Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Purdue Research Foundation (Purdue for Life Foundation)

Location: West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

Job Type: Full Time

Category: Marketing & Communications / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-19T21:09:29

Experience Level: 2-5 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive creative campaigns across diverse media (print, digital, environmental, promotional) to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

• Manage end-to-end print and production projects, ensuring quality, budget adherence, and timely delivery through effective vendor coordination and art direction.

• Collaborate with internal marketing teams and external partners to develop innovative design solutions that align with brand guidelines and strategic objectives.

• Stay abreast of emerging design trends, technologies (including AI), and industry best practices to continuously elevate creative output and strategic recommendations.

• Contribute to a dynamic marketing and communications department by providing design support, participating in creative discussions, and ensuring brand consistency across all touchpoints.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is situated within the Purdue for Life Foundation, a distinct entity from Purdue University, focusing on alumni engagement and philanthropic support. The role requires a blend of creative execution, project management, and strategic brand application.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Oversee and prioritize multiple design projects for Broad-Based Campaigns, ensuring high-quality, on-brand deliverables within established timelines and in collaboration with marcom colleagues and leadership.

• Develop and execute creative concepts and designs for a wide array of materials, including print collateral, digital assets, environmental graphics, promotional items, direct mail pieces, and event materials.

• Manage the entire lifecycle of print and production projects, from initial concept and vendor estimation to proofing, coordination, and final quality control, ensuring projects remain within budget and meet deadlines.

• Provide art direction for photography and assist in photo shoots and video productions, including editing photography to strictly adhere to Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines.

• Actively participate in cross-team creative discussions, present design recommendations, and contribute to strategic creative planning, while also researching and integrating emerging design trends and technologies like AI.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Broad-Based Campaigns" suggests a need for design expertise in integrated marketing efforts. The mention of "AI" indicates an expectation to explore and potentially leverage new technologies in the design process.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Visual Communications Design, Graphic Design, or a closely related field.

• A combination of relevant education and professional experience may substitute for the degree requirement. Experience:

• A minimum of two years of professional graphic design experience is required.

• Experience working within an in-house marketing or design department is considered a plus. Required Skills:

• Demonstrated excellence in graphic design, typography, and visual communication, evidenced by a strong portfolio.

• Exceptional ability to communicate design ideas clearly through both visual and verbal means, including the capacity to visually organize complex information.

• Proficient and consistent application of Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines.

• Comprehensive understanding of graphic design principles, production processes, and printing methodologies.

• Professional-level proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator.

• Strong command of macOS, Microsoft Office Suite, and related software applications.

• Excellent problem-solving, decision-making, and organizational skills for managing competing priorities.

• Accurate proofreading capabilities and understanding of standard proofing marks.

• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision, adapt to evolving needs, and consistently meet deadlines while maintaining high-quality output.

• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues of varying experience levels and contribute positively as a team member.

• Capability to receive and constructively incorporate feedback into design work.

• Working knowledge of ADA accessibility requirements and copyright laws pertinent to creative work.

• Reliable and consistent in-person attendance is mandatory. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with art direction for photography and video.

• Familiarity with AI tools and their application in graphic design workflows.

• Experience in direct mail, environmental graphics, or promotional product design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for regular and reliable in-person attendance is a critical point for candidates to note. The preference for in-house experience suggests a need for understanding internal workflows and stakeholder management within a larger organization.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio demonstrating a strong foundation in graphic design, typography, and visual communication is mandatory for application.

• Portfolio pieces should showcase the ability to manage and execute creative projects from concept to completion, highlighting problem-solving and brand application.

• Include examples that illustrate the application of brand guidelines, particularly if any demonstrate work within university or non-profit sectors.

• Showcase diversity in design output, including print, digital, and promotional materials, to reflect the breadth of responsibilities. Process Documentation:

• Examples within the portfolio should reflect a structured approach to project management, including concept development, design iteration, and final production.

• Demonstrate an understanding of production workflows, including vendor coordination, proofing processes, and quality control measures.

• Showcase the ability to translate complex information or campaign objectives into clear, visually compelling designs.

• Include case studies or project descriptions that highlight how brand consistency was maintained across different media and how accessibility requirements were addressed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is explicitly stated as a required component, indicating its critical importance in the evaluation process. Candidates should curate their portfolios to directly address the diverse responsibilities outlined, particularly print production and brand application.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $55,000 - $75,000 annually.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers with 2-5 years of experience in the West Lafayette, Indiana area, considering the non-profit/foundation sector. Purdue Research Foundation job levels and compensation are independent of Purdue University. The "Professional 2" job level suggests a mid-level professional role. This range accounts for the required skills, responsibilities, and the cost of living in the region.

Benefits:

• Paid Time Off: 10 paid holidays per year and accrual of up to 22 vacation days annually.

• Retirement: Traditional pre-tax 403(b) and Roth retirement plans are available, with an immediate 10% employer contribution and full vesting.

• Health & Wellness: Employer-funded preventative dental and vision insurance, and a Health Savings Account (HSA) with potential annual contributions of up to $700 for medical expenses.

• Education: Tuition discounts are available on eligible programs at Purdue University and Purdue Global for qualified employees, their spouses, and dependents.

Working Hours:

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

• Regular and reliable in-person attendance is a requirement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is quite robust, particularly the generous employer contribution to retirement plans and the tuition discount program, which could be significant differentiators for potential candidates. The explicit mention of "Professional 2" job level indicates a defined career path within the foundation.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education Support / Philanthropy / Non-profit

Company Size: The Purdue Research Foundation (PRF) is a large organization, with the Purdue for Life Foundation likely operating as a significant division within it. PRF itself manages a substantial portfolio of intellectual property, commercialization, and foundation activities, suggesting a professional and structured environment.

Founded: Purdue Research Foundation was founded in 1935, indicating a long-standing history and established presence in supporting Purdue University's mission. The Purdue for Life Foundation is dedicated to alumni engagement.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the Marketing & Communications department.

• This department likely comprises various specialists in communications, digital marketing, and creative services.

• The role will involve close collaboration with marcom colleagues and leadership, suggesting a team-oriented structure with clear reporting lines.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with other departments within the Purdue for Life Foundation and potentially with Purdue University's central Brand Studio and Trademarks & Licensing office. Methodology:

• Design work is expected to be "on-brand" and adhere strictly to Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines, emphasizing consistency and institutional identity.

• Project management and prioritization are key, requiring structured approaches to workflow and task management.

• Emphasis on collaboration and receiving constructive feedback suggests a culture that values teamwork and continuous improvement.

• The mention of AI indicates an openness to exploring and integrating new technologies into design processes.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Operating within a foundation tied to a major university implies a mission-driven environment focused on education, alumni relations, and institutional advancement. The expectation to work with established brand guidelines suggests a need for meticulous attention to detail and brand stewardship.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Professional 2

This level typically signifies a mid-career professional who has developed a solid foundation of skills and experience and is expected to work with moderate supervision. They are capable of managing their own projects and contributing significantly to team objectives. For a Graphic Designer, this means moving beyond basic execution to conceptualizing and managing more complex creative initiatives.

Reporting Structure:

The Graphic Designer reports to leadership within the Marketing & Communications department. This structure allows for direct guidance on campaign strategies and brand alignment, while also providing opportunities for cross-functional collaboration with peers and other departments.

Operations Impact:

The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the perception and engagement of Purdue alumni and donors. High-quality, on-brand creative assets are crucial for successful fundraising campaigns, alumni event promotion, and maintaining the university's reputation. The role contributes to the effectiveness of marketing communications by making information visually accessible and engaging, thereby supporting the foundation's mission of empowering alumni and fostering lifelong connections.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Opportunities to deepen expertise in areas like digital design, motion graphics, or specialized print production techniques. Learning to integrate AI tools into the design workflow offers a significant growth path.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success in managing projects and contributing strategically, there's potential to move into a Senior Graphic Designer role or specialize in art direction.

• Cross-Functional Experience: Collaboration with various university departments and external partners provides exposure to different facets of marketing, communications, and institutional advancement.

• Professional Development: Access to tuition discounts and potential for industry-specific training or conferences can support continuous learning.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Professional 2" designation suggests that while core design skills are paramount, there's an expectation of some level of project ownership and strategic input, particularly concerning campaign execution and brand consistency.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: On-site at the Purdue for Life Foundation, located in West Lafayette, Indiana. This implies a traditional office setting conducive to collaboration and direct interaction.

Office Location(s): 403 W Wood St, West Lafayette, IN 47906. This location is central to the foundation's operations and likely provides access to university resources and the broader West Lafayette community.

Workspace Context:

• The role is situated within a Marketing & Communications department, suggesting a collaborative environment with other creative professionals and marketers.

• Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and hardware (macOS) is expected.

• The need for in-person attendance highlights the value placed on face-to-face collaboration, spontaneous brainstorming, and direct team interaction.

• Opportunities to interact with colleagues across different levels of experience are present, fostering a supportive learning environment. Work Schedule:

• Full-time position, typically 40 hours per week.

• Regular and reliable in-person attendance is a mandatory requirement, indicating a structured work schedule without significant remote flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Regular and reliable in-person attendance" is a critical factor for candidates to consider, signaling that this role is not open to remote or hybrid arrangements.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Application Review: Focus on resume and mandatory portfolio submission. The portfolio is key to assessing design skills, technical proficiency, and creative range.

• Portfolio Review & Initial Interview: Candidates will likely present their portfolio, discussing their process, design choices, and impact. This stage assesses creative thinking, communication skills, and brand understanding. Expect questions about how you manage projects and collaborate.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study (Potential): A practical exercise might be given, such as designing a concept for a campaign or adapting existing materials to new requirements, testing on-the-spot problem-solving and application of brand guidelines.

• Team/Manager Interview: Deeper dive into experience, work style, problem-solving approaches, and cultural fit within the Marketing & Communications team and the broader Purdue for Life Foundation. Questions may focus on managing feedback and working under deadlines.

• Final Interview: May involve higher-level stakeholders to confirm fit and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects. Ensure a mix that showcases print, digital, and campaign work.

• Highlight Process: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the final outcome/impact. Use visuals to guide the narrative.

• Brand Adherence: If possible, include examples where you successfully applied strict brand guidelines. Discuss how you ensured consistency.

• Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant tools.

• Impact & Results: Where possible, quantify the impact of your designs (e.g., increased engagement, successful campaign metrics).

• Accessibility & Production: Briefly touch upon your understanding of ADA requirements and print production considerations in your project descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Brand Application: Practice applying Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines to hypothetical scenarios. Research these guidelines thoroughly.

• Campaign Concepting: Be ready to brainstorm creative concepts for alumni engagement or fundraising initiatives.

• Problem-Solving Scenarios: Prepare to discuss how you handle competing priorities, tight deadlines, and constructive criticism.

• Technical Skills: Refresh your knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator for any potential technical tests or discussions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio review is a critical gate. Candidates should meticulously prepare to discuss each piece, emphasizing their thought process, technical execution, and adherence to brand standards. Researching Purdue's brand guidelines is essential.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Professional proficiency is mandatory, with specific emphasis on:

  • Adobe InDesign: For layout and print design of campaign materials, direct mail, and environmental graphics.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, logos, and illustrations.

• macOS: The primary operating system for design work.

• Microsoft Office Suite: For general productivity, communication, and integration with other departmental tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as a primary tool for the designer, an understanding of how design impacts digital analytics and campaign performance may be beneficial. Familiarity with basic web analytics concepts or how design contributes to user engagement metrics could be an advantage. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the Graphic Designer role's core technical stack, but awareness of how designs are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM-driven campaigns might be useful for context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The focus is heavily on the Adobe Creative Suite and macOS. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate advanced skills in these core tools. Awareness of how design integrates with broader marketing technology is a plus.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence & Quality: A commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work with meticulous attention to detail.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Ability to work effectively with colleagues, contribute positively, and receive/incorporate feedback constructively.

• Brand Stewardship: Dedicated to consistently applying Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines to maintain institutional integrity.

• Innovation & Adaptability: Openness to learning new design trends, emerging technologies (like AI), and adapting to changing project needs and deadlines.

• Mission-Driven: Contributing to the foundation's mission of empowering alumni and supporting educational initiatives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expected to collaborate closely with marketing and communications colleagues, leadership, and potentially external partners like Purdue Brand Studio.

• Feedback-Oriented: A culture that embraces receiving and acting upon constructive criticism to improve design outcomes.

• Supportive Environment: Contribution as a supportive, team-oriented colleague is explicitly valued.

• Process-Aware: Understanding and adherence to established design and production processes are crucial for seamless workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture appears to value both individual creative contribution and strong team integration. Adherence to brand standards and a willingness to embrace new technologies are key cultural indicators.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Managing Competing Priorities: Balancing multiple creative projects with varying deadlines and stakeholder demands requires strong organizational and time-management skills.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency: Ensuring all creative output strictly adheres to established, potentially complex, brand guidelines across diverse media.

• Integrating New Technologies: Staying current with design trends and effectively incorporating emerging technologies like AI into workflows while maintaining quality and brand integrity.

• Receiving and Implementing Feedback: Navigating constructive criticism and making necessary revisions while upholding creative vision and project requirements.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Specialized Design Skills: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas such as advanced digital design, motion graphics, or complex print production.

• Technology Integration: Opportunity to become proficient in leveraging AI tools for design enhancement, workflow automation, and concept generation.

• Art Direction Experience: Gaining more experience in providing art direction for photography and video productions.

• Cross-Departmental Exposure: Working with various teams within the foundation and university provides broader understanding of institutional operations and marketing strategies.

• Professional Development: Access to tuition discounts for further education at Purdue University or Purdue Global.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers opportunities for growth beyond core design tasks, particularly in areas like technology integration and art direction, which are valuable for career progression in the creative field.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you managed multiple high-priority design projects simultaneously. How did you prioritize, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses project management, prioritization, and delivery.)

• "How do you ensure brand consistency across a variety of print and digital platforms, especially when working with established guidelines?" (Evaluates brand stewardship and attention to detail.)

• "Tell me about a challenging piece of feedback you received on a design project. How did you incorporate it?" (Tests ability to handle criticism and iterate.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies like AI, and how might you integrate them into your work here?" (Probes for innovation, forward-thinking, and adaptability.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What appeals to you about working for the Purdue for Life Foundation specifically, and how do your skills align with our mission?" (Assesses motivation and cultural fit.)

• "How do you approach collaboration with non-designers, such as marketing managers or development officers?" (Evaluates teamwork and communication skills.)

• "Describe your experience with print production and vendor management." (Gauges practical production knowledge.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Project Narrative: For each selected piece, tell a story: the objective, your role, the creative process, the challenges, your solutions, and the impact.

• Brand Focus: Explicitly discuss how you applied Purdue's brand guidelines. If you have examples of adapting university branding, highlight them.

• Technical Demonstration: Be ready to discuss your proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite tools and any specific techniques used.

• Problem/Solution: Frame your projects around problems you solved for the client or organization through design.

• Conciseness: Keep your presentations focused and within allocated time, ensuring clarity and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: Candidates should thoroughly research the Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation brand guidelines. Be prepared to discuss not just the aesthetics but also the strategic purpose and execution of your designs.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Purdue Research Foundation careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating excellence in graphic design, typography, visual communication, and brand application, with a focus on print and digital campaign materials. Include examples that showcase your ability to manage projects from concept to completion.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly details your 2+ years of graphic design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), and any experience with print production, art direction, or working within established brand guidelines. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, problem-solving skills, and how you handle feedback. Prepare to discuss your understanding of Purdue's brand and mission. Rehearse your portfolio presentation to be clear, concise, and impactful.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research the Purdue for Life Foundation's mission, its connection to Purdue University, and its current marketing efforts. Familiarize yourself with Purdue's brand guidelines to demonstrate genuine interest and preparedness.

⚠️ 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.