.
Working with the associate creative director to ideate and develop concepts, ensure production tracking of day-to-day work, and estimate timelines for delivery of creative work.
Coordinating and collaborating with internal teams and external partners to ensure that their project needs are met.
Presenting design concepts to cross-departmental team members and leadership and clearly explaining rationales for designs.