Graphic Designer / Sr. Graphic Designer (Dependent on Experience)

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Graphic Designer / Sr. Graphic Designer

Company: The Florida Panthers

Location: Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing / Creative & Media

Date Posted: April 15, 2026

Experience Level: 3-7+ Years (Dependent on Experience)

Remote Status: On-Site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is crucial for developing and executing integrated brand and campaign strategies across all marketing channels.

• You will be instrumental in shaping the visual identity and brand standards of the Florida Panthers, ensuring consistency and high-quality design output.

• The position demands a strong focus on typography, layout, and the creation of compelling visual systems that resonate with a sports and entertainment audience.

• You will collaborate closely with the Creative Director and other creative team members to elevate the brand's visual presence and contribute to real-time content needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the raw job description focuses on design craft, this role is positioned within the Marketing department, indicating a strong strategic component. The emphasis on "campaign systems" and "multi-platform campaigns" suggests an expectation for designers who can think holistically about brand expression beyond individual assets. The mention of "sports experience is a plus, but a genuine love for the craft matters more" implies that strong design fundamentals are paramount, with an openness to train on industry specifics.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and execute diverse brand and campaign assets for social media, Out-of-Home (OOH) advertising, digital platforms, and in-venue activations.

• Contribute significantly to logo and identity design for new campaigns and ongoing brand initiatives, including logomarks, wordmarks, and comprehensive typographic systems.

• Take ownership of typography and layout decisions for assigned projects, maintaining a high standard of design craft and brand consistency across all deliverables.

• Actively maintain and evolve the Florida Panthers' brand standards in close collaboration with creative, motion graphics, and content teams to ensure cohesive brand messaging.

• Provide in-game and real-time support for social media content needs, requiring agility and quick turnaround times.

• Offer constructive design critiques to peers and stakeholders, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and maintaining high creative standards within the team.

• Collaborate with motion graphics and 3D design specialists to integrate visual elements seamlessly across different media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of strategic brand development and tactical execution. The emphasis on "owning typography and layout decisions" suggests a senior-level expectation for designers who can lead in these specific areas. The need to support "in-game and real-time social content" points to a dynamic, fast-paced environment where rapid design iteration is key.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field is typically expected for roles of this caliber. Demonstrable equivalent experience will also be considered.

Experience: 3–7+ years of professional graphic design experience. The specific title (Graphic Designer vs. Sr. Graphic Designer) will be determined based on the candidate's portfolio strength and depth of experience.

Required Skills:

• Typography Mastery: Exceptional understanding and application of type selection, hierarchy, spacing, leading, kerning, and complex typographic systems.

• Layout Design Prowess: Proven ability to create compelling, balanced, and effective layouts across various media.

• Logo & Identity Design: Demonstrated experience in creating logomarks, wordmarks, and comprehensive brand identity systems.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Advanced skills in Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are non-negotiable for asset creation and manipulation.

• Brand Standards Management: Ability to understand, apply, and evolve brand guidelines consistently.

• Detail Orientation: Meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of design, from pixel-perfect alignment to grammatical accuracy.

• Project Management Fundamentals: Capacity to manage multiple design projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

• Constructive Critique: Ability to provide and receive feedback effectively to enhance design quality.

Preferred Skills:

• Sports or Entertainment Industry Experience: Familiarity with the unique demands and aesthetics of sports marketing and branding.

• Motion Graphics: Experience with Adobe After Effects or similar software for creating animated graphics.

• 3D Design: Familiarity with 3D modeling and rendering software (e.g., Cinema 4D, Blender) for advanced visual assets.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Experience working closely with content creators, copywriters, and marketing strategists.

• In-Venue Experience: Understanding of design considerations for large-scale signage, digital displays, and environmental graphics.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "3–7+ years" clearly delineates the experience range. The emphasis on "typography, layout, and identity chops" in the job summary, alongside the specific mention of these in the qualifications, highlights them as critical evaluation criteria for candidates. The "dependent on experience" clause suggests flexibility in title and potentially salary for candidates with exceptional portfolios or extensive relevant experience.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Comprehensive Case Studies: Showcase 2-4 detailed case studies that highlight your design process from concept to completion. Each case study should clearly articulate the problem, your proposed solution, the design decisions made, and the final outcome.

• Typography Focus: Include specific examples that demonstrate your mastery of typography, showcasing your ability to select appropriate fonts, establish clear visual hierarchy, and execute precise typographic layouts for various applications.

• Identity System Examples: Present examples of logo design and brand identity development, illustrating your understanding of creating cohesive visual systems that include logomarks, wordmarks, color palettes, and typography.

• Multi-Platform Application: Demonstrate how your designs translate effectively across different media, including social media graphics, digital ads, print collateral, and potentially OOH or in-venue signage.

• Brand Standards Adherence: If possible, include a project where you had to work within or evolve existing brand guidelines, showcasing your ability to maintain consistency.

Process Documentation:

• Conceptualization and Ideation: Be prepared to discuss your approach to brainstorming, sketching, and developing initial design concepts.

• Software Proficiency: Be ready to articulate your expertise with specific tools within the Adobe Creative Suite and any other relevant design software.

• Collaboration and Feedback Integration: Detail how you incorporate feedback from Creative Directors, marketing teams, and other stakeholders into your design process.

• Problem-Solving Examples: Highlight instances where you encountered design challenges and how you creatively and effectively solved them.

📝 Enhancement Note: The job description explicitly states, "Portfolio required. Work that demonstrates type, layout, and identity chops will stand out. Applicants will not be considered without one." This elevates the portfolio from a supplementary document to a primary evaluation tool. The enhancement note emphasizes the need for detailed case studies that go beyond showcasing final assets, focusing instead on the process and decisions that led to those assets.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Graphic Designers and Senior Graphic Designers in the South Florida region with 3-7+ years of experience in the sports/entertainment industry, the estimated salary range is $60,000 - $90,000 annually. This range is dependent on the candidate's specific experience, portfolio strength, and the final determined title (Graphic Designer vs. Sr. Graphic Designer).

Benefits:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Comprehensive coverage options for employees and their families.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Includes vacation days, sick leave, and paid holidays.

• 401(k) Retirement Plan: With potential company matching contributions.

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and support services.

• Team Perks: Potential for tickets to Florida Panthers games, merchandise discounts, and other team-related benefits.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for training, workshops, and conference attendance related to graphic design and marketing.

Working Hours: This is a full-time, salaried position. Standard work hours are typically 40 hours per week, but the role requires flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays, to accommodate game schedules, special events, and real-time content needs.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the location in Sunrise, FL, and the experience level, a salary range has been estimated using industry data for graphic design roles in major metropolitan areas with a strong sports presence. Benefits are standard for a full-time position in professional sports organizations. The explicit mention of "flexible hours including nights, weekends and occasional holidays" is crucial for candidates to understand the commitment required.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Sports (National Hockey League - NHL)

Company Size: The Florida Panthers organization comprises multiple entities including the hockey club, arena operations, ice facilities, food service, and retail operations, suggesting a company size of 500-1000+ employees. This indicates a well-established organization with significant operational scope.

Founded: The Florida Panthers were founded in 1993, making them one of the NHL's "Original Six Expansion" teams. Their recent success as back-to-back Stanley Cup champions (2024, 2025) signifies a period of high performance and ambition.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Department: This role sits within the Marketing department, reporting to the Creative Director.

• Creative Team: You will be part of a dedicated creative team that likely includes other designers, motion graphics artists, content creators, and potentially photographers/videographers.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Expect to work closely with various departments, including Hockey Operations (for team-related assets), Sponsorships, Ticket Sales, Fan Experience, and Communications.

Methodology:

• Brand-Centric Approach: The organization emphasizes a strong, consistent brand identity, as evidenced by the focus on brand standards and identity systems.

• Data-Informed Creativity: While not explicitly stated for design, marketing departments in professional sports increasingly leverage data to inform campaign strategies and understand fan engagement.

• Agile Content Creation: The need for in-game and real-time social content suggests an agile workflow for rapid asset development and deployment.

• Community and Values Driven: The company highlights its commitment to community pillars (veterans, children's health, Florida Panther conservation, youth hockey) and DE&I, suggesting these values may influence creative messaging.

Company Website: https://www.nhl.com/panthers

📝 Enhancement Note: The context of a major professional sports franchise like the Florida Panthers is critical. Their recent championship success implies a high-performance culture. The emphasis on community pillars and DE&I suggests that creative output may need to align with these organizational values. The size of the organization suggests ample resources and potential for diverse projects.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned as a mid-level to senior-level Graphic Designer. The "dependent on experience" clause allows for flexibility, but the core responsibilities and expectation of owning typography and layout suggest a designer capable of independent work and contributing significantly to campaign systems. A Sr. Graphic Designer would be expected to mentor junior staff and lead smaller projects independently.

Reporting Structure: The Graphic Designer/Sr. Graphic Designer reports directly to the Creative Director. This close reporting line indicates opportunities for direct mentorship, feedback, and exposure to high-level creative strategy and decision-making.

Operations Impact: This role directly impacts revenue by contributing to marketing campaigns that drive ticket sales, merchandise purchases, and sponsorship value. High-quality, consistent, and compelling visual assets are crucial for fan engagement, brand perception, and the overall success of marketing initiatives. Creative output influences fan experience both digitally and in-venue, which can indirectly affect attendance and spending.

Growth Opportunities:

• Senior Graphic Designer: Progression to Sr. Graphic Designer, taking on more complex projects and potentially leading design efforts for specific campaigns or brand initiatives.

• Creative Lead/Art Director: With significant experience and demonstrated leadership, potential advancement into roles managing design projects or overseeing specific creative areas.

• Specialization: Opportunity to specialize further in areas like brand identity, digital design, or motion graphics, depending on interest and organizational needs.

• Cross-Departmental Moves: Potential to move into other marketing or communications roles within the broader organization.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in design trends, software updates, and sports marketing aesthetics through internal training, workshops, and industry events.

📝 Enhancement Note: The career path from Graphic Designer to Sr. Graphic Designer is clearly defined by experience and portfolio strength. The direct reporting to the Creative Director is a significant advantage for learning and career progression. The impact on revenue is substantial in a marketing-driven organization like a professional sports team, where visual appeal directly correlates with fan engagement and sales.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is an on-site position located at Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, FL. The environment is expected to be a professional office setting within a large sports and entertainment venue.

Office Location(s): The primary work location is Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, FL. This centralizes the designer within the operational hub of the Florida Panthers.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Studio Environment: The role is part of a creative team, suggesting a dynamic, collaborative workspace where designers, content creators, and other marketing professionals interact regularly.

• Access to Tools & Technology: Expected to have access to modern design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and hardware necessary for high-quality graphic production. Integration with other creative tools (e.g., project management, asset management) is likely.

• Fast-Paced & Event-Driven: The work environment will be heavily influenced by the NHL season, game schedules, and promotional events, requiring adaptability and the ability to thrive under pressure. Opportunities for in-person collaboration with various departments will be frequent.

Work Schedule: The position is full-time with standard business hours generally expected (approx. 40 hours/week). However, significant flexibility is required, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly during the NHL season, game days, and around major events or campaign launches. This schedule is typical for roles supporting live sports and entertainment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement is firm. The environment is characterized by the fast-paced, high-energy nature of professional sports, especially during the season. The need for flexible hours is critical and directly tied to the operational demands of a sports team.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and, crucially, your portfolio to assess foundational skills and relevant experience.

• Portfolio Review Session: An in-depth discussion with the Creative Director and potentially other members of the creative team to walk through your portfolio. Be prepared to discuss your design process, rationale, and solutions for specific projects.

• Skills Assessment/Creative Challenge: You may be given a design challenge or exercise to complete, either during the interview process or as a take-home assignment. This will likely focus on typography, layout, or campaign concept development.

• Behavioral and Cultural Fit Interview: Questions will assess your ability to work collaboratively, handle pressure, adapt to feedback, and align with the Florida Panthers' culture and values.

• Final Interview: Potentially with senior marketing leadership.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your expertise in typography, layout, and identity design. Prioritize work that aligns with the Panthers' brand aesthetic or shows versatility.

• Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your problem-solving approach, design decisions, and the iterative process. Use annotations or brief descriptions to explain your rationale.

• Highlight Type and Layout: Dedicate specific examples or sections within your case studies to showcase your typographic skills and ability to create effective layouts.

• Be Ready to Discuss: Anticipate questions about your software proficiency, how you handle client feedback, and your understanding of brand consistency.

• Tailor to Sports/Entertainment: If you have relevant sports or entertainment work, present it prominently. If not, emphasize transferable skills like campaign development and strong brand system thinking.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Familiarize yourself with the Florida Panthers' current branding, visual identity, and recent marketing campaigns.

• Practice Typographic Exercises: Work on creating compelling typographic layouts for headlines, body copy, and calls-to-action.

• Develop Campaign Concepts: Practice brainstorming and sketching campaign ideas with clear messaging and visual direction.

• Prepare for Real-Time Scenarios: Think about how you would approach creating social media graphics or in-venue signage under tight deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the single most important element of the application. The interview process will heavily scrutinize it. Candidates should prepare to "defend" their design choices and demonstrate a deep understanding of design principles, not just aesthetic appeal. The potential for a creative challenge underscores the need for practical design skills.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: This is the core requirement. Advanced proficiency is expected in:

  • Adobe Illustrator: For logo design, vector graphics, and identity systems.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and digital asset creation.
  • Adobe InDesign: For layout design, multi-page documents, and print production.

• Project Management Software: Likely tools such as Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar for task tracking and workflow management.

• File Sharing & Collaboration Platforms: Tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, or internal systems for asset sharing and team collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary function, designers may interact with social media analytics dashboards (e.g., native platform insights, Sprout Social, Hootsuite) to understand content performance.

CRM & Automation:

• Designers typically do not directly manage CRM systems or automation platforms. However, understanding how marketing campaigns are executed through these systems can provide context for asset creation and delivery.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of "Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite" is paramount. While other tools are likely used in a marketing department, the core expectation for this role is mastery of Adobe's design software. Experience with motion graphics (After Effects) or 3D software is a plus, indicating potential for more advanced visual production.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Craftsmanship & Excellence: A deep commitment to high-quality design, precision in execution, and a relentless pursuit of design excellence.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: A willingness to work closely with team members, share ideas, and provide constructive feedback to achieve collective goals.

• Passion for Sports & Entertainment: A genuine enthusiasm for the Florida Panthers and the sports/entertainment industry, translating into creative energy and understanding of the audience.

• Adaptability & Agility: The ability to respond quickly to changing priorities, tight deadlines, and real-time opportunities in a dynamic environment.

• Brand Stewardship: A sense of responsibility for upholding and elevating the Florida Panthers brand across all visual touchpoints.

Collaboration Style:

• Integrated Creative Process: Expect a highly collaborative environment where designers work hand-in-hand with Creative Directors, copywriters, content managers, and marketing strategists.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: The team likely embraces a culture where design concepts are shared early and often, with feedback used to refine and improve outcomes.

• Cross-Functional Engagement: Regular interaction with departments outside of marketing, such as sponsorship sales, fan experience, and game operations, to ensure creative solutions meet diverse business needs.

• Knowledge Sharing: A culture that encourages sharing best practices, design trends, and innovative techniques within the creative team.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture within a professional sports organization is often high-energy, fast-paced, and driven by a shared passion for the team and its success. The emphasis on "craft-obsessed" and "sweats the details" highlights a demand for meticulous designers who take pride in their work, while "contribute at a high level on type-driven layouts, identity systems, and multi-platform campaigns" points to a collaborative approach to complex creative challenges.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining the established brand identity while consistently creating fresh, engaging, and innovative campaign assets for a demanding audience.

• Rapid Turnaround Times: The dynamic nature of sports and live events requires the ability to produce high-quality designs under significant time pressure, especially for in-game and real-time social media needs.

• Diverse Project Demands: Managing a wide range of design projects simultaneously, from intricate identity systems to high-volume social media content.

• Feedback Integration: Effectively incorporating feedback from multiple stakeholders, who may have varying perspectives on design, while maintaining creative integrity.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Mastering Sports Branding: Deepening expertise in the unique visual language and strategic considerations of sports and entertainment marketing.

• Advanced Software Skills: Opportunities to hone skills in Adobe Creative Suite, and potentially explore motion graphics or 3D design if that is an area of interest and organizational need.

• Campaign Strategy Exposure: Gaining insights into how design contributes to broader marketing strategies, ticket sales, and fan engagement initiatives.

• Mentorship from Creative Director: Direct guidance and learning from an experienced creative leader, enhancing design thinking and professional development.

• Industry Events: Potential to attend industry conferences or workshops focused on sports marketing, branding, or graphic design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be the pace and volume of work inherent to a professional sports team, coupled with the need for exceptional creative quality. Growth opportunities are directly tied to excelling in these challenging areas and developing a nuanced understanding of sports marketing.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• Portfolio Walkthrough: Be prepared to present your portfolio and discuss your process, rationale, and key learnings for each project. Focus on how your design decisions addressed project objectives.

• Brand Identity & Typography: Explain your approach to developing a logo and identity system. Discuss how you determine typographic hierarchy and select fonts for different brand applications.

• Campaign Development: Describe how you would approach creating a multi-platform campaign for a specific Florida Panthers initiative (e.g., a new season ticket drive, a playoff push). How would you ensure visual consistency across channels?

Company & Culture Questions:

• Motivation for Sports: Why are you interested in working in professional sports, and specifically for the Florida Panthers?

• Teamwork and Feedback: Describe a time you received difficult feedback on a design. How did you handle it, and what was the outcome? How do you prefer to collaborate with a team?

• Brand Alignment: How do you see your design aesthetic and process aligning with the Florida Panthers' brand and values?

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, frame it as a narrative: the challenge, your solution, the execution, and the results.

• Focus on Rationale: Emphasize why you made specific design choices, not just what you did. Discuss your thought process behind typography, color, layout, and imagery.

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to design for different platforms and purposes, from social media graphics to print collateral.

• Highlight Craft: Be ready to discuss the technical details of your work – kerning, pixel perfection, file optimization, etc. – to showcase your attention to detail.

• Prepare for Technical Questions: Be ready to answer questions about your proficiency with specific Adobe Creative Suite tools and any other relevant software.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process will heavily scrutinize your portfolio and your ability to articulate your design process and strategic thinking. Candidates should prepare to "sell" their work and demonstrate not just creative talent but also an understanding of how design serves business objectives.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Graphic Designer / Sr. Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application, including your resume and a link to your online portfolio, through the provided application link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your online portfolio prominently features your strongest work in typography, layout design, and brand identity development. Tailor the selection to showcase versatility across digital and print media.

• Resume Optimization: Craft your resume to highlight relevant experience (3-7+ years), proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, and any experience in sports, entertainment, or fast-paced marketing environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Portfolio Walkthrough Practice: Rehearse presenting your portfolio, focusing on articulating your design process, strategic thinking, and the rationale behind your design decisions for each project.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research the Florida Panthers' current branding, recent marketing campaigns, organizational values, and recent successes (Stanley Cup wins). Understand their target audience and how design contributes to fan engagement.

⚠️ 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.