Graphic Designer (設計師)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer (設計師)
Company: Financial Times
Location: Beijing, China
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing / Management & Leadership
Date Posted: January 15, 2026
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid (3 days in office)

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the creative and visual design function for FTChinese, driving design initiatives for Business Development, Marketing, Advertising Sales, and Product teams.
• Deliver high-quality, impactful creative work that aligns with strategic business objectives and brand guidelines.
• Ensure brand consistency and uphold the FT's global design standards across all digital and print creative touchpoints.
• Manage and provide creative direction for designers, freelancers, and vendors to maintain workflow efficiency and quality.
• Contribute to the long-term creative strategy and promote innovation within design practices for FTChinese.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned as a Head of Designers, indicating a leadership and strategic component beyond a standard graphic designer role. The focus on "creative and visual design function" and "overseeing design initiatives" suggests a need for both hands-on execution and team/project management within the operations of FTChinese's marketing and business development efforts.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Execute and deliver high-quality creative visual designs for digital and print channels, including campaign assets, promotional graphics, presentations, newsletters, and event materials, ensuring timely completion and alignment with strategic goals.
• Collaborate closely with Business Development, Marketing, Advertising Sales, and Product teams to effectively translate business needs into compelling visual communications and design solutions.
• Maintain and evolve the FTChinese visual identity, adapting global FT brand guidelines for local audiences and digital platforms to ensure consistent brand representation.
• Provide creative direction, constructive feedback, and oversight to internal designers, external freelancers, and vendors to ensure project quality and adherence to brand standards.
• Support the development and implementation of new design systems and processes, aiming to improve workflow efficiency, enhance creative output quality, and foster innovation in design practice.
• Manage and ensure awareness of intellectual property rights and licensing when commissioning or utilizing third-party creative materials.
• Contribute to the strategic planning and long-term creative vision for FTChinese, identifying opportunities for design innovation and enhanced user engagement.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a dual focus: hands-on design execution for various marketing and business development materials, and strategic oversight/leadership in managing creative output and brand consistency for the FTChinese market. This implies a need for strong project management skills alongside creative talent.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a related field.
Experience: Minimum of 5 years of professional graphic design experience, with a proven track record of delivering commercially impactful creative work.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for creating a wide range of visual assets.
• Strong portfolio showcasing creativity, versatility, and demonstrable commercial impact in design projects.
• Experience collaborating effectively with business, marketing, and product teams to develop design solutions that drive engagement and revenue.
• Excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and quality in all design outputs.
• Strong communication and project management skills, enabling effective collaboration and timely delivery of design projects.
• Fluency in Mandarin Chinese is essential for local market adaptation and communication.

Preferred Skills:

• Familiarity with Figma or similar modern design and prototyping tools to enhance collaborative workflows.
• Working proficiency in English to align with global FT standards and potentially collaborate with international teams.
• Experience in developing and maintaining design systems to ensure brand consistency and streamline design processes.
• Understanding of intellectual property rights relevant to creative asset usage.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "minimum 5 years of professional design experience" and the "Head of Designers" title imply that candidates should possess not only strong individual design skills but also leadership potential, project management capabilities, and a strategic understanding of how design contributes to business objectives, particularly in a localized market context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Showcase a diverse range of projects demonstrating versatility across digital and print mediums, including campaign assets, promotional graphics, presentations, and event materials.
• Highlight projects that clearly illustrate your ability to translate business needs into compelling visual communication and drive engagement or revenue.
• Include examples of how you have maintained or evolved brand identity and ensured brand consistency across different touchpoints.
• Present case studies that detail your design process, problem-solving approach, and the commercial impact or ROI of your design solutions.

Process Documentation:

• Demonstrate experience in developing and refining design workflows to improve efficiency and quality, potentially including the use of design systems.
• Provide examples of how you have collaborated with cross-functional teams (Business Development, Marketing, Product) to gather requirements and deliver design solutions.
• Illustrate your approach to managing creative projects from concept to completion, including managing timelines, feedback, and vendor relationships.
• Showcase any contributions to strategic creative planning or innovation in design practice.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the "Head of Designers" title and the responsibility for overseeing initiatives, a portfolio should not only display creative output but also evidence of process management, strategic thinking, and the ability to influence business outcomes through design. Demonstrating how design processes are optimized for efficiency and impact is crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: For a senior graphic design role with leadership responsibilities in Beijing, China, the estimated annual salary range is ¥250,000 - ¥450,000 CNY. This range is based on industry benchmarks for experienced designers in major metropolitan areas, considering the Financial Times' global reputation and the specific demands of the role which includes leadership and strategic input.

Benefits:

• Generous Annual Leave: Ample paid time off to ensure work-life balance.
• Medical Cover: Comprehensive health insurance for employees and potentially dependents.
• Inclusive Parental Leave Packages: Supportive leave policies for new parents.
• Subsidised Gym Memberships: Encouragement of employee health and wellness through fitness programs.
• Opportunities to Give Back to the Community: Programs facilitating employee volunteerism and social impact.
• Hybrid Working Model: A flexible arrangement averaging 2-3 days onsite, promoting work-life balance while maintaining in-person collaboration.
• Flexible Working Pattern Requests: Openness to accommodate specific flexible working arrangements where feasible.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are assumed, likely around 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through the hybrid and potential flexible working arrangements.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimate based on general market data for senior design roles in Beijing and the prestige of the Financial Times. Actual compensation may vary based on the candidate's specific experience, qualifications, and negotiation. The benefits listed are directly from the provided text.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Publishing / News Media / Financial Information Services. The Financial Times is a globally recognized leader in delivering quality information and services, known for its authority, integrity, and accuracy in journalism. Company Size: The Financial Times is a large, established global organization. While specific numbers for FTChinese are not provided, the parent company employs a significant workforce globally. This implies a structured environment with established processes but also opportunities for impact within specific divisions. Founded: The Financial Times was founded in 1888, giving it a long history and deep-rooted reputation for journalistic excellence and business insight.

Team Structure:

• The role leads the "creative and visual design function for FTChinese," suggesting a dedicated design team or a network of designers (including freelancers/vendors) reporting to this Head.
• This team will likely work closely with various departments including Business Development, Marketing, Advertising Sales, and Product teams, indicating a highly collaborative and integrated structure.
• The reporting structure would likely place this role under a senior leader within FTChinese's operations or commercial leadership.

Methodology:

• Emphasis on "quality information and services," "authority, integrity and accuracy," and "impartial journalism" suggests a data-driven, evidence-based approach to all operations, including design.
• The commitment to "curiosity thrives and ambitious thinking is rewarded" indicates a culture that encourages innovation and continuous improvement in processes and creative output.
• A "warm, collaborative culture" with a focus on "diverse perspectives" points to a team-oriented approach that values open communication and mutual support in achieving business objectives.

Company Website: https://www.ft.com/ (Global) and potentially FTChinese specific sites.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's reputation for integrity and quality in journalism suggests that operational roles, including design, will be held to high standards of execution, accuracy, and strategic alignment with the FT's core mission.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is at a senior or leadership level, specifically "Head of Designers." It requires not only strong individual contributor skills in graphic design but also the ability to lead, manage, and strategize creative output for a specific market (FTChinese). This position acts as a critical link between global brand standards and local market needs. Reporting Structure: The Head of Designers will likely report to a senior executive within FTChinese's commercial or editorial leadership, such as a Marketing Director, Commercial Director, or Head of FTChinese. They will, in turn, oversee a team of designers, freelancers, and vendors. Operations Impact: The role directly impacts FTChinese's ability to engage its audience and clients through compelling visual communication. By ensuring brand consistency, delivering high-quality assets, and driving innovative design solutions, this role supports key business functions like business development, marketing, advertising sales, and product adoption, ultimately contributing to revenue generation and market penetration.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Development: Opportunity to hone management skills, lead a creative team, and develop strategic vision for design operations within a major global media organization.
• Cross-Functional Expertise: Deepen understanding of business development, marketing, advertising sales, and product strategy by working closely with these departments.
• Global Brand Acumen: Gain in-depth experience in adapting global brand guidelines for local markets and contributing to the evolution of a prestigious international brand's visual identity.
• Innovation and System Design: Potential to contribute to the development of new design systems and processes, influencing operational efficiency and creative quality for FTChinese.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Head of Designers" title signifies a move beyond pure execution into strategic oversight and team leadership, offering a clear growth path for experienced designers looking to expand their operational and management capabilities within the media industry.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The FT embraces a hybrid working model, indicating a modern office environment designed to support both focused individual work and collaborative team activities. The office space in Beijing would likely be equipped to facilitate meetings, brainstorming sessions, and in-person team interactions. Office Location(s): Beijing, China. Specific office details are not provided, but as a major international hub, it's expected to be a professional business environment accessible to employees.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model (averaging 2-3 days onsite) is designed to foster in-person camaraderie and peer learning, suggesting a workspace that encourages interaction and shared creativity.
• Operations Tools and Technology: The role requires proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with Figma, indicating that the company provides access to industry-standard design software and potentially collaborative digital platforms.
• Operations Team Interaction: Regular interaction with Business Development, Marketing, Advertising Sales, and Product teams is a core aspect of the role, ensuring designers are integrated into broader business operations and strategic discussions.

Work Schedule: A full-time schedule is implied, with a hybrid work model allowing for a blend of remote and in-office days. The company is also open to accommodating specific flexible working pattern requests where feasible, offering a degree of autonomy in managing one's schedule to optimize productivity and workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid model and openness to flexible working suggest a company culture that values employee well-being and trusts its staff to manage their time effectively, balancing individual productivity with team collaboration needs essential for design operations.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess qualifications, experience, and creative output.
• Skills Assessment: A practical design exercise or case study may be assigned to evaluate hands-on design skills, problem-solving abilities, and understanding of brand guidelines. This could involve creating assets for a hypothetical campaign or adapting existing materials.
• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Business Development, Marketing, and Product teams to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and understanding of business objectives.
• Leadership Discussion: Interview with the hiring manager or senior leadership to discuss strategic vision, leadership approach, team management philosophy, and alignment with FT's culture and values.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Showcase a diverse range of projects that directly address the responsibilities outlined, emphasizing digital and print campaign assets, promotional graphics, presentations, and event materials.
• Demonstrate Impact: For each project, clearly articulate the business challenge, your role, your design process, and the measurable results or impact (e.g., engagement metrics, revenue contribution, brand consistency achieved).
• Highlight Local Adaptation: Include examples of how you've adapted global brand guidelines for local markets or created culturally relevant designs for the Chinese audience.
• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, include examples of projects where you collaborated closely with marketing, sales, or product teams, detailing your contribution and the collaborative process.
• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate. For digital portfolios, provide clear links and concise project descriptions.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand FTChinese's Context: Research FTChinese's current marketing efforts, target audience, and visual communication strategies.
• Prepare for Brand Consistency Scenarios: Be ready to discuss how you would ensure brand consistency across various platforms while adapting to local nuances.
• Develop Workflow Efficiency Ideas: Think about how you would improve design workflows, manage freelancers, and leverage design systems to enhance team productivity.
• Articulate Strategic Vision: Prepare to discuss your approach to leading a design team, fostering innovation, and contributing to the overall creative strategy of FTChinese.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the leadership aspect of this role, expect interview questions to probe not just design execution but also strategic thinking, team management, and the ability to align creative output with broader business goals. A strong, results-oriented portfolio is paramount.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign for creating a wide array of visual assets across digital and print.
• Figma (or similar): Familiarity is preferred for modern design workflows, collaborative prototyping, and efficient asset management.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not explicitly mentioned for the designer role, understanding how design impacts engagement and revenue would require familiarity with analytics platforms (e.g., Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics) and reporting tools to interpret performance data.

CRM & Automation:

• Familiarity with marketing automation platforms or CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce Marketing Cloud, HubSpot) might be beneficial to understand how visual assets are deployed in campaigns and to inform design decisions based on campaign performance.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirements are focused on design software. However, demonstrating an understanding of how design integrates with marketing campaigns and business objectives will be a significant advantage, suggesting a need to be aware of the broader MarTech stack.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity and Accuracy: Reflecting the FT's core journalistic values, design operations should prioritize accuracy, truthfulness, and ethical representation in all visual communications.
• Quality and Authority: A commitment to delivering high-quality, professional, and authoritative design that upholds the FT's global reputation.
• Innovation and Curiosity: Encouraging forward-thinking in design, exploring new visual approaches, and adopting new tools and techniques to stay ahead.
• Collaboration and Diversity: Fostering a supportive, inclusive environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and teams work together effectively to achieve common goals.
• Impact-Driven: Focusing design efforts on achieving tangible business outcomes, such as increased engagement, lead generation, or brand recognition.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A strong emphasis on working closely with Business Development, Marketing, Advertising Sales, and Product teams, ensuring design is an integral part of business strategy rather than an afterthought.
• Feedback and Iteration: An open exchange of feedback and ideas among designers and with stakeholders to refine creative concepts and ensure alignment with objectives.
• Global-Local Synergy: Balancing adherence to global FT brand standards with the need to adapt designs effectively for the FTChinese market, requiring clear communication and understanding between international and local teams.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's stated values of integrity, curiosity, and collaboration are likely to permeate the design team's operations, influencing how projects are approached, how feedback is given and received, and how team members interact to achieve common goals.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Global Brand Standards with Local Market Needs: Effectively adapting the FT's established global visual identity to resonate with the FTChinese audience while maintaining brand integrity.
• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Juggling design requests and priorities from multiple departments (Business Development, Marketing, Sales, Product) that may have different objectives.
• Driving Innovation in a Traditional Media Context: Introducing new design trends and technologies within a company that values established authority and accuracy.
• Leading and Mentoring a Distributed/Freelance Team: Effectively managing creative output and ensuring quality from a team that may include internal designers, freelancers, and external vendors, potentially across different locations.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Software & Techniques: Opportunity to deepen expertise in tools like Figma and explore new digital design methodologies.
• Brand Strategy and Management: Gaining experience in managing and evolving a global brand's visual identity in a specific market.
• Cross-Functional Business Acumen: Developing a deeper understanding of marketing, sales, and product development strategies through close collaboration.
• Leadership and Team Management: Cultivating skills in leading creative teams, managing projects, and fostering a productive team environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a senior design role in a global organization operating in a localized market, offering significant opportunities for professional growth and skill development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach adapting the Financial Times' global brand guidelines for the FTChinese market to ensure both consistency and local relevance?" (Focus on process, research, and stakeholder consultation).
• "Describe a time you had to balance competing design requests from different departments (e.g., Marketing vs. Sales). How did you prioritize and manage the process?" (Highlight project management, communication, and negotiation skills).
• "What is your process for staying current with design trends and incorporating them into your work, especially within a legacy media brand like the FT?" (Emphasize innovation balanced with brand integrity).

Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of the Financial Times, what do you believe are the most critical visual communication objectives for FTChinese?" (Demonstrate research and strategic thinking).
• "How would you foster a collaborative and inclusive design culture within your team, given the hybrid work model?" (Discuss team dynamics, communication, and leadership style).
• "How do you measure the success of your design work? Can you provide an example of a project where you demonstrated significant business impact?" (Focus on metrics, ROI, and data-driven design).

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with a high-level overview of your career and design philosophy, then dive into 2-3 key projects that best represent your leadership, creativity, and ability to drive business results for FTChinese.
• Tell the Story: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your strategic approach, the challenges faced, your design process, and the measurable outcomes. Use visuals effectively to support your narrative.
• Quantify Results: Wherever possible, present data and metrics that demonstrate the commercial impact of your design work (e.g., increased click-through rates, improved conversion, enhanced brand perception).
• Localize Examples: Highlight any projects that demonstrate your understanding of the Chinese market and your ability to create culturally relevant designs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating not only design skill but also strategic thinking, leadership potential, and a strong understanding of how design contributes to business objectives within a global media context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this operations position:

• Submit your application through the official Financial Times careers portal link provided.
• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your design portfolio to highlight projects demonstrating experience with digital and print campaign assets, brand adaptation for local markets, and collaboration with marketing and sales teams. Clearly articulate the business impact and ROI of your work.
• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume emphasizes leadership experience, project management skills, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma, and fluency in Mandarin Chinese. Quantify achievements wherever possible.
• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and leadership approach. Prepare to discuss how you would handle specific challenges related to brand consistency, stakeholder management, and team leadership within the FTChinese context.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research the Financial Times and FTChinese's current marketing campaigns, visual identity, and target audience to demonstrate a genuine interest and understanding of their operational needs and strategic goals.

⚠️ 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.

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