Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)

Location: Headquarters, TX, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Marketing & Communications Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-18

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

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Conceptualize, design, and produce customer/marketing print and digital materials.

• Collaborate with Marketing, Communications, and Creative Services staff to ensure seamless execution of brand guidelines.

• Prepare and present design concepts to leadership and stakeholders, responding to feedback effectively.

• Maintain brand consistency and accuracy across a variety of projects simultaneously, managing multiple deadlines.

• Proactively identify and recommend improvements to design processes and industry trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer within a public transit organization, emphasizing the need for strong design execution, brand stewardship, and collaborative skills within a structured environment. The focus is on producing tangible marketing and communication assets for both external and internal audiences.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute creative concepts for a wide range of print and digital design projects, including brochures, flyers, social media graphics, web banners, and internal communications.

• Translate project objectives and messaging into compelling visual designs, ensuring alignment with DART's brand identity and strategic goals.

• Collaborate closely with internal teams (Marketing, Communications, Creative Services) throughout the entire design lifecycle, from initial brainstorming and concept development to final review and production.

• Prepare and present design concepts and mockups to Creative Services leadership and Marketing Services teams, effectively articulating design choices and incorporating feedback.

• Ensure brand consistency across all DART materials by meticulously adhering to brand guidelines, typography standards, and color palettes for all projects.

• Proactively anticipate project needs and respond swiftly to design challenges and feedback, ensuring timely and high-quality output.

• Prioritize and manage multiple design projects concurrently, employing effective time management and organizational skills to meet all deadlines.

• Maintain excellent file management practices, adhering to DART's storage and archival guidelines to ensure proper organization and accessibility of design assets.

• Stay abreast of current design and industry trends, as well as emerging technological developments in the marketing environment, recommending improvements for efficiency and effectiveness.

• Perform other related duties as assigned, demonstrating flexibility and willingness to support broader departmental objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a hands-on design role with a strong emphasis on execution, collaboration, and adherence to brand standards. The need for managing multiple projects and staying current with trends indicates a dynamic and demanding creative environment within a large public sector organization.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Communication Arts with an emphasis on Graphic Design, or a closely related field. Experience:

• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience as a Graphic Designer, preferably within an advertising agency, graphic design studio, or a corporate design environment. Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Software Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite CC, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Typography & Layout: Deep understanding of fonts, typography principles, and their application in creating visually appealing compositions for both print and digital media.

• Print Production Knowledge: Comprehensive understanding of CMYK printing processes, color calibration, and preparing files for print vendors and promotional merchandise.

• Digital Design Skills: Ability to design for digital platforms, including web banners, social media graphics, and mobile devices, understanding their specific technical requirements and best practices.

• Brand Consistency Management: Proven ability to maintain strict brand consistency across diverse projects, ensuring accuracy and attention to detail.

• Customer Focus: Demonstrated dedication to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers, establishing and maintaining effective relationships.

• Decision Making: Ability to make sound, analytical decisions based on a combination of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment, often sought out for advice.

• Technical Aptitude: Quick learner with the ability to rapidly acquire new skills and knowledge, excelling in technical courses and seminars related to design and marketing technology.

• Written Communication: Excellent written communication skills, able to convey messages clearly and succinctly in various settings and styles.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Proven ability to find common ground, solve problems collaboratively, and work effectively as a team player, gaining trust and support from peers.

• Problem Solving: Ability to apply rigorous logic and methods to solve complex problems, identifying hidden issues and exploring solutions beyond the obvious.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel) for broader project communication and asset integration.

• Familiarity with DART's specific brand guidelines and marketing objectives.

• Experience in a public sector or transportation-related organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirements emphasize a strong foundation in core graphic design principles and software, coupled with crucial soft skills like customer focus, decision-making, technical learning, and collaboration. The inclusion of a physical examination with a drug screen for operating DART vehicles is a specific compliance requirement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated portfolio showcasing a diverse range of print and digital design projects, demonstrating proficiency in conceptualization, execution, and final output.

• Specific examples of projects that highlight adherence to brand guidelines and successful adaptation of designs across different media.

• Case studies or project descriptions that detail the design process, challenges encountered, and solutions implemented.

• Visual evidence of strong typography, layout, and color theory application in various design contexts.

• Demonstrations of designs prepared for both print production (CMYK, file preparation) and digital platforms (web, mobile). Process Documentation:

• Examples of how design concepts were developed and presented to stakeholders, showcasing collaboration and feedback integration.

• Evidence of effective file management practices, including project organization and archival methods.

• Any documentation or personal notes on how design efficiency and effectiveness were improved through process optimization or trend adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a formal requirement for submission, a robust portfolio is implicitly crucial for a Graphic Designer role. The enhancement focuses on what DART would likely look for to assess a candidate's practical skills, process understanding, and ability to deliver on the core responsibilities.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $50,822.00 - $83,855.00 USD per year.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance plans.

• Retirement Savings: Participation in a defined benefit pension plan and/or 401(k) options.

• Paid Time Off: Generous vacation, sick leave, and holiday pay.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and continued education to enhance design skills and industry knowledge.

• Life Insurance: Employer-provided life insurance coverage.

• Other Perks: Potential for employee assistance programs and other DART-specific benefits.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time workweek, typically 40 hours per week.

• May require occasional evening or weekend work to meet project deadlines, with potential for compensatory time or overtime as per company policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is specific to the role and location. Benefits are inferred based on typical offerings for full-time employees in large public sector organizations in the United States. The working hours are standard but acknowledge the potential for occasional overtime common in creative roles with project deadlines.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Public Transportation / Government & Public Sector. DART operates a vast public transportation network, serving as a critical infrastructure provider for the Dallas area. This context implies a focus on public service, reliability, and community impact.

Company Size: Large organization, as indicated by the "Professional" EEO category and the structured reporting lines. This suggests a formalized operational framework, established processes, and a significant workforce.

Founded: DART was established in 1983. Its long history signifies stability, established operational procedures, and a deep understanding of the community's transportation needs.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: The Graphic Designer reports to the Manager of Creative Services. This indicates a hierarchical structure within the Creative Services department.

• Collaboration: The role requires close collaboration with Marketing, Communications, and other DART Departments (internal clients). This highlights a cross-functional operational model where design directly supports broader organizational initiatives.

• Departmental Focus: The Creative Services team is a specialized unit within the larger Marketing/Communications department, focused on visual asset creation and brand stewardship.

Methodology:

• Design Process: Emphasizes a collaborative brainstorm, concept, design, and review process, ensuring client (internal/external) satisfaction and brand alignment.

• Brand Stewardship: A core operational methodology involves maintaining brand consistency across all touchpoints, requiring meticulous attention to detail and adherence to established guidelines.

• Efficiency & Trends: Proactive engagement with design trends and technological developments to recommend improvements in efficiency and effectiveness is a key operational approach.

Company Website: https://www.dart.org/

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context as a large public transit authority shapes its culture towards service, reliability, and adherence to public sector standards. The operations within the Creative Services team are geared towards supporting these broader organizational goals through effective visual communication.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Mid-Level Designer. This role is foundational for designers looking to build experience within a structured corporate or public sector environment. It involves executing designs based on established guidelines while contributing to concept development.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to the Manager of Creative Services, providing a clear line of mentorship and oversight. This structure allows for guided development and exposure to strategic creative decision-making.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts DART's public image, customer engagement, and the clarity of its communications. Effective design enhances rider experience, promotes services, and supports internal initiatives, thereby contributing to operational efficiency and public perception.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design software (e.g., advanced InDesign for complex publications, motion graphics in After Effects if applicable) or specialize in particular asset types (e.g., transit advertising, digital campaigns).

• Project Leadership: Potential to lead design aspects for specific campaigns or projects, gaining experience in project management and client coordination.

• Mentorship: Learning from the Manager of Creative Services and senior team members, gaining insights into strategic creative direction and operational best practices within DART.

• Advancement: A potential career path could lead to Senior Graphic Designer, Art Director, or roles within broader marketing or communications management, depending on performance and organizational needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a stable environment for a designer to hone their core skills and understand the operational demands of a large public entity. Growth is likely to be within specialized design functions or through taking on more project responsibility rather than rapid hierarchical promotion.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job description mentions an office location at "1401 PACIFIC AVE, DALLAS, TX 75202," suggesting a corporate office setting rather than a field or operational facility. This implies a professional, office-based work environment.

Office Location(s): The primary location is listed as Dallas, TX, with the job title indicating "Headquarters." This suggests a central office where creative teams are likely consolidated.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role emphasizes collaboration with internal teams, suggesting an open-plan office or shared workspace designed to facilitate communication and teamwork.

• Tools & Technology: Access to up-to-date MAC software, including the full Adobe Creative Suite, is standard. DART likely provides robust IT infrastructure to support creative production.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for daily interaction with the Manager of Creative Services and other marketing/communications professionals to discuss projects, receive feedback, and align on creative strategies.

Work Schedule:

• A standard 40-hour workweek is expected. While the role is primarily on-site, the nature of design projects may occasionally require flexibility to meet critical deadlines, potentially involving some overtime. The emphasis on time management suggests a structured workday.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement and office-based nature of the role indicate a traditional work environment focused on team collaboration and direct supervision, typical for many public sector organizations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Application review, focusing on resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and experience.

• Skills Assessment/Design Challenge: A potential design challenge or portfolio review session to evaluate practical design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of brand application. This may involve presenting design concepts and rationale.

• Behavioral & Situational Interviews: Interviews with the Manager of Creative Services and potentially other team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, communication skills, and ability to handle design challenges. Questions will likely probe decision-making, technical learning, and customer focus.

• Final Interview: Possibly with higher-level management or HR to finalize the selection.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 5-8 of your strongest, most relevant projects that demonstrate a range of skills (print, digital, branding) and your ability to solve design problems.

• Tell a Story: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the outcome. Quantify results if possible (e.g., "increased engagement by X%").

• Highlight Brand Adherence: Include examples where you successfully worked within strict brand guidelines or adapted a brand for different applications.

• Showcase Technical Proficiency: Ensure examples clearly demonstrate your mastery of Adobe Creative Suite tools, typography, and layout principles. Include files prepared for print (mentioning CMYK) and digital formats.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, how you handle feedback, and your understanding of DART's mission and audience.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand DART: Research DART's current marketing campaigns, brand identity, and service offerings. Identify potential design needs or areas for improvement.

• Practice Timed Design: If a design challenge is expected, practice creating a design piece within a set timeframe, focusing on quick concept development and efficient execution.

• Articulate Your Process: Be ready to walk through your thought process for any design challenge or portfolio piece, explaining your rationale for color, typography, imagery, and layout choices.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview and portfolio review process for a Graphic Designer role typically emphasizes practical skills and the ability to translate creative ideas into tangible assets that meet client needs and brand standards. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate their technical proficiency and strategic thinking through their work.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite CC: InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop are essential. Proficiency expected for professional-level output.

• Microsoft Office Suite: Outlook, Teams, Word, PowerPoint, Excel are required for communication, collaboration, and document creation.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for this role, an understanding of how design impacts metrics (e.g., click-through rates for digital ads, engagement on social media) is beneficial. Experience with basic analytics platforms might be a plus. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but awareness of how marketing materials integrate with CRM or marketing automation platforms can be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technology stack for this role is heavily centered around Adobe's design software. Proficiency in Microsoft Office is also a standard requirement for broader business integration.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Customer Focus: Dedication to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers, using feedback for continuous improvement. Gaining trust and respect is paramount.

• Decision Making: Valuing thoughtful, analytical decision-making based on a blend of analysis, wisdom, and experience, with a focus on accurate and effective solutions.

• Learning Agility: Embracing the ability to quickly pick up technical skills and new knowledge, excelling in learning new industry, company, product, or technical information.

• Collaboration: Fostering teamwork, finding common ground, solving problems for the good of all, and encouraging cooperative efforts with peers.

• Problem Solving: Employing rigorous logic and methods to solve difficult problems, looking beyond the obvious to find effective, accurate solutions.

Collaboration Style:

• Team-Oriented: The role necessitates working closely with colleagues in Creative Services, Marketing, and Communications, emphasizing shared goals and mutual support.

• Feedback Integration: A culture that encourages the exchange of thoughtful creative feedback among team members and contractors, ensuring high-quality work.

• Cross-Functional Partnership: Working effectively with various DART departments as internal clients, understanding their needs and translating them into visual communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated values align with typical corporate and public sector expectations, emphasizing reliability, continuous improvement, and strong interpersonal skills. The collaborative style is crucial for a role that bridges creative execution with broader organizational objectives.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: Effectively translating creative ideas within the strict framework of DART's established brand guidelines and public sector requirements.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Juggling design requests and feedback from multiple internal departments, each with potentially different priorities and communication styles.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Digital Demands: Adapting design strategies and skills to meet the ever-changing landscape of digital marketing and communication platforms.

• Time Management Under Pressure: Efficiently prioritizing and managing multiple projects with competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to attend workshops or online courses to master advanced features within Adobe Creative Suite or explore new design software.

• Industry Trend Immersion: Staying current with graphic design, marketing, and public transportation industry trends through conferences, webinars, and professional publications.

• Cross-Departmental Exposure: Gaining insight into the operational strategies of Marketing, Communications, and other DART departments to better understand how design contributes to overall organizational success.

• Mentorship from Creative Leadership: Learning from experienced managers and senior designers on strategic creative direction and best practices in a large organizational setting.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a mid-level designer in a structured environment. The growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement and broader organizational understanding, supporting career development within DART or related fields.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines. How did you approach it?" (Focus on process, compromise, and brand integrity.)

• "How do you prioritize and manage multiple design projects with competing deadlines? Can you walk us through your time management strategy?" (Highlight organizational skills, tools used, and proactive communication.)

• "Tell us about a challenging design project where you received difficult feedback. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome?" (Emphasize resilience, problem-solving, and ability to incorporate constructive criticism.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about working for DART specifically, and how do you see your design skills contributing to our mission?" (Research DART's mission, services, and recent campaigns.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies in the marketing and design fields?" (Mention specific resources, publications, or learning methods.)

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment. How do you approach working with internal clients and other team members?" (Showcase communication, teamwork, and customer-centric approach.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your portfolio by project type or by demonstrating specific skills (e.g., branding, digital, print). For each project, clearly state the objective, your role, the solution, and the result.

• Emphasize Process: For 1-2 key projects, detail your design process, including brainstorming, concept development, revisions, and final execution. This shows your strategic thinking.

• Highlight Brand Consistency: Specifically point out projects where you successfully maintained or adapted a brand identity, showcasing your understanding of brand stewardship.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to discuss file preparation for print (CMYK, resolution, bleed) and digital formats (RGB, optimization for web).

• Be Concise and Engaging: Present your work with enthusiasm and clarity, allowing time for questions and discussion.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design talent but also the critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills required for success within DART's operational framework.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the DART careers portal at dart.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/DART/job/Headquarters/Graphic-Designer_JR103482.

• Customize Your Resume: Tailor your resume to highlight the required skills and responsibilities mentioned in the job description, using keywords like "Adobe Creative Suite," "print design," "digital design," "brand consistency," and "collaboration." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Portfolio: Curate a digital portfolio that showcases your best work, focusing on projects that demonstrate proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, typography, and brand application. Ensure it's easily accessible (e.g., via a link in your resume or application).

• Research DART: Familiarize yourself with DART's mission, services, brand identity, and recent marketing initiatives. Understand their role in the Dallas community.

• Practice Your Pitch: Be ready to articulate your design philosophy, explain your portfolio pieces, and answer behavioral questions that assess your problem-solving, collaboration, and customer-focus skills.

⚠️ 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.

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