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Senior Visual Designer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Senior Visual Communication Designer In a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams ...

Senior Visual Communication DesignerIn a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams ...

Senior Visual Communication Designer In a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams ...

Senior Visual Communication Designer In a nutshell: Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams ...

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

The Sr Associate, New Business, Visual Designer will bring a passion for storytelling and a sharp eye for design to join our New Business Team. In this role, you won't just make things look good; you ...

Posted today

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Senior Visual Designer information

See Chicago, IL salary details

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$58

$112

How much do senior visual designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 24, 2026, the average hourly pay for senior visual designer in Chicago, IL is $58.09, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $39.62 and $64.62 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a senior visual designer?

Senior Visual Designers are experienced professionals who create and oversee the visual aspects of products, branding, and digital experiences. They work on designing user interfaces, marketing materials, and other visuals to ensure a consistent and appealing look across all platforms. In addition to hands-on design work, they often lead design teams, collaborate with clients and stakeholders, and help set the overall creative direction for projects. Their role requires a strong understanding of design principles, user experience, and current trends in visual communication.

How does a senior visual designer typically collaborate with cross-functional teams, and what communication skills are important for success?

Senior Visual Designers frequently work closely with UX/UI designers, product managers, developers, and marketing teams to ensure cohesive visual solutions that align with brand objectives and user needs. Effective communication is key—they must clearly articulate design rationales, provide constructive feedback, and translate complex ideas into visually compelling assets. Being proactive in meetings, open to feedback, and adept at using design collaboration tools are essential skills that help foster smooth teamwork and successful project outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a senior visual designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Senior Visual Designer, you need expert-level proficiency in visual design principles, a strong portfolio demonstrating creative problem-solving, and a relevant degree in graphic or visual design. Mastery of industry-standard design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch, Figma, and familiarity with design systems is typically required. Exceptional communication, collaboration, and leadership skills help you articulate design decisions and mentor junior designers. These skills ensure the creation of visually compelling, brand-consistent work that meets business goals and enhances user experiences.

What is the difference between Senior Visual Designer vs Graphic Designer?

AspectSenior Visual DesignerGraphic Designer
CredentialsBachelor's degree in design or related field, extensive portfolioBachelor's degree often preferred, strong portfolio
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with marketing, UX/UI teams, involved in branding and digital projectsFocuses on print, branding, marketing materials, and digital assets
Industry UsageUsed in tech, advertising, digital agencies, corporate brandingCommon in advertising, publishing, print media, branding

The main difference is that Senior Visual Designers typically have more experience, handle complex digital and branding projects, and work closely with cross-functional teams. Graphic Designers often focus on creating visual content for print and digital media with less emphasis on strategic branding or UX/UI design.

How much do senior visual designers make?

Senior visual designers in the US typically earn between $70,000 and $120,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and industry. They often have strong skills in design tools like Adobe Creative Suite and may hold relevant certifications or a portfolio demonstrating their expertise.

What does a senior visual designer do?

A senior visual designer creates and develops visual concepts for digital and print media, ensuring they align with brand identity and project goals. They use design tools like Adobe Creative Suite, lead design projects, and collaborate with teams to produce engaging, user-friendly visuals. They often have extensive experience and may oversee junior designers or provide strategic input on visual branding.

What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Designer jobs in Chicago, IL?

The most popular types of Visual Designer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What job categories do people searching Senior Visual Designer jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Senior Visual Designer jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Senior Visual Designer jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Senior Visual Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Senior Visual Designer job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 70% Full Time, 24% Part Time, 1% Temporary, 3% Contract, and 1% Nights. Highlights an 92% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $120,818 per year, or $58.1 per hour.

Senior Visual Communication Designer

Chicago, IL • On-site

IDEO
501 - 1,000 employees

$80K - $100K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 19 days ago


Job description

Senior Visual Communication Designer
In a nutshell:
Visual Communication Designers at IDEO make the biggest impact through visual storytelling. They work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to bring ideas, research, strategy, and stories to life through strong craft execution.
The ideal candidate has a strong foundation in graphic design and experience applying practical and conceptual design principles across brand expression, interaction and digital product experiences, motion, and storytelling. We're looking for designers who bring a distinct visual voice, curiosity, and a commitment to craft excellence.
In this role, you will...
You'll work as a key contributor on project teams, supporting all phases of the design process-from early exploration and prototyping through to polished, client-facing deliverables. Your work may span brand, storytelling, motion, interaction and digital product, information design, packaging, and environmental expression.
Once here you will:
  • Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to translate research and strategy into compelling visual narratives
  • Contribute to the development and expression of brand identities across mediums
  • Create looks-like/works-like prototypes at varying levels of fidelity to explore and communicate design directions
  • Design thoughtful experiences across digital, physical, and hybrid touchpoints with the end user in mind
  • Produce high-quality visual deliverables that communicate user stories and strategic intent working across a variety of industries (health, financial services, consumer products, etc.)
  • Advocate for exceptional visual craft through making, iteration, and collaboration
Some previous projects to check out:
  • Cornell Lab of Ornithology Brand
  • Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health
  • The Lawrence Hall of Science, University of California Berkeley
  • Cities United Rebrand
Design Craft:
  • Relevant experience and/or educational background required in interactive/graphic design across a variety of applications and media
  • Strong portfolio demonstrating elevated design craft, typography, layout, and visual storytelling
  • Extensive experience with tools such as Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
  • Familiarity with motion and interaction tools (After Effects, prototyping platforms, etc.)
  • Comfort collaborating in client-facing presentation environments such as Google Slides and FigJam/Figma Slides
  • Curiosity and openness to experimenting with emerging mediums including 3D, motion, and AI-assisted design
Diverse Experience:
  • Experience establishing and expressing brand identity, from understanding strategy through creative interpretation and execution, including: visual identities, brand systems, and guidelines for implementation
  • Experience in concept ideation, design research, and prototyping, with a curiosity for learning and experimenting across visual, digital, and experiential mediums
  • Ability to work across a wide range of design challenges, recognizing patterns, and translating insights into thoughtful visual solutions
  • Comfort moving between exploratory and polished work, helping teams bring ideas to life through strong craft and storytelling
Key Mindsets:
  • Collaborative and adaptable: able to navigate team dynamics,timelines, and client contexts while delivering exceptional design.
  • Growth oriented and resilient: open to feedback, eager to iterate, and comfortable learning through experimentation and critique
  • Curious and proactive: able to generate ideas, take initiative, and contribute wherever needed, from early exploration to final delivery.
What does IDEO offer you?
IDEO is a place where you can solve diverse, complex challenges for our clients and their organizations, alongside thoughtful, intelligent individuals who lead with curiosity, empathy, and humility. We 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.
Payscale & Benefits
IDEO is committed to paying its employees, contractors & vendors equitably, regardless of gender identity or race/ethnicity/cultural identity.
The salary range for this role is $80,000-$100,000 USD. Final offers may vary based on candidate experience, location, and other factors. As a full-time position, this role is eligible for employee benefits.