Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Orchestra

Location: New York, N.Y.

Job Type: Temporary, Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Consulting

Date Posted: June 05, 2026

Experience Level: 3-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in-office)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for supporting political campaigns by translating abstract messages into compelling visual assets across direct mail, digital ads, and collateral.

• The Graphic Designer will be a key contributor to the BerlinRosen Campaigns (BRC) creative studio, focusing on brand strategy and design execution during peak election seasons.

• Requires a strong understanding of print design principles and the ability to manage multiple projects with tight deadlines in a fast-paced agency environment.

• This position offers an opportunity to gain significant experience in political campaign marketing and communications within a leading Democratic consulting firm.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role is explicitly temporary, running from May 2026 through October 23, 2026, with a specific focus on the 2026 election cycle. The hybrid nature suggests a need for strong remote collaboration skills alongside in-office presence.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Collaborate closely with Art Directors and account team members to conceptualize and produce high-impact direct mail pieces, canvassing literature, digital ads, and social media graphics for multiple political campaigns.

• Translate abstract campaign messages and strategic objectives into clear, persuasive visual designs that resonate with target audiences.

• Manage project files and assets efficiently, ensuring organization and accessibility for team members.

• Regularly meet demanding deadlines for a diverse range of candidates, adapting to changing campaign needs and priorities.

• Actively participate in visual concept development for direct mail and other campaign materials, contributing creative solutions and ideas.

• Receive and implement feedback from Art Directors and campaign teams, maintaining strong layouts, branding, and design hierarchy throughout the creative process.

• Ensure all designs adhere to campaign branding guidelines and strategic communication goals.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for both creative contribution and meticulous project management, typical of operations within a creative agency environment. The emphasis on "eye-catching, high-impact" designs and "translating abstract messages" points to a strategic design function, not just execution.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Not specified, but a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Fine Arts, or a related field is typically preferred for agency roles of this nature.

Experience: 3-5 years of experience with print design and art direction, preferably within an agency setting or a comparable fast-paced environment. Direct experience in political campaign design is a significant plus.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically:

  • Adobe InDesign (essential for print layout and direct mail)
  • Adobe Photoshop (for image editing and digital assets)
  • Adobe Illustrator (for vector graphics and logo design)

• Demonstrated expertise in print design principles, including layout, typography, color theory, and visual hierarchy.

• Strong understanding of art direction and the ability to guide visual concepts from ideation to final product.

• Excellent time management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.

• Highly organized and detail-oriented approach to work, ensuring accuracy and efficiency.

• Ability to work effectively both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

• Adaptability and resilience under pressure, with the capacity to pivot priorities to meet last-minute deadlines.

• Willingness to work extended hours, including nights and weekends, during peak campaign periods. Preferred Skills:

• Editorial design experience, demonstrating an understanding of narrative flow and publication layout.

• Direct experience designing for political campaigns, including an understanding of campaign messaging, target audiences, and common campaign materials (e.g., mailers, palm cards, digital ads).

• Familiarity with direct mail production processes and specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for 3-5 years of experience, combined with specific Adobe Suite proficiency and agency background, suggests a mid-level designer role. The "art direction" aspect implies a need for conceptual thinking and the ability to guide visual strategy, not just execute instructions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong portfolio showcasing a minimum of 3-5 years of design work, with a significant emphasis on print design and direct mail.

• Demonstrate a range of projects that highlight your ability to translate complex or abstract information into clear, compelling visual narratives.

• Include examples of your work on direct mail pieces, canvassing literature, digital ads, and social media graphics.

• Showcase your process, including concept development, layout iterations, and final execution, with a focus on problem-solving and design rationale.

• Portfolio should clearly indicate your role in each project and the impact of your design contributions. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly requested as separate documentation, your portfolio should implicitly demonstrate your design process:

  • Workflow for receiving briefs, conducting research, and developing initial concepts.

  • Methods for managing feedback and iterating on designs to meet client objectives.

  • Systems for organizing and delivering final assets in appropriate formats for print and digital.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Graphic Designer role, especially in a campaign context, the portfolio is paramount. It serves as the primary "process and systems" demonstration, showing how the candidate approaches design challenges and executes projects from start to finish. Emphasis should be on impact and strategic thinking.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000 annually (prorated for the contract duration).

Benefits: As this is a temporary, full-time position, benefits details are not fully specified. However, typical benefits for such roles might include:

• Accrued paid time off (PTO) based on contract length.

• Potential for health insurance coverage (may vary based on contract duration and employer policy).

• Opportunities for professional development and networking within the political communications industry.

• Exposure to high-profile political campaigns and strategic communication strategies.

Working Hours: Full-time, with an expectation of working extended hours, including nights and weekends, during peak campaign periods. The standard work week is likely 40 hours, but flexibility is critical.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated salary of $70,000 annually is prorated for the contract period (May 2026 - October 23, 2026). This implies a fixed salary for the duration of the contract, not an hourly wage. The prorated aspect is important for candidates to understand their total compensation for the term.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Strategic Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, Political Consulting. Orchestra is a large, integrated communications company composed of multiple specialized firms.

Company Size: Orchestra is a significant entity, comprising over 700 people across its various agencies. The BerlinRosen Campaigns (BRC) team is a specialized unit within this larger structure.

Founded: Orchestra was formed in 2022 through acquisitions, bringing together established firms. BerlinRosen itself was founded in 2005.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the BerlinRosen Campaigns (BRC) creative studio.

• This studio is an in-house creative unit specializing in brand strategy, copywriting, design, and direct mail production for Democratic political campaigns.

• The team is composed of strategists, copywriters, branding experts, and designers who act as creative partners to clients.

• The Graphic Designer will collaborate with Art Directors and account team members. Methodology:

• Orchestra's methodology emphasizes integrating people, platforms, and stories to build lasting influence.

• The Campaigns team operates with a focus on winning tough races through strategic consulting and direct mail expertise.

• They function as creative partners, moving from brainstorming and strategy to production and execution.

• A data-driven approach is implied, focusing on audience decoding and strategic messaging.

Company Website: www.orchestraco.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Orchestra's structure as an umbrella company with multiple specialized agencies (like BerlinRosen) means the candidate will work within a dedicated unit (BRC) but benefit from the resources and broader network of a larger organization. The "built for today's complex and fragmented world" slogan suggests a modern, agile approach to communications.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a Graphic Designer with 3-5 years of experience, fitting into the mid-level of a creative team. It's a temporary position focused on a specific, high-intensity period (election season).

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will report to Art Directors and collaborate closely with account team members within the BerlinRosen Campaigns (BRC) creative studio.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts campaign success by creating persuasive visual materials that influence voter perception, drive engagement, and ultimately contribute to winning elections. The effectiveness of direct mail, digital ads, and collateral is directly tied to the quality of the design.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Deepen expertise in political campaign design, direct mail production, and fast-paced agency workflows. Gain experience with a variety of candidates and campaign types.

• Industry Exposure: Gain invaluable experience in the high-stakes world of Democratic political consulting and communications. Build a network within the political campaign ecosystem.

• Potential for Future Roles: Successful performance in this temporary role could lead to opportunities for future contract extensions or full-time positions within Orchestra's network of agencies, particularly if the company expands its creative capacity or for future election cycles.

📝 Enhancement Note: While temporary, this role offers significant practical experience in a niche and demanding field. The "growth" is primarily in skill acquisition, industry exposure, and portfolio building, rather than a traditional linear career path within this specific contract.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: BerlinRosen Campaigns (BRC) operates within Orchestra's New York, N.Y. office. The role is hybrid, requiring 3 days per week in the office. This suggests a collaborative office setting designed for teamwork, client meetings, and access to shared resources.

Office Location(s): New York, N.Y. (specific office address not provided). The hybrid requirement means candidates must be able to commute to this location regularly. Remote candidates in the US may be considered, but the primary expectation is hybrid.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: Expect to work closely with Art Directors, copywriters, and account managers in a dynamic, fast-paced team setting. Brainstorming sessions and feedback loops are likely integral to the workflow.

• Tools & Technology: Access to standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially project management tools. The office environment likely provides necessary hardware and a stable network for design work.

• Team Interaction: Frequent interaction with colleagues will be essential for project collaboration, concept development, and ensuring alignment with campaign strategies.

Work Schedule: Full-time, with a significant requirement for flexibility. The job description explicitly states a "willingness to work extended hours, including nights and weekends, during peak periods" and the ability to "adapt under pressure and quickly pivot priorities to meet last-minute deadlines."

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model (3 days in-office) is common for creative roles where collaboration and access to physical resources (like large format printers for proofs, or collaborative whiteboarding) are beneficial. Candidates should be prepared for an energetic, deadline-driven environment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and design aesthetic.

• Portfolio Review & Interview: A more in-depth discussion focused on the candidate's portfolio. This will involve walking through specific projects, discussing design choices, problem-solving approaches, and understanding the candidate's role and impact. Expect questions about their experience with print design, campaign materials, and working under pressure.

• Skills Assessment (Potential): While not explicitly stated, a short design exercise or a brief case study related to campaign materials might be given to assess practical skills and quick thinking.

• Team/Hiring Manager Interview: Further discussion to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, and alignment with the BRC team's needs.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest projects, emphasizing those most relevant to political campaigns, direct mail, and digital advertising.

• Showcase Process: For each project, briefly explain the brief, your thought process, challenges faced, solutions implemented, and the final outcome/impact. Visuals of early concepts or sketches can be valuable.

• Highlight Relevance: Clearly label projects related to political campaigns, advocacy, or similar fast-paced, message-driven work. If you don't have direct political experience, highlight transferable skills from other agency or fast-turnaround projects.

• Quantify Impact: If possible, mention any metrics or results associated with your designs (e.g., "designed direct mail that contributed to a 5% increase in voter turnout in district X," if known).

• Be Prepared to Discuss: Articulate your design decisions confidently, explain your rationale, and discuss how your work aligns with strategic goals.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you handle tight deadlines and conflicting priorities.

• Prepare examples of how you've adapted to feedback that challenged your initial design ideas.

• Think about how you would approach designing a piece of direct mail or a social media ad for a hypothetical candidate given a specific campaign message or target audience.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "tight deadlines," "adapting under pressure," and "translating abstract messages" means interviewers will be looking for candidates who are not only technically skilled but also resilient, strategic, and capable of performing under the intense pressure of political campaigns.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • Adobe InDesign: Essential for layout and production of direct mail, canvassing literature, and other print collateral. Proficiency in setting up print-ready files, managing master pages, styles, and preflight checks is critical.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Crucial for image manipulation, retouching, creating digital assets for ads and social media, and preparing graphics.
  • Adobe Illustrator: Used for creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations that need to scale without losing quality.

• Project Management Software: Likely to use tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar for task management, workflow tracking, and team collaboration.

• File Sharing & Collaboration: Platforms like Google Drive, Dropbox, or internal servers for organizing and sharing project files.

Analytics & Reporting: Not directly the responsibility of the Graphic Designer, but understanding how designs perform (e.g., click-through rates on digital ads, response rates on mailers) can inform future design choices.

CRM & Automation: Typically not directly used by graphic designers, but awareness of campaign CRM systems and how design assets integrate into automated marketing or outreach efforts could be beneficial.

📝 Enhancement Note: Mastery of InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator is non-negotiable. The ability to produce print-ready files efficiently and effectively is a core operational requirement for this role, directly impacting production timelines and costs.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Impact-Driven: A strong focus on creating designs that achieve measurable results for campaigns and clients.

• Collaboration: Emphasis on teamwork, open communication, and collective problem-solving within the creative studio and with account teams.

• Agility & Responsiveness: The ability to adapt quickly to changing campaign needs, political landscapes, and client feedback.

• Excellence & Craftsmanship: A commitment to high-quality design execution, attention to detail, and strategic thinking in every piece produced.

• Integrity & Ethics: Operating within the ethical framework of political consulting and communications.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Designers work closely with Art Directors, copywriters, and account managers to ensure a cohesive message across all campaign materials.

• Feedback Culture: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve designs and processes.

• Partnership Approach: Acting as creative partners to clients and internal teams, contributing strategic insights alongside design execution.

• Proactive Communication: Keeping stakeholders informed about project status, potential challenges, and design recommendations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture is likely fast-paced, deadline-oriented, and mission-driven, common in political consulting. Candidates should be prepared for a high-energy environment where collaboration and rapid iteration are key to success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Intense Deadlines & Pressure: The primary challenge is consistently delivering high-quality work under extreme time constraints, common in political campaign cycles.

• Diverse Client Needs: Adapting design style and messaging to suit a wide range of candidates, districts, and campaign strategies.

• Feedback Management: Navigating potentially subjective feedback from multiple stakeholders while maintaining design integrity and strategic alignment.

• Rapid Pivots: The political landscape can change quickly, requiring designers to adapt designs and priorities on short notice.

• Balancing Creativity with Strategy: Ensuring that creative output is not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically effective and aligned with campaign goals.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Gaining deep expertise in direct mail design, political advertising, and campaign branding.

• Industry Knowledge: Understanding the nuances of political messaging, voter psychology, and campaign strategy.

• Portfolio Building: Creating a robust portfolio with impactful work from high-profile campaigns.

• Networking: Building connections within the political consulting and communications industry.

• Resilience Training: Developing strong coping mechanisms for high-pressure environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The temporary nature of the role means "growth" is focused on skill acquisition and experience. Candidates should view this as an intensive, short-term immersion in political design.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to design a campaign piece with a very abstract or complex message. How did you approach translating that into a visual?"

  • Preparation: Prepare a case study from your portfolio that demonstrates this skill. Focus on your conceptualization process, how you identified key themes, and how you used design elements to communicate them clearly.

• "How do you handle tight deadlines and last-minute changes in a project? Can you give an example?"

  • Preparation: Be ready to discuss your organizational systems, prioritization techniques, and how you manage stress. Use a specific example of a project where you successfully navigated these challenges.

• "What is your process for receiving and incorporating feedback from Art Directors and clients?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your approach to constructive criticism. Emphasize your ability to understand feedback, ask clarifying questions, and iterate on designs effectively while maintaining the project's strategic goals.

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Why are you interested in designing for political campaigns, specifically with our firm?"

  • Preparation: Research Orchestra and BerlinRosen Campaigns. Understand their mission, recent work, and the current political landscape. Connect your passion for design with your interest in politics and your understanding of their specific approach.

• "How do you ensure your designs align with brand strategy and campaign objectives?"

  • Preparation: Discuss your process for understanding a brief, researching the target audience, and integrating strategic messaging into your visual concepts.

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid environment or a fast-paced agency setting."

  • Preparation: Highlight your ability to collaborate effectively both in-person and remotely, and your comfort with high-pressure, deadline-driven work.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, guide the interviewer through the challenge, your approach, the execution, and the outcome.

• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs achieved campaign goals or solved specific problems.

• Highlight Process: Briefly touch upon your design thinking, not just the final output.

• Be Concise: Stick to the most relevant projects and key talking points. Be prepared for deeper dives if requested.

• Show Enthusiasm: Convey your passion for design and your interest in the political space.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interviewers will be assessing not only design skill but also resilience, strategic thinking, and the ability to thrive in a high-pressure, mission-critical environment. Demonstrating an understanding of political communication is a significant advantage.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse portal via the provided job link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your strongest print design, direct mail, and digital ad work. Prioritize any political campaign or advocacy-related projects. If direct experience is limited, emphasize transferable skills from agency work or projects requiring rapid turnaround and strategic messaging.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience and proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator). Quantify achievements where possible, and clearly list any relevant agency or political campaign experience.

• Interview Preparation: Practice your portfolio walkthrough, focusing on explaining your design process, problem-solving skills, and ability to work under pressure. Prepare to discuss your interest in political campaigns and Orchestra's work.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Orchestra's network of agencies, especially BerlinRosen Campaigns. Understand their mission, recent work, and the general landscape of political communications.

⚠️ 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.