Student Graphic Designer

Cornell College•Mt Vernon, IA

About The Position

Come work with the Office of Marketing and Communications for valuable experience in an entry-level graphic design position. This position gives you real-world graphic design experience from concept to completion. You'll work through the full creative process—developing ideas, sharing concepts, receiving professional critique, and refining your work to meet project standards and deadlines. Through regular mentorship, you'll learn to balance creative vision with practical constraints and build both technical skills and professional confidence, gaining the kind of portfolio-worthy work and workflow experience that prepares you for design careers after graduation. You will typically work 2–5 hours per week with a flexible, project-based schedule.

Requirements

Current student; studio art/graphic design focus preferred
Working knowledge of Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, and Photoshop (training support available)
Basic typography, layout, and file-prep skills for print and web
Reliable time management and attention to detail
Portfolio or 3–5 samples showing your design work (class projects welcome)

Responsibilities

Design posters and promotional assets for 3–4 Theatre & Dance productions per year
Translate project briefs into multiple concepts; refine based on critique
Prepare print-ready and digital deliverables (correct sizes, specs, and exports)
Work within the college brand guide when applicable
Track progress on assigned tasks and share files in Basecamp
Collaborate with the Creative Director and campus partners as needed
Work efficiently and be able to finish projects under deadlines tied to live event schedules
Attend regular check-ins and respond promptly to project messages
Be open to feedback and iterative improvement
Maintain organized files and follow brand standards, where applicable