Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer

Company: Western Governors University

Location: Salt Lake City, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Media / Education

Date Posted: 2026-02-02

Experience Level: 3-7 years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is focused on the creation of engaging digital content for instructional media, aligning with WGU's mission to expand access to higher education.

• It involves leading, managing, and coordinating multiple projects related to visual design, graphic design, animation, and multimedia asset creation for online courses.

• The Visual Designer will collaborate closely with Program Development stakeholders to enhance the learning experience and design of online courses.

• This position requires staying current with trends in instructional media, particularly in graphic design, animation, scripting, and storyboard/wireframe development.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Visual Designer," the core responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a focus on instructional media design and development within an educational technology context. The role blends creative design with instructional design principles, aiming to produce effective learning materials. This is not a typical marketing or product visual designer role but one deeply embedded in educational content creation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Produce high-quality graphics, videos, animations, documents, and other multimedia assets for WGU's online courses, ensuring visual appeal and instructional effectiveness.

• Manage and coordinate multiple instructional media projects simultaneously, from conception to completion, ensuring alignment with course, departmental, and university goals.

• Collaborate with Program Development teams and other stakeholders to identify and implement improvements in course design, learning experience, and multimedia content.

• Stay abreast of the latest trends, innovations, and research in instructional media, graphic design, animation, scripting, storyboarding, and wireframing to inform content creation strategies.

• Identify, evaluate, and recommend appropriate software programs, vendors, and external resources to support instructional media production and project management needs.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of institutional methods and practices for instructional media development by sharing insights and adopting new techniques.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Manages projects in learning experience" point is interpreted as managing projects that contribute to the overall learning experience, rather than managing the learning experience itself. This implies project management of multimedia assets for courses. The mention of "learning experience" and "Program Development" stakeholders strongly suggests a role within an educational institution focused on curriculum and courseware development.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in animation, graphic design, digital media, instructional design, learning design, or a closely related field.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3 years of professional experience in graphic design, animation, multimedia production, or a related creative field.

• Proven experience in successful creative project management, demonstrating the ability to lead and deliver multimedia projects.

• Experience with shooting or editing video content.

• Experience with audio production or voice-over work.

• Familiarity with instructional design principles and learning design methodologies.

• Experience in designing or developing online courses.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency with the Adobe Creative Suite, specifically: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe InDesign.

• Strong graphic design principles and animation skills, including an understanding of visual storytelling.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently with self-initiative and self-motivation, as well as collaboratively as part of a team.

• Excellent organizational skills with the capacity to multitask and manage multiple projects concurrently.

• Strong listening, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate creative concepts and project requirements clearly.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience working within the higher education sector, understanding its unique content development cycles and stakeholder needs.

• Experience with learning management systems (LMS) and their content integration requirements.

• Familiarity with accessibility standards (e.g., WCAG) for digital content.

• Experience with scripting for video or animation.

• Knowledge of storyboard and wireframe creation for digital media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Competencies" section provides further insight into the expected skill level and impact. The "Organizational Impact" and "Problem Solving & Decision Making" sections suggest a professional level role capable of independent work on moderately complex projects, requiring system-thinking approaches. "Communication & Influence" points to collaboration with internal contacts for information exchange. "Leadership & Talent Management" indicates potential mentorship of junior professionals.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a diverse range of visual design projects, with a strong emphasis on digital content creation for educational or instructional purposes.

• Demonstrations of graphic design, animation, and multimedia asset creation, clearly illustrating your creative process and problem-solving approach.

• Examples of video production and editing, highlighting your ability to create engaging visual narratives.

• Evidence of project management capabilities, ideally through case studies or descriptions of how you managed the scope, timeline, and resources for creative projects.

Process Documentation:

• Provide examples or explanations of your process for developing instructional media assets, from initial concept and storyboarding/wireframing through production, review, and final delivery.

• Showcase how you track project progress, manage feedback, and ensure alignment with project goals and stakeholder requirements.

• Illustrate your approach to staying current with industry trends and integrating new tools or techniques into your workflow for continuous improvement.

📝 Enhancement Note: Given the role's focus on instructional media and course development, a portfolio should emphasize projects that demonstrate an understanding of learning objectives and effective communication of complex information through visual means. The ability to articulate the "why" behind design choices, especially in relation to educational outcomes, will be crucial.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $60,300.00 - $90,500.00 per year. This range is provided by Western Governors University and reflects their compensation decision-making process, considering factors like skills, experience, training, licensure, certifications, and business needs. It is not typical for individuals to be hired at or near the top of the range.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance.

• Telehealth and Mental Healthcare services.

• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) options.

• Basic and Voluntary Life Insurance coverage.

• Disability Insurance (short-term and long-term).

• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity supplemental coverages.

• Legal services and Identity Theft protection.

• Retirement Savings Plan (e.g., 401k or similar).

• Wellbeing Program initiatives.

• Discounted WGU Tuition for employees.

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO) for rest and relaxation, without the need for accrual.

• Flexible Paid Sick Time, without the need for accrual.

• 11 Paid Holidays per year.

• Up to 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave.

Working Hours: 40 hours per week (Full-Time Regular Position).

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is competitive for a Visual Designer role with specialized instructional media skills in Salt Lake City, Utah. The extensive benefits package, including unique offerings like flexible PTO and parental leave, indicates a strong commitment to employee well-being and work-life balance, which are attractive to operations and creative professionals alike.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Higher Education / Online Education Technology

Company Size: Large (1,000-5,000 employees, based on LinkedIn data if available, otherwise inferred from organizational description)

Founded: 1997

Company Description: Western Governors University (WGU) is a pioneer in competency-based online education, dedicated to expanding access to higher education and helping students achieve their career aspirations. WGU focuses on student success and is recognized for its innovative approach to online learning.

Team Structure:

• The Visual Designer will likely be part of a larger instructional design, learning experience design, or media development team within the Academic Affairs or Program Development departments.

• This team structure would involve collaboration with instructional designers, subject matter experts, project managers, and potentially other creative specialists.

Methodology:

• WGU's competency-based education model emphasizes mastery of skills rather than seat time, influencing how instructional media is designed to facilitate clear learning outcomes.

• Content development likely follows a structured process, involving needs analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE or similar models), with a strong emphasis on data-driven improvements.

• The culture supports continuous learning, innovation in educational technology, and a student-centric approach to all work.

Company Website: https://www.wgu.edu/

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's mission-driven nature and focus on student success are central to its culture. For a Visual Designer, this means creating content that is not only visually appealing but also highly effective in facilitating learning and supporting student outcomes. The "competency-based" model is a key differentiator that influences instructional design and media creation.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: Professional (Grade: Professional 306)

This role sits at a professional level, requiring specialized skills and independent work on moderately complex projects. It's a position where individuals contribute significantly to project success and may begin to mentor junior team members.

Reporting Structure:

The Visual Designer will report to a manager within a department focused on academic program development or instructional media. This structure allows for clear guidance on project priorities and alignment with institutional goals, while also providing opportunities for collaboration across various academic and technical teams.

Operations Impact:

• The visual design and multimedia assets created by this role directly impact the quality and effectiveness of WGU's online courses, influencing student engagement, learning retention, and overall satisfaction.

• By creating compelling and accessible digital content, the Visual Designer contributes to WGU's mission of expanding access to higher education and enabling student success, which has a broad societal and economic impact.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Advancement: Deepen expertise in specific areas of visual design, animation, or video production through advanced training, workshops, or self-directed learning.

• Specialization: Transition into roles focusing on advanced animation, motion graphics, interactive media development, or even UX/UI design for educational platforms.

• Leadership: Progress to a Senior Visual Designer role, leading more complex projects, mentoring junior designers, or moving into a team lead or management position within the instructional design or media production department.

• Instructional Design: Develop skills in instructional design principles to transition into a full Instructional Designer role, leveraging visual design expertise to create comprehensive course materials.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Competencies" section in the original job description provides a strong framework for understanding the career level. The role is expected to have a tangible impact on departmental results, solve problems with a systems-thinking approach, and collaborate effectively, suggesting a path for growth beyond entry-level.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Primarily an office-based role, with potential for hybrid arrangements depending on company policy and team needs. The description indicates "Salt Lake City Office" and "On-site."

Office Location(s): Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

Workspace Context:

• The work environment at WGU is described as student-focused and collaborative, aiming to be a great place to work for its diverse workforce.

• As a Visual Designer, you will likely have access to a dedicated workspace with the necessary technology and software to perform your duties.

• Collaboration with colleagues, including instructional designers, project managers, and other creative professionals, will be a key aspect of the daily work.

Work Schedule:

• This is a full-time position requiring 40 standard weekly hours.

• While the role is on-site, WGU's benefits include flexible paid time off and sick time, suggesting an approach that values employee well-being and work-life balance within the structured work hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "On-site" designation is explicit. However, many organizations are adapting to hybrid models. It's advisable for candidates to inquire about the specific expectations for on-site presence and flexibility during the interview process.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of your resume and portfolio to assess qualifications and creative output.

• Technical/Skills Assessment: This may involve a practical exercise or a detailed discussion of your portfolio to evaluate proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, animation, video editing, and instructional design principles.

• Behavioral/Situational Interviews: Questions designed to assess your problem-solving skills, collaboration style, ability to manage multiple projects, and how you stay current with industry trends. You might be asked to describe how you've handled creative challenges or stakeholder feedback.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with potential team members and key stakeholders (e.g., instructional designers, program managers) to evaluate cultural fit and collaborative potential.

• Final Interview: A discussion with the hiring manager or a senior leader to finalize the decision.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase your strongest, most relevant work. Prioritize projects that demonstrate your skills in instructional media, animation, and video production.

• Tell a Story: For each project, briefly explain the problem you were solving, your creative process, the tools you used, and the outcome. Emphasize how your design contributed to learning objectives or student engagement.

• Highlight Technical Proficiency: Be prepared to discuss your use of Adobe Creative Suite tools, animation techniques, and video editing workflows.

• Demonstrate Instructional Design Understanding: If possible, include examples where your visual design directly supported learning goals or improved the clarity of complex information.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, easy to navigate, and visually appealing. A digital portfolio (website or PDF) is standard.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a potential design challenge that mirrors the daily tasks of the role, such as creating a short animation, designing a graphic asset for an online course, or outlining a visual approach for a complex topic.

• Practice articulating your design decisions clearly and concisely, justifying your choices based on instructional design principles and project requirements.

• Prepare to discuss how you manage project timelines, handle feedback, and collaborate with non-designers.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role's emphasis on both creative execution and alignment with educational goals means interviewers will look for a blend of artistic talent and pedagogical understanding. Candidates should be ready to discuss the "why" behind their design choices in the context of learning.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential for this role. Candidates must demonstrate high proficiency in:

  • Adobe After Effects: For animation and motion graphics.
  • Adobe Premiere: For video editing and production.
  • Adobe Illustrator: For vector graphics, icons, and illustrations.
  • Adobe Photoshop: For image editing, manipulation, and raster graphics.
  • Adobe InDesign: For document layout and publication design, potentially for course materials.

• Storyboarding/Wireframing Tools: While not explicitly listed, familiarity with tools like Adobe XD, Figma, Miro, or even simple drawing tools for conceptualizing media is highly beneficial.

Analytics & Reporting:

CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to this role's core functions, but awareness of how multimedia content integrates into Learning Management Systems (LMS) like Canvas or Blackboard is important.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe products is critical. Candidates should be prepared to discuss their experience level and specific use cases for each tool listed. Proficiency here is non-negotiable.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Student-Centricity: All work, especially the creation of instructional media, must be focused on enhancing the student learning experience and supporting their success.

• Innovation: A drive to explore new trends, technologies, and methodologies in instructional media and digital content creation to keep WGU's offerings fresh and effective.

• Collaboration: A willingness to work closely with instructional designers, subject matter experts, and other team members to achieve shared goals.

• Excellence: A commitment to producing high-quality, visually engaging, and pedagogically sound educational content.

• Efficiency: An ability to manage multiple projects effectively and deliver high-impact results within project timelines.

Collaboration Style:

• The role requires strong collaboration with instructional designers to translate learning objectives into engaging visual content.

• Close work with project managers to ensure projects stay on track and meet deadlines.

• Communication with stakeholders to gather requirements, present concepts, and incorporate feedback.

• A team environment that values constructive feedback and a shared commitment to WGU's mission.

📝 Enhancement Note: WGU's mission-driven culture means that employees are expected to be passionate about education and student success. A Visual Designer will need to align their creative output with these overarching organizational values.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Instructional Needs: Effectively translating complex academic concepts and learning objectives into visually appealing and understandable multimedia content requires a unique blend of creative and pedagogical thinking.

• Managing Multiple Competing Priorities: Juggling numerous projects with varying deadlines and stakeholder expectations demands strong organizational and time management skills.

• Staying Current with Rapid Technological Advancements: The fields of graphic design, animation, and multimedia are constantly evolving, requiring continuous learning and adaptation to new tools and techniques.

• Ensuring Accessibility and Inclusivity: Designing content that is accessible to all learners, including those with disabilities, requires attention to standards and thoughtful execution.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Training: Opportunities to attend workshops, webinars, or pursue certifications in specialized areas of animation, video production, or instructional design software.

• Industry Conferences: Participation in relevant creative or educational technology conferences to gain insights and network.

• Cross-Functional Learning: Gaining a deeper understanding of instructional design principles and the broader educational technology landscape at WGU.

• Mentorship: Potential to learn from senior designers or instructional design leaders within the organization.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role presents an opportunity to specialize in educational media design, a niche that combines creative talent with a direct impact on learning outcomes. This can be a rewarding path for designers who are passionate about education.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to create visual content for a complex topic. How did you ensure it was understandable and engaging for the target audience?" (Prepare a case study from your portfolio demonstrating your process for simplifying complex information visually.)

• "How do you balance creative freedom with the constraints of project requirements, brand guidelines, and instructional objectives?" (Focus on your process for gathering requirements, collaborating with stakeholders, and iterating based on feedback.)

• "Walk us through a challenging multimedia project you managed. What were the obstacles, and how did you overcome them?" (Highlight your project management skills, problem-solving abilities, and ability to deliver under pressure.)

Company & Culture Questions:

• "What interests you about WGU's mission and our approach to competency-based education?" (Research WGU's mission, values, and educational model thoroughly. Connect your passion for design to their goals.)

• "How would you contribute to a student-focused culture through your work as a Visual Designer?" (Emphasize how your designs aim to enhance learning and support student success.)

Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure: Organize your portfolio logically, perhaps by project type or by demonstrating a range of skills.

• Narrative: For each selected project, prepare a concise narrative: problem, solution, your role, tools used, and impact.

• Visuals: Ensure all visuals are high-resolution and clearly represent your best work.

• Technical Details: Be ready to discuss your technical workflow and proficiency with specific software.

• Relevance: Tailor your presentation to highlight projects most relevant to instructional media design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview will likely assess not only your technical skills but also your understanding of educational principles and your ability to adapt your creative talents to a specific pedagogical context.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the WGU careers portal via the provided link.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio prominently features work relevant to instructional media design, including examples of animation, video editing, and graphic design for educational purposes.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "instructional media," "graphic design," "animation," "Adobe Creative Suite," "project management," and "online course design." Quantify achievements where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, project management experience, and your understanding of WGU's mission. Prepare specific examples for behavioral questions.

• Company Research: Thoroughly research WGU's mission, values, and educational model. Understand their approach to competency-based education and how visual design supports these 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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