Production Graphic Designer at Boulder Public Library District

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Production Graphic Designer

Company: Boulder Public Library District

Location: Boulder, Colorado, United States

Job Type: Full-Time (40 hours/week)

Category: Graphic Design / Visual Design / Production Design

Date Posted: June 11, 2025

Experience Level: Mid-Level (Minimum 3 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🎨 Role Summary

Oversees and manages the end-to-end production process for a variety of print and digital design assets, ensuring timely and high-quality delivery for library programs, services, and events.
Collaborates closely with internal teams to translate program objectives and target audience needs into compelling visual design concepts that align with the library's mission and brand identity.
Develops production-ready artwork for diverse applications including signage, event collateral, promotional materials, digital newsletters, social media graphics, reports, and website visuals.
Maintains and enforces brand guidelines, design templates, fonts, and photographic assets to ensure consistency and accessibility across all library communications.

📝 Enhancement Note: Based on the job title "Production Graphic Designer" and the responsibilities listed, the role strongly emphasizes the technical execution and delivery of design assets, building upon established concepts. The focus is on efficiency, accuracy, and adherence to standards in the final production phase.

🖼️ Primary Responsibilities

Coordinate the multi-step design production workflow for the Communications and Marketing team, managing projects from concept handoff through final output for print and digital formats.
Work iteratively with various library departments to understand communication goals and develop initial design concepts that are both creative and strategically aligned with program objectives and target audiences.
Create production-ready files for a wide range of materials, including detailed specifications for print vendors and optimized assets for digital platforms such as websites, email newsletters, and social media.
Ensure all design assets adhere to established brand guidelines, maintaining visual consistency, tone, and messaging across all library communications.
Implement accessibility standards (including Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) in all digital and print designs, considering factors like color contrast, typography, alternative text, and inclusive visual elements to ensure equitable access for all patrons.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on accessibility standards is particularly relevant for a public institution like a library, highlighting a key responsibility that might require specific knowledge or a willingness to learn and apply these guidelines rigorously in design production.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, or a closely related field. This educational background provides a foundational understanding of both design principles and strategic communication, essential for this role.

Experience: Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience in marketing or communications roles with a significant focus on graphic design. Demonstrated experience managing design projects from concept to production, particularly involving both print and digital outputs. A strong portfolio showcasing production design skills and project management capabilities is expected.

Required Skills:

Strong technical proficiency in graphic design software, including Adobe InDesign and Canva, for creating and preparing production-ready files.
Proven experience with layout, composition, color theory, typography, and branding principles to create visually appealing and effective designs.
Working knowledge of developing multimedia web content and preparing assets for various digital platforms.
Understanding of and ability to implement web content accessibility standards and inclusive design principles in graphic design work.

Preferred Skills:

Experience managing the entire publication production process, including coordination with external print vendors and understanding print specifications.
Demonstrated strong writing and editing skills with meticulous attention to detail, crucial for ensuring accuracy in design content and specifications.
Practical interpersonal and communication skills for effective collaboration within the Communications and Marketing team and with other library departments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The combination of graphic design skills with marketing/communications experience is a specific requirement, suggesting a role that bridges creative execution with strategic communication goals. Proficiency in both Adobe InDesign (standard for print production) and Canva (popular for quick digital assets and collaboration) is explicitly requested.

🎨 Portfolio & Creative Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

Your online portfolio should prominently feature examples of production-ready graphic design work for both print and digital mediums, demonstrating your ability to execute design concepts accurately and efficiently.
Include case studies or project descriptions that highlight your role in the production process, detailing how you managed projects from initial design concepts to final output.
Showcase your technical proficiency in design software, particularly Adobe InDesign and Canva, and your ability to prepare files according to specific technical requirements (e.g., print specifications, digital asset optimization).
Present examples that demonstrate your understanding and application of brand guidelines, accessibility standards, and inclusive design principles in your work.

Process Documentation:

For selected projects, document your production workflow, explaining the steps taken from receiving design concepts to creating final assets.
Illustrate how you collaborated with stakeholders or other team members during the production phase, including feedback incorporation and iteration.
Detail any challenges encountered during the production process (e.g., technical constraints, tight deadlines) and how you effectively addressed them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific requirement to email a portfolio link after application submission, followed by a design project invitation, signifies a multi-stage evaluation process heavily focused on practical design skills and production capabilities. Applicants should ensure their portfolio is easily accessible and clearly demonstrates relevant experience.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $29.14 - $32.79 per hour. This range is explicitly stated in the job posting. Based on a 40-hour work week, this equates to an estimated annual salary range of approximately $60,611 to $68,203.

Benefits:

Comprehensive Group Medical, Dental, and Vision benefits are available for employees working 20 or more hours per week.
Lifestyle Spending Account for all benefit-eligible employees, offering flexibility for various personal expenses.
Employer-paid Basic Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance provides financial security.
Employer-paid Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for employees and their households, offering confidential support services.
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) available for all benefit-eligible employees.
Voluntary, employee-paid Group Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity plans are available.
Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave for employees working 20 or more hours per week, following the birth or placement of a child.
Infant at Work Program, allowing new parents to bring their infants to the workplace under specific guidelines.
Generous Time-off Benefits, including 4 weeks of paid vacation for new employees, 80 hours of paid sick leave per year (for 20+ hour/week employees), 12 paid holidays, and 3 floating holidays.
Additional paid time off for Jury Duty, Bereavement, Voting, Pet Adoption, and New Grandparent Leave.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position requiring 40 hours per week. The role is primarily on-site due to the need for in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The detailed list of benefits, including lesser-common ones like Pet Adoption Leave and an Infant at Work Program, suggests a strong focus on employee well-being and work-life balance within the library district. This is a significant positive aspect for potential applicants to consider.

🎯Team & Company Context

🏢 Company & Design Culture

Industry: Libraries / Public Service. The Boulder Public Library District operates within the public sector, focused on providing accessible resources and community programs. This context influences the design work, which serves a broad and diverse public audience.

Company Size: 51-200 employees (based on LinkedIn data). As a moderately sized organization, the design team likely operates within a close-knit environment, requiring strong collaboration and communication skills.

Founded: While a specific founding date isn't provided, the library has a long-standing presence and commitment to serving the Boulder community.

Team Structure: The Production Graphic Designer sits within the Communications and Marketing team. This structure implies close collaboration with marketing specialists, content creators, and potentially other design roles, reporting up through a communications or marketing leader. There is also a strong emphasis on cross-team collaboration with program and service teams.

Methodology: The job description emphasizes collaborative and iterative design concept development, followed by a multi-step production process. This suggests a structured workflow that values feedback and refinement before final asset creation. Ensuring accessibility and adherence to brand guidelines are integrated into the methodology.

Company Website: http://boulderlibrary.org

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on serving a diverse community and providing accessible resources suggests that the design culture values inclusivity, clarity, and broad appeal in visual communications. Design decisions likely prioritize usability and understanding for a wide range of patrons.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Design Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level Production Graphic Designer. The requirement for a minimum of three years of experience and the focus on managing a production process align with this classification. It's a role for someone with solid foundational design skills who is ready to take on more responsibility in execution and workflow management.

Reporting Structure: The role reports within the Communications and Marketing team. The specific reporting manager is not named, but it would likely be a Communications Manager, Marketing Manager, or potentially a Design Lead, depending on the team's structure.

Design Impact: The design work directly impacts how the library communicates its services, programs, and events to the public. Effective design is crucial for attracting patrons, promoting literacy and learning, and ensuring the community is aware of and can access library resources. The focus on accessibility also highlights the direct impact of design on equitable service delivery.

Growth Opportunities:

Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific areas of production design, such as advanced print techniques, digital asset optimization, or accessibility best practices.
Potential for growth into roles with more strategic design input or project leadership within the Communications and Marketing team.
Development of skills in vendor management (printers, copywriters) and project coordination can lead to roles with broader operational responsibilities.

📝 Enhancement Note: While this is primarily a production role, the emphasis on collaboration and managing the workflow suggests potential for growth into roles with more project ownership or specialization in areas like accessibility design or digital asset management within the public sector context.

🌐 Work Environment

Studio Type: Office setting. The primary work location is the Main library branch at 1001 Arapahoe Ave. This is a traditional office environment within a public library building.

Office Location(s): Primarily located at the Main Branch (1001 Arapahoe Ave, Boulder, CO 80302). Additional library locations exist, but this role is primarily based at the main site for collaborative purposes.

Design Workspace Context:

The work environment is designed to facilitate in-person collaboration with the Communications and Marketing team and cross-functional interaction with other library departments.
Access to necessary design tools and technology to support production workflows for both print and digital assets.
Opportunities for informal interaction and collaboration with colleagues across various library functions, fostering a sense of connection to the broader library mission.

Work Schedule: 40 hours per week, typically standard business hours, Monday to Friday, within the library's operational schedule. The on-site nature requires physical presence at the specified location.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for on-site work is explicitly stated as necessary for in-person collaboration, indicating that the team structure and workflow are designed around physical presence and direct interaction.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Design Interview Process:

Initial Application & Portfolio Submission: Submit your application online and separately email a link to your online portfolio to [email protected]. Ensure your portfolio is up-to-date and showcases relevant production design work.
Portfolio Review & Project Invitation: Qualified candidates whose portfolios demonstrate the required production design skills will be invited to complete a small design project.
Design Project Completion: Based on a provided creative brief and branding guidelines, you will have at least a week to complete a library-specific design project. This evaluates your practical skills, ability to follow instructions, and approach to a design challenge within constraints.
Interviews: Candidates who successfully complete the design project will be invited for interviews. The process will involve back-to-back interviews with two different teams, likely including the Communications and Marketing team and potentially stakeholders from other departments you would collaborate with.
Final Evaluation: The evaluation will consider your design skills demonstrated in your portfolio and project, your ability to collaborate effectively, your understanding of the library's mission and target audience, and your cultural fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

Focus on presenting projects that showcase your production design expertise, particularly your ability to prepare files for both print and digital output.
For each project, clearly explain your role and the production steps you managed. Highlight instances where you ensured brand consistency and accessibility.
If including case studies, structure them to emphasize your workflow, problem-solving during production, and the final outcome of the design assets.
Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing.

Challenge Preparation:

Familiarize yourself with the Boulder Public Library District's brand and mission by exploring their website before receiving the creative brief.
Carefully review the provided creative brief and branding guidelines. Pay close attention to the objectives, target audience, deliverables, and any technical specifications.
Approach the project as you would a real-world design task, documenting your process and rationale.
Manage your time effectively within the given timeframe to deliver a polished and complete project.

ATS Keywords: Graphic Design, Production Design, Adobe InDesign, Canva, Print Design, Digital Design, Asset Management, Brand Guidelines, Accessibility Standards, WCAG, Layout, Composition, Color Theory, Typography, Branding, Marketing Communications, Project Coordination, Collaboration, Public Library, Non-profit, Communications, Marketing, Visual Design, Production Artwork, File Preparation, Vendor Management, Print Production, Web Content, Social Media Graphics, Email Newsletters, Reports, Booklets, Flyers, Signage, Event Collateral, Promotional Materials, Attention to Detail, Communication Skills, Interpersonal Skills, Workflow Management.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit description of the multi-stage interview process, including a required design project, provides invaluable guidance for applicants. This structure indicates a strong emphasis on evaluating practical production design skills and problem-solving abilities within a specific context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

Adobe InDesign: Essential for creating complex layouts for print materials such as reports, booklets, flyers, and potentially signage, requiring proficiency in professional print file preparation.
Canva: Utilized for creating digital assets and potentially simpler print materials, suggesting a need for efficiency and ease of collaboration within the team.

Collaboration & Handoff:

Microsoft Office Suite: Used for general office tasks, communication, and potentially for receiving or preparing content for design projects.
Communication System (unspecified): A clear communication system is mentioned for tracking project status and deliverables, likely involving email, shared documents, or a project management tool.

Research & Testing:

Knowledge of Web Content Accessibility Standards (WCAG): Required for ensuring digital designs meet accessibility requirements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of both Adobe InDesign and Canva indicates that the role requires versatility in using different design tools optimized for various outputs and workflows. Proficiency in accessibility standards is highlighted, suggesting this is a critical technical requirement.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Design Values:

Accessibility and Equity: A core value, reflected in the requirement to ensure all design assets comply with accessibility standards and serve a diverse community. This value should permeate design decisions and production workflows.
Community Connection: Design work aims to connect people with information and resources, implying a value placed on clear, welcoming, and informative visual communication that resonates with the local community.
Collaboration and Iteration: The process involves collaborative concept development and iterative refinement, indicating a value for teamwork, open communication, and continuous improvement in design outcomes.
Professionalism and Attention to Detail: The emphasis on maintaining brand guidelines, ensuring accuracy (preferred writing/editing skills), and managing a multi-step production process points to a value for high-quality, polished, and consistent output.

Collaboration Style:

Highly collaborative, working closely with the Communications and Marketing team and cross-functionally with other library departments.
Iterative approach to design development, involving feedback and refinement loops.
Emphasis on clear and transparent communication regarding project status and deliverables.

📝 Enhancement Note: The library's stated mission and values strongly influence the design culture. Design is viewed as a tool for community engagement and equitable access, which is a unique and important aspect of this role compared to a typical corporate design position.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Design Challenges:

Balancing creative design concepts with strict production constraints and deadlines, especially with a multi-step workflow involving various stakeholders.
Ensuring accessibility compliance across a wide range of print and digital formats, which can require specialized knowledge and attention to detail.
Maintaining brand consistency while creating visually engaging and distinct materials for diverse programs and events.
Adapting to evolving industry trends and technologies in graphic design and digital accessibility to keep library communications current and effective.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

Opportunities for paid training and professional development in graphic design, accessibility standards, or specific software.
Tuition reimbursement program and student debt repayment assistance can support further education in related fields.
Learning from experienced colleagues within the Communications and Marketing team and across the library district.

📝 Enhancement Note: The specific challenges in this role relate to the public sector context and the emphasis on accessibility. Growth opportunities are clearly supported through explicit benefits like paid training and tuition assistance.

💡 Interview Preparation

Design Process Questions:

Be prepared to walk through your production design process for a project from your portfolio. Explain how you take a design concept and prepare it for final output (print or digital).
Discuss your experience working with brand guidelines and ensuring consistency across different materials.
Explain your approach to ensuring accessibility in your designs. Provide examples of how you consider color contrast, typography, and alt text.
Describe a time you faced a production challenge (e.g., technical issue, tight deadline) and how you resolved it.

Company Culture Questions:

Research the Boulder Public Library District's mission, values, and recent programs. Be prepared to discuss why you are interested in working specifically for a public library.
Consider how your design skills and experience can contribute to the library's goal of advancing equity and providing accessible resources.
Be ready to discuss your collaboration style and how you work effectively with colleagues from different teams.

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

Select portfolio pieces that best demonstrate your production design skills and experience with both print and digital outputs.
For each piece, briefly explain the project's objective, your role, and the production steps involved. Highlight your attention to detail and adherence to standards.
Be prepared to discuss the tools you used and any technical considerations for each project.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process being conducted by two different teams suggests that both your design skills and your ability to collaborate and fit within the broader library culture will be evaluated. Preparing examples that demonstrate both technical proficiency and strong interpersonal skills is crucial.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this design position:

Submit your application through this link.
After submitting your online application, email a link to your online portfolio to [email protected]. Ensure your portfolio is ready for review and showcases relevant production design work.
Prepare to be invited to complete a small design project based on a creative brief and branding guidelines if your initial application and portfolio are selected.
Research the Boulder Public Library District to understand its mission, values, and the communities it serves. This will be helpful for the design project and interviews.
Practice discussing your production design process and collaborative experiences, drawing on examples from your portfolio.

⚠️ 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.

Production Graphic Designer