Graphic Designer at HGA

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: HGA

Location: Minneapolis, MN; Milwaukee, WI; Boston, MA; Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Santa Monica, CA

Job Type: Contract

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design

Date Posted: 2026-08-11

Experience Level: Mid-Level (3-5+ years)

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

This contract role focuses on executing a firmwide brand refresh by developing and deploying new visual identity assets.
The Graphic Designer will be instrumental in creating and maintaining branded templates across various software platforms to ensure brand consistency.
Responsibilities include transforming existing marketing collateral and designing new materials that align with updated brand standards.
The role requires a blend of creative design expertise and production excellence, with an emphasis on building scalable and user-friendly design systems.

📝 Enhancement Note: This is a contract position with a maximum duration, emphasizing the need for rapid execution and a strong portfolio demonstrating immediate impact. The focus on "bringing our new visual identity to life" and "building systems that empower teams" highlights a strategic operational component to the design work, moving beyond pure aesthetic creation to system design and enablement.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

Develop and maintain branded templates in Adobe InDesign, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, and Canva, adhering to new brand standards.
Translate new brand guidelines into scalable design systems, reusable assets, and intuitive templates for firmwide use.
Update and redesign existing marketing collateral, including proposals, presentations, brochures, project sheets, infographics, and digital templates, to align with the evolved visual identity.
Create new marketing materials such as social media graphics and other branded assets, ensuring consistency and quality.
Drive the successful rollout and adoption of the new brand identity across all firm departments and external communications.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand their design needs and provide on-brand solutions.
Ensure brand consistency and quality control across all design outputs, acting as a guardian of the visual identity.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities clearly indicate a need for not just design execution but also a strategic understanding of brand implementation and system design. The emphasis on "scalable templates," "reusable assets," and "design systems" suggests a focus on efficiency and long-term brand management, which are key operational aspects of a design function.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: Minimum of 3–5+ years of professional graphic design experience, preferably within a corporate or professional services environment (e.g., architecture, engineering, consulting).

Required Skills:

Expert proficiency in Adobe InDesign, specifically with master pages, paragraph and character styles, object styles, and long-document template creation.
Expert proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, including slide masters, custom layouts, themes, and template development.
Advanced proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop for asset creation and manipulation.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat for document formatting and finalization.
Strong understanding of typography, layout principles, production design processes, and visual hierarchy.
Proven experience in interpreting and applying brand guidelines to create intuitive, scalable templates and design systems.
Exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a collaborative approach to teamwork and a willingness to embrace feedback. Preferred Skills:
Experience with Canva for accessible template creation and use by non-designers.
Experience with Microsoft Excel for data-driven design elements or asset management.
Familiarity with design operations principles and workflow optimization.
Experience in the architecture, engineering, or construction (AEC) industry.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "expert proficiency" in InDesign and PowerPoint, coupled with experience in "master pages, styles, libraries, and long-document templates" and "slide masters, layouts, themes, and template development," points to a need for a designer who can build robust, reusable design systems rather than just creating one-off designs. This is a critical distinction for an operations-focused enhancement.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

A strong portfolio showcasing successful template development for long-form documents (e.g., InDesign) and presentations (e.g., PowerPoint).
Examples of brand systems or style guides translated into practical, scalable templates and reusable assets.
Case studies demonstrating the redesign of existing marketing collateral to align with new brand standards, highlighting before-and-after transformations.
A diverse range of marketing materials, including proposals, brochures, infographics, and digital assets, that exhibit proficiency in typography, layout, and visual hierarchy.
Evidence of creating user-friendly tools or systems that empower non-designers to produce on-brand content. Process Documentation:
Demonstrations of workflow optimization for design asset creation and management.
Examples of how you've ensured brand consistency and quality control through defined processes.
Evidence of experience in building and maintaining design libraries or asset management systems.
Documentation or case studies illustrating the implementation of design standards and their impact on project efficiency or brand adoption.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "template development," "design systems," and "reusable assets" strongly suggests that the hiring team will look for evidence of process thinking and system design within the candidate's portfolio. This goes beyond showcasing aesthetic output to demonstrating the ability to create efficient, scalable design solutions.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

Mid-West Locations (Minneapolis, Milwaukee): $67,300 - $85,900 USD per year
East & West Coast Locations (Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Santa Monica): $73,700 - $94,000 USD per year

Explanation for Range: The salary range is adjusted based on geographic location, reflecting regional cost of living and market rates for experienced graphic designers in professional services. Actual compensation will be determined by the candidate's specific qualifications, experience, and education.

Benefits (for employees working >24 hours/week):

Annual bonus program
Success sharing bonus program
401(k) with guaranteed contribution
Paid parental leave
Comprehensive medical insurance
Dental insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off (PTO)
Short-term disability program
Long-term disability program

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week. This is a contract role, so benefits eligibility may differ for individuals working fewer than 24 hours per week.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is provided with a clear geographical differentiation, which is standard for national firms. The note about benefit eligibility for those working over 24 hours a week is crucial for a contract role, indicating the structure of employment for this position.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) - HGA is a nationally recognized, award-winning firm in this sector.

Company Size: Large (implied by multiple national offices and a robust brand refresh initiative).

Founded: HGA has a long history, suggesting stability and established processes, but is also focused on innovation ("shape what's next").

Team Structure:

The Graphic Designer will join the Brand & Design team, which is part of a larger marketing or communications function.
This role will likely collaborate closely with marketing specialists, proposal managers, and potentially design/architecture teams.
The team structure supports a "firmwide brand refresh," indicating a high level of coordination and strategic importance for brand initiatives. Methodology:
HGA emphasizes designing with "impact" by deeply understanding client needs and passions.
Their approach is driven by empathy, curiosity, and a pursuit of meaningful work that fosters innovation.
The company culture values individuality and embraces flexibility, while also promoting collaboration.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's industry (AEC) is highly relevant. Design in this sector often involves complex technical documentation, proposals, and presentations, requiring a specific skill set in translating technical information into visually compelling narratives. The emphasis on "empathy," "curiosity," and "meaningful work" suggests a culture that values thoughtful, client-centric design.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Graphic Designer, focusing on execution and system building within a contract framework. While not a permanent role, it offers significant experience in a large-scale brand implementation project.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to a manager within the Brand & Design team, likely a Creative Director or Senior Marketing Manager.

Operations Impact: The role directly impacts the firm's external perception and internal brand consistency. By creating robust templates and design systems, the designer contributes to the operational efficiency of marketing and business development efforts, enabling teams to produce high-quality, on-brand materials more effectively and quickly.

Growth Opportunities:

Skill Development: Deepen expertise in InDesign and PowerPoint template systems, learn advanced techniques for brand asset management, and gain experience in a large-scale brand refresh project.
Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience working within the AEC industry, understanding its unique design and communication needs.
Project Experience: Contribute to a high-profile, firmwide initiative that will be a significant addition to a professional portfolio.
Networking: Opportunity to build relationships with marketing and design professionals across multiple HGA offices.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract role, "growth" is framed around skill enhancement, project experience, and industry exposure rather than a traditional linear career path. The operational impact is significant through the creation of scalable systems.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: HGA embraces a hybrid work model, requiring employees to be in the office three days a week. This suggests a focus on collaborative work, team cohesion, and in-person brainstorming.

Office Location(s): Multiple locations across the US (Minneapolis, MN; Milwaukee, WI; Boston, MA; Washington, DC; San Francisco, CA; Santa Monica, CA), offering flexibility for candidates depending on their proximity to these hubs.

Workspace Context:

The environment is collaborative, fast-paced, and focused on delivering exceptional results.
Expect to work with modern design tools and technologies.
Opportunities for interaction with cross-functional teams to understand diverse design needs.
The office setting is designed to foster teamwork and innovation, essential for a brand refresh project.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (approx. 40 hours/week), with the expectation of being in the office 3 days per week. Flexibility may be available, but the core requirement is hybrid presence.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model with specific in-office days emphasizes the importance of in-person collaboration for a project like a brand refresh, where quick feedback loops and team alignment are critical for operational efficiency and creative synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

Initial Screening: Resume and portfolio review by HR and the hiring manager to assess qualifications and alignment with role requirements.
Technical Assessment/Skills Test: Likely a design challenge or a deep dive into InDesign/PowerPoint template creation skills, potentially involving a case study or a practical exercise.
Interview(s): Discussions with the hiring manager and potentially other team members to evaluate design philosophy, problem-solving abilities, collaboration style, and understanding of brand systems.
Final Interview: May involve a presentation of design work or a portfolio walkthrough.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Highlight Template Systems: Prioritize showcasing examples of robust, scalable templates in InDesign and PowerPoint. Clearly articulate the process and thought behind their creation.
Brand Refresh Examples: Include projects where you've translated brand guidelines into new collateral or systems. Detail your approach to maintaining consistency.
Process & Efficiency: Demonstrate how your designs contribute to efficiency. For example, show how a well-designed template reduces production time for other team members.
Variety of Collateral: Include examples of proposals, presentations, brochures, and digital assets to showcase breadth of skill.
Conciseness: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized and easy to navigate. Focus on quality over quantity.

Challenge Preparation:

Master InDesign/PowerPoint Features: Be prepared to demonstrate advanced knowledge of master pages, styles, slide masters, and themes.
Brand Guideline Application: Practice applying hypothetical brand guidelines to create a simple template or asset.
Problem-Solving: Think about how you would approach translating complex AEC project information into clear, visually appealing graphics and templates.
Collaboration Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you handle feedback and collaborate with non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "template development," "design systems," and "brand systems" in the portfolio review and interview preparation is crucial. This suggests the hiring team is looking for an operations-minded designer who can build sustainable solutions, not just create pretty pictures.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

Adobe InDesign: Expert proficiency required for template and long-document creation. Emphasis on master pages, styles, libraries, and long-document template features.
Microsoft PowerPoint: Expert proficiency required for template development. Emphasis on slide masters, custom layouts, themes, and template functionality.
Adobe Illustrator: Advanced proficiency for vector graphics, logos, and icon creation.
Adobe Photoshop: Advanced proficiency for image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
Microsoft Word: Advanced proficiency for document design and template integration.
Adobe Acrobat: Advanced proficiency for PDF creation, editing, and optimization.

Analytics & Reporting: Not directly applicable to this design role, but understanding how design assets are used and tracked (e.g., in marketing campaigns) is beneficial.

CRM & Automation: Not directly applicable to this design role.

Preferred/Bonus Tools:

Canva: Experience is a plus for broader template accessibility.
Microsoft Excel: Experience is a plus, potentially for data visualization or asset management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "master pages, styles, libraries, and long-document templates" for InDesign, and "slide masters, layouts, themes, and template development" for PowerPoint, highlights the operational aspect of these tools. The candidate needs to be proficient in building reusable, systemized design elements within these platforms.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

Excellence in Execution: A commitment to high-quality design and production, ensuring brand integrity and accuracy.
Collaboration: A strong belief in teamwork, open communication, and constructive feedback to achieve collective goals.
Efficiency & Scalability: A focus on creating design solutions that are not only visually appealing but also practical, reusable, and easy for others to implement.
Client-Centricity: Understanding that design serves a purpose – to communicate effectively and support business objectives, particularly within the AEC context.
Adaptability: Embracing change and new brand standards, with a willingness to learn and evolve design practices.

Collaboration Style:

Open and communicative, with a proactive approach to seeking input and sharing progress.
Embraces feedback as an opportunity for improvement and refinement of design work.
Works effectively with both design peers and non-design stakeholders (e.g., marketing, business development teams).
Values a team environment that fosters shared learning and collective problem-solving.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize practical application of design skills, efficiency, and collaboration, which are core to an operations-focused role. The ability to integrate with broader business functions is key.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

Rapid Brand Rollout: The compressed timeline for a firmwide brand refresh requires swift execution and adaptation.
Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Balancing the design requirements of various departments and individuals across multiple offices.
Translating Complex Information: Adapting technical and project-specific information from the AEC industry into clear, compelling visual narratives.
Maintaining Consistency: Ensuring a unified visual identity across a wide range of materials and platforms.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Advanced Template System Design: Deepen expertise in building sophisticated, maintainable design systems within industry-standard software.
Brand Strategy Implementation: Gain practical experience in executing a large-scale brand refresh, understanding the strategic considerations involved.
AEC Industry Design: Develop specialized knowledge in design for architecture, engineering, and construction, a niche but significant market.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Enhance communication and project management skills by working with diverse teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight operational complexities, such as managing timelines, stakeholder alignment, and information translation, all of which require strong process management and problem-solving skills from a design perspective.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

"Describe your process for creating a new template in Adobe InDesign for a long-form document. What are the key elements you ensure are included?" (Focus on master pages, styles, libraries.)
"How would you approach translating a complex set of brand guidelines into a user-friendly template system for non-designers?" (Focus on simplification, documentation, and accessibility.)
"Imagine you need to redesign a proposal template. What are the first steps you would take, and what key information would you prioritize showcasing?" (Focus on understanding audience, content strategy, and visual hierarchy.) Company & Culture Questions:
"What interests you about HGA and our specific work in the AEC industry?" (Research HGA's portfolio and values.)
"How do you approach receiving and incorporating feedback on your designs, especially from stakeholders who may not have a design background?" (Highlight collaboration and communication skills.)
"Describe a time you had to manage multiple design projects with competing deadlines. How did you prioritize and ensure timely delivery?" (Focus on organizational skills and project management.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
Narrative-Driven: For each portfolio piece, tell a story: the challenge, your approach, the tools used, and the impact/outcome.
System Showcase: Clearly highlight projects focused on template development and brand systems. Explain the "why" behind your design choices for scalability and usability.
Demonstrate Technical Proficiency: Be ready to briefly walk through the technical aspects of your template creation (e.g., showing a master page or style sheet).
Quantify Impact (if possible): If you can, mention how your design solutions improved efficiency or consistency for previous employers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview questions are geared towards assessing not just design talent but also an operational mindset – understanding process, efficiency, scalability, and stakeholder management within a design context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

Submit your resume and a link to your online portfolio through the HGA careers portal.
Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features examples of template development, brand system design, and collateral redesign, specifically highlighting your expertise in Adobe InDesign and Microsoft PowerPoint.
Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize your experience in corporate/professional services design, your proficiency with the required software, and your ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines. Use keywords from the job description.
Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, particularly how you build scalable systems and apply brand standards. Be ready to discuss your experience with brand refreshes and your approach to collaboration.
Company Research: Familiarize yourself with HGA's work, particularly in the AEC sector, and understand their stated values to articulate your cultural fit and interest in the role.

⚠️ 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.

Graphic Designer