Experiential Graphic Designer

Populous•Kansas City, KS

23h•Hybrid

About The Position

Experiential Graphic Designer Location: Kansas City Who We Are: We design places where people love to be together. Populous is a global design firm that began with a singular focus: to draw people together around the things they love, through experiences that capture all the senses, amplifying the atmosphere of excitement and pure joy shared in human moments. We’ve designed and delivered some of the world's most memorable civic, sports and entertainment buildings, from iconic stadia to ground-breaking live music venues. Populous is where architects and designers of all kinds create moments bigger than ourselves. We offer the best of both worlds: the resources and impact of the design giants and the tightly knit atmosphere and growth opportunities of smaller firms. What We Offer: Professional & Personal Development Programs + Summer Hours + Hybrid Schedule + On-Site Gym (Dallas/KC) + Paid Architect Licensure & Certifications Exams + Wedding Pay + Charitable Match Program + Market Leading Wellness Health and Welfare Benefits. Who We Are Looking For: We are seeking a highly skilled Experiential Graphic Designer with advanced conceptual thinking, spatial storytelling ability, and expertise in translating brand strategy into built environments. You operate independently across design phases, contributing creative direction and experiential brand expression for complex projects across a variety of venues and environments. Our preferred candidate has 6-10 years of experience and is comfortable managing substantial components of documentation and deliverables and collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Requirements

Advanced branding, spatial storytelling, and experiential graphic design sensibilities.
Advanced understanding of spatial design, typography, color, and scale in the built environment.
Ability to interpret and coordinate architectural drawings.
Advanced communication skills and ability to present design intent clearly.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat).
Highly organized, adaptable, and proactive problem-solving skills.
Familiar with project management methodologies, able to manage multiple projects simultaneously and stay on schedule.
Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative team.
Demonstrated ability to mentor and support team members.
Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Graphic Design or a related field.
6–10 years of experience in a graphic design or experiential studio environment.
Proven ability to independently manage project components and deliverables.

Nice To Haves

Experience with large scale branded environments or complex environmental graphics.
Proficiency in 3D visualization tools is a plus (SketchUp, Autodesk 3ds Max, Blender, or Rhino).

Responsibilities

Leading major portions of experiential graphic design development.
Creating and refining narrative frameworks, conceptual directions, and spatial brand expressions.
Translating brand strategy into immersive, cohesive experiences within architectural spaces.
Managing detailed construction documentation, specifications, and fabrication-ready design content.
Guiding design quality through ongoing review and coordination with project teams.
Supporting client interactions by presenting design rationale.
Providing structured mentorship to Designer I and Designer II team members.