Freelance Mapping Designer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

**Please note we are not currently hiring for this position but always accepting applications.**

The primary goal of the Experience Designer is to imagine and execute something out of nothing. If that piques your interest, here’s some more context:

Responsible for concept ideation and creative output that includes, but is not limited to, developing visual mood boards/inspiration, initiating high level and divergent conceptual ideas, and executing 2D and 3D design output, as directed by the Design Director. Must utilize a variety of techniques, skillsets and softwares to visualize concepts. Work with the Design Director to develop, refine, and champion the creative vision throughout the entire lifecycle of the project. Must demonstrate creative problem solving skills, high-quality ideation skills, and strong creative technical ability in 2D and 3D design. Responsible for balancing multiple projects/clients, meeting deadlines consistently, and collaborating with an interdisciplinary team.

An Experience Designer is focused on the conceptual ideation and design output as directed by the Design Director or Senior Experience Designer. An Experience Designer has the ability to design 5-10 overlapping projects of small to medium scope.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Primary (All day, every day)

• Work with the Design Director to establish strategic and creative vision for the project that captures client and audience needs, visual direction and audience journey.
• Collaborate with the Design Director to develop audience journey maps, inspiration/mood boards, story maps and other design narrative collateral that capture the creative vision.
• Design and develop new concepts that solve client problems and capture powerful storytelling through graphics, form, material and space within the creative vision established by the Design Director.
• Execute design output that best visualizes creative intent and conceptual designs (Photoshop renders, photo-realism renders, hand sketches and/or digital sketches).
• Refine concepts and further execute creative intent based on client feedback and through collaboration with the Design Director and Delivery Team.
• Secondary (Likely, just depends on the day)
• Assist the Design Director and Story Team with some discovery, including sitting in on client interviews and performing relevant research prior to conceptual design.
• Collaborate with multiple designers and/or freelancers on larger, more complex projects to execute creative output as directed by the Design Director.
• Assist with some client presentations, including creation of some presentation decks and opportunities to co-present with the Design Director.
• Assist the Design Director with some art direction of production art files to ensure consistency with concept and that quality meets creative intent.
• Work with the Design Director to champion creative solutions while balancing budgetary and schedule needs when appropriate.
• Attend and contribute to Live Creative Sessions with the client by ideating, sketching, asking good questions, seeking insights and solving problems.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & ABILITIES

Primary Softwares (You will definitely use these daily)

• Sketchup, Photoshop, Illustrator
• Secondary Softwares (You will probably use these sometimes)
• Keynote, InDesign

Other Softwares (You may or may not find these handy occasionally)

• Enscape / 3D Max / Lumion / Vray or other rendering software, Procreate or other digital sketching software, AfterEffects or other animation/motion media software

Must be a creative problem solver who demonstrates a strong technical ability in 2D and 3D design. Must excel at thinking divergently, exploring many ideas and/or executions early in the creative process. Must have strong communication skills to effectively articulate creative intent and to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team.

Must be a self starter with an aptitude for learning quickly. A sense of humor is preferred, but not required. A minimum of one (1) interesting hobby also preferred, but not required.

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION: A bachelor’s or equivalent degree in Industrial Design, Graphic Design or related field is required.

EXPERIENCE: 3-6 years of relevant design experience is required.

PORTFOLIO: Lastly (and most importantly!) a portfolio demonstrating the previously mentioned design capabilities in graphic design, industrial design, environmental/spatial design, exhibit design, interior design, architecture and/or other relevant design field(s) is required. Show off and show out!

ADDITIONAL INFO

Every job has its pro’s and con’s. While we feel that the opportunities and awesomeness of the job far outweigh the negatives, we want you to know what you’re getting into! People who thrive here have and appreciate:

• Curiosity
• Eager to learn new skill sets/softwares/disciplines, proactively asks good (re: insightful) questions. The path to success looks different on every project.
• Drive
• Inspired by fresh challenges and seeks out new opportunities. Tenacious desire to learn and do better work. We believe in finding the best solution, not settling for the first one.
• Autonomy
• Self-starter who consistently “H.Y.S.” (handles your stuff). Don’t worry, you’ll still interact with the team daily/continuously, but you will be responsible for and trusted with important tasks to accomplish.
• Variety / Quick Tempo
• High volume, fast paced, divergent concept iteration. Balance overlapping projects and multiple clients. Cons: your favorite projects end far too soon. Pros: if you don’t like one project, you’ll probably have a few more that you do love.
• Cool Clients
• Respect for (but not intimidated by) very recognizable brands with high expectations.
• The Whole Story
• Empathizing with clients, their audiences and their stories. Engaging with the full life span of a project from discovery to ribbon cutting. A book’s plot isn’t determined by its first chapter or the last one—it’s built by all the chapters in between.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Physical Demands

• Reaching, standing, walking, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motion.
• Primarily office-based work—exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally, sits or stands.
• Close visual acuity to perform activities at distances close to the eye.
• Subject to activities that occur inside and outside, heat and noise.
• When working in the office, not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions.

Travel Requirements

Low Travel Needs. Typically 0-6 trips per year, 1-3 days per trip.