Senior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer Company: Cushman & Wakefield Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA (with potential for other US locations: Houston, Texas, USA; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Dallas, Texas, USA) Job Type: Full-Time Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services Date Posted: September 11, 2025 Experience Level: Mid-Senior Level (5+ years) Remote Status: On-site (with potential for hybrid considerations depending on specific team needs and location)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the visual strategy and execution for marketing collateral supporting Cushman & Wakefield's Investor Services division, ensuring brand consistency and impactful communication.
• Drive the creation of high-quality design assets across diverse formats, from sales enablement materials to digital and event branding, directly contributing to business development objectives.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams and stakeholders to translate complex business concepts into compelling visual narratives that resonate with target audiences.
• Manage end-to-end production workflows, from file preparation for print and digital platforms to vendor coordination, ensuring meticulous quality control and timely delivery.
• Provide mentorship and creative leadership, fostering a culture of design excellence and innovation within the marketing team and potentially guiding junior design talent.

📝 Enhancement Note: While listed as "TELECOMMUTE" in the raw data, the job description emphasizes on-site collaboration and the inclusion of multiple specific office locations strongly suggests an on-site or hybrid work arrangement rather than fully remote. The "TELECOMMUTE" designation might reflect a broader company policy or a misunderstanding in the initial job posting categorization. The role's focus on supporting a specific division (Investor Services) and on-site collaboration implies that the primary duty station would be one of the listed office locations.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and deliver a wide array of marketing materials, including but not limited to: sales presentations, executive one-pagers, corporate brochures, digital advertisements, social media graphics, and event branding elements.
• Translate strategic marketing objectives and complex data into clear, visually compelling narratives that enhance understanding and engagement for internal stakeholders and external clients.
• Uphold and advance the Cushman & Wakefield brand identity, ensuring all visual outputs adhere to brand guidelines while actively seeking opportunities for creative innovation and enhanced visual storytelling.
• Develop and execute design strategies for key marketing campaigns and initiatives, aligning visual elements with overarching business goals and stakeholder requirements.
• Oversee the entire production lifecycle for design projects, including preparing print-ready files, optimizing digital assets, coordinating effectively with external vendors (printers, agencies), and implementing rigorous quality assurance checks.
• Offer creative direction, guidance, and potentially mentorship to junior designers, interns, or external freelance talent to ensure project quality and brand consistency.
• Proactively research and integrate current design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continuously elevate the quality of design output and optimize operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "Investor Services" suggests a need for design that conveys professionalism, data-driven insights, and trustworthiness, common in financial services and real estate investment sectors. The responsibility to "manage production workflows" and "coordinate with vendors" indicates a need for project management skills alongside creative expertise, typical for senior roles in marketing operations or creative departments supporting sales enablement.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, Fine Arts, or a closely related field.
• A strong academic background in design principles, typography, color theory, and layout is essential.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years of progressive professional graphic design experience, with a strong preference for experience within B2B marketing environments, professional services, or the commercial real estate industry.
• Proven track record of successfully managing multiple design projects concurrently from concept to completion in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting.

Required Skills:

• Advanced Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Expert-level command of InDesign (layout and print production), Illustrator (vector graphics and illustration), Photoshop (image editing and manipulation), Premiere Pro (video editing), and After Effects (motion graphics and animation).
• Presentation Design Expertise: High proficiency in creating impactful presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint, including advanced formatting, animation, and data visualization techniques.
• Portfolio Excellence: A robust and diverse portfolio that clearly demonstrates a wide range of design capabilities, including sales collateral, digital media assets, social media graphics, and event branding.
• Strategic Design Thinking: Ability to approach design challenges with a strategic mindset, understanding business objectives and translating them into visually effective solutions.
• Project Management & Organization: Exceptional time management, organizational skills, and the ability to prioritize and manage multiple complex projects simultaneously, meeting all deadlines.
• Communication & Collaboration: Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design concepts clearly and collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams, senior stakeholders, and clients.

Preferred Skills:

• Digital Design & Web: Familiarity with web design principles, UI/UX concepts, and experience designing for various digital platforms and content management systems (CMS).
• Motion Graphics & Video Editing: Experience with motion graphics and video editing software beyond basic proficiency, particularly for marketing and social media content.
• Data Visualization: Skill in creating clear, insightful data visualizations and infographics that communicate complex information effectively.
• Marketing Automation Tools: Basic understanding of how design assets integrate with marketing automation platforms or CRM systems.
• Creative Direction & Mentorship: Experience in providing creative direction to other designers or managing external creative resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "Premiere Pro" and "After Effects" suggests that video and motion graphics are increasingly important for this role, moving beyond static design. The preference for "B2B or professional services marketing" indicates that the design aesthetic should lean towards corporate sophistication and clarity, rather than purely artistic or consumer-focused styles. Proficiency with Microsoft Suite, specifically PowerPoint, is highlighted as a "plus" but is crucial given the nature of sales collateral and presentations in this industry.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Breadth of Work: Showcase a diverse range of projects that highlight proficiency across different media, including print collateral (brochures, one-pagers), digital assets (web banners, social media graphics), presentation decks, and event branding materials.
• Strategic Impact: Include case studies or project descriptions that explain the brief, the strategic thinking behind the design choices, and the measurable impact or success of the visual solutions provided.
• Brand Adherence & Innovation: Demonstrate the ability to consistently apply brand guidelines while also showcasing creative problem-solving and innovative approaches to visual communication.
• Process Documentation: Provide examples of how project requirements were understood and translated into design briefs, and how feedback was incorporated throughout the design process.
• Technical Execution: Highlight the technical skills used, such as complex InDesign layouts, vector illustration techniques, image manipulation, and potentially motion graphics or video editing for digital assets.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design & Optimization: Examples of how you've designed or improved design workflows to increase efficiency, ensure quality, and manage multiple projects effectively. This could include process diagrams or descriptions of your personal workflow management.
• Implementation & Automation: While not explicitly stated, demonstrating an understanding of how design assets are implemented across different platforms (print, web, social) and any experience with templating or automation tools would be beneficial.
• Measurement & Performance: If possible, include examples where you've tracked or contributed to the tracking of design asset performance, such as engagement rates for digital graphics or feedback on presentation effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Senior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio is paramount. It needs to go beyond just showcasing aesthetically pleasing work; it must demonstrate strategic thinking, an understanding of marketing objectives, and the ability to manage complex projects and production workflows. Highlighting the "why" behind design decisions and their impact on business goals is critical for a senior-level evaluation.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $63,750 - $75,000 annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes health, vision, and dental insurance plans.
• Financial Wellness Programs: Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for managing healthcare expenses.
• Retirement Planning: Access to retirement savings plans, indicating company support for long-term financial security.
• Income Protection: Life insurance and disability insurance programs to safeguard employees and their families.
• Work-Life Balance Support: Paid time off (PTO) and potentially other paid and unpaid time away from work is provided to support employee well-being and prevent burnout.

Working Hours: The role is listed as Full-Time, which typically implies a standard 40-hour work week. Given the nature of a senior role and potentially supporting client-facing initiatives, some flexibility or occasional extended hours to meet project deadlines might be expected, though this is common in most creative and marketing roles.

📝 Enhancement Note: The provided salary range is specific and appears to be for a US-based role. The benefits package is standard for a large corporation like Cushman & Wakefield, emphasizing a comprehensive approach to employee well-being and financial security. The "competitive pay" statement suggests that the salary is benchmarked against industry standards, but the specific range provided is the most concrete information. The mention of "geographic location" as an eligibility factor for pay means that actual compensation within this range could vary based on the specific office location.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Commercial Real Estate Services and Investment Management. Cushman & Wakefield is a global leader in this sector, providing a wide range of services including leasing, property management, capital markets, and advisory. Company Size: Cushman & Wakefield is a large, publicly traded company with a significant global presence. This implies a structured corporate environment with established processes, diverse teams, and opportunities for professional development. Founded: Cushman & Wakefield has a long history, tracing its origins back to 1917. This longevity suggests a stable company with a deep understanding of its market and a culture that values experience and long-term relationships.

Team Structure:

• Department: Americas Strategic Marketing team, specifically supporting the Investor Services division.
• Reporting: Likely reports to a Marketing Director or Head of Marketing for Investor Services, with a dotted line to a broader creative or design leadership within the company.
• Collaboration: Will work closely with Investor Services professionals (brokers, analysts, leadership), other marketing team members (content writers, digital marketers, event planners), and potentially external agencies or freelancers.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Marketing: As a large professional services firm, marketing efforts are likely data-informed, requiring designers to create visuals that effectively communicate data, market insights, and financial information.
• Strategic Approach to Design: The role emphasizes a "strategic mindset" and "design strategy," indicating that design is viewed as a critical component of business development and client engagement, not just an aesthetic function.
• Brand Consistency & Evolution: A key operational methodology will be maintaining rigorous brand consistency across all touchpoints while also being open to evolving the visual language to stay relevant and impactful.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Working within a large, established firm like Cushman & Wakefield means operating within established brand guidelines and marketing frameworks. The "Investor Services" focus implies a need for design that is professional, sophisticated, and capable of conveying complex financial and market data clearly. The company's global nature suggests an environment that values diverse perspectives and cross-cultural understanding.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a "Senior Graphic Designer" role, indicating a level of expertise and responsibility beyond entry-level or mid-level positions. It implies a mastery of design tools and principles, strategic thinking, and the ability to manage projects independently and mentor others. Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a marketing leadership role within the Investor Services division, likely collaborating heavily with the Investor Services team itself. This structure provides exposure to a specific, high-value business unit within the larger organization. Operations Impact: The role has a direct impact on the perceived quality and professionalism of Cushman & Wakefield's Investor Services offering. Effective visual communication is crucial for attracting investors, supporting sales efforts, and building client trust. The designer's work directly influences how clients and prospects perceive the firm's capabilities and expertise.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Potential to deepen expertise in specific areas like motion graphics, data visualization, or digital design within the real estate sector.
• Leadership & Mentorship: Opportunity to mentor junior designers, lead design projects, and potentially transition into a Design Lead or Art Director role for specific campaigns or divisions.
• Cross-Functional Exposure: Exposure to various facets of marketing and business development within the Investor Services division, offering broader career development in marketing strategy or business management.
• Industry Expertise: Develop specialized knowledge and a portfolio within the commercial real estate industry, a valuable niche in the professional services market.

📝 Enhancement Note: A senior role in a large firm like Cushman & Wakefield often provides a clear path for advancement. The emphasis on "strategic thinking" and "creative direction" suggests that the company values designers who can contribute to broader marketing strategy, not just execute tasks. This can lead to opportunities in team leadership or specialized creative roles.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Cushman & Wakefield is a global real estate services firm, so office environments are typically professional, modern, and designed to facilitate collaboration. The specific office in Chicago (as the primary listed location) would likely be a corporate office space. Office Location(s): Primary location is Chicago, Illinois, USA. Other potential locations include Houston, Texas, USA; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; and Dallas, Texas, USA. These are all major business hubs.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Spaces: Offices are likely equipped with meeting rooms, collaborative work areas, and potentially dedicated spaces for creative teams to brainstorm and review work.
• Technology & Tools: Access to industry-standard design software and hardware will be provided. The company's global presence suggests investment in robust IT infrastructure.
• Team Interaction: The role requires significant interaction with marketing colleagues and Investor Services professionals, fostering a dynamic and communicative work environment. The on-site nature facilitates spontaneous collaboration and feedback.

Work Schedule: The role is full-time, with a standard 40-hour work week. The nature of supporting marketing campaigns and client-facing materials in a professional services environment may occasionally require flexibility to meet project deadlines, but the focus is on efficient, quality output within standard working hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on an on-site or hybrid model for this role suggests that in-person collaboration and access to office resources are considered important for the creative process and team integration within Cushman & Wakefield. The specific office environment would likely reflect the company's professional brand.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio by a recruiter or hiring manager to assess basic qualifications and creative fit.
• Portfolio Presentation & Discussion: A key stage will likely involve presenting your portfolio, discussing your design process, strategic thinking, and how you've handled past projects. Be prepared to walk through specific examples and explain your rationale.
• Skills Assessment/Case Study: You may be asked to complete a design exercise or case study related to a typical task for this role (e.g., designing a one-pager, revamping a presentation slide). This assesses your practical skills, problem-solving abilities, and adherence to brand.
• Stakeholder Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from the Investor Services team and marketing department to evaluate your collaboration skills, communication style, and understanding of their needs.
• Final Interview: Potentially with a senior marketing leader or department head to discuss overall fit, career aspirations, and confirm alignment with company culture.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 5-7 of your strongest, most relevant projects that showcase your skills in B2B marketing collateral, presentations, and digital assets. Tailor your selection to highlight experience relevant to real estate or professional services if possible.
• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your strategic approach, the design challenges, your solutions, and the outcome or impact. Quantify results where possible (e.g., "increased engagement by X%").
• Showcase Process: Include examples of your process, such as initial sketches, mood boards, wireframes, or iterations, to demonstrate your thinking.
• Highlight Technical Proficiency: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques you used. If you have motion graphics or video examples, ensure they are well-executed and relevant.
• Brand Consistency Focus: Emphasize how you maintain brand integrity while still being creative.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Business: Research Cushman & Wakefield, its Investor Services division, and the current market trends in commercial real estate. Understand their target audience and the types of materials they need.
• Practice Design Critiques: Be prepared to discuss your own work and potentially offer constructive feedback on existing company materials (if appropriate and asked).
• Time Management: If given a timed design challenge, practice working efficiently under pressure. Focus on delivering a polished, strategic solution rather than perfection.
• Presentation Skills: Practice presenting your work clearly and concisely, focusing on the strategic rationale and impact.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process for a senior creative role heavily relies on the portfolio. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design choices and demonstrate how design contributes to business objectives is as important as the visual execution itself. Preparing for a potential design challenge is crucial, so practicing common tasks like refining presentations or creating sales collateral is advisable.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Expert proficiency is mandatory across InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop. Advanced skills in Premiere Pro and After Effects are highly desirable.
• Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced proficiency in PowerPoint is essential for presentation design. Familiarity with Word and Excel for content integration and data handling is also beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary focus for a graphic designer, understanding how design assets perform (e.g., through web analytics, campaign tracking) is a plus. Familiarity with platforms like Google Analytics or CRM reporting dashboards to understand asset usage could be advantageous.

CRM & Automation:

• CRM (e.g., Salesforce): Understanding how marketing collateral is distributed or accessed through CRM systems would be beneficial.
• Marketing Automation (e.g., Marketo, HubSpot): Basic awareness of how designed assets are integrated into email campaigns or landing pages aided by marketing automation tools.
• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Experience with DAM systems for organizing and distributing creative assets is a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core requirement is deep expertise in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The inclusion of Premiere Pro and After Effects signals a growing need for dynamic content. Proficiency in PowerPoint is critical for sales enablement materials. While direct analytics tool experience isn't a must, an understanding of how designs function in a broader marketing tech stack is valuable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to producing high-quality, polished design work that reflects positively on the Cushman & Wakefield brand.
• Strategic Partnership: Viewing design not just as a creative output, but as a strategic tool to achieve business goals, requiring close collaboration with marketing and business development teams.
• Innovation & Adaptability: A willingness to explore new design trends and technologies while remaining adaptable to evolving project needs and feedback.
• Efficiency & Reliability: Delivering projects on time and within scope, demonstrating strong project management and organizational skills.
• Data-Informed Creativity: Utilizing insights from data and stakeholder feedback to inform and refine design decisions.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: Actively engaging with marketing specialists, sales teams, and Investor Services professionals to understand their needs and co-create effective visual solutions.
• Feedback-Oriented: Openness to receiving and providing constructive feedback to improve design outcomes and foster a collaborative creative process.
• Proactive Communication: Clearly communicating project status, potential challenges, and design rationale to ensure alignment and manage expectations effectively.
• Team Support: Willingness to share knowledge, offer creative direction, and support junior team members or colleagues when needed.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture likely emphasizes professionalism, a client-centric approach, and a results-oriented mindset, reflecting the nature of the commercial real estate industry. For a senior role, proactive communication and the ability to act as a strategic partner to other departments are highly valued.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: Maintaining strict brand adherence while pushing creative boundaries to create fresh, impactful visuals can be a continuous challenge.
• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Juggling requests from various Investor Services professionals, each with potentially different priorities and aesthetic preferences, requires strong communication and negotiation skills.
• Fast-Paced Environment: The need to produce high-quality work quickly in response to market opportunities or client demands can be demanding.
• Translating Complex Data: Effectively visualizing complex financial data, market analysis, and real estate metrics in an accessible and engaging manner.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen skills in Premiere Pro, After Effects, or explore new design software and technologies relevant to digital marketing.
• Industry Knowledge: Gaining in-depth understanding of the commercial real estate market and investor services, which can lead to more strategic and impactful design work.
• Mentorship Programs: Potential to be mentored by senior marketing leaders or to mentor junior designers, developing leadership and coaching skills.
• Professional Development: Access to industry conferences, webinars, or courses focused on graphic design, marketing, and digital trends.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenge will be aligning creative output with the strategic objectives of a high-stakes business division within a large corporation. Growth will come from mastering the nuances of the industry and demonstrating how design can directly contribute to business success, potentially leading to more strategic or leadership-oriented roles.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance strict brand guidelines with a need for creative innovation. How did you approach it?" (Focus on demonstrating strategic thinking and problem-solving within constraints.)
• "Walk us through a complex design project from concept to completion. What was the brief, your process, the challenges, and the outcome?" (Prepare a detailed case study from your portfolio, emphasizing strategy and impact.)
• "How do you ensure your designs effectively communicate complex data or financial information to a target audience?" (Highlight your skills in data visualization and clear communication.)
• "How do you manage feedback and revisions from multiple stakeholders with differing opinions?" (Demonstrate strong communication, collaboration, and professional handling of feedback.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Cushman & Wakefield and our Investor Services division?" (Research the company's mission, values, recent news, and the specific services offered by Investor Services.)
• "How would you describe your ideal team environment and how do you contribute to a positive team culture?" (Align your response with the company's likely values of professionalism, collaboration, and results.)
• "How do you stay current with design trends and incorporate them into your work?" (Show your proactive approach to learning and professional development.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Presentation: Start with an overview of your role and the projects you'll present. For each project, cover the objective, your role, the process, the solution, and the results.
• Focus on Impact: Emphasize how your designs contributed to business goals, such as supporting sales enablement, enhancing brand perception, or improving engagement. Use metrics where possible.
• Be Ready for Critiques: Be prepared to discuss your design choices and defend them logically, but also be open to constructive feedback.
• Technical Proficiency Demonstration: Be ready to discuss the software and techniques you employed in your work. If asked, be prepared for a brief live demonstration or discussion of your file organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should heavily focus on showcasing strategic thinking, a deep understanding of the design process, and the ability to connect design work to business outcomes. For a senior role, expect more in-depth questions about project management, stakeholder management, and creative leadership.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application directly through the Cushman & Wakefield careers portal link provided.
• Portfolio Optimization: Ensure your online portfolio is up-to-date, easily navigable, and features your strongest work relevant to B2B marketing, sales collateral, and presentations. Tailor the project selection to highlight your strategic thinking and process.
• Resume Tailoring: Customize your resume to emphasize your 5+ years of experience, advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and PowerPoint, project management skills, and any experience in professional services or real estate marketing. Quantify achievements where possible.
• Company Research: Thoroughly research Cushman & Wakefield, its Investor Services division, and its market position. Understand their brand identity and the types of visual communication they prioritize.
• Prepare Your Narrative: Rehearse your "story" for presenting your portfolio – be ready to articulate your design process, strategic rationale, and the impact of your work clearly and concisely. Practice explaining how you handle feedback and collaboration.

⚠️ 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.