Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Cushman & Wakefield

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA; Austin, Texas, USA

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-05-26

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Execute the strategic vision of the Property Marketing Center of Excellence (COE) through high-quality design and template creation.

• Support fee-earners and marketing leadership with specialized design projects and property marketing collateral.

• Ensure all creative materials adhere to comprehensive company brand standards and are produced under strict deadlines.

• Collaborate with design and marketing teams to develop impactful visual marketing assets and service line needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the responsibilities and reporting structure place this role firmly within a marketing operations or creative services function, focused on supporting the GTM (Go-To-Market) strategy through visual collateral. The emphasis on "Property Marketing COE" and "fee-earners" indicates a B2B focus, likely within the commercial real estate sector.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Attend strategy sessions with marketing leadership, fee-earners, and conduct necessary research to inform creative development.

• Develop compelling marketing materials, including branding, property brochures, marketing boards, flyers, e-blasts, postcards, pop-up banners, and event invitations.

• Create custom maps, tables, charts, graphs, and illustrations to effectively communicate property information and key selling propositions.

• Manage the production and quality control of marketing collateral, reporting progress and coordinating with printers and marketing coordinators.

• Finalize creative property marketing materials for distribution, ensuring accuracy and brand compliance.

• Demonstrate advanced creative development and production skills using Adobe Creative Suite on a PC platform.

• Effectively manage creative requirements, expectations, and deadlines for all assigned projects.

• Prioritize total workload in collaboration with the marketing team and leadership, providing regular updates on progress and outstanding questions.

• Design and format digital assets for e-blasts and online campaigns, considering best practices for digital engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities heavily emphasize production and execution of marketing collateral. The role requires a strong understanding of brand guidelines and the ability to translate complex property information into clear, visually appealing graphics. The expectation to manage multiple projects and deadlines suggests a need for robust project management skills within a design context.

கல் Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Communications, or a related discipline is preferred.

Experience: 3+ years of professional graphic design experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience in a high-end graphics, marketing, or production environment, particularly within the real estate sector, is a plus.

Required Skills:

• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator) on a PC platform.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

• Ability to understand, design, and use infographics and iconography for effective visual communication.

• Strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven record of providing outstanding internal and external customer service.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of HTML and digital marketing methods.

• Experience with high-end graphics, marketing, or production environments.

• Real estate background.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office is standard for graphic design roles. The "PC platform" specification is notable. The requirement for strong customer service and communication skills highlights the client-facing nature of supporting internal "fee-earners," which is a key differentiator for operations-adjacent creative roles.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of high-quality graphic design projects demonstrating proficiency in print and digital collateral.

• Include examples of property brochures, marketing boards, flyers, e-blasts, and event invitations that align with brand standards.

• Present case studies or visual examples of how infographics, iconography, and data visualization were used to communicate complex information effectively.

• Demonstrate experience in adhering to strict brand guidelines and producing materials under tight deadlines. Process Documentation:

• Highlight examples of workflow management and project prioritization in your portfolio, showcasing how you handled multiple requests and deadlines.

• Include visuals or descriptions of how you ensure quality control and accuracy in final design outputs.

• Showcase any templates or design systems you've developed or contributed to, demonstrating efficiency and brand consistency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role like this, a strong portfolio is paramount. It should not only display creative talent but also evidence of production efficiency, adherence to brand standards, and the ability to translate client needs into visual assets. The ability to demonstrate a structured approach to design projects and workflow management will be highly valued.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $61,200.00 - $72,000.00 per year.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

• Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

• Retirement Savings Plans

• Life Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Paid Time Away From Work

• Unpaid Time Away From Work

Working Hours: 40 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific and competitive for a Graphic Designer role with 3+ years of experience in a major metropolitan area like Chicago or Austin. The benefits package is comprehensive, reflecting typical offerings for full-time employees at a large corporation like Cushman & Wakefield. The explicit mention of compensation varying by factors like geographic location, experience, and collective bargaining agreements is standard corporate disclosure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate Services. Cushman & Wakefield is a global leader in this sector, providing a wide range of services to property owners, tenants, and investors.

Company Size: Large Enterprise (implied by global presence and benefits structure). Cushman & Wakefield is a Fortune 500 company with tens of thousands of employees worldwide.

Founded: 1917. This long history signifies stability and a deep understanding of the real estate market.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer reports to the Property Marketing Design Manager, indicating a hierarchical structure within the design function.

• This role is part of the Property Marketing Center of Excellence (COE), suggesting a centralized team focused on optimizing marketing efforts across the organization.

• Collaboration is expected with other designers, marketing leadership, and internal clients ("fee-earners") across various service lines. Methodology:

• Emphasis on adhering to "comprehensive and detailed company brand standards" indicates a structured and consistent approach to visual identity.

• The role requires developing materials to communicate "critical messages and key selling propositions," highlighting a strategic approach to design.

• Production and quality control are key, suggesting a focus on meticulous execution and process management.

• Collaboration with marketing coordinators and leadership points to a process of feedback, review, and stakeholder alignment.

Company Website: https://www.cushmanwakefield.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Cushman & Wakefield's standing as a major player in commercial real estate means the Graphic Designer will be part of a professional, corporate environment. The "Center of Excellence" model suggests a drive for best practices, efficiency, and specialization within marketing. The company's long history implies a culture that values experience and established processes, but also embraces innovation to stay competitive.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer. This role is suitable for professionals with 3+ years of experience, indicating a level beyond entry-level but not yet senior or lead. The responsibilities focus on execution and production, with some involvement in strategy sessions.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Property Marketing Design Manager, a direct line of management within the design team. This structure allows for clear guidance, feedback, and performance management.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts the company's Go-To-Market (GTM) strategy by creating visually compelling collateral that supports property sales, leasing, and client acquisition efforts. High-quality design enhances brand perception, communicates value propositions effectively, and ultimately supports revenue generation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to specialize further in specific marketing collateral types (e.g., digital assets, large-format event graphics) or property types within real estate.

• Leadership: Advancement to Senior Graphic Designer or Property Marketing Design Manager roles within the COE.

• Skill Development: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, learn new design software, or explore areas like UI/UX design or motion graphics if company needs evolve.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Potential to work on projects with other departments, gaining broader business acumen within Cushman & Wakefield.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path for a Graphic Designer in a corporate setting often involves increasing responsibility for larger projects, leading design initiatives, or managing junior designers. The "COE" structure suggests opportunities to contribute to the development of design standards and processes, which can be a stepping stone to more strategic roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site. The role is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" in the initial data, but the derived "On-site" status and the nature of design work requiring access to specific hardware and collaborative environments suggest a preference for in-office presence. The company also lists multiple office locations.

Office Location(s): Chicago, Illinois, USA; Austin, Texas, USA. These are major metropolitan hubs, offering a dynamic work environment.

Workspace Context:

• The role likely involves working within a dedicated design team, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among peers.

• Access to established company IT infrastructure, including the specified PC platform and Adobe CC software, is expected.

• The environment is described as "fast-paced," requiring efficient workflow and comfortable interaction with internal clients.

Work Schedule: Standard 40-hour work week. While the role is on-site, the mention of "timely, consistent, and high-quality design work and templates under strict deadlines" implies a need for flexibility and dedication to meet project timelines, which may occasionally require extended hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: Being on-site in a major city office for a company like Cushman & Wakefield offers networking opportunities and exposure to industry trends. It's important for candidates to be comfortable with a collaborative office setting and the routines associated with it.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess basic qualifications and visual style.

• Skills Assessment: Likely a practical design test or a detailed portfolio review focusing on technical skills in Adobe CC, understanding of brand guidelines, and problem-solving abilities. Candidates may be asked to create a small design piece or critique existing materials.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions will focus on experience with deadlines, handling feedback, collaboration with internal clients, prioritization, and customer service. Expect questions like "Describe a time you had to meet a tight deadline for a design project" or "How do you handle conflicting feedback from multiple stakeholders?"

• Manager/Team Interviews: Discussion with the Property Marketing Design Manager and potentially other team members to assess cultural fit and team dynamics.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best represent the skills and experience required for this specific role (print, digital, infographics, branding).

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the challenges, your creative process, and the final outcome. Highlight how you adhered to brand standards or solved a specific client need.

• Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Ensure your portfolio clearly shows your command of Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator.

• Highlight Real Estate/B2B Experience: If you have relevant experience, make it prominent.

• Prepare for Q&A: Be ready to discuss your design choices, your understanding of brand consistency, and your experience working with internal clients and deadlines.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Task: Be prepared for a design challenge that tests your ability to create marketing collateral (e.g., a brochure excerpt, an e-blast layout) within a time limit, adhering to provided brand guidelines and information.

• Critique Exercise: You might be asked to critique existing marketing materials or suggest improvements.

• Scenario-Based Questions: Practice articulating how you would handle common design requests, manage client expectations, and prioritize tasks.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily rely on the candidate's portfolio. It's crucial to tailor the portfolio to the job description and be prepared to discuss specific projects in detail, emphasizing the execution and production aspects relevant to Cushman & Wakefield's needs.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator (Advanced proficiency required).

• Microsoft Office Suite: Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Advanced proficiency required).

• PC Platform: The primary operating system for design work.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly stated, proficiency in understanding how design impacts engagement metrics for e-blasts and digital campaigns would be beneficial.

• Experience with basic data visualization for charts and graphs in Excel or PowerPoint is necessary. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how marketing collateral integrates with CRM or marketing automation platforms (e.g., for e-blasts) is a plus.

• Knowledge of HTML is listed as a bonus, suggesting some digital integration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The technology stack is clearly defined. Candidates must be highly proficient in Adobe CC and MS Office. The mention of HTML as a bonus suggests that while not a primary requirement, an understanding of digital asset integration is valued.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Quality & Precision: A strong emphasis on producing "high-quality design work" and maintaining "comprehensive and detailed company brand standards" indicates a value for meticulousness and accuracy.

• Efficiency & Timeliness: The need to work "under strict deadlines" and manage "total workload" points to a culture that values productivity and meeting commitments.

• Client Focus: "Proven record of providing outstanding internal and external customer service" highlights the importance of responsiveness and collaboration with stakeholders.

• Teamwork & Collaboration: Working with a "design team and marketing team" and "fee-earners" underscores the collaborative nature of the role.

• Brand Integrity: Adhering to brand standards is paramount, ensuring consistency and professional representation of Cushman & Wakefield.

Collaboration Style:

• Proactive communication with internal clients regarding project status, deadlines, and any outstanding questions.

• Collaborative problem-solving sessions with the Property Marketing Design Manager and marketing leadership.

• Exchange of feedback and approvals through defined review processes.

• Support for marketing coordinators in production and distribution of collateral.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes professionalism, adherence to process, and a results-oriented approach, typical of a large, established professional services firm. The COE model suggests a culture of continuous improvement and best practice sharing within the marketing function.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Competing Priorities: Balancing requests from multiple "fee-earners" and marketing leadership simultaneously while maintaining quality and meeting deadlines.

• Strict Brand Adherence: Consistently applying complex and detailed brand guidelines across a wide variety of marketing collateral.

• Fast-Paced Environment: Adapting to a high-volume workflow and tight turnaround times without compromising design quality.

• Translating Complex Information: Effectively visualizing intricate real estate data, property features, and market information into clear, engaging graphics.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to refine skills in areas like advanced illustration, typography, or data visualization pertinent to real estate marketing.

• Digital Design Trends: Learning about emerging digital marketing channels and how to optimize design for them.

• Brand Management: Deepening understanding of corporate brand strategy and its application across diverse marketing materials.

• Industry Knowledge: Gaining exposure to the commercial real estate industry and its specific marketing needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a production-focused design role within a large corporation. Growth opportunities are tied to mastering the core responsibilities and potentially expanding into more strategic or specialized design areas within the real estate context.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to present your portfolio, discussing your design process, problem-solving approach, and how you met the objectives for each project.

• Brand Consistency: How do you ensure brand consistency across different types of collateral and for different internal clients?

• Prioritization: Describe your method for prioritizing tasks when receiving multiple urgent requests from different stakeholders.

• Handling Feedback: How do you incorporate feedback from internal clients and managers, especially when it conflicts with your initial design vision?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Understanding Cushman & Wakefield: What do you know about Cushman & Wakefield and the commercial real estate industry?

• Team Collaboration: How do you collaborate effectively with non-designers and stakeholders who may have limited design knowledge?

• Fast-Paced Environment: How do you manage stress and maintain productivity in a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Highlight Relevance: Select projects that most closely align with the responsibilities outlined in the job description (property brochures, e-blasts, infographics).

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your designs led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement for an e-blast), be ready to share that information.

• Showcase Production Skills: Demonstrate your ability to prepare files for print and digital, including understanding of color modes, resolutions, and bleed.

• Be Articulate: Clearly explain your design rationale and decision-making process for each piece.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be looking for a blend of technical design skill, strong organizational capabilities, excellent communication, and a professional demeanor suitable for a corporate client-facing role.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations-adjacent creative position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workday link: https://cw.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/External/job/Chicago-Illinois-USA/Graphic-Designer_R320164

• Tailor Your Resume: Ensure your resume highlights your 3+ years of experience, advanced Adobe CC and Microsoft Office skills, and any relevant real estate or B2B marketing collateral experience. Use keywords from the job description.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select your strongest, most relevant design projects. Organize them logically and ensure they showcase your ability to create high-quality print and digital assets, including infographics and adherence to brand standards.

• Prepare Your "Why": Be ready to articulate why you are interested in Cushman & Wakefield, the commercial real estate industry, and this specific graphic design role.

• Practice Interview Questions: Review common graphic design interview questions, particularly those related to client interaction, deadline management, and brand consistency.

⚠️ 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.