Senior Graphic Designer, Pursuit & Creative
π Job Overview
Job Title: Senior Graphic Designer, Pursuit & Creative
Company: Aon Corporation
Location: Chicago, Illinois, United States; Los Angeles, California, United States; San Francisco, California, United States; New York, New York, United States
Job Type: Full-Time
Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing
Date Posted: August 19, 2025
Experience Level: 5-10 Years
Remote Status: Hybrid
π Role Summary
- Drive creative excellence and strategic design execution across Risk Capital and Human Capital Solutions for Aon's Pursuit & Creative team.
- Collaborate independently and within teams to produce consistent, high-quality designs for both print and digital platforms, aligning with Aon's brand strategy.
- Lead the execution of creative projects, leveraging strong storytelling techniques and advanced proficiency in design software to deliver polished, brand-aligned work.
- Analyze complex design challenges, applying independent judgment and creative problem-solving skills to ensure deadlines are met and brand consistency is maintained.
π Enhancement Note: This role bridges strategic thinking with hands-on design execution within a collaborative, high-impact environment, focusing on translating business needs into compelling visual narratives for clients.
π Primary Responsibilities
- Independently and collaboratively produce high-quality design assets across print and digital media, ensuring adherence to brand standards and strategic objectives.
- Partner with Creative Managers and design colleagues to develop and refine frequently used graphics, maintaining brand consistency and visual identity.
- Lead design execution for client-facing materials, employing storytelling techniques to effectively communicate value propositions and strategic insights.
- Utilize advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office suite to deliver polished, professional, and brand-aligned creative output.
- Demonstrate strong layout and design capabilities, incorporating creativity, attention to detail, and self-motivation to meet project requirements.
- Analyze complex design challenges, employing independent judgment and creative problem-solving to devise effective visual solutions.
- Prioritize and manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring timely delivery and consistent quality within fast-paced, budget-conscious environments.
- Represent Aon's brand strategy internally and externally, influencing stakeholders and inspiring creative alignment across various business units.
- Develop and implement scalable creative processes and tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness within the design function.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on leading design execution, analyzing complex challenges, and developing scalable processes suggests a senior-level role with significant autonomy and strategic input into the creative function.
π Skills & Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Advertising Design, or a related field is strongly preferred, or equivalent professional experience of 7+ years.
Experience: 7+ years of professional graphic design experience, with a proven track record in creating compelling visual assets for both print and digital mediums.
Required Skills:
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign).
- Strong command of Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) for presentation and document design.
- Exceptional layout and design skills with meticulous attention to detail.
- Proven ability to translate strategic objectives and client business needs into compelling creative visions.
- Expertise in storytelling techniques and their application in visual communication.
- Strong analytical and creative problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated self-motivation, creativity, and a proactive approach to tasks.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize effectively, and meet tight deadlines.
- Experience in developing and maintaining brand consistency across diverse platforms.
Preferred Skills:
- Deep understanding of client business objectives and the ability to align creative output with these goals.
- Skill in using research insights and current design trends to inspire innovative concepts.
- Proven ability to collaborate effectively within multi-disciplinary teams and across projects.
- Familiarity with Aon's policies, procedures, and best practices.
- Experience in evaluating creative deliverables against briefs and identifying opportunities for improvement.
- Ability to transform value propositions into memorable client experiences.
- A positive, inclusive attitude that advocates for team collaboration and structured processes.
π Enhancement Note: The listed skills emphasize a blend of technical design expertise, strategic thinking, client-centricity, and strong collaborative abilities, indicative of a senior role requiring both creative talent and business acumen.
π Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements
Portfolio Essentials:
- Showcase a range of high-quality print and digital design projects that demonstrate creativity, technical skill, and strategic thinking.
- Include case studies that highlight your process for translating client business needs and value propositions into compelling visual narratives.
- Present examples of how you have maintained brand consistency and applied brand strategy across diverse deliverables.
- Feature projects that illustrate your problem-solving approach to complex design challenges and your ability to innovate.
Process Documentation:
- Be prepared to discuss your methodology for developing scalable creative processes and tools that enhance efficiency in fast-paced, budget-conscious environments.
- Demonstrate an understanding of how to evaluate creative deliverables against briefs and identify opportunities for process optimization.
- Highlight experience in collaborating with Creative Managers and design colleagues to refine and standardize frequently used graphics and design elements.
π Enhancement Note: While not explicitly stated as a formal portfolio requirement, the responsibilities heavily imply the need for a portfolio that showcases strategic design thinking, process development, and impactful creative execution.
π΅ Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $75,000 - $90,000 annually.
Explanation: This range is provided for U.S. applicants and is based on the information stated in the job description. The actual salary will be determined by factors such as the applicant's education, experience, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data. Geographic location may also influence the final salary.
Benefits:
- Retirement Savings: 401(k) savings plan with employer contributions.
- Ownership: Employee stock purchase plan.
- Incentives: Consideration for long-term incentive awards (discretionary).
- Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance; Health Savings Account; optional Long-Term Disability insurance; Short-Term Disability.
- Time Off: Paid time off, including 12 paid holidays, 15 days of paid vacation annually, and paid sick leave as per state and local laws. Two "Global Wellbeing Days" are provided annually for personal focus.
- Professional Development: Continuing education & training, tuition assistance.
- Financial Support: Adoption assistance, commuter benefits.
- Support Services: Employee Assistance Program offering free counseling sessions.
- Insurance: Employee and dependent life insurance, supplemental life and AD&D insurance, optional personal insurance policies.
Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered through hybrid work arrangements.
π Enhancement Note: The salary range is explicitly stated, and the benefits package is comprehensive, covering health, financial well-being, time off, and professional development, which are attractive to senior-level professionals.
π― Team & Company Context
π’ Company Culture
Industry: Financial Services / Professional Services (Consulting, Risk Management, Human Capital). Aon operates within a highly regulated and competitive global market, requiring robust decision-making support and sophisticated client engagement strategies. Company Size: A large, global organization with a significant employee base, indicating a structured corporate environment with established processes and opportunities for career advancement. Founded: Information not provided, but Aon is a well-established global company with a long history of service.
Team Structure:
- The role is part of the "Pursuit & Creative" team, which likely supports client acquisition and retention efforts by developing compelling proposals, presentations, and marketing collateral.
- This team collaborates closely with account teams, creative managers, and senior leadership, indicating a matrixed reporting structure and a need for strong cross-functional communication.
- The Senior Graphic Designer will partner with Creative Managers and design colleagues, suggesting a team of designers with varying levels of experience, all working towards common creative goals.
Methodology:
- Data-Driven Creativity: Aon emphasizes making "better decisions," implying that creative outputs are informed by client data, market insights, and strategic objectives.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving: The role requires working independently and within teams, suggesting a culture that values both individual contribution and collective intelligence.
- Brand Stewardship: A strong emphasis is placed on brand strategy and consistency, indicating that adherence to established guidelines and proactive influence on creative alignment are key operational tenets.
Company Website: https://www.aon.com/
π Enhancement Note: Aon's core business of shaping decisions for the better suggests a company culture that values analytical rigor, strategic insight, and effective communication, all of which the Senior Graphic Designer will support through their creative work.
π Career & Growth Analysis
Operations Career Level: This is a Senior Graphic Designer role, indicating a level of experience and autonomy beyond entry-level or mid-level positions. It suggests responsibility for leading design execution, contributing to creative strategy, and potentially mentoring junior designers. The focus on "pursuit" implies a role tied to business development and client engagement.
Reporting Structure: The Senior Graphic Designer will likely report to a Creative Manager or a similar leadership role within the Pursuit & Creative team. They will collaborate closely with Creative Managers and other design colleagues, as well as account teams and senior leadership.
Operations Impact: The Senior Graphic Designer's work directly impacts Aon's ability to win new business and retain existing clients by creating persuasive and visually appealing proposals, presentations, and marketing materials. High-quality creative work enhances the perception of Aon's expertise, professionalism, and strategic capabilities, contributing to revenue generation and business growth.
Growth Opportunities:
- Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design areas or emerging digital design trends relevant to financial services and consulting.
- Leadership Development: Potential to take on project leadership roles, mentor junior designers, and contribute to the strategic direction of the Pursuit & Creative team.
- Cross-Functional Exposure: Gain exposure to various business units and client challenges, fostering a broader understanding of Aon's global operations and market strategies.
- Continuing Education: Access to tuition assistance and ongoing training programs to stay current with design software, techniques, and industry best practices.
π Enhancement Note: The "Pursuit & Creative" designation highlights a direct link between design output and business development outcomes, offering significant growth potential for designers who can demonstrate strategic impact.
π Work Environment
Office Type: Hybrid role, allowing for a mix of remote work and in-office collaboration. This suggests a modern work environment that balances flexibility with the need for in-person teamwork and idea exchange. Office Location(s): Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; New York, NY. These are major metropolitan hubs, offering access to professional networks and diverse work environments.
Workspace Context:
- Collaborative Spaces: The hybrid model and emphasis on collaboration suggest access to shared workspaces, meeting rooms, and potentially open-plan areas designed for team interaction.
- Technology & Tools: Expect access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Cloud) and potentially specialized hardware or software for high-end creative production.
- Team Interaction: Opportunities to engage with Creative Managers, fellow designers, and account teams, fostering a dynamic and interactive work atmosphere.
Work Schedule: The standard working hours are approximately 40 per week. The hybrid arrangement offers flexibility in managing work location, allowing for better work-life balance while ensuring project deadlines and team collaboration needs are met.
π Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role, combined with major city office locations, points to a flexible yet professional work environment that supports both independent creative work and essential team collaboration.
π Application & Portfolio Review Process
Interview Process:
- Initial Screening: Review of resume and portfolio to assess design skills, experience, and cultural fit.
- Technical/Creative Assessment: Potential for a design challenge or case study presentation to evaluate problem-solving skills, design execution, and strategic thinking. This may involve translating a business brief into a creative concept or refining existing designs.
- Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Discussions with hiring managers and team members to assess collaboration style, communication skills, ability to handle complex challenges, and alignment with Aon's values.
- Final Interview: Likely with senior leadership to discuss overall fit, strategic vision, and potential contributions to the Pursuit & Creative team.
Portfolio Review Tips:
- Strategic Storytelling: Curate projects that clearly demonstrate how you translate client business needs and value propositions into compelling visual narratives. Don't just show the final output; explain the "why" and "how."
- Process Emphasis: Include examples that highlight your process for developing scalable creative solutions, solving complex design challenges, and maintaining brand consistency. Show your problem-solving approach.
- Impactful Metrics: Where possible, quantify the impact of your work. For example, mention how a particular design or campaign contributed to client engagement, proposal win rates, or brand recognition.
- Tailor to Aon: Research Aon's brand, recent campaigns, and target markets. Select projects that best showcase your ability to work within a corporate, professional services environment and align with their brand strategy.
Challenge Preparation:
- Understand the Brief: If given a design challenge, thoroughly read and understand the objectives, target audience, and constraints. Ask clarifying questions.
- Structure Your Approach: Outline your thought process, from initial concept development to final execution. Explain your design choices and how they address the brief's requirements.
- Presentation Skills: Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely. Be prepared to defend your choices and discuss potential alternatives or improvements. Focus on how your design supports Aon's business goals.
π Enhancement Note: The emphasis on "pursuit" suggests that interviewers will be looking for candidates who can connect their creative work directly to business development outcomes and client success.
π Tools & Technology Stack
Primary Tools:
- Adobe Creative Cloud: Essential for graphic design, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Advanced proficiency is required.
- Microsoft Office Suite: Crucial for creating presentations (PowerPoint), documents (Word), and potentially data visualization (Excel). High-level proficiency is expected for polished, integrated deliverables.
- Design Collaboration Platforms: Likely used for project management, feedback, and asset sharing (e.g., Asana, Trello, Slack, Microsoft Teams).
Analytics & Reporting:
While not directly a designer's tool, understanding how creative assets perform is beneficial. Familiarity with analytics tools that track digital engagement (e.g., website analytics, social media metrics) could be advantageous for understanding design impact.
CRM & Automation:
Understanding how Aon uses CRM systems to manage client relationships and proposals is helpful. Familiarity with tools that integrate creative assets into sales enablement platforms or proposal generation software would be a plus.
π Enhancement Note: The core requirement is mastery of Adobe Creative Cloud and Microsoft Office, with an expectation that designers can effectively leverage these tools to produce professional, brand-compliant materials that support business objectives.
π₯ Team Culture & Values
Operations Values:
- Excellence in Execution: A strong emphasis on producing high-quality, polished work that consistently meets brand standards and client expectations.
- Collaboration & Inclusion: A commitment to working effectively within teams, valuing diverse perspectives, and fostering an inclusive environment where all colleagues feel empowered.
- Strategic Alignment: Ensuring creative efforts are directly tied to business objectives, client goals, and Aon's overall brand strategy.
- Continuous Improvement: A "growth mindset" and commitment to continuous professional development, staying updated on design trends and refining processes.
- Client Focus: Dedication to understanding client needs and translating them into impactful creative solutions that enhance client experiences.
Collaboration Style:
- Cross-Functional Integration: Actively partnering with Creative Managers, other designers, account teams, and senior leadership on projects.
- Feedback & Iteration: Openness to receiving constructive feedback and iterating on designs to achieve optimal results.
- Knowledge Sharing: Willingness to share best practices, insights, and design techniques within the team to elevate collective capabilities.
- Process-Oriented: A structured approach to design that values efficient workflows, clear communication, and standardized processes.
π Enhancement Note: The company's stated values of being "united through trust as one inclusive team" and being "passionate about helping our colleagues and clients succeed" will likely permeate the team's culture, emphasizing teamwork and client-centricity.
β‘ Challenges & Growth Opportunities
Challenges:
- Balancing Creativity with Brand Rigidity: Effectively pushing creative boundaries while strictly adhering to Aon's established brand guidelines and strategic imperatives.
- Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Catering to the varied requirements and feedback from multiple internal stakeholders (account teams, sales, leadership) and potentially client input.
- Fast-Paced Environment: Delivering high-quality creative work under tight deadlines common in pursuit and proposal cycles.
- Translating Complex Services: Visually representing sophisticated financial and risk management solutions in an understandable and engaging manner.
Learning & Development Opportunities:
- Advanced Design Techniques: Opportunities to master new software features, explore emerging design trends, and attend industry workshops or webinars.
- Strategic Design Thinking: Developing a deeper understanding of business strategy, client acquisition processes, and how design contributes to winning new business.
- Mentorship: Potential to be mentored by senior creatives or leaders, and to mentor junior team members, fostering leadership skills.
- Industry Exposure: Gaining insights into the financial services, risk management, and human capital consulting sectors, broadening professional knowledge.
π Enhancement Note: The role presents a significant opportunity for a designer to grow their strategic capabilities and impact within a large, professional services organization by tackling complex communication challenges.
π‘ Interview Preparation
Strategy Questions:
- "Describe a time you had to translate a complex service or product into a compelling visual concept. What was your process, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on your translation process and storytelling.)
- "How do you ensure brand consistency across a variety of collateral, especially when working with different internal teams?" (Highlight your understanding of brand guidelines and collaboration.)
- "Walk us through a design project where you had to balance creative innovation with strict brand standards or tight deadlines. How did you approach it?" (Emphasize problem-solving and prioritization.)
- "How do you use research insights or design trends to inform your creative direction?" (Showcase your ability to be strategic and data-informed.)
Company & Culture Questions:
- "What do you know about Aon's brand strategy, and how do you see design supporting it?" (Research Aon's website, recent marketing, and mission.)
- "How do you approach collaboration with team members who may have different creative styles or priorities?" (Discuss your teamwork and conflict resolution skills.)
- "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote environment and how you maintain productivity and collaboration." (Prepare to discuss your work habits and communication strategies.)
- "What does 'making decisions for the better' mean to you in the context of graphic design?" (Connect Aon's mission to your role.)
Portfolio Presentation Strategy:
- Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly state the client's objective, your role, your creative process, the challenges you faced, and the final outcome/impact.
- Highlight Strategic Choices: Explain why you made specific design decisions, linking them back to the client's business goals or value proposition.
- Showcase Process, Not Just Polish: Include sketches, mood boards, or early concepts to demonstrate your thinking and development process.
- Quantify Impact: If possible, provide metrics or qualitative feedback that demonstrate the success of your designs (e.g., improved engagement, positive client feedback, successful proposal outcomes).
- Be Concise and Engaging: Practice your presentation to ensure itβs clear, concise, and keeps the interviewer engaged. Be ready to answer detailed questions about your work.
π Enhancement Note: Given the "Pursuit & Creative" focus, interviewers will likely probe your ability to connect design output directly to business development and client acquisition success.
π Application Steps
To apply for this Senior Graphic Designer position:
- Submit Your Application: Apply through the provided link on the Aon careers portal.
- Portfolio Preparation: Curate a digital portfolio that showcases 3-5 of your strongest projects. Prioritize those that demonstrate strategic thinking, brand alignment, and successful execution in print and digital formats, ideally within a professional services or B2B context. Ensure your portfolio clearly articulates your design process and the impact of your work.
- Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight experience in Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office, brand strategy, client collaboration, and project management. Use keywords from the job description and quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed proposal templates that contributed to a 15% increase in proposal win rate").
- Company Research: Thoroughly research Aon's services, target markets, brand guidelines, and recent marketing initiatives. Understand their core values and how the Pursuit & Creative team supports business development.
- Interview Practice: Prepare to discuss your portfolio projects in detail, articulate your design process, and answer behavioral questions related to collaboration, problem-solving, and working in a hybrid environment. Practice presenting your case studies concisely and effectively.
β οΈ 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.
Application Requirements
Candidates should have a deep understanding of client business and the ability to translate strategy into compelling creative vision. A bachelor's degree in a relevant field or 7+ years of professional experience is strongly preferred.