Graphic Designer

LIVING DESERT DBA THE LIVING DESERT•Palm Desert, CA

About The Position

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens seeks a talented and versatile Graphic Designer to bring our conservation mission and visitor experiences to life through compelling visual design. This role combines creative excellence with brand stewardship, requiring both artistic vision and meticulous attention to detail across print, digital, environmental, and experiential design applications. You'll own The Living Desert's visual identity style guide, ensuring consistent and impactful application of our brand across all touchpoints. This position offers the unique opportunity to design for both mission-driven conservation and attendance-driving communications to attract over 600,000 guests annually. The Graphic Designer is a critical member of the Creative Services team within the Marketing Department, responsible for creating designs for a diverse range of projects including advertising campaigns, exhibit signage, member publications, direct mail packages, digital content, wayfinding systems, and promotional materials. Reporting to the Creative Services Manager, you will execute compelling visual designs while maintaining brand excellence across all marketing and communications touchpoints. This position requires proficiency across multiple design disciplines - equally comfortable designing large-scale exhibition graphics as crafting email and social media templates, always with an eye toward brand consistency and strategic communication. The ideal candidate is a creative problem-solver with strong design fundamentals, proficiency across advertising, print, digital, and environmental design, and a portfolio demonstrating range, creativity, and polish. You should have a genuine passion for storytelling, communications, and wildlife conservation, with the ability to translate complex conservation science into accessible, inspiring visual communications.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or related field (or equivalent professional experience demonstrating mastery of design principles)
5-7 years of professional graphic design experience with portfolio demonstrating range across print, digital, and environmental design
Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) with strong command of typography, color theory, composition, and visual hierarchy
Digital asset management systems (Air or similar DAM platforms)
Experience with print production workflows, processes and file preparation including understanding of various substrates and large-format printing
Proven ability to design for various media and platforms while maintaining brand consistency
Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality
Excellent time management and organizational skills with ability to prioritize effectively
Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, take direction, receive feedback, and execute accordingly
Strong communication skills and ability to present design concepts clearly
Self-starter who can manage multiple projects and work well under tight deadlines
Desire to work in collaborative, mission-driven environment

Nice To Haves

Experience in nonprofit organizations, cultural institutions, zoos, aquariums, museums, or visitor attractions
Familiarity with AZA-accredited institutions or similar mission-driven organizations
Experience with exhibition design, environmental graphics, or interpretive signage
Motion graphics or video editing skills (After Effects, Premiere Pro)
3D imaging and animation skills
Web design experience and understanding of UX/UI principles
Photography or photo editing skills including DSLR camera operation and Lightroom
Experience designing for accessibility and ADA compliance
Background or coursework in environmental science, biology, or conservation
Bilingual (Spanish/English) a plus

Responsibilities

Design Execution Across All Channels:
Create compelling visual designs for print materials including brochures, flyers, advertisements, posters, direct mail, annual reports, and member publications (particularly FoxPaws magazine)
Design digital assets for social media, email campaigns, website graphics, and digital advertising across multiple platforms
Develop exhibition graphics, interpretive signage, and educational materials that engage and educate visitors
Design wayfinding systems, building identification, campus maps, and animal identification signage
Create promotional materials for events, programs, and annual traditions such as WildLights or traveling exhibits such as Mission: Pollination!
Design donor recognition materials and fundraising collateral
Produce templates and design systems for recurring communications
Brand Stewardship & Visual Identity Management:
Own and maintain The Living Desert's visual identity style guide
Ensure consistent application of logo, color palette, typography, imagery style, and design elements across all organizational communications
Review all design work (internal and external) for brand compliance
Evolve and refine visual brand standards as organizational needs develop
Educate team members and stakeholders on proper brand application
Maintain brand asset libraries and design templates in Air digital asset management system
Print Production Management:
Prepare print-ready files meeting technical specifications for various printing processes
Manage relationships with printing vendors and production partners
Proof printed materials for quality control and ensure color accuracy
Understand various printing processes, substrates, and finishing techniques
Coordinate print timelines and delivery schedules
Optimize designs for cost-effective production
Operate in-house print machinery to finalize production of projects including printers, paper cutters, paper folders, laminator, mounting equipment, etc.
Environmental & Experiential Design:
Design large-scale graphics for exhibits and outdoor environments
Manage updates to wayfinding and directional signage systems that enhance guest experience
Develop interpretive graphics that educate and inspire conservation action
Design animal identification signage in collaboration with Learning & Impact
Collaborate with Operations and Guest Experience teams on environmental graphics
Ensure outdoor signage meets durability and visibility requirements
Oversee/manage vendor installation projects.
Creative Collaboration:
Translate creative briefs into effective visual solutions that meet campaign objectives
Participate in brainstorming sessions and concept development with marketing and creative teams
Present design concepts and explain creative rationale to stakeholders
Incorporate feedback and iterate on designs thoughtfully and professionally
Partner with Creative Services Manager on integrated projects balancing written and visual storytelling
Collaborate with Visual Content Specialist on photo and video integration
Work with Marketing team to understand campaign objectives and target audiences
Coordinate with Project Coordinator on workflow and timelines through Monday.com project management system
Asset Organization & Quality Management:
Maintain organized design files and version control
Archive final designs in digital asset management system with proper tagging for accessibility
Create and maintain design templates for recurring projects
Organize brand assets and ensure accessibility for team members
Document design specifications and production notes
Proofread designs for accuracy (spelling, pricing, dates, contact information, etc.)
Meet deadlines consistently while maintaining design excellence
Manage multiple projects simultaneously with competing priorities
Conservation & Mission Support:
Contribute to desert conservation through reduction of waste, water and energy use in design and production processes
Design materials that inspire guests and team members to take conservation actions
Support the organization's mission of desert conservation through preservation, education, and appreciation