Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Graphic Design Assistant

💰 $35,000 - $55,000

DesignCreativeMarketingEntry-Level

🎯 Role Definition

At its core, the Graphic Design Assistant is the supportive backbone of the creative team. This individual works directly under the guidance of senior designers and art directors to bring creative concepts to life across a variety of media. This role is not just about production; it's a critical learning and development position for an aspiring designer. You'll be responsible for executing design tasks, ensuring brand standards are meticulously upheld, and collaborating across departments to deliver visually compelling materials that support our marketing and communication goals. This position is ideal for a creative, detail-oriented person who is eager to absorb knowledge and contribute to impactful visual storytelling.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Graphic Design Internship
  • Recent Graduate (Associate's or Bachelor's in a design field)
  • Self-Taught Designer with a strong portfolio

Advancement To:

  • Graphic Designer
  • Junior Art Director
  • Visual Designer

Lateral Moves:

  • Production Artist
  • Marketing Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Assist senior designers in the conceptualization and execution of a wide range of creative projects, from initial briefs through to final, polished delivery.
  • Create and adapt a variety of design assets for digital platforms, including social media graphics, web banners, email marketing templates, and website visuals.
  • Develop and prepare print-ready files for marketing collateral such as brochures, flyers, posters, business cards, and large-format event signage, ensuring technical accuracy.
  • Meticulously maintain and organize the company's digital asset library, ensuring all creative files are properly named, tagged, archived, and easily accessible for the entire team.
  • Perform detailed photo retouching, color correction, and image manipulation to ensure high-quality, professional-grade visuals across all brand communications.
  • Adhere strictly to established brand guidelines and style guides to ensure unwavering consistency and brand integrity across all visual outputs and marketing materials.
  • Produce and edit short-form video content and simple motion graphics for social media platforms like Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts.
  • Collaborate closely with marketing, social media, and content teams to fully understand project requirements and deliver visually compelling solutions that meet business objectives.
  • Design engaging and professional presentations and slide decks for both internal and external communications, ensuring they are visually appealing and on-brand.
  • Resize, crop, and reformat existing creative assets for different channels and specifications, ensuring optimal performance and visual quality on each platform.
  • Participate actively in creative brainstorming sessions, contributing fresh ideas and unique perspectives for new campaigns, projects, and visual concepts.
  • Support the design of user interface (UI) mockups and wireframes for web and mobile applications under the close guidance of senior UX/UI designers.

Secondary Functions

  • Conduct visual research on emerging industry trends, competitor branding strategies, and design inspiration to help inform our creative direction and keep the brand looking current.
  • Assist in the preparation of materials for photoshoots and video productions, which may include creating mood boards, compiling shot lists, and sourcing props.
  • Review and meticulously proofread design work for any spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, or design inconsistencies before final production and publication.
  • Liaise with external vendors and print suppliers to obtain price quotes, submit print jobs, and perform quality checks on the final printed materials.
  • Provide crucial design support for internal company initiatives, such as creating graphics for company newsletters, all-hands meeting presentations, and internal event invitations.
  • Assist with the creation and ongoing maintenance of design templates for frequently used assets to streamline future production and ensure brand consistency.
  • Support the content team by creating custom illustrations, icons, and infographics to visually enhance blog posts, whitepapers, and in-depth reports.
  • Take and thoughtfully incorporate constructive feedback from senior designers and key stakeholders to iterate on and improve the quality of design work.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • High proficiency in the Adobe Creative Suite, with a particular emphasis on Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign as core tools for daily tasks.
  • A strong foundational understanding of fundamental design principles, including typography, color theory, layout, hierarchy, and composition.
  • Experience with preparing files for both digital and print production, including knowledge of color modes (RGB vs. CMYK), resolution, and file formats.
  • Growing familiarity with video editing or motion graphics software (e.g., Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects) for creating engaging social media content.
  • Basic knowledge of UI/UX design principles and some exposure to prototyping tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD is a significant advantage.
  • Competency with presentation software such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Apple Keynote to create polished and on-brand presentations.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional attention to detail and a deep-seated commitment to producing high-quality, accurate, and error-free work.
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to articulate design ideas and gracefully receive and interpret constructive feedback.
  • Excellent organizational and time-management abilities, capable of effectively juggling multiple projects and shifting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
  • A highly collaborative spirit and a proactive, "can-do" attitude, demonstrating a genuine eagerness to learn, contribute, and support the team's success.
  • Creative thinking and effective problem-solving skills to navigate design challenges and propose innovative visual solutions.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

An Associate's Degree or equivalent professional certificate in a design-related field.

Preferred Education:

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, or a closely related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Graphic Design
  • Visual Communication
  • Digital Media Arts

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

0-2 years of relevant experience, which can include a combination of internships, freelance projects, and prior entry-level roles.

Preferred:

A strong, thoughtfully curated portfolio that showcases a diverse range of design skills and creative thinking is considered more valuable than years of experience. We want to see your potential.

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