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Creative Designer Jobs in Virginia (NOW HIRING)

Sway Creative Labs

Designer

Norfolk, VA · On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

Sway Creative Labs is seeking a skilled and well-rounded Designer to join our team. This role is well-suited for someone with proven multi-channel design experience who approaches their work with ...

Sway Creative Labs

Designer

Norfolk, VA

Sway Creative Labs is seeking a skilled and well-rounded Designer to join our team. This role is well-suited for someone with proven multi-channel design experience who approaches their work with ...

Dollar Tree

Graphic Designer

Chesapeake, VA · On-site

We are a fast-paced group looking for a teammate who can keep with our many exciting creative challenges and opportunities! The Graphic Designer position is responsible for creating and delivering ...

Marymount University

Graphic Designer

Arlington, VA · On-site

This role supports the team's creative output across digital, print, social, and presentation channels while consistently applying the university's brand standards. The Graphic Designer collaborates ...

ZERO Prostate Cancer

Graphic Designer

Alexandria, VA · On-site +1

$65K - $75K/yr

The Graphic Designer will report directly to the Senior Director, Brand & Creative and will work closely with the Brand & Creative team, across the Marcom team, and with a variety of stakeholders ...

SAIC

Graphic Designer

Chantilly, VA

ORA_ON_SITE Description  SAIC's Core Creative Multimedia Production is currently seeking a highly motivated Graphic Designer to join our team and provide support to an up-tempo, creative ...

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All JobsCreative Designer JobsCreative Designer Jobs in Virginia

Creative Designer information

See Virginia salary details

$38.2K

$86.4K

$138.8K

How much do creative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 13, 2026, the average yearly pay for creative designer in Virginia is $86,361.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $60,000.00 and $114,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is AI replacing designers?

AI tools are increasingly used by creative designers to automate repetitive tasks, generate ideas, and enhance productivity. However, human creativity, critical thinking, and emotional understanding remain essential in design work, making AI a complement rather than a replacement for designers.

How much does a creative designer get paid?

The average salary for a creative designer varies depending on experience, location, and industry, but typically ranges from $45,000 to $85,000 annually. Entry-level designers may earn less, while experienced professionals with specialized skills or certifications can earn higher salaries. Freelance creative designers might charge hourly rates from $25 to $150 or more, depending on their expertise and project scope.

What is a Creative Designer?

A Creative Designer is a professional responsible for developing visual concepts and designs for various media, such as advertisements, branding, websites, and product packaging. They use their artistic skills and knowledge of design software to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate consumers. Creative Designers often work with marketing teams, clients, or art directors to create visually appealing content that aligns with a brand's identity. Their role may involve brainstorming, sketching, creating digital assets, and ensuring that all visuals meet project objectives. They play a key role in shaping the visual aspects of a company's communications.

What is the difference between Creative Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectCreative DesignerGraphic Designer
Primary FocusConcept development, branding, and visual storytellingCreating visual content like logos, posters, and digital graphics
Skills & ToolsDesign software, creativity, branding knowledgeAdobe Photoshop, Illustrator, layout skills
Work EnvironmentAdvertising agencies, branding firms, marketing teamsPrint and digital media companies, design studios
CredentialsDesign degree or portfolio, sometimes certificationsDesign degree or portfolio, certifications optional

While both roles involve visual creation, a Creative Designer focuses on conceptualizing branding and storytelling, whereas a Graphic Designer primarily produces visual content for specific projects. The roles often overlap, but the Creative Designer has a broader scope in the creative process.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Creative Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Creative Designer, you need a strong grasp of design principles, proficiency in visual storytelling, and typically a degree in graphic design or a related field. Mastery of tools like Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and familiarity with digital design platforms are essential. Creativity, attention to detail, and effective communication help set standout designers apart in collaborative environments. These skills ensure the creation of visually impactful, brand-consistent work that meets client needs and drives project success.

What design jobs are in demand right now?

Creative designers are currently in demand across industries such as digital media, advertising, and product development. Skills in user experience (UX), user interface (UI), graphic design, and proficiency with tools like Adobe Creative Suite and Figma are highly valued. Remote work opportunities are also increasing for design roles that require collaboration and strong portfolio presentation.

What does a creative designer do?

A creative designer develops visual concepts to communicate ideas and solve design problems, often using tools like Adobe Creative Suite. They create graphics, layouts, and branding materials for various media, collaborating with clients and teams to meet project goals.

How does a Creative Designer typically collaborate with other departments during a project?

Creative Designers frequently work closely with marketing, product, and development teams to ensure visual concepts align with overall business goals. They participate in brainstorming sessions, gather input from stakeholders, and adjust designs based on feedback from cross-functional colleagues. This collaborative process helps ensure that creative outputs not only look appealing but also support strategic objectives, meet technical requirements, and resonate with the target audience. Maintaining open communication and adaptability is key for success in these collaborative environments.

What Is a Creative Designer?

A creative designer, also known as a graphic designer, is involved with advertising and marketing. Some creative designers are employed directly by an organization while others work for an advertising agency. Another option is to work as a self-employed freelance creative designer. Your main job duties involve creating advertising materials for a company. As a creative designer, you create a rough layout for design projects and follow them through to completion. You use digital illustration software to create the finished products. It is often essential to collaborate with other designers as well as writers, marketers, advertisers, and vendors on the project.

More about Creative Designer jobs
What are popular job titles related to Creative Designer jobs in Virginia? For Creative Designer jobs in Virginia, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Creative Designer jobs in Virginia look for? The top searched job categories for Creative Designer jobs in Virginia are:
What cities in Virginia are hiring for Creative Designer jobs? Cities in Virginia with the most Creative Designer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Creative Designer jobs in VA? For Creative Designer jobs in VA, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Creative Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Creative Designer job openings in Virginia as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 81% Full Time, 17% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 90% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $86,361 per year, or $41.5 per hour.
Designer

Designer

Sway Creative Labs

Norfolk, VA • On-site

$55K - $75K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Retirement, PTO

Posted 29 days ago

Job description

Sway Creative Labs is seeking a skilled and well-rounded Designer to join our team. This role is well-suited for someone with proven multi-channel design experience who approaches their work with both craft discipline and creative curiosity. We're looking for a designer who can execute at a high level across a range of mediums and who contributes meaningfully to the ideation process - not just the production end of it.
Strong candidates will have demonstrated fluency in at least three of our core creative disciplines - web, print, brand identity, broadcast, and social - and will bring a portfolio that shows both range and depth.
What You'll Own
Design Execution Across Channels
  • Design on-brand work across web, print, brand identity, and social with accuracy, consistency, and strong attention to craft
  • Contribute to creative concepting and bring original ideas to briefs - not solely executing direction provided by others
  • Collaborate with Art Directors, producers, and developers across all phases of a project

Web & Digital
  • Design responsive digital experiences in Figma with working knowledge of how designs translate to development
  • Produce web assets, display ads, email campaigns, and landing pages to specification
  • Apply foundational UX thinking - visual hierarchy, user flow, clarity - across digital deliverables

Print & Identity
  • Design and prepare print-ready files for collateral, direct mail, out-of-home, and branded materials
  • Contribute to brand identity projects including logo development, typography systems, color palettes, and brand standards documentation
  • Manage production specifications and vendor requirements for print jobs

Broadcast & On-Set
  • Support photo and video productions as an on-set creative resource, contributing to visual consistency and art direction
  • Assist in pre-production visual development including mood boards, reference decks, and frame guides

Social
  • Design social content with an understanding of each platform's native formats, culture, and audience
  • Develop visual assets across Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other relevant channels
  • Stay current on platform design trends and apply that awareness to day-to-day work

What We're Looking For
Core Qualifications
  • 2-4+ years of design experience in an agency or creative environment
  • A portfolio demonstrating range across at least three disciplines: web, print, identity, broadcast, and/or social
  • Strong proficiency in Figma, including components, auto-layout, and design system fundamentals
  • Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
  • Solid command of design fundamentals: typography, color theory, composition, and visual hierarchy
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously
  • Clear written and verbal communication skills; comfortable in client-facing situations
  • Occasional travel and on-set availability required

Additional Assets
  • Experience with motion design or animation; working knowledge of After Effects or comparable tools
  • Familiarity with HTML and CSS as a communication bridge with development teams
  • Background working on travel/tourism, food/beverage, healthcare, or entertainment accounts
  • Experience with social scheduling platforms such as Sprout Social, Loomly, or similar

What Success Looks Like
By the end of your first year, you will have taken ownership of projects across multiple disciplines and built a body of agency work that reflects your range. Senior creative team members will actively want to collaborate with you, and leadership will trust your judgment on work that is yours to lead. You will have identified the disciplines where you excel and be on a clear path to deepening that expertise.
Why Sway Creative Labs
Sway is an independent agency where work is seen and recognized by hands-on leadership. You will have the opportunity to work across a wide range of industries and project types - gaining exposure to brand campaigns, digital platforms, print production, social content, and documentary-style video work - often within the same client relationship. We value designers who want to grow across disciplines and who take ownership of their craft.
What We Offer
  • 15 Paid Vacation Days: Days reset at your start date and do not roll over. You'll have the ability to withdraw a negative balance of up to 5 days, and you begin the year with your days already afforded
  • Paid Holidays: Your Birthday, New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Monday after the Super Bowl, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Juneteenth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the week between Christmas Eve and New Year's Day
  • Two-Hour Windows: So long as the privilege is not abused, we offer each employee 2-hour leave windows at the beginning (9am - 11am EST) and end of the workday (3pm - 5pm EST) to tend to any appointments like unexpected child care challenges, doctor's visits, home maintenance, etc. that do not count against your allotted paid time off
  • Health Plan: All employees are eligible to enroll in one of (3) Sentara Health Plans; with Sway covering 80% of employee's cost and 50% of your dependents
  • Dental Insurance: Sway pays 100% of employee's United Concordia Dental Plan
  • Retirement Benefits: Sway's 401(k) policy offers a solid foundation for your retirement planning; we match your contributions at a 1:1 rate for the first 3% of your pay, and then add an extra $0.50 for each dollar you contribute on the following 2% of your pay. Contributions are fully vested immediately.
  • Upskilling Opportunities: As "curiosity of craft" is one of our core values, Sway encourages continued education and skill advancement with 100% reimbursement of at least one approved employee upskilling initiative per year (conferences, courses, certifications, etc.)

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