Job description

In a Nutshell

IDEO San Francisco is in search of a Graphic Design Lead to join our Design for Change studio. The studio is primarily focused on helping catalyze change across organizations through design.

Have you ever been frustrated by an organizational challenge getting in the way of an amazing design solution? In Design for Change we shape the organizational conditions that help create products and services that people love. We help companies innovate better and faster. We do this from the inside out.

Why is this role important for IDEO’s work?

Graphic Design Leads make the biggest impact by being a visual storyteller. Their skillset is critical to our work/business because they love combining their interest in people and their needs with their ability to make things clear, beautiful, and engaging. We count on them to be comfortable working across a variety of media, including print, screen, environments, video, etc.

Once Here You Will

  • Go out into the world for inspiration, and use research-based insights to spot opportunities for innovation within constraints
  • Work with an incredibly diverse and passionate group of world-class designers on a wide array of local and global challenges
  • Use your visual design, verbal and written skills to effectively communicate ideas
  • Collaborate with teams to define and create unique and inspiring designed experiences
  • Be an advocate of exceptional design across the studio and be a champion for craft in your discipline
  • Support and mentor junior design talent across the studio
What does IDEO offer you?

IDEO is a place unlike any other. It’s a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients or the organization, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and optimism. Sure we work hard, but we also intentionally craft moments that allow our community to pause, create, and connect. We encourage our community to bring their whole selves to work, respect the need for work-life balance, and allow for autonomy in the design process and your career.

Some Previous Projects To Check Out

Society of Grownups - Together with Mass Mutual we created a sort of master’s program for adulthood, where the curriculum covers everything from investing in a 401K, to having that hard talk about a budget to how to pick good, cheap wine.

Team Rubicon - Designing a Global Plan for Disaster Response

Creative Difference - Where should you focus to make your company more innovative, adaptive, and creatively competitive? We created a tool to help you assess your organization. We call it Creative Difference.

The Powerful Now - Aging is being redefined, and in that redefinition lies the opportunity to improve lives and drive economic opportunity. But to do this, we need a creative mindset and new approaches.

Relevant Experience

  • 6-8 years graphic design experience across a variety of industries and challenges
  • Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or equivalent degree
  • Ability to tell compelling project stories to clients
  • Passion for visual design: You know the difference between ‘good’and ‘great’and are able to work within dynamics that challenge teams, clients, and timelines to deliver excellent design. (Not only can you identify and evangelize best practices, but you’re able to push boundaries and explore new territory).
  • Systems thinking: You love complex questions and sing your visuals to communicate that complexity in simple ways. You are comfortable working with people who bring many different skills to the table, and can align your talents with theirs. And you are just as comfortable working across any format - you’re able to design/direct a book, video, or website, depending on what feels right for the question at hand.
  • Team skills: You work best in a participatory, team-based environment. You inspire teams through collaboration as well as direction, vision, and planning of all aspects of visual deliverables.
  • Communication skills: You have strong verbal, written, and visual presentation skills. You understand the value of design and brand within a business context.
  • Consulting chops: Can you present like a pro and communicate your creative voice in a business setting? You should feel comfortable throughout all phases of a project, from translating verbal ideas into visual concepts, through design development and refinement, to creating production-ready artwork.
  • You’ve mastered the tools: You can design and direct across a variety of media (print, motion, web) including InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, and Keynote. Additional skills in digital prototyping tools like Sketch and Flinto are a bonus.
Application Requirements And Instructions

Please submit a resume, cover letter (yes, we read cover letters), and a portfolio.



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