Principal Designer

Dotdash Meredith•New York, NY

2d•$130,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

People Inc. is seeking a Principal Designer to lead some of the company’s most varied, visible, and important design work. The role works directly with the Chief Communications Officer and Chief Design Officer on work representing People Inc., including events, brand identity, websites, investor materials, and workplace spaces. Because many projects have no precedent or defined brief, the designer will frame problems, set creative direction, and shape the work from concept through execution. The Principal Designer will lead designers and external creative partners on a project basis while remaining hands-on in the work. The position spans corporate, brand, communications, and experiential design, with close collaboration with senior leadership and designers throughout the organization. It is hybrid, with the ability to work remotely up to two days per week. The Design Group supports Revenue Design, Brand & Editorial Design, Product & UX Design, Design Systems, Creative Operations, Transactional Creative, and Events. The role’s work is divided between corporate, brand, and communications design (70%) and creative direction, mentorship, and design development (30%).

Requirements

10 or more years of professional design experience.
A strong portfolio demonstrating refined taste and sound creative judgment across multiple disciplines and formats.
A track record of turning loosely defined problems into clear creative direction and finished work.
A history of delivering high-impact design work to a high creative standard.
Experience working directly with senior executives and public-facing leaders, including confidence presenting, explaining, and evolving work with them.
Ability to lead complex projects and direct designers, agencies, and creative partners.
Broad expertise across brand, corporate communications, print, digital, presentation, experiential, environmental, and campaign design.
A clear point of view about design and the ability to argue for it.
Ability to move fluidly between concept, direction, and hands-on design.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Figma.
Experience using AI and emerging design tools, including Claude, Codex, and Google AI Studio, to improve the quality or speed of work and workflows.
Working knowledge of motion and video workflows, and the ability to help direct them.
Ability to work independently and bring the right people into the work.
A collaborative, direct, and low-ego approach, with confidence to challenge an idea when there is a better one.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in design, graphic design, visual communication, or a related field; equivalent experience is also accepted.

Responsibilities

Lead high-visibility projects from problem definition through final execution.
Design work for People Inc. Villa at Cannes, People Talks, Dinner with People, and Brand Showcases.
Develop People Inc. and People Incorporated websites, corporate and brand identities, and presentation systems.
Create Investor Relations materials, including earnings decks, campaigns, and employee communications.
Lead office and experiential design, video walls, sizzle reels, and other motion-led experiences.
Work with senior leadership and cross-functional partners to establish creative direction, present work, make decisions, and maintain a high standard of craft.
Define loosely specified problems and develop clear creative approaches before execution.
Direct designers, agencies, and creative partners on a project basis; provide feedback, run creative reviews, and mentor designers and emerging leaders.
Introduce tools and approaches, including AI, when they improve work quality or efficiency.
Remain accountable for the quality of project outcomes without requiring an ongoing people-management structure.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage.
Unlimited paid time off.
Adoption or surrogate assistance.
Donation matching.
Tuition reimbursement.
Basic life insurance and basic accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
Supplemental life insurance and supplemental accident insurance.
Commuter benefits.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Health savings and flexible spending accounts.
Family care benefits.
401(k) savings plan with company match.
10–12 paid holidays annually.
Paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents.
Voluntary benefits, including pet insurance, accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity health insurance coverage, and life and disability insurance.
Annual bonuses and short- and long-term incentives may also be part of total compensation.