Creative Designer

The Creative Services group of Argonne's Communications and Public Affairs organization is seeking a Creative Designer to join their team. The Creative Designer is responsible for conceptualizing designs and facilitating the creation of integrated design solutions that effectively communicate scientific, technology, and operations information to audiences ranging from the general public to subject matter experts. Typical works include print collateral, websites, digital communications and assets, digital presentations, and environmental graphics.

Creative Designers at this level apply established design principles and techniques to deliver on-brand, high-quality work under normal supervision. They contribute to product development and production standards aligned with defined objectives, contributing to the fulfillment of Creative Services and Laboratory objectives while building breadth and depth of experience in Argonne’s brand systems.

Position Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and develop integrated, on-brand graphic design solutions that effectively communicate with intended audiences and support the laboratory’s brand / sponsors’ brands as well scientific, operations, and organizational goals.
• Create design solutions that adhere to established brand standards and templates, contributing to the consistency and clarity of Argonne’s visual communications and experiences.
• Identify and clarify project objectives and goals; serve as a trusted creative partner by providing responsive, solutions-oriented customer service and confirming understanding with supervisors or art directors for complex or ambiguous requests.
• Translate scientific and technical content for both general and specialized audiences, focusing on its impact in real‑world terms, with guidance from art directors as needed.
• Understand a project scope and map it by its purpose, audience, brand, and product to determine appropriate creative, formats, assets, and execution approach.
• Contribute to the design and production of print collateral, digital communications, and environmental graphics, following established workflows and design and production standards.
• Apply knowledge of current trends, principles of, and professional standards for branding, layout, typography, color usage, photography / illustration usage, and creative graphic design to support operations, scientific, and organizational goals.
• Use brand standards effectively to select appropriate logos, icons, color palettes, typography, and imagery, and escalate questions about new or nonstandard applications to art directors.
• Develop and execute design solutions based on art direction, brand standards, and design theory, with efficiency and maintaining high creative standards.
• Coordinate all phases of delivering graphic design products including scope, design, cost, production, and schedule for established products aligned with defined objectives, in consultation with art directors or lead designers for more complex work.
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, meeting deadlines, budgets, and production requirements.
• Manage project details for accuracy and efficiency using established practices, including accurate timekeeping, file organization, version control, proofing, and hand‑off to production partners.
• Participate in the development of and may be the steward of internal design tools (e.g., asset libraries, templates, and internal production scripts) by applying standards, providing feedback, and helping maintain libraries under direction from lead staff.
• Collaborate effectively with art directors, lead designers, and other team members, working through both influence and direct support to achieve a common goal.
• Provide clear, timely status updates and flag risks or issues early so that supervisors can help problem‑solve and prioritize. Maintain accurate project documentation at all stages of the project.
• Maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers, co-workers, and management at all levels, representing Creative Services with professionalism and a solutions‑oriented mindset.
• Serve as steward of laboratory resources by right‑sizing effort to project scope, budget, and impact, following established processes, and using templates and tools efficiently.
• Support integration of new brand standards, tools, and processes by learning, applying, and providing user‑level feedback.

Position Requirements

• PA2: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years of experience, or a Master's degree and 0+ years of experience, or equivalent.

• Online portfolio demonstrating original works representing integrated graphic design work across print, digital, presentation, and environmental applications, with examples of brand-based communications for scientific, business, organizational, or institutional audiences.
• Clear verbal, listening, and written communication skills, with the ability to take in and clarify client objectives and goals, communicate design concepts, and provide timely project updates, having a customer‑service and partner mindset.
• Knowledge of current trends, principles of, and professional standards for branding, layout, typography, color usage, photography / illustration usage, and creative graphic design to support scientific, operations, and organizational goals.
• Knowledge of capabilities of state‑of‑the‑art graphic design software applicable to print, web/digital assets, digital presentations, and environmental works.
• Knowledge of in‑house and commercial manufacturing capabilities for final production output of print, web/digital assets, digital presentations, and environmental works.
• Ability to create and execute original, integrated graphic design solutions based on art direction, design theory, and brand standards that effectively communicate with intended audiences, support the laboratory’s and sponsors’ brands, and are delivered efficiently while maintaining high creative standards.
• Ability to translate scientific and technical content for both general and specialized audiences, focusing on its impact in real‑world terms, with guidance for highly complex or high‑profile projects.
• Ability to understand and use brand standards effectively and bring rigor to implementation.
• Critical thinking skills, using reasoning and creativity to seek viable solutions and approaches to fulfilling art direction and/or potential challenges within defined standards, practices, and procedures.
• Knowledge and proficiency of MS Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) on Macintosh computer systems.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, as well as PowerPoint for presentation design.
• Ability to coordinate all phases of delivering graphic design products including scope, design, cost, production, and schedule for established products aligned with defined objectives, in consultation with art directors or lead designers for more complex work.
• Demonstrated excellence or strong potential in design project management, planning, and driving projects to successful outcomes.
• Successful track record of managing multiple design projects simultaneously.
• Ability to manage project details for accuracy and efficiency.
• Proven ability to be highly responsive, meet demanding deadlines, prioritize, and handle a large number of diverse projects and issues within budget and without creating an atmosphere of stress or anxiety.
• Ability to make decisions and solve problems within established directions and brand standards, escalating ambiguous or high‑profile issues appropriately.
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic work setting.
• Strong teaming and collaboration skills, working through both influence and control on cross‑functional teams to achieve a common goal.
• Ability to cultivate and maintain productive working relationships with internal and external customers, co-workers, and management at all levels.
• Knowledge of spelling and basic English grammar.
• Good steward of laboratory resources.
• Passion for the mission of the laboratory.
• Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.

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Please note that the pay range information is a general guideline only. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as, but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, business considerations, internal equity, and external market pay for comparable jobs. Additionally, comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.

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As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. Argonne encourages everyone to apply for employment. Argonne is committed to nondiscrimination and considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to any characteristic protected by law.

Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.

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