Laguna College of Art + Design is seeking a full-time experienced Senior Graphic Designer. The College is located in an internationally recognized arts colony in Laguna Beach, California and offers a diversity of majors in Animation, Graphic Design and Digital Media, Fine Art, Game Development, Illustration, and Entertainment Design.
Position Summary:
The Senior Graphic Designer produces the creative work of Laguna College of Art + Design, translating institutional strategy into visual work that reflects the caliber of the artists and designers LCAD produces. Working closely with the Director of Marketing + Communications, the Senior Graphic Designer executes across the College's brand, campaigns, and channels, and contributes to the creative direction and evolution of LCAD's visual identity. This role serves two core institutional priorities, enrollment and Advancement, designing the recruitment work that grows the student body and the donor and fundraising communications that sustain and elevate the College.
This is a senior-level, hands-on design role and the College's principal designer. The position is responsible for conceptualizing, designing, and producing visual communications that advance the College's strategic objectives and brand identity. The incumbent applies systems thinking and strong creative judgment to transform ideas into effective design solutions while continuously improving the quality, consistency, and impact of the College's visual communications.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Serve as the College's principal designer, creating high-quality print and digital communications, including the viewbook, campaigns, key institutional collateral, and the flagship pieces that define how LCAD looks and feels.
- Develop original creative concepts and visual solutions in collaboration with the Director of Marketing + Communications to support institutional marketing and communications strategics.
- Maintain and help evolve the College’s visual identity by ensuring consistent application of brand standards across all communications.
- Develop and maintain design systems, templates, and creative standards to promote consistency and efficiency.
- Produce short-form video and motion graphics content, and coordinate with freelance creative partners as needed.
- Serve as the lead designer for Advancement, producing the visual work that supports fundraising, donor engagement, institutional giving, annual and impact reports, event collateral, and stewardship materials.
- Design enrollment marketing materials, including email marketing templates, CRM-driven communications, and the visual touchpoints that carry a prospective student from first contact through enrollment.
- Partner with Marketing + Communications, Admissions, Advancement, College leadership and faculty to translate institutional priorities into compelling creative.
- Collaborate with the Web Manager on the digital experience and ensure brand cohesion online.
- Partner with the Social Media Specialist to produce on-brand social content and creative that performs across platforms.
- Present and articulate creative rationale to institutional stakeholders with clarity and confidence.
- Exercise independent creative judgment in developing visual concepts, determining design approaches, and selecting appropriate media, typography, imagery, and layouts to achieve institutional communication objectives.
- Remain current with industry developments and emerging creative tools and technologies, with a clear, considered point of view on their appropriate role in the work of an art and design college.
- Manage multiple concurrent design projects while balancing competing priorities and institutional deadlines.
- Prepare print-ready files and coordinate production with external printers and vendors.
- Maintain the College's library of graphic assets, templates, photography, and design files.
- Ensure projects meet accessibility, print production, and technical specifications where applicable.
- Review proofs and ensure quality control before publication or production.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Position Requirements, Experience, and Education:
This individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This individual must have a desire to work in a team-oriented environment that serves a diverse population.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or a related field required, or commensurate education and experience.
Experience
- 7+ years of professional design experience required, with a track record of high-craft brand and campaign work.
- A portfolio evidencing conceptual thinking and signature, high-craft work across print and digital, not solely production or template execution, required.
Position Requirements
- Mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), with strong command of layout, typography, and visual systems, required.
- Video editing and motion graphics experience (e.g., Premiere Pro, After Effects), with the ability to produce short-form video and motion content, required.
- Experience designing for both digital and print required.
- Experience designing for fundraising, Advancement, or donor communications preferred, or demonstrated ability to produce persuasive, audience-specific creative for distinct stakeholder groups.
- Experience designing for email/lifecycle marketing and familiarity with how creative functions within a CRM or marketing-automation environment preferred.
- Proficiency within Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Proficiency within Google Workspace: Gmail, Calendar
- Demonstrated effectiveness as a culturally competent professional with broad experience interacting with and supporting the needs of a diverse student population and/or staff and faculty required.
- Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication and interpersonal skills required.
- Ability to work independently as well as part of a team required.
- Excellent organizational skills required.
- Must be self-motivated, focused, and proactive.
- Excellent spelling, grammar, and editing skills required.
- Must have the ability to multi-task and work in fast-paced, demanding environment.
- Experience in higher education preferred.
- Must be able to drive personal vehicle for business purposes and must pass DMV background check and have minimum insurance requirements as set by LCAD.
This individual will also be able to perform the following essential functions:
- Regular attendance is considered an essential job function; the inability to meet attendance requirements may preclude an individual from retaining employment.
- Take and follow directions.
- Work cooperatively with others.
- Receive and respond appropriately to constructive criticism.
- Display a positive attitude.
- Balance multiple tasks and priorities.
- Performs other essential duties and tasks specific to the position.
Physical Essential Functions:
Sitting, typing, and moving from one place to another. This position takes place indoors in an office environment sitting at a desk and working in front of a computer. Occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs.
Business Hours:
Regular business hours for the College are Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. Regular hours may vary based on the College’s needs and type of position. Weekend and evening hours may be required. Travel may be required.
Classification and Status:
This is an exempt position.
This is a regular, full-time position.
This is a benefits-eligible position.
Anticipated Hiring Range: $75,460.00 - $87,000.00 per year
The posted salary range reflects the College’s anticipated hiring salary range, but the final salary range is subject to negotiation and additional factors, such as the candidate’s background, experience, and alignment with institutional needs.
Background Check:
This individual will be required to undergo a job-related background check, inclusive of employment and education verification. Some positions may require successful completion of a post-offer agility test. Employment is contingent on satisfactory results of the aforementioned, in addition to compliance with requirements cited in this job description.
At-Will Employment:
Employment with the College is “at-will” meaning that the terms of employment may be changed with or without notice, with or without cause, including but not limited to termination, demotion, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefits, duties, and location of work. There is no agreement expressed or implied between the College and you for continuing or long-term employment. While the College has every hope that employment relationships will be mutually beneficial and rewarding, employees and the College retain the right to terminate the employment relationship at will, at any time, with or without cause. The President is the only person who can modify or alter the at-will employment relationship.
Benefits if applicable:
Medical, dental, and vision healthcare benefits, 403(b) retirement savings plan, paid vacation, paid sick and paid holidays, life insurance/AD&D, long term disability, LCAD tuition benefit, among other benefits. Waiting period may apply.
Full time position; salary commensurate with experience. Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter, resume, and salary requirements to [email protected].
Laguna College of Art + Design is an Equal Opportunity Employer:
All applicants and employees have equal employment opportunities with Laguna College of Art + Design (“LCAD”) regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), color, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and/or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, uniform service member status, military or veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, physical or mental disability, genetic characteristics, political affiliation status, domestic violence victim status, reproductive health decision making, medical leave or other types of protected leave, use of cannabis off the job and away from the workplace for California employees, any combination of the foregoing characteristics, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Employment shall be based solely on LCAD’s needs and the individual’s qualifications.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $75,460.00 - $87,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
