Graphic Designer, University Relations

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer, University Relations

Company: University of Denver

Location: Denver, CO

Job Type: Full-Time

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

Date Posted: 2026-07-30

Experience Level: 2-5 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office, 2 days remote)

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is central to shaping and executing the University of Denver's brand expression through compelling visual design across diverse marketing and communication channels.

• The Graphic Designer will collaborate closely with creative leadership and marketing teams to translate strategic objectives into impactful visual assets for print, digital, and multimedia platforms.

• A key responsibility involves evolving and maintaining the university's brand kit, ensuring consistent and effective brand representation across campus.

• This position demands a blend of creative ideation, technical proficiency in design software, and strong project management skills to deliver high-quality work under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Graphic Designer," the context of "University Relations" and the emphasis on "brand expression," "storytelling," and "marketing and communications goals" indicate a strong alignment with marketing operations and brand management functions within a higher education setting. The role requires not just creative execution but also strategic thinking about brand consistency and impact.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute innovative design concepts for a wide range of media, including print collateral, digital assets, social media graphics, presentations, and potentially motion graphics or video elements, ensuring alignment with university marketing objectives.

• Serve as a critical brand steward, consultant, and advocate, upholding established visual identity standards while collaborating with division leadership on brand optimization and evolution.

• Create and maintain comprehensive brand kit assets, including design templates, style guides, and reusable visual elements to empower consistent brand application across the entire DU campus community.

• Utilize the division-wide project management system for all assigned projects, accurately tracking time, managing files, and providing timely status updates to ensure project efficiency and transparency.

• Proactively generate and present design concepts to creative leadership, incorporating feedback constructively and iterating on designs to meet stakeholder requirements and enhance overall effectiveness.

• Stay abreast of current design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices in higher education marketing to integrate innovative ideas and maintain a competitive edge in visual communication.

• Collaborate closely with marketing and communications colleagues, division leadership, and other creatives to ensure cohesive campaign execution and integrated messaging across all channels.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize the strategic importance of design in supporting university-wide marketing and communications goals, highlighting the need for a designer who can balance creative execution with brand stewardship and project management within a complex organizational structure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Digital Design, Communications, or a related field is required.

• An Associate's degree combined with relevant professional experience will also be considered. Experience:

• 2-4 years of demonstrated professional experience in graphic and visual design, encompassing both print and digital platforms.

• Proven success in executing design concepts with a strong portfolio that showcases conceptual thinking, creative problem-solving, and meticulous execution. Required Skills:

• Mastery of industry-standard design software, specifically Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).

• Proficiency with collaborative design tools such as Figma.

• Competency with Canva for template creation and broader campus accessibility.

• Strong understanding of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) for presentation and reporting needs.

• Expertise in photo editing and manipulation.

• Excellent visual design skills with a keen eye for detail, typography, layout, and color theory.

• Demonstrated ability to generate creative ideas and lead their execution from concept to final delivery.

• Proven ability to receive and incorporate constructive feedback from multiple stakeholders with diverse perspectives.

• Capacity to thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment, effectively managing multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills, essential for articulating design rationale and collaborating with cross-functional teams. Preferred Skills:

• Experience in creating and managing design templates, particularly within Canva, for widespread organizational use.

• Familiarity with motion graphics and video editing software (e.g., After Effects, Premiere Pro).

• Experience with photo capture and basic photography principles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills list is comprehensive, specifically calling out key design software crucial for modern design roles. The preference for Canva experience highlights the need for a designer who can empower non-designers within the university, indicating a focus on scalable brand application.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A strong, curated design portfolio demonstrating conceptual thinking and robust execution across various media (print, digital, social).

• Case studies or examples showcasing how design solutions addressed specific marketing or communication challenges for clients or organizations.

• Visual evidence of brand stewardship, including examples of maintaining brand consistency and evolving brand elements.

• Demonstrations of proficiency with core design software (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Canva) through project examples.

• Work samples that highlight attention to detail, typography, layout, and color theory application. Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow management, particularly how projects were organized, tracked (e.g., using a project management system), and delivered on time.

• Evidence of collaboration processes, illustrating how feedback was incorporated and how stakeholders were managed throughout the design lifecycle.

• Demonstrations of template creation and brand kit development, showing how reusable assets were designed for broader application.

• Any documentation or explanation of how design decisions were made in relation to university goals or brand strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a portfolio that showcases "conceptual thinking and strong execution" and specific software proficiency (Adobe, Figma, Canva) indicates that candidates will be assessed on their ability to not only create visually appealing designs but also to strategically apply them and manage their creation process effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• The stated salary for this position is $62,500 per year.

• 📝 Enhancement Note: This figure is based on the provided salary rate of $62,500. Research into Denver's cost of living and graphic design market rates suggests this is a competitive entry to mid-level salary for a designer with 2-4 years of experience in a university setting in Denver. The university's stated methodology for determining the final salary (candidate qualifications, departmental budget, internal equity, market data) is standard for higher education institutions.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical Insurance: Access to medical coverage plans.

• Dental Insurance: Coverage for dental care needs.

• Retirement Plan: Opportunities for long-term financial planning through a retirement savings program.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Generous allocation of paid days for vacation, sick leave, and personal needs.

• Tuition Benefit: Opportunities for employees and potentially their dependents to pursue higher education at the University of Denver.

• ECO Pass: A program providing free public transportation within the Denver area, encouraging sustainable commuting.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., totaling 40 hours per week.

• This role is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, typically involving 3 days per week in the office and 2 days per week remotely, offering flexibility.

📝 Enhancement Note: The benefits package is typical for a university setting, with the tuition benefit and ECO pass being particularly attractive perks. The hybrid work arrangement offers a good balance between in-person collaboration and remote flexibility.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education (University)

Company Size: Large (University of Denver has a significant number of employees, likely in the thousands across academic, administrative, and support staff, though specific numbers are not provided in the raw data).

Founded: The University of Denver was founded in 1864, indicating a long-standing institution with established traditions and a deep history in the region.

Team Structure:

• The Graphic Designer will be part of the University Relations division, a strategic unit focused on advancing the university's brand and reputation.

• This division operates with a unified voice across multiple communication channels, aiming to promote DU's reputation, inspire enrollment, increase inclusion, and strengthen the university.

• The designer will work closely with creative leadership within University Relations, as well as other creative, marketing, and communications colleagues, suggesting a collaborative, integrated team environment.

• This role is specifically noted as being best suited for a designer who prefers to work as part of an integrated creative team, emphasizing teamwork and shared objectives. Methodology:

• University Relations employs a data-driven and authentic storytelling approach across various channels (public relations, digital, social media, print, podcasts, etc.).

• The division focuses on highlighting DU's value drivers: academics, research, enrollment, admissions, athletics, and advancement.

• Collaboration, problem-solving, creativity, and innovation are core tenets of the division's operational philosophy.

• Design is seen as a critical component of storytelling, working in tandem with words and pictures to drive results.

Company Website: https://www.du.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: The University of Denver's long history and its University Relations division's strategic focus on brand advancement, data-driven storytelling, and integrated communications provide a robust context for the Graphic Designer role. The emphasis on collaboration and innovation within this division suggests a dynamic and purpose-driven work environment for creative professionals.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level:

• This role is positioned as an intermediate-level Graphic Designer, requiring 2-4 years of experience. It involves executing design concepts under guidance but also acting as a brand steward and contributing to brand evolution. It's not an entry-level position but also not a senior or lead role. Reporting Structure:

• The Graphic Designer reports to creative leadership within the University Relations division.

• They will work closely with other creatives, marketing, and communications colleagues on a daily basis, indicating a flat or matrixed reporting structure within the immediate team. Operations Impact:

• The Graphic Designer's work directly impacts the university's brand perception, reputation, and ability to attract students, faculty, and support.

• Effective visual communication is crucial for driving enrollment, communicating academic and research achievements, and strengthening overall university engagement.

• By serving as a brand advocate and creating consistent visual assets, the designer contributes to a unified and powerful university message, supporting advancement and enrollment goals. Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas like motion graphics, video editing, or advanced template creation, based on preferred qualifications and project needs.

• Brand Strategy Involvement: Potential to contribute more significantly to brand evolution discussions and strategic planning for visual communications as experience and understanding of DU's goals grow.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working with various departments (admissions, advancement, athletics) offers exposure to different communication needs and strategies within higher education.

• Leadership Potential: With demonstrated success and expanded experience, potential to move into senior designer, art director, or creative lead roles within University Relations or other university departments.

• Professional Development: The university offers an ECO pass and tuition benefits, which can support ongoing learning and personal development.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers a solid foundation for a graphic designer to grow within a reputable institution. The hybrid work model and specific benefits like tuition assistance further enhance its appeal for long-term career development within the higher education sector.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule, indicating a modern office environment that balances in-person collaboration with remote flexibility. The University of Denver likely offers standard office spaces equipped for creative work.

Office Location(s):

• The primary work location is Denver, CO.

• Specific details about the office itself (e.g., amenities, accessibility) are not provided, but as a large university, facilities are generally well-maintained and professional. Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The role is embedded within a "highly collaborative marketing team