Marketing Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Marketing Visual Designer

Company: People Inc.

Location: Des Moines, Iowa, United States

Job Type: Contractor

Category: Marketing & Creative Operations

Date Posted: July 31, 2026

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-4 years)

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• This role is critical for establishing and scaling the visual identity of "Picksy," a new offering from People Inc., across all marketing and promotional touchpoints.

• The primary focus is on digital marketing asset creation, ensuring innovation, effectiveness, and brand alignment for campaign success.

• The designer will be responsible for conceptualizing and executing compelling visuals that translate campaign goals and business requirements into polished, impactful creative.

• This position offers a dynamic environment with opportunities to contribute to brand development, campaign testing, and continuous creative optimization.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Marketing Visual Designer," the responsibilities and required skills strongly indicate a role within Marketing Operations or Creative Operations, focusing on the execution of marketing strategies through visual design. The emphasis on scaling brand visuals, creating assets for various digital channels, and supporting campaign testing aligns with operational execution within a marketing function.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Design a comprehensive suite of digital marketing assets, including but not limited to: emails, display advertisements, paid social media graphics, animated GIFs, short animations, landing page visuals, branded promotional materials, presentation decks, and event-specific graphics.

• Apply advanced principles of layout, typography, color theory, image selection, and visual hierarchy to craft clear, engaging, and effective marketing communications that resonate with target audiences.

• Develop scalable campaign creative that can be adapted across diverse formats, placements, sizes, and platforms while rigorously maintaining brand consistency and integrity for the Picksy offering.

• Actively participate in the development and refinement of Picksy's visual brand system, ensuring its consistent application across all marketing touchpoints and collateral.

• Translate complex creative briefs, overarching campaign objectives, and specific business requirements into visually polished and strategically aligned creative assets.

• Generate design variations for A/B testing and campaign optimization initiatives, leveraging performance learnings to iterate and enhance creative effectiveness.

• Efficiently manage a high volume of concurrent projects, demonstrating meticulous attention to detail, robust organizational skills, and a commitment to delivering high-quality work under tight deadlines.

• Maintain a flexible and adaptable approach to embrace new challenges, shifting priorities, and capitalize on emerging opportunities within a fast-paced marketing environment.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only create visually appealing assets but also understand their strategic purpose within marketing campaigns. The emphasis on scalability, adaptation for testing, and managing multiple projects under pressure points to a need for operational efficiency and a results-oriented mindset, typical of roles supporting GTM operations.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is listed, a strong foundation in graphic design principles is implied, typically gained through a Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

Experience: 2-4 years of dedicated experience in agency, marketing, digital design, brand development, or promotional design roles, with a proven track record of creating impactful visual assets for marketing initiatives.

Required Skills:

• Visual Design Expertise: Demonstrated ability to create compelling and effective visual designs across various digital marketing channels.

• Adobe Creative Suite Proficiency: Hands-on, expert-level experience with Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign is essential for asset creation and manipulation.

• Digital Marketing Asset Creation: Proven experience designing assets for email marketing, social media platforms (paid and organic), display advertising, and landing pages.

• Layout and Typography: Strong aesthetic sense with expertise in combining color, typography, imagery, and layout to create visually appealing and impactful designs.

• Brand Consistency: Ability to understand and apply brand guidelines to ensure visual coherence across all marketing materials.

• Project Management & Organization: Excellent organizational skills to manage multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize tasks, and meet strict deadlines.

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to design, ensuring accuracy and quality in all delivered assets.

Preferred Skills:

• Figma Proficiency: Experience with Figma is highly desirable for collaborative design workflows and modern UI/UX design practices.

• Affinity Designer Experience: While not strictly required, a willingness and ability to learn and utilize Affinity Designer for design tasks is a significant plus.

• Animation & Motion Graphics: Knowledge and practical experience in video editing and creating animations (e.g., GIFs, short motion graphics) are considered major advantages.

• Understanding of Digital Marketing Formats: Familiarity with the technical specifications and best practices for various digital marketing channels (e.g., responsive design for emails, ad specs for display networks).

• Creative Thinking & Problem Solving: Ability to translate marketing objectives into creative visual solutions and adapt designs based on feedback and performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for Adobe Creative Suite is standard, but the explicit mention of Affinity Designer (with a "willingness to pick up") and Figma indicates a need for adaptability and exposure to different design tools. The preference for animation and video editing skills suggests a growing need for dynamic content in marketing campaigns, which aligns with current GTM trends.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 2-4 years of relevant work, with a strong emphasis on visual design within marketing, campaign, or brand contexts.

• The portfolio must clearly demonstrate proficiency in creating a diverse range of digital marketing assets, including examples of emails, social media graphics, display ads, and landing page visuals.

• Include case studies or project examples that highlight the designer's process, from initial concept and brief interpretation to final asset delivery and any iterative improvements made based on feedback or performance.

• Showcase strong aesthetic sensibilities, including effective use of layout, typography, color palettes, and visual hierarchy across different campaign elements.

• Demonstrate an understanding of brand consistency and how to apply it across various marketing touchpoints. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly stated as a deliverable, candidates are expected to articulate their design process during interviews, detailing how they approach creative briefs, manage feedback, and iterate on designs.

• Be prepared to discuss how you ensure brand consistency and adapt creative for different platforms and campaign objectives.

• The ability to explain how design choices support campaign goals and business requirements will be crucial.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a visual design role supporting marketing, the portfolio is paramount. The "process" aspect here refers to the candidate's ability to articulate their workflow, problem-solving approach, and how they integrate feedback, rather than formal process documentation. Highlighting adaptability and the ability to learn new tools (like Affinity Designer) is key.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $20 - $25 per hour

Benefits: As this is a contractor position paid through a staffing agency, benefits are typically provided by the agency, not directly by People Inc. Common agency benefits may include:

• Health Insurance (medical, dental, vision)

• Paid Time Off (PTO) or vacation time

• Retirement savings plans (e.g., 401k)

• Professional development opportunities or reimbursements

• Workers' compensation

Working Hours: 40 hours per week, standard business hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The stated hourly rate of $20-$25 for a Marketing Visual Designer with 2-4 years of experience in Des Moines, Iowa, falls within the moderate range for contract roles. This rate is influenced by the contractor status and the specific market conditions in Des Moines. Candidates should research comparable contract rates in the Des Moines area for similar skill sets to benchmark their expectations. The note about being paid by a staffing agency is crucial for understanding the benefit structure.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Publishing (Print and Digital Publisher). People Inc. is described as the largest print and digital publisher in America, with a vast portfolio of well-known brands.

Company Size: Large (implied by "over 40 iconic brands" and reaching "nearly 200 million people each month"). This suggests a well-established organization with significant reach and resources.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company's scale indicates a long history in the publishing industry.

Team Structure:

• The role is within the "TRX Marketing Design team," which supports new offerings like Picksy. This implies a dedicated creative or marketing operations unit focused on brand and campaign execution.

• The designer will likely collaborate closely with marketing managers, campaign specialists, and potentially product teams for the Picksy initiative.

• Cross-functional collaboration is expected with various departments to ensure visual assets align with overall business goals and campaign requirements. Methodology:

• The emphasis on "shaping, scaling, and executing Picksy’s visual expression" suggests a structured approach to brand development and campaign creative.

• The need to "scale across formats, placements, sizes, and platforms" points to a process that prioritizes efficiency and consistency.

• The role involves translating "creative briefs, campaign goals and business requirements into polished visual assets," indicating a clear briefing and execution workflow.

• The mention of creating "design variations when needed to support campaign testing, optimization and performance learnings" highlights a data-informed, iterative approach to creative development.

Company Website: https://www.people-inc.org/ (Assuming this is the correct domain based on domain_derived)

📝 Enhancement Note: People Inc. operates in a highly competitive and fast-paced media landscape. The culture likely values speed, adaptability, and creativity, especially for a new offering like Picksy. The "TRX Marketing Design team" suggests a specialized unit, possibly agile in its approach to supporting new ventures.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a mid-level contract role focused on visual design execution within a marketing context. It is not a typical "operations" role in the sense of process optimization or system management, but rather a critical operational function within the marketing department.

Reporting Structure: The designer will report to a manager or lead within the TRX Marketing Design team. Collaboration will be cross-functional with marketing teams responsible for the Picksy offering.

Operations Impact: The visual designer's impact is directly tied to the effectiveness of marketing campaigns for Picksy. Strong visual assets can enhance brand perception, improve engagement rates, increase conversion rates, and ultimately contribute to the success and adoption of the new offering. This role is crucial for translating marketing strategy into tangible, engaging creative assets that drive business outcomes.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Expansion: Opportunity to gain experience with a new product launch (Picksy), potentially expanding expertise in specific marketing channels or visual styles.

• Tool Proficiency: Opportunity to work with and potentially learn new design tools like Figma or Affinity Designer, enhancing technical skills.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Building a strong portfolio with assets for a major publisher like People Inc., especially for a new brand, can be a significant career asset.

• Industry Exposure: Working for a large, established media company provides exposure to industry best practices and trends in visual marketing.

• Potential for Extension/Full-Time: While a contract, strong performance could lead to contract extensions or consideration for full-time roles within People Inc. or its staffing agency.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a contract visual designer, "growth" often means expanding their portfolio, mastering new tools, and gaining experience with high-profile projects. The role provides a direct operational contribution to a new product launch, offering valuable experience in executing marketing visuals for a significant brand.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The posting specifies "Des Moines Office," indicating an on-site work environment. This suggests a traditional office setting with dedicated workspaces.

Office Location(s): Des Moines, Iowa, United States. Specific details about the office's amenities or accessibility are not provided but can be assumed to be standard for a corporate office in a major city.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Environment: The need to collaborate with creative and cross-functional partners implies an office culture that supports teamwork and open communication.

• Tools and Technology: Access to necessary design software (Adobe Creative Suite, potentially Figma) and hardware will be provided or expected.

• Team Interaction: Opportunities for direct interaction with design team members and marketing stakeholders to discuss projects, receive feedback, and align on creative direction.

Work Schedule: A standard 40-hour work week is expected, with the possibility of occasional overtime depending on project demands, although the primary emphasis is on efficient workflow within standard hours.

📝 Enhancement Note: The on-site requirement suggests a preference for in-person collaboration, which can be beneficial for visual teams needing real-time feedback and brainstorming. This environment often fosters a stronger sense of team cohesion and direct mentorship opportunities.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process: The interview process is not detailed, but typically for a design role, it would involve:

• Initial Screening: A brief call with HR or a recruiter to assess basic qualifications and fit.

• Portfolio Review & Technical Interview: A session with the hiring manager or design lead to review the candidate's portfolio, discuss design process, problem-solving skills, and technical proficiency in design software. This may include a design challenge.

• Team/Stakeholder Interviews: Meetings with other team members or key stakeholders to assess collaboration style and cultural fit.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a higher-level manager to discuss the role's strategic importance and confirm fit.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest, most relevant projects that highlight digital marketing and brand design experience.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the brief, your role, the challenges, your design process, the solutions you implemented, and the results or impact (if quantifiable).

• Highlight Digital Marketing Focus: Emphasize work done for emails, social media, display ads, and landing pages, as these are core to the role's responsibilities.

• Showcase Brand Application: Include examples demonstrating your ability to maintain brand consistency and adapt designs for different channels.

• Demonstrate Tool Proficiency: If possible, subtly indicate the tools used, especially Adobe Creative Suite. If you have Figma or animation experience, make sure those projects are visible.

• Be Prepared for Iteration: Have examples ready that show how you incorporated feedback or iterated on designs.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be prepared for a design challenge that might involve creating a specific marketing asset (e.g., a social media ad, an email banner) based on a brief, or adapting an existing design.

• Practice articulating your design decisions concisely and justifying them based on marketing objectives and best practices.

• Be ready to discuss your understanding of visual hierarchy, typography, and color theory in the context of marketing effectiveness.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is the most critical piece of the application for this role. Candidates should invest significant time in ensuring it is well-organized, visually impressive, and directly addresses the requirements of the job description. The "process" in the interview context refers to the candidate's ability to explain their design thinking and workflow.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. Proficiency is a must.

• Affinity Designer: A plus, with a requirement for willingness to learn.

• Figma: Highly desirable, indicating a need for experience with modern collaborative design tools.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly a designer's tool, an understanding of how visual assets perform is beneficial. Familiarity with metrics related to digital marketing campaigns (e.g., click-through rates, engagement rates) would be advantageous. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly relevant to the designer's core tasks, but understanding how assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms or CRM systems could be a plus.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and Affinity Designer signifies the required technical skill set. A candidate strong in Adobe Suite and willing to learn Figma/Affinity would be well-positioned.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: Valuing fresh ideas and visually compelling designs that stand out.

• Brand Integrity: A strong commitment to maintaining brand consistency and quality across all visual outputs.

• Efficiency & Speed: The ability to produce high-quality work quickly and adapt to changing project needs, especially for a new offering.

• Collaboration & Feedback: Openness to receiving and giving constructive feedback to improve designs and foster a supportive team environment.

• Results-Oriented: A focus on creating visuals that not only look good but also achieve specific marketing and business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-functional Integration: The designer will need to work effectively with marketing managers, campaign specialists, and potentially other creative professionals to align on campaign strategies and visual execution.

• Iterative Design Process: A culture that embraces feedback loops and allows for design iterations based on input from stakeholders and performance data.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding project status, potential roadblocks, and design rationale.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture described leans towards a fast-paced, results-driven environment common in marketing and new product development. The emphasis on collaboration and feedback suggests a team that values collective improvement and shared success.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapid Brand Development: Establishing and scaling the visual identity for a new offering (Picksy) requires quick, consistent execution while potentially refining brand elements.

• Balancing Creativity and Constraints: Meeting diverse campaign requirements and technical specifications while maintaining creative integrity and brand consistency.

• Managing Multiple Projects: Juggling numerous design tasks with varying deadlines and priorities effectively.

• Adapting to New Tools: Quickly becoming proficient in new design software (like Affinity Designer or Figma) if not already familiar.

• Data-Informed Iteration: Using campaign performance data to inform design revisions, which requires an analytical mindset alongside creative skills.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• New Product Launch Experience: Gaining hands-on experience with the visual marketing strategy for a brand-new offering.

• Tool Mastery: Deepening expertise in Adobe Creative Suite and potentially acquiring proficiency in Figma or Affinity Designer.

• Digital Marketing Channel Expertise: Expanding knowledge of design best practices across email, social media, display ads, and landing pages.

• Animation & Motion Graphics: Developing or enhancing skills in video editing and animation, a growing area in digital marketing.

• Portfolio Building: Creating a strong body of work for a major publisher that can significantly boost future career prospects.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges are typical for a designer working on a new product launch in a dynamic marketing environment. The growth opportunities are significant for a contract role, offering practical skill development and high-profile project experience.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe your process for creating digital marketing assets for a new brand launch. How do you ensure brand consistency across different channels?" (Focus on your workflow, brand guideline adherence, and asset scaling.)

• "Imagine we need to design a series of social media ads for Picksy to drive sign-ups. How would you approach this, considering potential A/B testing needs?" (Showcase your understanding of campaign goals, design variations, and data-driven iteration.)

• "How do you balance creative vision with specific campaign requirements and tight deadlines?" (Emphasize project management, prioritization, and communication skills.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about People Inc. and its brands? What excites you about working on a new offering like Picksy?" (Research People Inc.'s brands and demonstrate genuine interest.)

• "How do you typically collaborate with marketing teams and incorporate feedback on your designs?" (Highlight your communication style and openness to constructive criticism.)

• "How do you stay updated on design trends and new tools in the digital marketing space?" (Showcase your commitment to continuous learning.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each project, clearly outline the objective, your role, the challenges, your design process, the final solution, and any measurable outcomes.

• Highlight Digital & Brand Work: Prioritize projects that directly align with the job description's requirements for digital marketing assets and brand consistency.

• Showcase Versatility: Demonstrate your ability to design for different platforms and formats. If you have animation or video editing samples, include them.

• Explain Your "Why": Be ready to articulate the rationale behind your design choices, linking them to marketing goals and user experience.

• Be Prepared for Live Critiques: Some interviews may involve a live design exercise or critique of existing work, so be ready to think on your feet and explain your reasoning.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a blend of creative talent, technical proficiency, operational efficiency (managing projects, meeting deadlines), and a collaborative spirit. The portfolio is the primary tool for showcasing these skills.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Marketing Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on jobvite.com.

• Portfolio Customization: Ensure your portfolio is easily accessible (link provided in application) and tailored to highlight your strongest digital marketing and brand design projects. Prioritize work that demonstrates experience with email, social media, display ads, and landing pages.

• Resume Optimization: Update your resume to clearly list your years of experience, specific design software proficiencies (Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, Affinity Designer), and relevant project types. Quantify achievements where possible (e.g., "Designed assets that contributed to a X% increase in engagement").

• Prepare Your Narrative: Practice articulating your design process, your approach to brand consistency, and how you manage multiple projects and deadlines during interviews. Be ready to walk through specific portfolio pieces and explain your creative decisions.

• Research People Inc. & Picksy: Familiarize yourself with People Inc.'s brand portfolio and understand the context of a new offering like Picksy. This will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate genuine interest.

⚠️ 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 or staffing agency before making application decisions. Remember that this is a contractor role paid through a staffing agency, which may affect benefits and employment terms.