Job Description

The Graphic Designer II will support Co-Creation activities that connect MNAO employees with Mazda brand and its Japanese foundation. This role is responsible for developing compelling graphic design solutions and visual storytelling that bring vehicle design concepts and brand ideas to life. The position contributes to a broad range of creative brand projects across digital, experiential and print platforms and contributes to car design strategy presentations.

Major Responsibilities

• (50%) Graphic Design for Brand Touchpoints
  • Create graphic design solutions that have high visual impact and meet the project brief’s objectives.
  • Develop graphic design and concepts for a variety of formats, including but not limited to websites, digital interface design, apps, motion graphics, animation, ad banners, digital books and e-zines, posters, games, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identity (i.e. giving organizations a visual brand).

• (25%) Support Co-Creation Activities
  • Serve as the graphic design resource for all brand and product co-creation activities.
  • Maintain a thorough understanding of the brand, product and business strategy.
  • Design business assets that visualize key elements of brand and product that are engaging and enriching.
  • Provide salient feedback in the areas of video, motion and animation across all pertinent MNAO creative projects. Contribute thoughtful feedback for appropriate assets and brand references where needed.
  • Integral to the process of helping others, deeply understand and love the brand

• (25%) Car Design Brand Positioning Support
  • Support the car design team through visual storytelling throughout the process.
  • Execute car design strategy presentations for communicating to MC and within MNAO.
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Comply with all policies and standards
• The preceding functions have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by employees assigned to this job classification. Management reserves the right to add, modify, change or rescind the work assignments of different positions and to make reasonable accommodations so that qualified employees can perform the essential functions of the job

Work Experience

• 3+ years experience in a graphic designer role, preferably in an automotive or branding agency required
• 2+ years experience in project management preferred

Education

• Bachelor Degree in Arts/Sciences (BA/BS) Graphic Design Preferred
• An equivalent mix of education, training, and/or work experience may be considered in place of a degree Required

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Ability to demonstrate a high degree of skill and accuracy in Creative Cloud graphic applications, including Photoshop, Illustrator, AfterEffects, inDesign, as well as Office 365 tools, Figma, and at least one collaboration tool such as Miro required (Intermediate-Advanced)
• A sound technical understanding that will enable the smooth progress of a variety of projects from concept to delivery – Including but not limited to digital, web, video/film, animation, print, packaging, and photography required (Intermediate-Advanced)
• Ability to work on multiple projects while providing:
  ○ Timely status reports on self-performance
  ○ Quality assurance of all creative deliverables
  ○ Cost effective and on schedule work
  ○ Strong knowledge of and proven experience in the creative development process around brand image creation required
  (Intermediate-Advanced)
• Expert ability to develop well-conceived innovative creative work that implements a brand image/strategy required (Intermediate-Advanced)
• Excellent conceptual and problem-solving skills required (Developing-Intermediate)
• Excellent graphic design skills required
  (Developing-Intermediate)
• Traditional typographic understanding and experience essential required (Developing-Intermediate)
• Highly curious and knowledgeable about emerging design and branding trends required (Intermediate-Advanced)
• Expert user of Adobe Creative Suite software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign required (Developing-Intermediate)
• Expert user of video/web/photography tools including but not limited to Adobe AfterEffects, Figma, Sketch, ChatGPT, Midjourney or equivalent & video editing and modeling tools required (Developing-Intermediate)
• Fluent in Microsoft Office including PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Outlook preferred (Developing-Intermediate)
• Working knowledge of HTML, CSS and social media development software preferred (Awareness-Developing)
• Excellent communication (English grammar/spelling), planning, time-management and follow-through skills required
  (Advanced-Authority)
• Ability to communicate effectively with creative and project management staff, engendering leadership, trust and respect required (Advanced-Authority)

Physical Demands

• Stationary Position/Standing: Frequently
• Stationary Position/Seated: Frequently
• Communicate/Talking: Constantly
• Communicate/Hearing: Constantly
• Repetitive Motions: Constantly
• Coordination: Frequently
• Seeing/Observing: Constantly

Travel Requirements

• 10% Driving Domestic: Essential

#LI-Remote

We support Remote work in the following states:

Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin

Pay Range

Salary to be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Learn more about MNAO’s comprehensive benefits package here