Experiential Graphic Designer

Description

About Ayers Saint Gross:

Ayers Saint Gross is an internationally recognized, employee-owned design firm with expertise in architecture, planning, landscape architecture, graphic design, interiors, and space analytics. Since our founding in 1912, we have built a reputation for designing environments of enduring value. With over 165 professionals, our firm is organized into a series of studios specialized by practice area, each supported by expertise in various disciplines. We are unique among our peers in that more than 85 percent of our work is for academic and cultural institutions, having worked on over 500 projects for more than 140 institutions. Our design is driven by a critical and analytical discourse, a respect for past wisdom, a mind for future potential, and a belief that we have an obligation to leave places better than we found them. We are headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland with offices in Washington DC and Tempe, Arizona.

Position Overview

Our Graphic Design Studio creates visual communication systems that shape how people experience and connect with places. Working at the intersection of graphic design, architecture, and the built environment, we bring together expertise in identity, information design, environmental graphics, signage and wayfinding, publications, and marketing and fundraising communications.

We are seeking a seasoned Graphic Designer to join our studio and contribute to a diverse range of projects for higher education, cultural, civic, and institutional clients. This is an opportunity to work alongside architects, interior designers, planners, and other creative professionals to develop thoughtful, engaging design solutions—from strategy and concept through implementation.

The ideal candidate brings a strong design sensibility, a love of typography, and a genuine curiosity about how design can improve the way people understand and experience places. You are proactive, collaborative, accountable, and organized, with the ability to communicate ideas clearly, navigate multiple priorities, and bring a high level of craft to every project. This position spans both traditional graphic design and graphic design of physical environments.

What You’ll Contribute

• Shape meaningful visual experiences by defining communication goals and developing design solutions that connect brand, identity, information, and the physical environment.
• Design for the built environment, developing signage, wayfinding, environmental graphics, and other applications that strengthen the identity, character, navigation, and experience of a place.
• Translate brands into experiences, extending visual identities into cohesive physical environments and other communication touchpoints.
• Collaborate across disciplines, working closely with marketing/business development, architects, interior designers, planners, and other consultants to integrate graphic communication into various project types.
• Develop thoughtful wayfinding systems, considering information hierarchy, messaging, typography, symbols, color, materials, accessibility, and placement.
• Engage with clients and stakeholders, participating in meetings, workshops, critiques, presentations, and other collaborative conversations to understand needs and advance design solutions.
• Bring ideas from concept to reality, participating in site visits and field surveys and developing design documentation through implementation.
• Partner with fabricators and vendors to translate design intent into high-quality built work, reviewing drawings, prototypes, samples, and production materials along the way.
• Lead projects with confidence, managing multiple priorities, schedules, budgets, and deadlines while anticipating needs and maintaining a high standard of design.
• Create compelling visual communications including infographics, data visualizations, presentations, publications, branded materials, and other print and digital applications.
• Extend and strengthen brands through branded templates and materials for corporate communications, business systems, marketing, and business development.
• Champion design quality, contributing to critiques and quality assurance reviews and ensuring a high level of craft and consistency from concept through completion.
• Bring stories to life through photography, art directing photoshoots and collaborating with photographers and other creative partners as projects require.

Requirements

 What You’ll Bring

• A BFA or similar degree in graphic design and 5–7 years of professional experience in a design studio, architecture practice, or in-house environment.
• Demonstrated experience in environmental graphic design, signage, wayfinding, or visual communication for the built environment.
• A strong foundation in typography, visual design, conceptual thinking, and information design, with an ability to develop clear and compelling solutions to complex communication challenges.
• An understanding of wayfinding principles, information hierarchy, human behavior, accessibility, and navigation within complex environments.
• The ability to read and interpret architectural drawings, plans, elevations, and other design documentation, with working knowledge of CAD and/or 3D modeling software.
• Familiarity with environmental graphic design materials, fabrication methods, production processes, and installation considerations.
• Experience collaborating with architects, interior designers, planners, fabricators, vendors, and other consultants.
• Strong strategic thinking and communication skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale and present ideas effectively to clients and multidisciplinary teams.
• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal skills, along with strong listening skills and a collaborative approach.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to balance multiple projects, priorities, budgets, and deadlines.
• A commitment to design excellence, craftsmanship, and attention to detail, with experience carrying projects from concept through completion.
• Experience working within brand guidelines and developing complementary branded materials and environmental applications.
• Knowledge of print, fabrication, and production processes, including experience working with vendors and consultants.
• Experience designing complex publications, information graphics, and presentations.
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, as well as Microsoft PowerPoint and other standard Microsoft Office tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel for site visits, photoshoots, and client projects.

What You Can Expect

You’ll join a collaborative, multidisciplinary studio where graphic design plays an integral role in shaping the built environment. You’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that range from identity and information systems to campuswide wayfinding and environmental experiences—and to see your ideas move from the page into the world. Most importantly, you’ll be part of a team that values curiosity, collaboration, thoughtful design, and the belief that great communication can make places more meaningful, memorable, and welcoming.

 Why work at Ayers Saint Gross?

• We are a design driven firm working with exceptional clients
• We are an employee-owned company, with over 100 years of design excellence
• We encourage our employees to pursue local and professional advocacy groups
• We provide the opportunity to help with pro-bono initiatives that brings Architecture to the community
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including a 401(k) and ESOP

The salary range for this position is $65,000 - $80,000 annually. The actual salary offered for this position will vary depending on multiple factors including the candidate’s qualification, education, position knowledge, work experience, skills, ability, work location, and internal incumbent compensation for similar roles. We do not anticipate individuals hired into this position will start at or near the top half of the range listed; the decision will be based on each individual case. The salary range listed above does not include other compensation elements such as discretionary bonus opportunities, employee stock ownership grants, paid time off, medical insurance, and other wage and benefit opportunities. 

Ayers Saint Gross is a respected leader in the community offering comprehensive benefits and a highly energized work environment. For additional information and to apply online, please visit our website at www.ayerssaintgross.com

Ayers Saint Gross is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment based on merit, performance, and business needs without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Ayers Saint Gross is committed to providing accessible employment; specific physical and mental requirements for this position may be provided upon request. Please contact [email protected] for additional information.