Junior Graphic Designer - Project Based at A+E Networks

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer - Project Based

Company: A+E Networks

Location: New York, New York, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Graphic Design / Digital Design

Date Posted: 2025-06-13T00:00:00

Experience Level: 0-2 years

Remote Status: Remote Solely

🎨 Role Summary

Create high-impact graphic designs, primarily focused on digital thumbnails for platforms like YouTube.
Develop visually engaging creative assets optimized for various social media platforms, driving viewer engagement and clicks.
Utilize proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop and Illustrator, to produce compelling visual content.
Collaborate closely with content producers and editors to ensure design concepts align with video themes and audience strategies.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the focus on digital thumbnails and social platforms, this role is heavily centered on digital graphic design and visual communication strategies tailored for online content consumption. The project-based nature implies a need for efficient workflow and quick turnaround times.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Design and edit eye-catching, platform-optimized thumbnails for YouTube and other social media channels.
Produce two unique versions of thumbnails per video to support A/B testing and data-driven design iterations.
Interpret performance data and A/B test results to inform and evolve creative design approaches.
Manage quick turnarounds for time-sensitive content while maintaining high quality and creative standards.
Collaborate effectively with producers and content editors to align design concepts with video tone, theme, and audience strategy.
Communicate clearly and professionally with team members, providing design rationale and incorporating feedback efficiently.
Ensure consistency, accuracy, and attention to detail across all designs, adhering to proper file organization and naming conventions.
Stay updated on the latest YouTube and social media design trends and best practices to maximize viewer engagement.
Demonstrate adaptability by responding effectively to shifts in creative direction and evolving project priorities without compromising quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on A/B testing and performance data interpretation highlights a requirement for data-informed design decisions, which is a crucial skill for digital graphic designers in a metrics-driven environment. The need for quick turnarounds points to a fast-paced workflow common in digital content production.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While not explicitly stated, a degree or certification in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, or a related field is typically preferred for a Junior Graphic Designer role, providing a strong foundation in design principles.

Experience: 1 to 2 years of design experience, ideally gained in a fast-paced content creation or social media environment, demonstrating practical application of design skills and workflow management. A portfolio showcasing relevant graphic design work is essential.

Required Skills:

Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, with strong command of Photoshop and Illustrator for graphic design and editing tasks.
Strong visual eye with a solid understanding of design principles including layout, color theory, composition, and typography.
Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks efficiently to meet deadlines with minimal oversight.
Excellent organizational skills for file handling, maintaining consistency and attention to detail across multiple design versions.

Preferred Skills:

Familiarity with current YouTube trends and thumbnail performance tactics to optimize designs for click-through rates.
Experience or interest in emerging design tools and AI-based design workflows.
Strong communication skills to articulate design choices and effectively receive and implement feedback.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, particularly Photoshop and Illustrator, is a standard requirement for graphic design roles. The preference for experience in a fast-paced content or social media environment indicates a need for skills in rapid iteration and adapting to dynamic trends.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Include examples of graphic design work, specifically highlighting digital assets and social media visuals if available.
Showcase your understanding of visual hierarchy, color palettes, and typography in creating impactful designs.
Demonstrate your ability to create multiple design variations for a single concept, relevant to A/B testing requirements.
Present projects that illustrate your technical proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

Process Documentation:

While not explicitly required for this junior role, consider briefly explaining your design process for a selected project.
Highlight how you approach understanding a design brief and translating requirements into visual concepts.
If applicable, discuss how you incorporate feedback and iterate on designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a graphic design role, a strong portfolio is paramount. The focus on digital thumbnails suggests showcasing work optimized for online platforms. While detailed process documentation might be less critical for a junior role, demonstrating an understanding of the design workflow adds value.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Contract Hourly Pay Rate: $40.00. This rate is specified as a good faith estimate and may be subject to variation based on factors such as qualifications, skills, location, and experience.

Benefits:

As a project assignment associate engaged through a third-party vendor, benefits may vary and should be clarified directly with the vendor.
Typically, project-based freelance roles may not include traditional full-time employee benefits such as health insurance, paid time off, or retirement plans, although some vendors may offer limited options.

Working Hours: Schedule: M – F, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM or 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM Eastern Time. This indicates a standard full-time work schedule, despite the project-based nature of the role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specified hourly rate provides a clear compensation expectation. However, the project-based nature through a third-party vendor means benefits are not guaranteed and require direct inquiry. The fixed working hours are notable for a freelance role, suggesting a need for availability during standard business hours.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Entertainment Providers. A+E Networks is a global content company with popular brands like A&E, Lifetime, and The HISTORY Channel. This industry context implies a focus on visually compelling and engaging content to capture audience attention.

Company Size: 1,001-5,000 employees (LinkedIn). As a large organization, A+E Networks likely has established processes and a structured design team.

Founded: 1983. With a long history, A+E Networks has a significant presence in the media landscape, suggesting a mature design environment with established brand guidelines.

Team Structure:

The role reports to the Manager of Motion Graphics Operations, indicating that this graphic design function is part of a broader production and operations team, likely with a focus on visual content creation for various platforms.
This project-based role will likely involve collaboration with the Digital team, producers, and content editors, highlighting a need for cross-functional teamwork.
The design team structure likely supports various visual needs across A+E's diverse portfolio of brands.

Methodology:

The emphasis on A/B testing and interpreting performance data suggests a data-informed approach to design, particularly within the digital team.
Quick turnarounds indicate an agile workflow, likely involving rapid iteration and efficient communication.
Collaboration with producers and editors suggests a workflow where design is integrated into the content creation process early on.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Operating within the entertainment industry, A+E Networks' design culture likely values creativity, visual impact, and the ability to align design with brand identity and content strategy. The reporting structure to Motion Graphics Operations suggests a close relationship between static and animated visual content production.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: Junior Graphic Designer. This role is suitable for early-career design professionals looking to gain experience in a large media company, focusing on digital content and performance-driven design.

Reporting Structure: Reports to the Manager of Motion Graphics Operations. This indicates potential exposure to motion graphics workflows and a connection to the broader visual production pipeline.

Design Impact: The primary impact of this role will be on the performance and engagement of A+E Networks' digital video content through compelling thumbnail design. Successful designs will directly contribute to click-through rates and viewer retention on platforms like YouTube.

Growth Opportunities:

Gaining significant experience in digital graphic design within a major media company.
Developing skills in performance-driven design and A/B testing methodologies.
Potential for extended contract duration based on performance and project needs.
Exposure to a professional production environment and collaboration with experienced content teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a project-based junior role, the opportunity to work with a major media company like A+E Networks provides valuable experience and visibility. The focus on performance data offers a chance to develop highly marketable skills in data-informed design.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Remote Solely. This position is designated as fully remote, allowing for flexibility in work location within the United States.

Office Location(s): The company headquarters is in New York, NY, but this specific role is remote.

Design Workspace Context:

As a remote role, the designer will need a dedicated workspace with reliable internet access and the necessary hardware/software for graphic design work.
Collaboration will occur virtually through communication and project management tools.
The remote setup requires strong self-discipline, time management, and the ability to work independently.

Work Schedule: Standard full-time hours (M-F, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM or 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM ET). This requires availability during core business hours for collaboration and meetings.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote nature of the role means the candidate must be comfortable and effective working outside of a traditional office environment. The specified Eastern Time working hours are crucial for candidates in different time zones to consider.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Expect an initial screening, potentially with HR or a hiring coordinator, to discuss basic qualifications and experience.
Subsequent interviews will likely involve the hiring manager (Manager of Motion Graphics Operations) and potentially other members of the Digital or Production team.
Be prepared to discuss your portfolio in detail, focusing on relevant graphic design projects, especially those related to digital content or social media.
You may be asked to walk through your design process for selected portfolio pieces.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Curate your portfolio to highlight your strongest graphic design work, particularly digital assets and visuals for online platforms.
For each project, briefly explain the goal, your role, and the outcome (if quantifiable, like engagement metrics, even better).
Showcase your proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator through your presented work.
If you have experience with creating multiple design variations or A/B testing, highlight this in your portfolio or discussion.

Challenge Preparation:

A design test or challenge is possible for a junior design role. This could involve creating a few thumbnail variations based on a provided brief or video content.
Review A+E Networks' existing digital content and thumbnail styles to understand their brand aesthetic.
Practice creating visually impactful designs quickly, focusing on composition, typography, and color.
Be prepared to explain your design choices and process during the interview.

ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Digital Design, Adobe Creative Suite, Photoshop, Illustrator, Thumbnail Design, YouTube Thumbnails, Social Media Graphics, Visual Design, Layout, Typography, Composition, Color Theory, A/B Testing, Visual Storytelling, File Organization, Communication, Collaboration, Creative Direction, Adaptability, Remote Work, Freelance, Project-Based, Entertainment Industry, Production Operations, Content Creation.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a junior design role, the portfolio is often the most critical component. Tailoring the portfolio to the specific requirements of digital thumbnail design and demonstrating proficiency with the required software is key. Preparing for a potential design test is also advisable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Adobe Photoshop: Essential for image editing, manipulation, and creating complex graphic compositions. Expect to use this extensively for thumbnail creation.
Adobe Illustrator: Crucial for creating vector graphics, logos, typography, and illustrations that can be scaled without losing quality.

Collaboration & Handoff:

While not explicitly mentioned, expect to use standard communication tools like email, instant messaging (e.g., Slack), and potentially project management software (e.g., Asana, Trello) for collaborating with the remote team.
File sharing platforms (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive) will likely be used for sharing design files.

Research & Testing:

Familiarity with platforms like YouTube Analytics to understand thumbnail performance data is beneficial.
Knowledge of A/B testing principles and how to interpret results is important for this role.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit requirement for Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator proficiency confirms these as the core tools for the role. While other tools aren't listed, standard remote collaboration and file-sharing tools are implied for a remote position in a larger company.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Creating high-impact, engaging visual content that drives viewer engagement and supports content strategy.
Maintaining consistency and attention to detail in all design assets, adhering to brand guidelines (implied for a large media company).
Adaptability and the ability to respond quickly to shifting creative needs and priorities.
Valuing feedback and incorporating it effectively into design iterations.

Collaboration Style:

Close collaboration with content producers and editors to align design concepts with video content.
Clear and professional communication within the team, including sharing progress and articulating design choices.
Potentially involving design critiques or feedback sessions to refine visual assets.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "high-impact" and "eye-catching" designs suggests a culture that values visually compelling work that performs well on digital platforms. The need to incorporate feedback and adapt points to a collaborative and iterative design process.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

The fast-paced nature of digital content production requires managing quick turnarounds and multiple tasks efficiently.
Creating compelling thumbnails that stand out in a crowded online landscape and effectively convey the video's content.
Balancing creative innovation with the need to adhere to brand consistency and performance data insights.
Working independently in a remote setting requires strong self-motivation and communication skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Gaining hands-on experience in performance-driven design and A/B testing for digital content.
Developing speed and efficiency in graphic design workflows within a professional environment.
Learning to interpret data and use it to inform creative decisions.
Potential exposure to motion graphics and broader visual production workflows by reporting to the Manager of Motion Graphics Operations.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges revolve around the speed and performance requirements of digital content design. The growth opportunities lie in developing expertise in this specific niche and gaining experience within a major media organization.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to discuss your typical design process from receiving a brief to final delivery, focusing on efficiency and iteration.
Explain how you approach designing for specific platforms like YouTube, considering their unique requirements and user behavior.
Discuss how you incorporate feedback into your design workflow and handle multiple rounds of revisions.

Company Culture Questions:

Research A+E Networks' brands and digital content to demonstrate your understanding of their style and audience.
Be prepared to discuss how you collaborate effectively with non-designers, such as content producers and editors.
Ask questions about the design team's workflow, collaboration tools, and how design performance is measured.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Prepare a concise presentation of your portfolio, focusing on 3-5 of your most relevant graphic design projects, particularly digital and social media examples.
For each project, clearly articulate the problem you solved, your design approach, and the outcome.
If possible, highlight any projects where you created multiple design variations or worked with performance data.
Be ready to explain your design choices and the rationale behind them.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the focus of the role, interview preparation should heavily emphasize demonstrating proficiency in digital graphic design, understanding performance metrics, and the ability to work efficiently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link
Tailor your resume to highlight your graphic design experience, Adobe Creative Suite proficiency, and any experience with digital content or social media design. Utilize relevant ATS keywords.
Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your best graphic design work, specifically including examples of digital assets or social media visuals if available. Ensure easy access to your online portfolio.
Research A+E Networks and their digital content to understand their brand aesthetic and prepare to discuss how your skills align with their needs.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and design industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

Junior Graphic Designer - Project Based