Graphic Designer

Center for a New American Security

13d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Center for a New American Security (CNAS) is seeking a Graphic Designer to collaborate with their creative director, editors, and researchers. This role involves producing a wide range of visual materials, including branded campaigns, infographics, custom illustrations, maps, charts, editorial design and layout, motion graphics, video, and web content. The position is ideal for a creative individual who thrives on variety, capable of conceptualizing novel cover art, sketching storyboards for explainer videos, developing branding for campaigns, and also handling detailed layout work for reports, creating presentation decks, and selecting branded gifts. CNAS's entrepreneurial research environment encourages pushing boundaries with visual solutions.

Requirements

BA/BS in graphic design or equivalent experience.
Portfolio demonstrating relevant work across print and digital products.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud, with an emphasis on InDesign, for creating text-rich layouts.
Strong attention to detail in typesetting and formatting.
Experience creating data visualizations that translate complex topics into clear, compelling visuals.
Understanding of digital design spaces and ability to produce graphics for social media, email, event platforms, websites, podcasts, and videos.
Experience building new brands and maintaining/evolving existing ones.
Strong organizational skills, ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and files, and consistently meet deadlines.
Ability to take projects from brief to final delivery with sound design judgment and minimal oversight.
Experience working directly with clients or stakeholders: gathering requirements, pitching concepts, and articulating design rationale.
Collaborative and flexible work style, integrating feedback from designers and non-designers.
Proactive creative instincts while remaining receptive to direction.
Ability to communicate design principles to non-designers and equip colleagues with templates in tools like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Canva, and data visualization software.
Legal right to work in the United States.
Based in Washington, D.C. metro area (DC, MD, VA) or willing to relocate.

Nice To Haves

5+ years of design experience, or 3+ years in an agency or multi-designer studio environment.
Interest in government, U.S. national security, foreign policy, or international relations.

Responsibilities

Designing CNAS reports, including formatting text, placing assets, creating custom interior graphics and cover art, and preparing files for print and web.
Designing assets for report promotion.
Creating infographics such as maps, charts, and data visualizations.
Developing branding and illustrations for new projects or special events.
Assisting teams with graphics development for presentations and events using tools like PowerPoint.
Developing art and storyboards for motion designers to create explainer videos.
Assisting the creative director in improving design team capabilities and processes.