Graphic Designer

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. Components of the new Museum will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

In addition to this new on-campus experience, National Geographic Society has an existing business of touring exhibitions and immersive experiences that will be growing and expanding. The Exhibitions department is responsible for developing and bringing to life the exhibits and experiences at the Museum, as well as creating, developing, marketing, and selling our traveling exhibitions products, National Geographic Live programs, and the Museum of Exploration (MOE).

The Graphic Designer will work as part of a collaborative creative and marketing team to help produce high-quality materials for communications, exhibitions, campaigns, and events. They will assist Art Directors and senior designers in bringing concepts to life, adapting existing designs, and preparing final assets for production. The role requires attention to detail, a strong grasp of visual design principles, and the ability to work within established brand guidelines.

This position also supports the Campus & Experiences Marketing team by producing digital and print assets for programs including the Museum of Exploration, National Geographic Live, Storytellers Collective, and Traveling Exhibitions. Work will include signage, exhibit graphics, social media graphics, email visuals, and promotional materials across a range of touchpoints.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include

Layout and Design (65%)

• Assist in the layout and formatting of design assets across digital, print, and environmental applications.
• Adapt existing creative concepts into multiple formats (e.g., social media graphics, signage, email visuals) using established brand guidelines.
• Prepare production-ready files for internal review, proofing, and delivery to vendors or media teams.
• Support digital design efforts including resizing images, updating templates, and editing basic motion or web assets.
• Help maintain brand consistency across all visuals by adhering to established style guides and templates.
• Coordinate with the Campus & Experiences Marketing team to update digital signage and wayfinding assets across the MOE campus.
• Contribute to exhibit support by updating or formatting in-gallery graphic elements as needed.

Collaboration & Learning Support (20%)

• Apply feedback from Art Directors and Marketing leads to iterate on creative outputs and ensure alignment with campaign goals
• Use collaborative tools (e.g., project management platforms, shared folders) to track asset versions, revisions, and approvals.
• Maintain organized archives of design files and templates to support team access and efficiency.
• Participate in cross-functional meetings with exhibitions, marketing, and content teams to stay aligned on deliverables and priorities.
• Take part in internal learning opportunities and design reviews to expand skills and understanding of creative strategy and production workflows.

Creative Development (10%)

• Participate in team brainstorming sessions to contribute visual ideas that support exhibition and marketing goals.
• Assist in preparing style references, mockups, and visual assets for project presentations.
• Support senior designers and Art Directors in the visualization of creative concepts by assembling inspiration boards and preliminary sketches.
• Observe and learn from the development of design narratives and messaging hierarchy in support of exhibition themes and campaigns.

Process Support (5%)

• Participate in internal reviews of prototypes and samples to ensure quality and brand alignment.
• Support on-site installation logistics by preparing asset lists, print proofs, and production documentation.
• Help coordinate with vendors or internal teams to track print specifications and production timelines.
• Assist with preparation and delivery of design files for print production, under the guidance of senior designers or production managers.

Educational Background

BA in art, graphics, creative field or relevant degree.

Minimum Years And Type Of Experience

Minimum 2 years of working on multi-platform marketing campaigns at an in-house agency, ad agency or design firm.

Necessary Knowledge and Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign); familiarity with, Figma, or other design tools is a plus.
• Basic knowledge of web, email, and responsive design principles.
• Understanding of both print and digital design production processes; experience with video, animation, or CAD tools is a bonus.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated curiosity and a willingness to learn, contribute feedback, and improve through an iterative process.
• Creative and collaborative thinker with a growth mindset and comfort working under the direction of senior team members.
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally (both orally and in writing), and to collaborate effectively across teams that include educators, scientists, marketers, and fellow creatives.
• Passion for storytelling, exploration, and mission-driven design, ideally aligned with the values of National Geographic.
• Knowledge of museum/experiential or large format print design and construction techniques is a plus.

Supervision

None

Salary Information

The National Geographic Society offers a competitive and holistic total rewards package. Our compensation structure and transparent pay philosophy are based on industry-specific market data for similar-sized nonprofit organizations.

The salary range for this position accounts for a wide range of factors including but not limited to organizational need; specific skill sets; experience and training; certifications; and more. At the National Geographic Society, individuals are typically hired at or near the starting point of the salary range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The salary range for this position is $63,600.00 - $67,000.00.

In addition, the National Geographic Society offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, medical, dental, and vision insurance; engaging and comprehensive wellness program; 401(k) retirement savings plan with matching contributions after 6 months of employment; flexible paid time off benefits with up to 22 days of paid annual leave per calendar year (15 days for new hires in their first year, prorated based on the number of pay periods remaining in the year) and 10 days of sick leave; 12 paid holidays and a paid winter break between December 25 and 31; paid parental leave, adoption and surrogacy expense reimbursement, fertility benefits; learning and development opportunities; Lifestyle Spending Account; pet adoption assistance and insurance; pre-tax transportation benefits with a generous employer subsidy; employer-paid life insurance and disability benefit; and a variety of National Geographic discounts and perks.

Job Designation

Resident - Our Resident category recognizes that certain staff need to be physically present at Base Camp to do their work. Some Resident staff must be at Base Camp every day to do their jobs, while others may only need to be physically present onsite some of the time to meet looming deadlines or to get work done and may require a unique schedule. As such, this category has been revised to provide maximum flexibility depending on what’s required for each individual role. The days Resident staff come into the office will be determined by their teams and workflow, and they should work with their supervisors to determine their specific schedule. And throughout the year, their schedule may be adjusted based on cyclical work cycles, deadlines, and/or ebbs and flows of work.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

We encourage you to apply even if your experience is not a 100% match with the position. We are looking for someone with relevant skills and experience, not a checklist that exactly matches the job description. We want to help you grow and in return, you help us grow into a stronger, more inclusive organization.