Visual Designer, Contractor | Lonely Planet

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer, Contractor

Company: Red Ventures (for Lonely Planet)

Location: New York City, NY

Job Type: Contractor

Category: Creative & Media / Art & Design / Marketing

Date Posted: 2026-06-10

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• This contract role focuses on creating impactful visual assets for the Lonely Planet brand, encompassing both static and motion graphics.

• Responsibilities include supporting go-to-market initiatives, sponsorship materials, social media campaigns, and client-facing pitch decks with strong visual narratives.

• The role requires a blend of graphic design expertise and motion design proficiency, with a focus on maintaining brand consistency and aesthetic quality.

• Collaboration with cross-functional teams such as Product, Partnerships, Editorial, and Marketing is a key aspect of this position.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is for a Visual Designer, the emphasis on "marketing collateral," "partnerships and advertising materials," "social media graphics," and "go-to-market" initiatives suggests a strong connection to GTM (Go-To-Market) and marketing operations, requiring the designer to translate business objectives into compelling visual communications.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize, design, and animate motion graphics for various campaigns, brand content, pitches, and live events.

• Develop creative assets for go-to-market strategies, sponsorship opportunities, and out-of-home marketing initiatives.

• Design high-impact visuals for email marketing campaigns and social media platforms, including grid posts, carousels, and stories.

• Create client-facing pitch decks, strategy visuals, and presentation materials that effectively communicate ideas and demonstrate value.

• Contribute to the evolution of scalable visual design principles and lightweight brand guidelines aligned with the Lonely Planet system.

• Interpret brand and campaign briefs to craft compelling visual narratives that drive audience engagement and conversion.

• Ensure meticulous consistency, craft, and quality across all static and motion touchpoints, while creatively pushing boundaries within established brand guidelines.

• Uphold a refined, premium brand aesthetic across all consumer-facing experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only execute creative tasks but also contribute to strategic visual development and maintain brand integrity across diverse marketing channels, aligning with broader GTM objectives.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field.

Experience: Minimum of 3 years of professional design experience in digital and print media, with a proven track record of creating effective motion or animated content.

Required Skills:

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, specifically InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Good working knowledge of After Effects for motion design and animation.

• Proficiency in Figma for design collaboration and asset creation.

• Demonstrated experience creating graphics for social media, email marketing, web, and print materials.

• Proven ability to prepare files for both digital publication and professional print production.

• Experience working within established brand guidelines and developing new visual/motion assets.

• Strong typographic skills and a keen attention to visual detail.

• Experience creating motion assets for presentations, social media, and digital campaigns. Preferred Skills:

• Strong portfolio showcasing creative, effective, and visually cohesive work, including motion and animated design examples.

• Ability to manage feedback and revisions constructively and professionally.

• Strong communication, organizational, and time management skills.

• Ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.

• A strong understanding of timing, pacing, and visual storytelling for motion design.

• Basic knowledge of video editing workflows.

• Experience in marketing or communications environments.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required proficiency in Figma, alongside Adobe Creative Suite and After Effects, indicates a modern design workflow that emphasizes collaboration and iterative design processes, crucial for fast-paced GTM environments. The preference for marketing/communications experience further solidifies the role's connection to business objectives.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A robust portfolio is required, showcasing a diverse range of creative, effective, and visually cohesive design work.

• Specific emphasis should be placed on including demonstrated examples of motion graphics and animated design projects.

• Design examples should reflect an understanding of how visuals drive engagement and conversion, aligning with marketing and GTM objectives.

• The portfolio should illustrate the ability to work within established brand guidelines and adapt them to new creative concepts. Process Documentation:

• While not explicitly a "process documentation" role in the traditional operations sense, the portfolio should implicitly demonstrate an understanding of design workflows, from concept to final asset delivery.

• Examples should reflect the ability to interpret briefs, concept designs, execute revisions, and prepare final files for various platforms (print and digital).

• The ability to articulate the design process and rationale behind chosen visual solutions will be critical during portfolio reviews.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a creative role supporting GTM, the "portfolio" acts as the primary "process and systems" output. The emphasis on demonstrating understanding of workflows, brand systems, and the ability to translate briefs into actionable designs is paramount.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: In New York City, the total cash compensation range is $80,000 – $100,000 per year. This range reflects base salary and may include target bonuses depending on the role. Equity may be offered separately. Actual compensation will vary based on location, experience, and qualifications.

Benefits:

• Health Insurance Coverage (medical, dental, and vision)

• Life Insurance

• Short and Long-Term Disability Insurance

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Holiday Pay

• 401(k) with match

• Employee Assistance Program

• Paid Parental Bonding Benefit Program

• Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO): Employees accrue 20 days annually, increasing to 25 days after five years of service.

Working Hours: The standard working hours are equivalent to a full-time role (approximately 40 hours per week), with flexibility offered through the PTO policy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The defined salary range for New York City aligns with mid-level creative contractor roles in a major metropolitan area. The comprehensive benefits package, typical for a full-time employee, is a notable inclusion for a contract position, suggesting a potentially long-term engagement or a high value placed on the role.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Media & Publishing, Digital Media, E-commerce. Red Ventures operates a global portfolio of high-growth companies, with Lonely Planet being a key brand in the travel and exploration sector.

Company Size: Red Ventures is a large organization with a global portfolio, suggesting a dynamic and resource-rich environment. The specific size of the Lonely Planet division or the immediate creative team is not detailed but is likely substantial within the larger Red Ventures structure.

Founded: Red Ventures was founded in 2007. Lonely Planet, a well-established travel brand, was acquired by Red Ventures. This history indicates a blend of established brand heritage and modern digital growth strategies.

Team Structure:

• The Visual Designer will report to the Principal Visual Designer, indicating a clear reporting line within a creative hierarchy.

• Collaboration is expected with cross-functional teams, including Product, Partnerships, Editorial, and Marketing, highlighting an integrated approach to content and campaign development.

• This structure suggests a team environment where specialized creative input is valued and integrated into broader business initiatives. Methodology:

• The role emphasizes interpreting brand and campaign briefs into compelling visual narratives, suggesting a data-informed and objective-driven approach to design.

• A focus on "scalable visual design principles and lightweight guidelines" points to an iterative and systematic approach to brand asset development.

• The need to drive "engagement and conversion" implies a results-oriented methodology that links creative output to business outcomes.

Company Website: https://www.redventures.com/ and https://www.lonelyplanet.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: Red Ventures' "portfolio of high-growth companies" suggests a culture that fosters innovation and rapid development. Lonely Planet's established brand provides a strong foundation, and the integration into Red Ventures likely means a focus on data-driven decision-making and digital-first strategies, influencing how design contributes to GTM and marketing efforts.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a Mid-Level (2-5 years of experience) as a Contractor. While it's a contract position, the responsibilities and collaboration with senior designers and cross-functional teams offer significant exposure to strategic design application within a GTM context.

Reporting Structure: The designer reports directly to the Principal Visual Designer, providing a clear path for mentorship and creative direction within the design team. Collaboration extends across various departments, offering broad visibility into different business functions.

Operations Impact: The visual designer's output directly impacts GTM by creating compelling marketing collateral, partnership materials, and social media assets that drive brand awareness, engagement, and conversion. Their work is crucial for communicating Lonely Planet's value proposition to partners and consumers alike.

Growth Opportunities:

• Skill Development: Opportunity to refine motion graphics skills (After Effects) and master collaborative design tools (Figma) within a professional setting. Exposure to various campaign types (social, email, OOH, pitch decks) will broaden design versatility.

• Brand System Evolution: Contributing to the development of visual design principles and guidelines offers a chance to impact the long-term visual identity of a globally recognized brand.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Working closely with Product, Partnerships, Editorial, and Marketing teams provides valuable insights into different facets of a digital media business and how design integrates into broader GTM strategies.

• Portfolio Enhancement: Successful completion of contract projects will significantly enhance the designer's portfolio with high-profile work for a well-known brand.

📝 Enhancement Note: While a contract role, the exposure to strategic GTM elements, senior creative leadership, and cross-functional collaboration provides substantial learning and portfolio-building opportunities that can accelerate career progression within the broader creative and marketing operations landscape.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: The role is designated as Hybrid, indicating a blend of in-office and remote work. This suggests a collaborative office environment designed for teamwork and creative interaction, with the flexibility for remote work.

Office Location(s): The primary office location is New York City, NY. This places the designer in a major hub for media, marketing, and design industries.

Workspace Context:

• The hybrid model suggests a workspace that supports both focused individual work (likely remote) and collaborative sessions (in-office).

• The office environment is expected to foster interaction with the Principal Visual Designer and other creative team members, as well as with colleagues from Product, Partnerships, Editorial, and Marketing.

• Access to necessary design software and potentially shared digital collaboration tools will be integral to the workspace.

Work Schedule: The role is structured around a standard 40-hour work week, typical for a full-time contractor. The "Flexible Paid Time Off (PTO)" benefit suggests a culture that values work-life balance, even within a contract framework.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and NYC location point to a dynamic work environment where adaptability and effective communication across different work settings are key. This is common for creative roles supporting fast-paced GTM teams.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Likely a review of the resume and portfolio to assess foundational skills and experience.

• Portfolio Review: A dedicated session with the Principal Visual Designer and potentially other team members to discuss the candidate's portfolio in depth. This will focus on design rationale, creative problem-solving, brand understanding, and motion design capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Interview: Interviews with members of the Product, Partnerships, Editorial, or Marketing teams to assess collaboration skills, communication style, and understanding of GTM objectives.

• Final Discussion: Potentially a final discussion with a hiring manager or senior creative lead to confirm fit and address any remaining questions.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Selectively: Showcase 3-5 of your strongest projects that most closely align with the job description, emphasizing both static and motion design work for digital and print.

• Highlight Motion Graphics: Ensure your After Effects and animation skills are prominently displayed with clear examples of dynamic content.

• Demonstrate Brand Application: Include projects where you've worked within established brand guidelines or successfully adapted them, showcasing your understanding of brand integrity.

• Explain Your Process: Be prepared to walk through your design process for each project – from understanding the brief to concept development, execution, revision, and final delivery. Articulate the strategic thinking behind your creative choices, especially how they aimed to drive engagement or conversion.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): If any of your past projects led to measurable results (e.g., increased engagement, click-through rates), be ready to share those metrics.

Challenge Preparation:

• Mini Design Challenge: Be prepared for a small, timed design exercise, potentially involving creating a social media graphic or a concept for an email banner based on a brief.

• Conceptualization Exercise: You might be asked to brainstorm visual concepts for a hypothetical Lonely Planet campaign or partnership.

• Brand Alignment: Practice articulating how you would approach maintaining and evolving the Lonely Planet brand aesthetic across different media.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis on a strong portfolio, especially with motion graphics, and the need to articulate design process and strategic thinking are critical for this role. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just creative skill but also an understanding of how design serves marketing and business objectives.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Essential proficiency in InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop for core graphic design tasks.

• After Effects: Crucial for motion graphics, animation, and creating dynamic visual content.

• Figma: Required for collaborative design, prototyping, and potentially creating scalable design systems or components.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how design impacts metrics like engagement and conversion is key. Familiarity with analytics dashboards (e.g., Google Analytics, social media analytics) is beneficial for understanding design performance. CRM & Automation:

• No direct CRM or automation tool requirements are specified, but understanding how visual assets are deployed through marketing automation platforms (e.g., email marketing software) or content management systems (CMS) would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: The explicit mention of Adobe Creative Suite, After Effects, and Figma highlights the core technical requirements. Proficiency in these tools is non-negotiable for executing the responsibilities of this role, particularly the integration of static and motion design within a collaborative platform like Figma.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A drive to produce compelling, fresh, and boundary-pushing visual designs that capture attention.

• Brand Integrity: A deep respect for and commitment to upholding the established Lonely Planet brand aesthetic and guidelines.

• Collaboration: A willingness to work closely with diverse teams, incorporating feedback and contributing to a shared vision.

• Results-Oriented: An understanding that design serves a purpose, aiming to drive engagement, conversion, and support GTM objectives.

• Craftsmanship: A dedication to high-quality execution, attention to detail, and polished final assets.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: Expected to actively collaborate with Product, Partnerships, Editorial, and Marketing teams, translating their needs into effective visual solutions.

• Feedback-Driven: Must be adept at receiving and implementing constructive criticism from the Principal Visual Designer and other stakeholders, viewing it as an opportunity for improvement.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining clear and consistent communication regarding project status, challenges, and creative concepts is vital.

📝 Enhancement Note: The company's emphasis on "diverse, inclusive teams" and "real human connection" suggests a collaborative and communicative culture. For this creative role, this translates to an environment where open dialogue and shared creative ownership are encouraged, with a strong focus on achieving business goals through design.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Consistency with Innovation: The primary challenge will be to create fresh, engaging visuals that adhere to the established Lonely Planet brand guidelines while also meeting the specific needs of various marketing campaigns and partnerships.

• Rapid Turnaround Demands: Working as a contractor in a fast-paced media environment often involves tight deadlines and the need for quick, high-quality output, especially for social media and event materials.

• Interpreting Diverse Briefs: Effectively translating briefs from various departments (e.g., partnerships, editorial, marketing) into compelling visual narratives that satisfy multiple stakeholders.

• Mastering New Tools/Workflows: Adapting quickly to Red Ventures' specific workflows and potentially new iterations of design tools or internal systems.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Motion Design: Deepen expertise in After Effects through practical application on diverse projects, including campaign animations and social media assets.

• Brand System Contribution: Gain experience in developing and maintaining visual design principles and guidelines for a major global brand.

• GTM Strategy Integration: Understand how visual design directly supports Go-To-Market strategies, partnership initiatives, and marketing campaigns.

• Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Enhance communication and project management skills by working with various teams, gaining insight into different business functions.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for a contract creative role supporting dynamic GTM operations. The growth opportunities focus on skill enhancement, strategic contribution, and broadening business acumen, all valuable for a designer aiming for long-term career growth in the marketing and media industries.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a social media campaign for a new Lonely Planet travel guide, ensuring it aligns with our brand and drives engagement?" (Focus on process, brand understanding, and engagement metrics).

• "Describe a time you had to balance creative vision with strict brand guidelines. How did you ensure both were met?" (Tests adherence to brand and problem-solving).

• "Walk us through a motion graphics project from your portfolio. What was the objective, your creative process, and the outcome?" (Assesses motion design skills and ability to articulate impact). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about the Lonely Planet brand and its mission?" (Tests genuine interest and cultural fit).

• "How do you stay updated on design trends, particularly in digital media and motion graphics?" (Assesses continuous learning).

• "Describe your experience working in a hybrid or remote team environment. How do you ensure effective collaboration?" (Tests adaptability and communication skills). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Storytelling: Frame each portfolio piece as a story – the challenge, your solution, and the impact.

• Visual Clarity: Ensure your presentation is visually clean, well-organized, and reflects your design aesthetic.

• Conciseness: Be prepared to quickly articulate the key aspects of each project without excessive detail.

• Focus on Motion: Dedicate sufficient time to showcasing your motion graphics capabilities, explaining the animation choices and their purpose.

• Brand Alignment Examples: Clearly point out how your work adheres to or innovates within brand frameworks.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should emphasize not only creative execution but also strategic thinking, brand awareness, and the ability to articulate how design contributes to business objectives. Demonstrating a proactive and collaborative approach is key.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this contract Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the Red Ventures careers portal, ensuring your resume and portfolio link are up-to-date.

• Portfolio Customization: Tailor your portfolio to highlight your strongest static and motion design projects that best align with Lonely Planet's brand and the responsibilities outlined in the job description. Prioritize examples demonstrating social media, email, and presentation design.

• Resume Optimization: Ensure your resume clearly states your years of experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, Figma, and After Effects, and any relevant experience in marketing or digital media environments. Quantify achievements where possible.

• Prepare Your Narrative: Be ready to articulate your design process, creative rationale, and how your work drives engagement and conversion. Practice presenting your portfolio with a focus on storytelling and strategic thinking.

• Research Lonely Planet & Red Ventures: Familiarize yourself with Lonely Planet's current campaigns, brand aesthetic, and Red Ventures' overall portfolio and values to demonstrate genuine interest and understanding of their business context.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions relevant to creative roles supporting GTM. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.