Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: Stratus

Location: Mentor, Ohio, United States / Rolling Meadows, Illinois, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Media Operations / Brand Implementation Operations

Date Posted: 2026-07-24

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Remote OK

🚀 Role Summary

• Design and produce conceptual and technical production drawings for signage and building illustrations, leveraging CorelDRAW and Adobe Creative Cloud to support brand implementation initiatives.

• Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Program Managers, and the Service Department to receive and interpret design requests, ensuring alignment with client branding needs and project objectives.

• Research and adopt new signage and design technologies to drive process efficiencies and value engineering in sign product development.

• Manage a diverse portfolio of open design projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment, ensuring timely delivery and high-quality output.

• Contribute to a supportive and friendly company culture focused on execution, customer service, and innovation within the brand implementation sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role, while titled "Graphic Designer," is deeply embedded within the operations of a brand implementation and maintenance company. The emphasis on "production drawings," "technical production drawings," "value engineer sign products," and "production support" indicates a strong operational focus beyond purely aesthetic design. The candidate will be expected to translate design concepts into manufacturable assets, requiring an understanding of production workflows and material constraints, which is crucial for GTM and brand operations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Receive, analyze, and interpret design requests originating from the Sales Team, Program Managers, and the Service Department, translating client needs into actionable design briefs.

• Utilize the latest versions of CorelDRAW and Adobe Creative Cloud software to create detailed conceptual and technical production drawings for signage and building illustrations.

• Proactively research and learn new sign/design technologies to identify opportunities for enhanced process efficiencies and effective value engineering of sign products.

• Engage in direct one-on-one meetings with Salespeople and Program Managers to thoroughly understand and define customer design requirements and project scope.

• Participate in periodic design meetings convened by immediate supervision to discuss project progress, share insights, and align on design strategies.

• Execute other assigned tasks by Design Management to ensure the timely and accurate completion of drawings and essential production support.

• Maintain a high level of organization and manage multiple open design projects concurrently to meet project deadlines and client expectations.

• Apply basic math skills, including fractions and decimal conversions, for accurate measurements and calculations in design specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative design execution and operational support. The emphasis on "value engineer sign products" and "production support" suggests that the role requires not just artistic talent but also a practical understanding of manufacturing processes and cost optimization, critical for GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Associate's Degree or Technical Degree in Art or Design is preferred.

Experience: 2-5 years of experience in graphic design, with a strong preference for experience within the signage industry.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency with the latest version of CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT is mandatory.

• Ability to create computer-generated graphics and detailed presentation drawings.

• Demonstrated ability to learn new design techniques and software rapidly.

• Strong multi-tasking capabilities, with the capacity to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced work environment.

• Excellent organizational skills and a creative mindset.

• Exceptional time management skills, with a proven ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.

• Good communication skills, both verbal and written, for effective stakeholder interaction.

• Ability to clearly articulate and communicate artistic concepts to diverse audiences.

• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to rendering designs accurately.

• Proven team-oriented attitude and ability to collaborate effectively.

• Capacity to work effectively under pressure to meet demanding deadlines.

• Ability to manage and maintain a high volume of "open" jobs concurrently.

• Basic math skills, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fraction-to-decimal conversions. Preferred Skills:

• Prior experience or knowledge in the signage industry is highly preferred.

• Experience with Adobe Creative Cloud suite.

• Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint for presentation development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for CorelDRAW proficiency, coupled with a preference for signage industry experience, strongly positions this role within a specialized area of design operations. The emphasis on "production drawings" and "value engineering" indicates that candidates with a practical understanding of manufacturing processes and materials will be highly advantageous.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a minimum of 3-5 diverse projects demonstrating proficiency in CorelDRAW and Adobe Creative Cloud, highlighting conceptual and technical production drawings.

• Include examples of signage design or related visual communication projects that illustrate an understanding of brand implementation and client-specific needs.

• Present case studies that articulate your process for translating design briefs into production-ready assets, emphasizing efficiency and accuracy.

• Demonstrate how your designs consider manufacturing constraints, cost-effectiveness (value engineering), and scalability for production.

• Include examples of visual assets created for internal stakeholders (Sales, Program Managers) to support their client interactions and project proposals. Process Documentation:

• Be prepared to discuss your personal workflow for managing multiple design requests from initial brief to final production-ready files.

• Outline your methods for researching and integrating new design technologies or software updates to improve efficiency and output quality.

• Describe how you approach collaborative design processes, including feedback loops with sales teams and program managers.

• Explain your strategy for ensuring accuracy and detail in technical drawings and production specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a role focused on production drawings and value engineering, the portfolio should heavily emphasize the transition from concept to executable design. Candidates should be ready to demonstrate how they've applied design principles to solve operational challenges and contribute to efficient manufacturing workflows.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $24 - $27 per hour. This range reflects the potential pay for this role, with the final compensation dependent on factors such as responsibilities, job duties, and relevant experience and skills.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision coverage options.

• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) for tax-advantaged healthcare spending.

• Company-paid Life Insurance policy.

• 401k retirement plan with an employer contribution component.

• Company-paid Short-Term and Long-Term Disability insurance.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) program, in addition to company-observed Holidays.

• Additional perks including Pet Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Educational Assistance Program, Identity Theft Protection, Critical Illness Plans, and Commuter Benefits.

• Various employee discount offerings from Stratus vendors.

Working Hours: Typically 40 hours per week, with potential for prolonged hours at a computer, especially when meeting deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hourly pay range of $24-$27 is competitive for a Graphic Designer role with specialized production and operational requirements in the US. The extensive benefits package indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and long-term retention, which is attractive for operations professionals seeking stability. The mention of "prolonged hours in front of computer" is a direct indication of the nature of the work, common in design and operations roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Brand Implementation & Maintenance. Stratus operates as a market leader in transforming how national brands connect with their customers through comprehensive signage, interior branding, site refreshes, and maintenance solutions. This industry demands precision, scalability, and consistent brand representation across diverse client portfolios.

Company Size: Stratus is a significant player in its industry, managing national accounts for Fortune 500 companies. This implies a structured, process-driven environment with substantial operational capacity and resources.

Founded: Stratus has a history that contributes to its established market position, fostering an environment that values execution and customer service. The company's growth across the country and its corporate headquarters in Mentor, Ohio, highlight its national reach and operational footprint.

Team Structure:

• The Design team likely operates within a larger operations or marketing department, comprising graphic designers, potentially CAD technicians, and design management.

• Designers will report to Design Management, collaborating closely with Sales, Program Managers, and the Service Department, indicating a matrixed reporting or strong cross-functional dependency.

• Collaboration is essential, with designers acting as a critical link between client requests (via Sales/Program Management) and the production/implementation phases (via Service/Production). Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: While not explicitly stated, the company's focus on national brands and "brand implementation" suggests a need for data-informed design decisions to ensure brand consistency and effectiveness.

• Process Optimization: The emphasis on "efficiencies" and "value engineering" indicates a commitment to refining workflows and optimizing resource utilization within the design and production process.

• Customer-Centric Execution: The company's mission to "transform how national brands connect with their customers" underscores a dedication to delivering solutions that meet client needs and enhance brand perception, driven by a "bias for action."

Company Website: http://www.stratusunlimited.com

📝 Enhancement Note: Stratus's position in the "Brand Implementation & Maintenance" sector means this role is crucial for ensuring the visual consistency and operational feasibility of national branding initiatives. Understanding this context is key for applicants to showcase how their design skills directly support broader GTM and operational objectives.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as an intermediate-level Graphic Designer (2-5 years experience). It requires a solid foundation in design software and principles, with the expectation of contributing to production-level outputs and value engineering. It's a hands-on role focused on execution within the broader brand implementation operations.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer reports to Design Management, indicating a clear line of supervision and mentorship. However, significant collaboration is expected with Sales and Program Managers, suggesting a dynamic, cross-functional working relationship that is common in operations environments.

Operations Impact: The Graphic Designer's output directly impacts Stratus's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality brand implementations for Fortune 500 clients. Accurate production drawings and effective value engineering contribute to project efficiency, cost control, client satisfaction, and ultimately, the company's revenue and reputation in the brand implementation market.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in signage design, large-format graphics, or specific client industry branding standards.

• Process Improvement: Opportunity to contribute to the refinement of design workflows, adoption of new technologies, and value engineering strategies.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and expanded responsibilities, growth into a Senior Graphic Designer or potentially a Design Lead role overseeing specific projects or client accounts.

• Cross-Functional Roles: A strong understanding of production and client needs could open doors to roles in Project Management, Program Management, or Sales Support within the brand implementation sector.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth opportunities emphasize not just artistic development but also operational contribution, aligning with the role's function within a larger GTM and brand implementation framework. This is a key differentiator for operations-minded candidates.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "TELECOMMUTE" and includes "#LI-REMOTE", indicating that the role is fully remote. This offers flexibility for employees to work from their home office.

Office Location(s): While remote, the company has physical locations in Mentor, Ohio, and Rolling Meadows, Illinois. These locations serve as hubs for Stratus's national operations and may be relevant for occasional team meetings or company events, though not required for daily work.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Autonomy: The primary workspace is the employee's home office, requiring self-discipline and effective remote work practices.

• Digital Collaboration: Reliance on digital tools for communication, file sharing, and project management is paramount. This includes frequent use of video conferencing, email, and project management software.

• Access to Tools: Employees will need a reliable internet connection and a suitable workspace. Stratus provides the necessary software (CorelDRAW, Adobe Creative Cloud) and potentially hardware, depending on company policy for remote workers.

Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 hours per week. While remote work offers flexibility, the role requires availability during core business hours to effectively collaborate with internal teams and meet deadlines. The emphasis on "prolonged hours in front of computer" and "work under pressure to meet deadlines" suggests that adaptability and dedication to project completion are essential.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role is a significant factor, requiring candidates to be proficient in self-management and digital collaboration tools. The company's physical locations in Mentor, OH, and Rolling Meadows, IL, may influence the candidate pool or potential for future hybrid/on-site opportunities, but the current designation is fully remote.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills, software proficiency (CorelDRAW), and relevant experience (signage industry preference).

• Technical Interview: This stage will likely involve a deeper dive into your CorelDRAW and Adobe Creative Cloud capabilities, potentially including a live demonstration or a discussion about specific technical challenges you've overcome. Expect questions about your process for creating production drawings.

• Portfolio Review Session: A dedicated meeting to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design choices, the challenges faced, the solutions implemented, and the impact of your work, particularly focusing on projects that demonstrate value engineering and production feasibility.

• Behavioral/Situational Interview: Questions will assess your ability to collaborate with sales teams, manage multiple projects, work under pressure, and adapt to new technologies, all within the context of Stratus's operations.

• Final Interview: Potentially with higher management, focusing on cultural fit, long-term potential, and understanding of Stratus's business objectives in brand implementation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight CorelDRAW Mastery: Dedicate a significant portion of your portfolio to showcasing your best work created in CorelDRAW, specifically production drawings, technical illustrations, and signage designs.

• Demonstrate Process & Problem-Solving: For each project, briefly explain the client's need, your design approach, the tools used, any challenges encountered (e.g., technical limitations, budget constraints), and how you resolved them. Emphasize value engineering aspects.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If you can, provide metrics or outcomes related to your designs, such as cost savings achieved through value engineering, improved production efficiency, or client satisfaction feedback.

• Showcase Versatility: Include a range of projects that demonstrate your ability to handle different types of signage and branding elements, illustrating your understanding of diverse client needs.

• Conciseness and Clarity: Present your portfolio in a clear, well-organized digital format (e.g., PDF, personal website). Be ready to articulate your thought process succinctly during the review.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Challenge: You might be given a hypothetical design brief (e.g., design a concept for a new retail sign) and asked to produce a conceptual or technical drawing within a set timeframe. Focus on demonstrating your understanding of the brief, your creative problem-solving, and your CorelDRAW skills.

• Process Scenario: Prepare to discuss how you would handle conflicting design requests from different departments or manage urgent design needs for a major client.

• Technical Inquiry: Be ready to answer questions about file preparation for production, color management, and specific techniques within CorelDRAW for creating accurate technical specifications.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a "Portfolio Review Session" and the specific mention of "value engineering" strongly suggest that candidates will be evaluated not just on aesthetic design but on their ability to produce practical, production-ready assets that contribute to operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• CorelDRAW: Essential and mandatory software for conceptual and technical production drawings. Proficiency at the latest version is required.

• Corel PHOTO-PAINT: Required alongside CorelDRAW for image manipulation and graphic creation.

• Adobe Creative Cloud: Experience with this suite (including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and potentially After Effects for motion graphics if applicable) is a strong plus.

• Microsoft PowerPoint: Experience is a plus for creating presentations for sales teams and internal stakeholders.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly listed as primary tools, the role supports Sales and Program Managers, suggesting indirect use of CRM data or sales reporting tools to understand client needs and project scope. Proficiency in interpreting data to inform design decisions would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) might be beneficial for understanding client account structures and project workflows, though direct usage is unlikely.

• Automation tools might be relevant if Stratus uses them for design asset generation or workflow management; however, the focus here is on CorelDRAW and Adobe for manual creation and refinement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of CorelDRAW and Corel PHOTO-PAINT as required tools, with Adobe Creative Cloud as a plus, clearly defines the technical software requirements. This is a critical operational aspect of the role, ensuring candidates possess the specific technical skills needed for production.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Execution Excellence: A strong bias for action and a focus on delivering results, ensuring projects are completed accurately and on time, which is vital in brand implementation.

• Customer Focus: Dedicated to transforming how national brands connect with customers, implying a deep understanding of client needs and a commitment to delivering solutions that enhance brand perception.

• Innovation & Efficiency: Encouraging the learning of new technologies and methods to drive maximum efficiencies and value engineering in product development.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive and friendly culture where employees work together to achieve shared goals, essential for cross-functional operations.

• Integrity & Quality: Maintaining high standards in design and production to uphold the reputation of Stratus and its Fortune 500 clients.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Designers are expected to work closely with Sales, Program Managers, and the Service Department, requiring clear communication and a shared understanding of project goals.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: Participating in design meetings and one-on-one discussions suggests an environment where feedback is exchanged to refine designs and processes.

• Knowledge Sharing: The emphasis on learning new technologies implies a culture where sharing insights and best practices is encouraged to benefit the entire team and company.

📝 Enhancement Note: The values emphasize a results-oriented, collaborative, and customer-centric approach, which are hallmarks of effective operations teams. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate how they embody these values in their work, particularly in how they contribute to efficient, client-focused brand implementation.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Production Demands: Effectively translating creative concepts into technically accurate, production-ready designs that meet strict deadlines and client specifications.

• Managing Multiple Project Streams: Juggling numerous design requests simultaneously from various internal stakeholders, requiring exceptional organizational and prioritization skills.

• Adapting to Evolving Technologies: Staying current with new design software features, industry trends, and potentially new signage materials or manufacturing techniques.

• Interpreting Diverse Client Needs: Understanding and accurately representing the unique branding requirements of a wide range of Fortune 500 companies.

• Remote Work Management: Maintaining productivity, communication, and team cohesion while working independently in a remote environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in CorelDRAW, Adobe Creative Cloud, and potentially other design or project management software through company-provided resources or external courses.

• Industry Best Practices: Exposure to cutting-edge techniques in signage design, brand implementation, and value engineering through internal knowledge sharing and potentially industry events.

• Cross-Functional Understanding: Gaining deeper insights into the sales process, project management, and production workflows, which can lead to broader career development within Stratus.

• Mentorship: Potential for guidance from Design Management and experienced colleagues to refine design skills and operational understanding.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the dynamic nature of the role, requiring adaptability and continuous learning. The growth opportunities are geared towards enhancing both technical design skills and operational acumen, crucial for career progression in the brand implementation sector.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Design Process & Tools: "Describe your process for taking a design request from initial brief to final production-ready files, specifically using CorelDRAW. How do you ensure accuracy in technical drawings?" (Prepare to walk through a case study in your portfolio.)

• Collaboration & Stakeholders: "How would you handle a situation where the Sales team provides conflicting requirements for a client's signage design? How do you prioritize when multiple departments have urgent requests?" (Focus on communication, clarification, and prioritization strategies.)

• Problem-Solving & Efficiency: "Tell me about a time you had to value engineer a design to meet budget or production constraints. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?" (Be ready with specific examples of creative problem-solving that led to efficiency gains.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about Stratus and our role in brand implementation?" (Research Stratus's mission, client work, and industry position.)

• "How do you see yourself contributing to a supportive and execution-focused team culture?" (Align your work style with the stated company values.)

• "How do you stay current with design trends and new technologies in the signage industry?" (Demonstrate a proactive approach to learning and adaptation.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Structure: For each portfolio piece, tell a story: the challenge, your creative and technical solution, the tools used (especially CorelDRAW), and the result or impact.

• Focus on Production: Emphasize projects where your design directly led to successful production, highlighting technical details, material considerations, or efficiency improvements.

• Value Engineering Showcase: If possible, present a project where you actively reduced costs or improved manufacturing processes through design.

• Interactive Demonstration: Be prepared to share your screen and briefly demonstrate a specific technique or feature in CorelDRAW that is relevant to the role's requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not just design skills but also an understanding of operational constraints, efficiency, and client-facing collaboration. Emphasize practical application and problem-solving in your responses.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Stratus careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to prominently feature your CorelDRAW expertise, production drawing capabilities, and any signage-related design work. Highlight projects demonstrating value engineering and efficiency.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly outlines your experience with CorelDRAW, Corel PHOTO-PAINT, Adobe Creative Cloud, and any relevant industry experience (signage). Quantify achievements where possible, especially related to efficiency or problem-solving.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, collaboration strategies, and problem-solving approaches. Prepare specific examples from your portfolio to illustrate your skills and experience, focusing on the operational aspects of design.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Stratus's services, market position, and client base. Understand their commitment to brand implementation and maintenance to articulate your interest and how you can contribute to their operational success.

⚠️ 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.