Junior Graphic Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Junior Graphic Designer

Company: Dean Dorton

Location: Louisville, Kentucky, United States

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Marketing Operations / Creative Services

Date Posted: 2026-08-21

Experience Level: Early Career (1-3 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Supports the firm's brand presence through the creation of engaging, high-quality visual content across both digital and print platforms.

• Collaborates closely with the Senior Marketing Brand Manager and other internal teams to develop assets that align with Dean Dorton's established visual identity.

• Enhances both external marketing communications and internal employee communications through compelling design solutions.

• Contributes fresh ideas and innovative design solutions within a collaborative team environment, with a focus on continuous learning and professional growth.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a professional services firm (Accounting, Business Advisory, Technology Solutions), indicating a need for design that is professional, clear, and effectively communicates complex information. The "Marketing Operations / Creative Services" category is inferred due to the role's focus on brand assets, digital platforms, and collaboration with a marketing team to drive firm growth and visibility.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design and produce a wide range of marketing collateral, including brochures, presentations, social media graphics, event signage, and advertisements, ensuring adherence to brand guidelines.

• Create compelling visual assets for various digital platforms, such as the company website, email marketing campaigns, and internal newsletters, to enhance engagement and information dissemination.

• Maintain a consistent and strong visual identity across all creative outputs by meticulously applying brand guidelines, including typography, color palettes, and logo usage.

• Assist with multimedia projects, including video editing and photography, to support broader marketing and communication initiatives as required.

• Effectively communicate with marketing team members and internal stakeholders to clearly understand creative briefs, project requirements, and desired outcomes, ensuring alignment and satisfaction.

• Receive, process, and integrate feedback from stakeholders and the Senior Marketing Brand Manager to iterate on designs and achieve optimal visual solutions.

• Manage multiple design projects concurrently, prioritizing tasks effectively to meet deadlines while upholding the highest standards of quality and creativity.

• Proactively identify and implement opportunities for organizing and streamlining design files, templates, and brand assets to improve team-wide accessibility and efficiency.

• Stay abreast of emerging design tools, software updates, industry trends, and best practices in graphic design, digital marketing, and visual communication.

• Support firm-wide employee communications and internal initiatives by developing impactful visual assets that foster engagement and reinforce company culture.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of core design tasks and operational support. The emphasis on "brand guidelines," "visual identity," "organizing design files," and "supporting internal communications" points towards a role deeply embedded in marketing operations and brand management, requiring meticulous attention to detail and process adherence.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related field.

• Equivalent professional experience in graphic design may be considered in lieu of a specific degree. Experience:

• 1–3 years of progressive experience in graphic design, with a preference for experience gained within a marketing department, agency setting, or corporate environment.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks, and meet deadlines in a dynamic work environment. Required Skills:

• Graphic Design Proficiency: Expert-level command of Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop, for creating sophisticated marketing collateral and digital assets.

• Brand Consistency: Proven ability to meticulously adhere to and uphold brand guidelines, ensuring a consistent visual identity across all design outputs.

• Visual Communication: Strong understanding of typography, layout principles, color theory, and visual hierarchy to create clear, impactful, and aesthetically pleasing designs.

• Digital Design Acumen: Familiarity with the design requirements and best practices for various digital marketing platforms, including social media graphics, email campaigns, and website assets.

• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with team members, stakeholders, and management, and to clearly articulate design concepts and feedback.

• Organizational Skills: Strong ability to manage and organize design files, templates, and assets efficiently for team access and project archival.

Preferred Skills:

• Video & Motion Graphics: Familiarity or proficiency with video editing software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro) and motion graphics tools (e.g., Adobe After Effects) for creating dynamic multimedia content.

• Lightweight Design Tools: Experience with platforms like Canva for quick design tasks or collaboration with non-designers.

• Project Management Software: Exposure to project management tools such as Asana or Monday.com for task tracking, workflow management, and team coordination.

• Content Management Systems (CMS): Basic understanding of how design assets are implemented on web platforms or within a CMS.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "1-3 years" experience aligns with an "Early Career" designation. The requirement for Adobe Creative Suite proficiency is standard for design roles, and the "preferred skills" indicate areas where candidates can differentiate themselves, particularly in multimedia and project management tools relevant to a marketing operations context.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrated Brand Adherence: Showcase examples of design projects where you successfully applied and maintained strict brand guidelines, illustrating your understanding of visual identity systems.

• Versatile Collateral Design: Include a range of marketing collateral examples (brochures, presentations, social media graphics, digital ads) that highlight your ability to adapt design for different platforms and purposes.

• Digital Asset Creation: Feature examples of digital assets created for web, email, or social media, demonstrating an understanding of digital design best practices and user engagement.

• Process Documentation: Briefly outline your design workflow for key projects, from brief interpretation and conceptualization to final asset delivery and revision management, emphasizing efficiency and collaboration.

Process Documentation:

• Workflow Design: Be prepared to discuss how you approach designing for new marketing campaigns or internal communications, detailing your process for understanding objectives, target audiences, and key messaging.

• Asset Management: Demonstrate an understanding of best practices for organizing, naming, and storing digital design assets to ensure easy retrieval and consistent use by the team.

• Feedback Integration: Explain your approach to receiving and incorporating constructive feedback from stakeholders, illustrating how you iterate on designs to meet project goals while maintaining creative integrity.

• Brand Guideline Application: Showcase an understanding of how to translate and apply brand guidelines effectively across diverse design projects, ensuring consistency and brand integrity.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Junior Graphic Designer role, the portfolio should emphasize foundational design skills, adaptability, and an understanding of brand consistency. The "Process Documentation" aspect focuses on how they approach their work, manage feedback, and organize their output, which is crucial for effective marketing operations.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Estimated Range: $50,000 - $65,000 annually.

• Methodology: This estimate is based on industry benchmarks for Junior Graphic Designer roles in Louisville, Kentucky, with 1-3 years of experience, within the professional services sector. Factors considered include the company's established presence, the hybrid work model, and the comprehensive benefits package offered. Adjustments are made for the cost of living in Louisville and the specific skill requirements, such as proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and familiarity with video editing.

Benefits:

• Flexible Work Schedules & Environment: Offers adaptability to balance work and personal life, accommodating different working styles.

• Paid Time Off (PTO): Provides time for rest, rejuvenation, and personal needs.

• Comprehensive Leave Programs: Includes paid family leave, medical leave, and maternity/paternity leave, supporting employees during significant life events.

• Robust Retirement Benefits: Features a "best-in-class" employer match on retirement contributions and automatic profit sharing, contributing to long-term financial security.

• Health & Wellness Support: Includes telemedicine services, mental health resources, and wellness program reimbursements, promoting overall well-being.

Working Hours:

• Standard full-time hours are expected to be approximately 40 hours per week, with flexibility offered in scheduling and work environment as per the "flexible work schedules and environment" benefit.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range is an estimation based on common compensation practices for this role and location. The benefits listed are directly from the "The Fun Stuff" section and are highlighted to emphasize the company's commitment to employee well-being and long-term satisfaction, which can be a significant draw for candidates.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Professional Services (Accounting, Business Advisory, Technology Solutions). Dean Dorton operates in a sector that requires high levels of trust, expertise, and client-focused service delivery. This industry context suggests a culture that values precision, ethical conduct, and strong client relationships.

Company Size: The provided information does not specify the exact number of employees for Dean Dorton but indicates it is a "leading professional services firm." Based on the scope of services (audit, tax, business management, consulting, technology), it's likely a mid-to-large-sized organization, suggesting a structured environment with clear processes and opportunities for specialization.

Founded: Information on the founding date is not explicitly provided in the raw text, but the description positions Dean Dorton as an established firm with a history of providing integrated services.

Team Structure:

• Marketing Team: The role is part of the Marketing team, which is described as playing a critical role in driving growth, visibility, and strategic positioning. It collaborates across departments.

• Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer reports to the Senior Marketing Brand Manager, indicating a clear hierarchy within the marketing function.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role requires collaboration with various internal teams and stakeholders to understand creative needs and develop assets, highlighting a matrixed approach to project execution within the firm.

Methodology:

• Data-Driven Strategies: Dean Dorton positions itself as a firm that uses "data-driven strategies." This implies that marketing efforts, including design, should be informed by insights and contribute to measurable business outcomes.

• Innovation & Adaptation: The firm emphasizes helping clients "strategize, adapt, and change." This suggests an internal culture that embraces innovation and continuous improvement, which would extend to its marketing and design practices.

• Integrated Approach: The firm offers an "integrated suite" of services, implying a collaborative and holistic approach internally, which should be reflected in how teams like Marketing operate and communicate.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company culture is defined by its core values: Integrity, Relationships, Collaboration, and Growth. These values are crucial for understanding how Dean Dorton operates and how employees are expected to behave. The "Professional Services" industry context implies a need for design that is polished and professional.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is designated as "Junior," indicating an entry-level to early-career position (1-3 years of experience). It's a foundational role focused on executing design tasks under guidance, with potential for growth into more senior design or specialized marketing roles.

Reporting Structure: The Junior Graphic Designer reports to the Senior Marketing Brand Manager. This provides direct mentorship and oversight, crucial for skill development and understanding brand strategy. The Senior Brand Manager likely works closely with other marketing leaders and potentially firm leadership on strategic initiatives.

Operations Impact: While not a direct "operations" role in the traditional sense (e.g., Sales Ops, Rev Ops), this position significantly impacts the firm's brand perception, client engagement, and internal morale through visual communication. High-quality design enhances the firm's professional image, supports marketing campaigns driving client acquisition (revenue generation), and improves internal communication effectiveness. The role contributes to the overall "Go-To-Market" strategy by ensuring visual consistency and appeal.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Specialization: Opportunity to deepen expertise in specific design software (e.g., advanced After Effects for motion graphics) or gain specialized knowledge in areas like digital marketing design, presentation design, or even basic video production.

• Brand Strategy Development: As experience grows, the designer can contribute more to the strategic aspects of brand identity, potentially moving towards a Brand Designer or Marketing Specialist role.

• Leadership Potential: With consistent performance and demonstrated leadership in project execution, there's potential to move into a Senior Graphic Designer role, mentoring junior staff, or even a Marketing Manager position overseeing specific initiatives.

• Cross-functional Exposure: Working across various firm departments provides exposure to different business functions, which can inform future career paths within professional services.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Operations Impact" section links the design role to broader business objectives like revenue generation and GTM strategy, framing it within an operational context. Growth opportunities are outlined to show a clear career progression path from a junior role.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The job is listed as "Hybrid," indicating a blend of remote work and in-office presence. This suggests a modern work environment that values flexibility while maintaining opportunities for in-person collaboration.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Louisville, Kentucky. Occasional travel to Dean Dorton offices or events may be required, suggesting a network of physical locations or client sites that the designer might need to visit for specific projects or meetings.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The hybrid model and emphasis on collaboration suggest a workspace designed to facilitate team interaction, whether in person or virtually. This includes shared project spaces, meeting rooms, and digital collaboration tools.

• Tools & Technology: Employees will have access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially project management tools, supporting efficient workflow and creative output.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with the Senior Marketing Brand Manager and other marketing team members will occur during in-office days, fostering mentorship, idea exchange, and team cohesion.

Work Schedule: While the standard is 40 hours per week, the "flexible work schedules and environment" benefit suggests a degree of autonomy in managing one's time, provided project deadlines and collaboration needs are met. This flexibility is beneficial for focused design work and managing personal commitments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature of the role is a key aspect of the work environment, influencing how collaboration and daily work are structured. The mention of "occasional travel" implies a need for adaptability and potentially on-site support for events or client meetings.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and portfolios to assess foundational skills, experience alignment, and adherence to brand aesthetic. Candidates with strong portfolio examples relevant to professional services are likely prioritized.

• Skills Assessment/Case Study: A practical exercise or case study may be given to evaluate the candidate's ability to interpret a brief, apply brand guidelines, and produce design solutions under a time constraint. This could involve creating a social media graphic, a presentation slide, or a small marketing collateral piece.

• Team/Manager Interviews: Interviews with the Senior Marketing Brand Manager and potentially other marketing team members to assess cultural fit, collaboration style, communication skills, and understanding of design principles. Behavioral questions focusing on the company's core values (Integrity, Relationships, Collaboration, Growth) will likely be prominent.

• Final Interview (Optional): Potentially an interview with a higher-level marketing leader or department head to discuss career aspirations, long-term impact, and strategic alignment.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate for Relevance: Select 3-5 of your strongest projects that best demonstrate your skills in corporate branding, marketing collateral, and digital design. Prioritize work that reflects a professional aesthetic suitable for a firm like Dean Dorton.

• Showcase Brand Application: Include at least one project where you had to adhere to strict brand guidelines. Clearly articulate your process and how you ensured consistency.

• Detail Your Process: For each project, provide a brief description of the objective, your role, the challenges, your design process, and the outcome. Use visuals effectively to tell the story of your design journey.

• Highlight Software Proficiency: Clearly indicate which tools were used for each project, especially Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop). If you have video/motion graphics experience, include relevant examples.

• Quantify Impact (If Possible): While difficult for a junior role, if any of your past designs led to measurable outcomes (e.g., increased engagement on social media, higher click-through rates on emails), mention this.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand the Brand: Thoroughly review Dean Dorton's website, social media, and any available marketing materials to grasp their current visual identity, tone, and target audience.

• Practice Under Time Pressure: Simulate design challenges by setting a timer for common tasks (e.g., designing a social media post, creating a presentation slide).

• Articulate Your "Why": Be prepared to explain your design choices – why you selected certain fonts, colors, layouts, or imagery. Connect your decisions back to the project brief and brand objectives.

• Focus on Collaboration: Think about how you would work with the Senior Marketing Brand Manager and other team members. Prepare examples of how you’ve handled feedback or collaborated on projects in the past.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides practical advice tailored for a design role, emphasizing portfolio content and interview preparation specific to demonstrating design skills, brand understanding, and collaborative abilities within a corporate context.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Design Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite:

  • InDesign: Essential for layout design of marketing collateral such as brochures, reports, and presentations. Proficiency in creating multi-page documents and master pages is key.
  • Illustrator: Crucial for creating vector graphics, logos, icons, and illustrations. Ability to create scalable graphics for various applications is expected.
  • Photoshop: Used for image editing, manipulation, and creating digital assets for web and social media. Understanding of layer management and optimization for web is important.

• Canva (or similar lightweight platforms): Useful for quick design tasks, social media content creation, or collaborating with non-designers. Familiarity indicates adaptability and awareness of efficient design solutions.

Analytics & Reporting (Indirectly Relevant):

• While not a primary tool for the designer, understanding how design impacts digital performance is beneficial. Familiarity with how analytics are used to measure the effectiveness of digital marketing assets (e.g., social media engagement rates, email open/click-through rates) is advantageous. CRM & Automation (Indirectly Relevant):

• No direct CRM/Automation tools are listed as required for the designer. However, understanding how marketing collateral is deployed through email marketing platforms or integrated into digital campaigns can provide context for asset creation. Productivity & Project Management:

• Microsoft Office Suite:

  • PowerPoint: Essential for creating and designing presentations, a common deliverable in a professional services environment.
  • Word & Outlook: Standard for internal communication, document creation, and project coordination.

• Project Management Tools: Familiarity with tools like Asana or Monday.com is a plus, indicating an ability to work within structured project workflows, manage tasks, and track progress.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary focus is on the Adobe Creative Suite, which is standard. The inclusion of Canva and project management tools suggests a modern marketing team that values efficiency and cross-functional tooling.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Integrity: This is paramount in a professional services firm. Designs should be accurate, truthful, and avoid misleading representations. Decisions about visual elements should align with ethical standards.

• Relationships: Designs should foster positive connections with clients and internal stakeholders. This means creating approachable, professional visuals that build trust and enhance communication. Collaboration with team members is key to building strong internal relationships.

• Collaboration: The role emphasizes working closely with the Senior Marketing Brand Manager and other teams. Designs should be developed with input, and designers should be open to feedback and iterative processes to achieve the best collective outcome.

• Growth: The company encourages a "growth mindset." This translates to a willingness to learn new design techniques, software, and trends, and to proactively seek opportunities for skill development and contribution beyond routine tasks.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The designer is expected to work seamlessly with marketing and potentially other departments, understanding their needs and translating them into effective visual communications.

• Feedback-Driven Iteration: A culture that values feedback means designers should be receptive to constructive criticism and use it to refine their work, fostering a continuous improvement loop.

• Knowledge Sharing: Proactive participation in team meetings, brainstorming sessions, and sharing of design resources or new techniques contributes to a culture of collective learning and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core values are directly from the company description and are interpreted through the lens of a graphic design role within a professional services context. This section helps candidates understand how to align their work and behavior with Dean Dorton's expectations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Brand Constraints: A primary challenge will be to innovate and create engaging designs while strictly adhering to established brand guidelines and the professional standards of a financial/business services firm.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively translating the varied creative needs and feedback from different departments and individuals into cohesive visual assets requires strong communication and negotiation skills.

• Keeping Pace with Evolving Digital Trends: The digital landscape changes rapidly. Staying current with social media trends, web design best practices, and new design tools while maintaining brand consistency can be demanding.

• File Organization and Asset Management: As the firm grows and produces more content, maintaining an organized and accessible library of design assets is an ongoing operational challenge that requires discipline and systematic processes.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Software Training: Opportunities to deepen expertise in Adobe Creative Suite or explore new features and plugins that can enhance design capabilities.

• Digital Marketing & Social Media Design: Learning to optimize designs specifically for engagement and conversion across various digital channels.

• Video & Motion Graphics Skills: Developing skills in video editing and motion graphics can significantly increase the value and versatility of the designer's contributions.

• Brand Strategy Contribution: As experience grows, contributing to the evolution of brand guidelines and participating in broader marketing strategy discussions.

• Industry Engagement: Potential to attend design conferences, webinars, or workshops focused on marketing design and professional services branding.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section addresses potential difficulties and frames them as opportunities for growth, a common theme in modern career development. It helps candidates anticipate challenges and understand how the company supports professional development.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a project where you had to balance creative freedom with strict brand guidelines. How did you approach it, and what was the outcome?" (Assesses understanding of brand adherence and creative problem-solving.)

• "How would you design a social media campaign to promote a new service offering from Dean Dorton, considering our target audience and brand identity?" (Evaluates strategic design thinking and application of brand principles to marketing goals.)

• "Walk us through your process for creating a presentation deck for a client pitch. What are the key considerations?" (Tests understanding of corporate presentation design and stakeholder communication.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on our website and values, how do you see your design style contributing to Dean Dorton's brand perception?" (Assesses research skills and alignment with company culture and brand.)

• "How do you handle constructive criticism or feedback on your designs, especially when it conflicts with your initial vision?" (Evaluates collaboration, adaptability, and professionalism, aligning with "Relationships" and "Collaboration" values.)

• "What does 'growth mindset' mean to you in the context of a Junior Graphic Designer role?" (Tests understanding of the company's "Growth" value and commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Tell a Story: For each project, don't just show the final output. Explain the problem, your solution, your process, and the results. Highlight your role and contributions clearly.

• Focus on Process, Not Just Polish: While polished designs are important, demonstrating your thinking process, how you approached challenges, and how you incorporated feedback is equally valuable.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your design choices, software proficiency, and how you handle specific project scenarios.

• Showcase Adaptability: Present a range of projects that demonstrate your ability to design for different mediums (print, digital) and purposes (marketing, internal comms, presentations).

• Connect to Dean Dorton: Where possible, subtly link your project examples to the types of work Dean Dorton does or the values they espouse.

📝 Enhancement Note: These questions are designed to elicit responses that demonstrate the candidate's understanding of design principles, brand management, strategic thinking, and cultural fit, all within the context of a professional services firm.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Junior Graphic Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided Workable link.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects that demonstrate strong corporate branding, marketing collateral design, and digital asset creation relevant to professional services. Prioritize examples showing adherence to brand guidelines and a clean, professional aesthetic.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly lists your proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) and any experience with video editing or motion graphics software. Quantify achievements where possible and align your experience with the "Essential Duties & Responsibilities" outlined in the job description.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your design process, explaining your creative decisions, and discussing how you handle feedback. Be ready to present 1-2 key portfolio pieces in detail, connecting them to the company's values and potential needs.

• Company Research: Thoroughly review Dean Dorton's website, "About Us" section, core values, and recent marketing materials. Understand their service offerings and target audience to demonstrate genuine interest and cultural alignment during interviews.

⚠️ 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.