Graphic Designer

Clark Art Institute

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The design needs of the Clark are extensive and constantly expanding. The Graphic Designer adapts the Clark identity to new projects, expands scope of work, and refines workflow for the graphics team. The Graphic Designer develops and implements an innovative and consistent visual identity across wide variety of projects, reflecting the diverse design needs of the Clark. The Graphic Designer reports to the Director of Communications and assists in leading the creative direction of the Clark. As the leader of the graphics team, this position oversees implementation of all major creative work for the Clark’s widespread marketing presence. Major projects include campus wayfinding and exhibition-specific signage for the exterior campus, campus buildings, and for special exhibitions and permanent installations. Work includes design and production of all Clark ephemera with a goal of creating a consistent, sophisticated visual that fulfills the brand standard and that engages audiences.

The Graphic Designer oversees and maintains a complex, multifaceted, in-house design practice working within the Clark’s brand standards. Responsibilities include providing creative direction and leadership for design activity across graphics projects for Clark departments, ensuring that Institute graphic standards are met for all graphic materials produced in-house or by outside vendors, refining the brand to reflect additions to identity, and providing creative direction and oversight to the Junior Graphic Designer.

Responsibilities
  • Work across all departments in creating marketing materials for the Clark, its exhibitions, and programming, including but not limited to brochures, visitor guides, trail maps, calendars, invitations, posters, print and digital advertising, signage, promotional materials, website, and retail products. Work in collaboration with curatorial department to execute exhibition designs on as-needed basis.

  • Work in a diverse team framework with excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills. Work with department heads to clearly define the intent, visual style, and scope for their graphic projects, and work within their budgets and timelines. For frequent collaborators—such as Curatorial, Advancement, and Director’s Office—establish an effective workflow for input, review, and approval.

  • Manage the work of the Junior Graphic Designer, any interns, or freelance designers on a daily basis.

  • Articulate all revisions to the Clark’s style guide and supervise regular updates to reflect brand evolution. Ensure adherence to the brand standard by Junior Graphic Designer, interns, and freelance designers.

  • Develop, produce, and maintain a multi-format system for functional signage and map systems, addressing the complexities of cohesive wayfinding across the Clark’s multiple buildings and 140-acre campus.

  • Work in collaboration with the Museum Store Manager to design and manage production on retail items.

  • Maintain expertise in a wide variety of specialized graphic arts software, including professional layout, photo-editing, and vector-drawing programs like Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, video and sound-editing in Adobe Premiere and Logic Pro, and 3D modeling in SketchUp.

  • Photography, videography, and video editing skills desirable.

  • Work with partner institutions to design and iterate all promotional materials and advertisements related to the ArtCountry consortium (The Clark, MASS MoCA, Williams College Museum of Art, Bennington Museum, and Williamstown Theatre Festival).

  • Manage departmental workflow to ensure on-time delivery and high-quality production of all projects (over 400 jobs annually).

  • Maintain an awareness in current design trends and best practices, continually refining the Clark’s design approach. Research and train on emerging design trends and best practices, especially as they relate to the needs of cultural institutions and future needs of the Clark, and lead the design team in assessing design needs related to exhibitions and programming.

  • Develop, evaluate, and assess use of the design department budget and manage all activities to ensure adherence to budget. Work with all departments to meet budget constraints for individual projects.

  • Maintain a catalog and archive of all digital and print materials produced by the department.

  • Establish relationships with vendors to assure that all printed materials meet Institute standards and deadlines. As the print buyer, work with vendors and vet new vendors to continually review and negotiate cost-effective solutions to design needs—and address any issues with quality, schedule, and delivery of materials produced by vendors.

  • Work in collaboration with marketing/communications team to manage the production calendar, production traffic, press approvals, deliveries, and invoices.

  • Provide art direction for photo shoots.

  • Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Education, Training, and Skills

Bachelor’s degree in art, graphic design, photography, marketing, or other related field preferred.

Work Experience

Minimum of five years of professional design experience preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands: The position requires working at desk and using a computer for prolonged periods of time. The position also requires standing, walking, bending, climbing, and reaching.

Work Environment: Work will usually be performed in an office environment and museum spaces. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

Employment at the Clark is contingent on the verification of background information submitted by the applicant.

The Clark is an equal opportunity employer.