Graphic Designer - App & Comms

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer - App & Comms

Company: Ascension Publishing Group

Location: United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: May 15, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with occasional travel)

🚀 Role Summary

• Design compelling visual assets for both a new print periodical and the existing Ascension app, ensuring a cohesive and engaging user experience across all platforms.

• Develop and maintain a consistent, strong visual identity and brand system that scales effectively across a high volume of print and digital collateral.

• Transition into an art direction role, guiding and managing freelance designers to expand creative output and maintain quality standards.

• Contribute to the strategic evolution of Ascension's visual brand, championing its adoption and integrity throughout the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a hybrid individual contributor and future art director. While initial focus is on execution, the trajectory clearly points towards leadership and team management, requiring candidates with a strong blend of creative talent and nascent leadership potential. The emphasis on scaling visual systems suggests a need for meticulous documentation and a strategic approach to design execution, crucial for any operations-minded creative professional.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute design elements for a new print periodical, including illustrations, pull quotes, section openers, and other graphic components that enhance readability and engagement.

• Create a diverse range of graphics for the Ascension app, such as thumbnails, featured images, promotional artwork, and in-app visual content, optimizing for user interface and user experience.

• Ensure strict adherence to and consistent application of Ascension's established visual brand identity across all print and digital deliverables, maintaining brand integrity.

• Develop and manage relationships with a roster of freelance graphic designers, including briefing, providing constructive feedback, and ensuring timely delivery of high-quality assets.

• Actively participate in the refinement and expansion of Ascension's visual brand guidelines, documenting standards and educating internal stakeholders on their application.

• Collaborate closely with the Director of App & Communications to align visual strategies with overarching content and communication goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly delineate a phased approach to the role, starting with hands-on design and evolving into art direction and team management. This progression is common in growing GTM and creative operations functions where initial execution is critical, followed by a scaling of capabilities through external resources. Candidates should highlight experience in both execution and strategic oversight of creative projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While formal education is not a primary requirement, a strong portfolio demonstrating foundational design principles is paramount. Candidates are encouraged to apply even if they are early in their design careers, provided their portfolio showcases potential and relevant skills.

Experience: Mid-level experience (approximately 2-5 years) in graphic design, with a proven ability to work across both print and digital mediums. Experience in managing creative projects and a demonstrated aptitude for art direction and scaling creative output are highly valued.

Required Skills:

• A robust and compelling portfolio showcasing a diverse range of design work, particularly in print and digital applications, with a focus on typography, composition, and visual hierarchy.

• Proficiency in industry-standard design software, including Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign) and/or Figma.

• Exceptional understanding of typography, layout, composition, and visual hierarchy principles.

• Demonstrated ability to conceptualize and execute a strong visual idea and apply it consistently across numerous applications without loss of impact or creativity.

• Proven capability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, exhibiting strong organizational and time management skills.

• A growth mindset and demonstrable potential for creative direction, including the ability to articulate constructive feedback on design work and identify areas for improvement.

• A deep understanding of and sincere love for the Catholic faith, aligning with Ascension’s mission.

• Ability to embody and live Ascension’s core values of humility, passion, and integrity.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience managing or art directing freelance creative talent.

• Familiarity with brand system development and implementation.

• Experience within the media, publishing, or non-profit sectors, particularly with religious organizations.

• Understanding of app design principles and user interface (UI) elements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio over formal education is a key differentiator. For operations roles, this translates to valuing demonstrable skills and project outcomes over academic credentials. The requirement for a "growth mindset around creative direction" and the ability to articulate what makes work "better" are indicators of a need for strategic thinking and analytical skills, vital for operations professionals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a clear process for conceptualization and execution of design projects, showcasing how visual ideas are developed from brief to final asset.

• Include case studies that illustrate the application of visual systems across multiple touchpoints, highlighting how consistency was maintained while allowing for creative variation.

• Showcase examples of design for both print (e.g., publications, brochures) and digital (e.g., app assets, web graphics) formats, detailing the specific tools and techniques used for each.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how you document design decisions, brand guidelines, or style guides to ensure consistency and facilitate collaboration.

• Illustrate your workflow for creating and managing assets for high-volume needs, such as app updates or periodical releases, emphasizing efficiency and scalability.

• Show how you measure the effectiveness or impact of your design work, even if qualitatively, through user feedback or alignment with communication goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a portfolio isn't just a showcase of aesthetics but a demonstration of process and problem-solving. Operations professionals are expected to document, standardize, and optimize workflows. Therefore, the portfolio should reflect an understanding of these principles within a creative context. Highlighting how designs were scaled or managed efficiently will be critical.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on the experience level (2-5 years), fully remote status within the United States, and the nature of the role (combining hands-on design with art direction potential), a competitive annual salary range is estimated between $65,000 and $85,000 USD. This estimate considers the general market rates for mid-level graphic designers with digital and print experience, with adjustments for the specialized nature of the role and the organization's mission.

Benefits:

• Health Care Plan: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance to support employee well-being.

• Retirement Plan: Options for 401(k) and IRA to aid in long-term financial planning.

• Life Insurance: Basic, voluntary, and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage for financial security.

• Paid Time Off: Generous allocation including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Family Leave: Support for employees through maternity and paternity leave.

• Disability Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage to provide income protection.

• Training & Development: Opportunities for professional growth and skill enhancement.

• Work From Home: Full remote work arrangement, offering flexibility and work-life balance.

• Wellness Resources: Access to programs and resources designed to promote employee health and well-being.

Working Hours: Standard full-time employment, typically equating to 40 hours per week. Given the remote nature, there may be flexibility in daily scheduling, provided core business hours and collaboration needs are met, and project deadlines are consistently achieved.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on typical US market rates for a mid-level remote graphic designer with potential for growth. Specific compensation will depend on the candidate's experience, portfolio strength, and negotiation. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting a commitment to employee welfare and long-term engagement, which is a positive indicator for operational stability and employee retention.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Catholic Media & Publishing. Ascension Publishing Group operates within a unique sector that blends faith-based content with professional media production and distribution. This context implies a mission-driven organization where work is aligned with spiritual values and community impact.

Company Size: Ascension Publishing Group is likely a medium-sized organization, given its established presence in Catholic media and its ability to offer a comprehensive benefits package and manage a growing digital platform alongside print initiatives. A medium-sized company often offers a balance between the structure of a large corporation and the agility of a startup, providing opportunities for significant individual impact.

Founded: Ascension Publishing Group was founded with a mission to evangelize and deepen the faith of Catholics. The company has grown to become a significant voice in Catholic media, known for popular programs and resources that reach millions globally. This history suggests a culture that values growth, innovation within its mission, and impactful communication.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will report directly to the Director of App & Communications, indicating a focused reporting line within a dedicated communications or content team.

• The team structure likely involves collaboration with content creators, digital product managers, and potentially marketing specialists who leverage the visual assets designed.

Methodology:

• Ascension leverages data and user engagement metrics to inform its content strategy, particularly for its app. Design decisions are expected to consider user experience and conversion rates for engagement or program participation.

• Workflow planning and optimization are essential, especially with the launch of a new periodical and the ongoing high-volume needs of the app. Efficiency in asset creation and distribution is key.

• Automation and efficiency practices will likely be explored, particularly in managing freelance resources and disseminating digital assets.

Company Website: https://ascensionpublishing.com/ (Note: The provided URL was for job listings, a general company URL is more appropriate here for broader context.)

📝 Enhancement Note: Understanding the mission-driven nature of Ascension is crucial. This isn't just about creating aesthetically pleasing designs; it's about creating visuals that serve a specific purpose—deepening faith and promoting spiritual growth. Operations professionals in such environments often find a strong sense of purpose and alignment with organizational values.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Mid-Level Graphic Designer, suitable for individuals with 2-5 years of experience. It offers a clear path for growth into an Art Director or Lead Designer role, with responsibilities expanding from individual contribution to team leadership and strategic creative oversight. The "growth mindset" requirement signals that the company is looking for individuals eager to develop their skills and take on more responsibility.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports directly to the Director of App & Communications. This close working relationship provides direct mentorship and exposure to high-level strategic decisions within the communications and digital product domains. It also implies that the Director will be actively involved in guiding the designer's development, particularly in art direction.

Operations Impact: The graphic designer's work will have a direct impact on user engagement with both the Ascension app and the new print periodical. Effective visual design can increase app downloads, session duration, article readership, and subscription rates for the periodical. By managing freelancers and contributing to brand standards, the designer also influences the efficiency and scalability of the organization's creative output, impacting overall GTM effectiveness.

Growth Opportunities:

• Art Direction & Team Leadership: The primary growth path involves transitioning into an art director role, managing freelance teams and taking ownership of the visual direction for major projects.

• Brand Strategy Development: Opportunity to contribute significantly to the evolution of Ascension's visual brand, developing and implementing new guidelines and standards.

• Cross-Functional Expertise: Exposure to various aspects of media production, digital product management, and communications strategy, broadening skill sets beyond core design.

• Industry Specialization: Deepening expertise within the Catholic media landscape, becoming a go-to specialist for visually communicating faith-based content.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth trajectory from individual contributor to art director is a significant aspect of this role. For operations professionals, understanding this progression is key. It signifies a move from tactical execution to strategic oversight and resource management, mirroring typical career advancements in operations where individuals move from process implementation to process design and team leadership.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a fully remote position, meaning the primary work environment is home-based. However, the requirement for occasional travel to Ascension's headquarters in Exton, PA, indicates a hybrid element where in-person collaboration and strategic meetings are expected periodically.

Office Location(s): The company headquarters are located in Exton, PA. While the role is remote, candidates must be able to travel to this location as needed. This could involve team meetings, brainstorming sessions, or critical project reviews.

Workspace Context:

• As a remote role, candidates will need a dedicated, productive home office setup conducive to creative work and collaboration (e.g., reliable internet, suitable workspace).

• The work will involve significant use of digital tools and platforms for design, communication, and project management, requiring a high level of digital literacy.

• Collaboration will occur through digital channels (video calls, shared documents, project management software) and in-person during travel to headquarters. This blend requires adaptability in communication styles.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is full-time (approximately 40 hours per week). While remote work offers flexibility, candidates must be available to meet deadlines, attend scheduled virtual meetings, and potentially align with specific time zones for team collaboration. Occasional travel will require adherence to specific travel dates and times.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "fully remote with occasional travel" aspect is crucial for operations roles. It requires strong self-discipline, proactive communication, and the ability to manage one's own workflow effectively. The occasional travel to headquarters signifies a need for strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships in person, complementing remote collaboration.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess foundational design skills, relevant experience, and alignment with the company’s mission.

• Portfolio Review & Discussion: A dedicated session to walk through selected projects from your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, creative rationale, problem-solving approach, and how you handled specific challenges. Focus on how you applied visual hierarchy, typography, and composition.

• Skills & Cultural Fit Interview: This may involve a conversation with the Director of App & Communications to evaluate your understanding of the Catholic faith, your passion for Ascension's mission, your growth mindset, and your ability to work collaboratively in a remote and hybrid environment.

• Paid Project (Potentially): A small, paid design project may be assigned to assess your practical design skills, ability to follow direction, and adherence to deadlines in a real-world scenario. This is a common practice for creative roles to gauge output quality and efficiency.

• Final Interview: May involve meeting additional team members or leadership to confirm cultural fit and suitability for the role and its future growth potential.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 projects that best showcase your ability to design for both print and digital mediums, demonstrating versatility. Include examples that highlight your understanding of typography, composition, and visual hierarchy.

• Show Your Process: For each project, clearly articulate your role, the problem you were solving, your creative process (from concept to execution), and the outcome or impact of your design. Use visuals to illustrate your steps.

• Highlight Scalability: If possible, include a project where you had to scale a visual system or design across multiple applications. Explain your approach to maintaining consistency and efficiency.

• Demonstrate Faith Alignment: If you have relevant experience or personal projects related to faith-based organizations or content, consider including them to showcase your understanding and passion.

• Be Ready to Discuss Art Direction: Even if you haven't formally managed freelancers, be prepared to discuss how you would approach briefing, critiquing, and guiding another designer's work.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Problem-Solving: Be ready to discuss hypothetical design challenges related to app UI, print layout, or brand consistency. Practice articulating your thought process and solutions clearly and concisely.

• Brand Interpretation: Prepare to discuss how you would interpret and apply Ascension's existing visual brand to new contexts, or how you might suggest evolving it.

• Freelancer Management Scenarios: Think about how you would onboard, brief, manage feedback for, and ensure quality from freelance designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes practical demonstration of skills (portfolio, paid project) and cultural/mission alignment. For operations roles, this translates to proving your ability to execute, manage resources, and align with company objectives. The portfolio review is akin to a case study presentation where process and impact are as important as the final output.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Adobe Illustrator (vector graphics, logos, icons), Adobe Photoshop (image editing, digital assets, mockups), and Adobe InDesign (layout for print periodicals, brochures, reports). Mastery of these tools is expected for daily tasks.

• Figma: Required for digital design, particularly app assets, UI elements, and collaborative design workflows. Proficiency in Figma is a strong asset for modern app design and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but familiarity with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) would be beneficial for managing tasks, deadlines, and communication, especially when coordinating with freelancers.

• Understanding of cloud storage and file-sharing services (e.g., Google Drive, Dropbox) for asset management and collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite and Figma points to the core technical requirements. For operations roles, a similar emphasis on specific CRM, ERP, marketing automation, or BI tools would be present. The expectation is for candidates to be proficient in the essential technologies that drive their function.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Humility: Approaching design challenges with an open mind, being receptive to feedback, and valuing collaboration over ego. This means being willing to learn from others and admit when a different approach might be better.

• Passion: Demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for Ascension's mission and for creating high-quality visual content that serves that mission effectively. This passion should drive a commitment to excellence and innovation.

• Integrity: Upholding ethical standards in design, respecting intellectual property, and being transparent and honest in all professional interactions, especially when working with freelancers or internal stakeholders.

• Efficiency & Excellence: Striving for both creative excellence and efficient execution. This involves finding streamlined ways to produce high-quality work, managing time effectively, and delivering on commitments reliably.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The designer will work closely with the Director of App & Communications and potentially other content creators, requiring clear communication and a collaborative spirit to ensure visual assets align with content strategies.

• Feedback Culture: A willingness to give and receive constructive feedback is essential, particularly when art directing freelancers or iterating on designs based on stakeholder input.

• Knowledge Sharing: Openness to sharing design best practices, insights, and learnings with colleagues, contributing to a culture of continuous improvement within the team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicitly stated core values (humility, passion, integrity) are critical for cultural fit. In operations, understanding and embodying company values translates to how strategies are executed, how teams collaborate, and how decisions are made. For this role, it means aligning creative output with the organization's mission and ethical standards.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Scaling Visual Identity: The primary challenge will be applying a consistent and compelling visual identity across a vast number of applications for both a new print periodical and an established app without the designs becoming repetitive or diluted. This requires strategic thinking about modular design systems and asset management.

• Art Direction of Freelancers: Effectively managing and guiding freelance designers, especially remotely, requires strong communication, clear briefs, and constructive feedback to maintain quality and brand consistency.

• Balancing Print and Digital: Designing for two distinct mediums with different technical requirements and user expectations demands versatility and a deep understanding of best practices for each.

• Mission-Driven Creativity: Translating the specific nuances and spiritual depth of Catholic content into effective visual communication can be a unique challenge requiring sensitivity and understanding.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Art Direction: Developing skills in leading creative teams, managing external talent, and making strategic creative decisions that impact brand direction.

• Brand System Development: Opportunity to contribute to or lead the development of comprehensive brand guidelines and style guides, enhancing skills in brand strategy and implementation.

• Digital Product Design: Gaining deeper experience in app design principles, UI/UX considerations, and the lifecycle of digital product visual assets.

• Print Production Expertise: Refining knowledge of print production processes, typography for long-form reading, and layout design for periodicals.

📝 Enhancement Note: Identifying challenges and outlining growth opportunities is vital for operations roles. It shows foresight and a commitment to continuous improvement. For this position, the challenges relate to process scaling, resource management, and strategic execution, while growth opportunities focus on leadership, strategic thinking, and specialized skill development—all key components of operational advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for developing a visual system that can be applied consistently across hundreds of different assets for a print periodical and a mobile app. How would you ensure it doesn't become repetitive?" (Focus on modular design, asset libraries, clear guidelines, and thematic variation within a consistent framework.)

• "Imagine you need to brief a freelance designer on creating a series of promotional graphics for our app. What information would you provide, how would you set expectations for quality and brand adherence, and how would you manage their work and feedback?" (Highlight clarity in briefs, defining success metrics, providing examples, and structured feedback loops.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What is your understanding of Ascension's mission, and how do you see your role as a graphic designer contributing to it?" (Demonstrate research into Ascension's work and articulate how design can serve faith-based communication.)

• "Describe a time you received constructive criticism on your design work. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?" (Showcase humility, openness to feedback, and a growth mindset.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each selected project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your approach, the solution, and the outcome. This makes your work memorable and demonstrates your strategic thinking.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you have any metrics related to user engagement, click-through rates, or positive feedback on your designs, present them. For operations roles, demonstrating ROI is key.

• Showcase Process: Use visual aids like mood boards, wireframes, or early sketches to illustrate your creative journey. This demonstrates your methodology and problem-solving skills.

• Highlight Scalability & Efficiency: Point out specific projects where you had to produce many assets efficiently or scale a design system. Explain the methods you used to achieve this.

📝 Enhancement Note: The strategy questions are designed to probe candidates' understanding of operations-centric challenges within a creative context: scalability, resource management, and cross-medium execution. Preparing answers that highlight process, efficiency, and strategic thinking will be crucial for operations-minded candidates.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Workable.

• Tailor your resume: Highlight experience in graphic design, especially with Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and emphasize any experience with print and digital mediums, project management, or working with remote teams. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate your portfolio: Select projects that best demonstrate your skills in typography, composition, visual hierarchy, and your ability to design for both print and digital. Ensure it reflects your process and problem-solving capabilities.

• Prepare your portfolio walkthrough: Be ready to articulate your design process, rationale, and the impact of your work during an interview. Practice presenting 2-3 key projects that showcase your versatility and ability to scale design.

• Research Ascension Publishing Group: Understand their mission, target audience, and existing visual identity. Be prepared to discuss how your skills and passion align with their faith-based objectives and how you can contribute to their growth.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.