Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer

Company: FASTSIGNS #241601

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Graphic Design / Signage & Visual Communications Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-12T11:32:54

Experience Level: 1-2 Years

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

• Create impactful, computer-generated graphics and visual communications for a variety of signage products, translating customer needs into effective design solutions.
• Modify and finalize designs based on diverse input formats, ensuring accuracy and adherence to project specifications for optimal output.
• Apply design principles and layout techniques to arrange illustrative material, copy, and typography, balancing aesthetic appeal with production requirements.
• Perform rigorous quality assurance checks throughout the design and production workflow, ensuring the integrity and quality of final graphic output.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

• Generate computer-generated full-color graphics and vinyl output suitable for various printing and application methods for signage and visual communications products.
• Complete or modify design files received from customers, ensuring compatibility and accurate output based on provided specifications or drawings.
• Determine the optimal size, arrangement, and typographic treatment for visual materials and copy, considering layout, available space, aesthetic goals, and production constraints.
• Conduct thorough pre-output inspections of design files for accuracy, confirming correct material usage and appropriate output device settings.
• Manage and maintain a library of customer logos and graphic files, including converting files to suitable formats for production workflows.
• Operate and maintain large-format printers and other output devices used in the signage production process.
• Execute quality assurance procedures before and after production, meticulously reviewing work orders and proofing output for errors or deviations from quality standards.
• Utilize hand and power tools proficiently for potential light production or installation tasks related to signage.
• Assist with the installation of various signs and graphics as needed (experience preferred but not required).

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: High School diploma or equivalent required. Further education in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: 1-2 years of practical experience in graphic design, ideally within a production-oriented environment or related to signage, printing, or visual communications. A portfolio demonstrating relevant design work for print and physical applications is essential.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics, layout, and print production file preparation.
• Strong understanding of graphic design principles, typography, color theory, and layout for visual communications.
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple design jobs and manage workload autonomously in a fast-paced production environment.
• A keen eye for detail and the ability to perform meticulous quality assurance checks on design files and physical output.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with other Adobe Creative Suite software (e.g., Photoshop, InDesign) for image manipulation and additional layout tasks.
• Familiarity with large-format printing processes, vinyl cutting, and various signage production techniques.
• Ability to interpret customer requirements and drawings to determine the most effective design and output method.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a range of graphic design projects, with a strong emphasis on work created for print, signage, or physical applications.
• Include examples demonstrating proficiency in vector graphics creation and manipulation using Adobe Illustrator.
• Present case studies or project descriptions that highlight your design process, from understanding client requirements to final output preparation.
• Include examples of layout design, typography application, and color usage in practical design scenarios.

Process Documentation:

• Document your workflow for receiving and interpreting customer design requests and preparing files for production.
• Illustrate your process for adapting or modifying existing designs while maintaining brand consistency or client intent.
• Showcase how you ensure design accuracy and quality control before sending files to output.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $18.00 - $22.00 per hour.

Benefits:

• Competitive hourly pay within the specified range.
• Paid Vacation and Holiday time off.
• Opportunity to earn performance-based bonuses.
• Access to ongoing training and professional development opportunities relevant to graphic design and the signage industry.

Working Hours: Full-time hours, typically aligning with standard business operations for a retail-oriented signage center. Specific schedule details should be confirmed during the interview process.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Printing Services / Signage, Graphics, and Visual Communications.

Company Size: FASTSIGNS is a large franchise system with over 750 centers globally. This specific location (#241601) operates as an independent franchise unit. The size of this individual center is likely smaller, fostering a close-knit team environment.

Founded: FASTSIGNS was founded in 1985, establishing a long history in the visual communications industry.

Team Structure:

• Graphic Designers typically work closely with sales staff, production specialists, and potentially installers within the local center.
• Reporting structure is usually to the center owner or a designated manager.
• Requires strong collaboration with colleagues to ensure designs meet customer needs and are ready for efficient production and installation.

Methodology:

• Design process is driven by customer orders and specifications, requiring the designer to translate diverse requirements into production-ready files.
• Focus on practical design solutions that are feasible for large-format printing and various signage materials.
• Emphasis on accuracy and quality control throughout the design and production workflow.

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

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role appears to be an entry to mid-level Graphic Designer position, suitable for individuals with 1-2 years of experience looking to apply their design skills in a practical, production-oriented environment within the visual communications industry.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer will likely report to the local center's owner or manager, working closely with other team members involved in sales, production, and installation.

Design Impact: The designer's work directly impacts the final product delivered to the customer, playing a crucial role in translating their vision into tangible signage and graphics. The quality and accuracy of the design work are critical to customer satisfaction and the center's reputation.

Growth Opportunities:

• Opportunity to deepen expertise in large-format graphic design, production techniques, and material applications specific to the signage industry.
• Potential for advancement within the local center, possibly into a lead designer role or a position with more involvement in client consultation and project management.
• Ongoing training opportunities provided by FASTSIGNS may offer pathways for skill development in new design software, production technologies, or sales/consultation skills.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: On-site within the FASTSIGNS center. The work environment is likely a blend of a design studio and a production facility.

Office Location(s): Indianapolis, Indiana, US (Specific address for #241601 is 46074 zip code). This implies a local retail-style business location.

Design Workspace Context:

• The workspace will likely include a dedicated design area with computer workstations equipped with necessary software.
• Proximity to the production area may expose the designer to the operational aspects of large-format printing, cutting, and assembly.
• The environment is likely collaborative, requiring interaction with sales staff, production team members, and potentially customers.

Work Schedule: Full-time, on-site. The schedule will likely be during regular business hours, though specific hours may vary and should be confirmed.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

• Initial screening interview to assess basic qualifications and experience.
• Portfolio review session where you will be expected to present and discuss relevant design projects, highlighting your process and technical skills, particularly in Adobe Illustrator and print-ready design.
• Interview(s) with the center owner or manager and potentially other team members to assess technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and cultural fit within the local team.
• May include a practical design exercise or technical test to evaluate proficiency in required software and ability to handle typical design tasks for signage.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Focus on projects that demonstrate your ability to create vector graphics, prepare files for print production, and work with specific dimensions and materials.
• Clearly articulate your design process for each project, explaining how you approached the challenge, made design decisions, and prepared the final output.
• If possible, include examples of projects where you worked with client-provided assets or modified existing designs.
• Be prepared to discuss your proficiency in Adobe Illustrator in detail and demonstrate your ability to use key features relevant to signage design.

Challenge Preparation:

• Review fundamental graphic design principles and their application in signage.
• Practice using Adobe Illustrator to create vector graphics, set up files for different output methods (e.g., print, cut vinyl), and manage layers and colors accurately.
• Be prepared to demonstrate how you would approach a design request based on verbal or written instructions and potentially customer-provided sketches or files.

ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Adobe Illustrator, Vector Graphics, Layout Design, Print Production, Signage Design, Visual Communications, File Preparation, Quality Assurance, Customer Service, Typography, Color Theory, Problem Solving, Multi-tasking, Production Design, Vinyl Graphics, Large Format Printing.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Illustrator: Essential for creating and manipulating vector graphics used in signage design, including logos, text, and complex layouts. High proficiency is required for preparing files for various output methods like large-format printing and vinyl cutting.
• Other graphic design software may be used, but Adobe Illustrator is explicitly required and central to the workflow.

Collaboration & Handoff:

• Likely involves internal communication tools for collaborating with sales, production, and installation teams.
• File sharing methods for transferring design files to the production area.

Research & Testing:

• May involve using tools for accessing customer-provided files or stock assets.
• Quality assurance involves visual inspection and potentially using measurement tools to verify output accuracy.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

• Accuracy and attention to detail in design and file preparation are paramount to ensure high-quality final products.
• Efficiency in translating customer requirements into production-ready designs to meet turnaround times.
• Collaboration and clear communication with sales and production teams to ensure seamless workflow from design to installation.
• Problem-solving skills to adapt designs for different materials, sizes, and production methods.

Collaboration Style:

• Likely a close-knit team environment within the local center, requiring frequent interaction and collaboration with colleagues in sales, production, and potentially installation.
• Direct communication with team members to clarify project requirements, discuss production feasibility, and troubleshoot issues.
• Emphasis on teamwork to deliver projects on time and to customer satisfaction.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

• Translating diverse and sometimes ambiguous customer requests into clear, production-ready designs.
• Working under pressure and managing multiple design projects simultaneously to meet deadlines.
• Ensuring design accuracy and quality control across a variety of materials and production methods.
• Adapting designs for different scales and applications while maintaining design integrity and brand consistency.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Opportunity to become an expert in large-format graphic design and the technical aspects of signage production.
• Potential to learn about new materials, printing technologies, and installation techniques.
• Skill development in customer consultation and project management as experience grows.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

• Be prepared to walk through your process for taking a customer's request and turning it into a production-ready file in Adobe Illustrator. Use specific examples from your portfolio.
• Discuss how you ensure accuracy and quality control in your design work, particularly when preparing files for print.
• Explain how you would handle a situation where a customer's requested design is technically challenging or not feasible for production.

Company Culture Questions:

• Research FASTSIGNS and the local center (if possible) to understand their focus and typical client base.
• Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate effectively with sales, production, and other team members in a fast-paced environment.
• Show enthusiasm for the signage and visual communications industry and a willingness to learn about production processes.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Organize your portfolio to prominently feature projects relevant to signage, print, and large-format graphics.
• For each project, briefly explain the client's objective, your design solution, and the technical considerations for production.
• Be ready to demonstrate your proficiency in Adobe Illustrator or discuss specific features you utilized for complex projects.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

• Submit your application through this link
• Tailor your resume to highlight your graphic design experience, with a focus on skills and projects related to print, production, and visual communications. Include relevant ATS keywords identified above.
• Prepare your portfolio, ensuring it showcases your strongest work in vector graphics and designs suitable for physical output. Focus on quality and relevance to the signage industry.
• Practice presenting your portfolio and discussing your design process, particularly how you handle technical requirements and collaborate with production teams.
• Research FASTSIGNS to understand their business and the types of signs and graphics they produce, allowing you to tailor your application and interview responses.