POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Graphic Designer, West Plains
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1248
GRADE 42
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of University Communications
MAJOR ADMINISTRATOR Chancellor
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Graphic Designer, West Plains works with a variety of campus clients to design printed and electronic material on a wide range of topics for the West Plains campus. These projects include brochures, posters, newsletters, banners, ads and other publications. The Graphic Designer, West Plains uses invention, imagination, originality, and talent to take projects from concept to delivery, participates in project interviews, develops concepts and designs, assists in directing photo shoots and illustrations, presents design layouts to departmental staff, makes presentations to clients, prepares camera-ready art through desktop publishing, assists with web graphic design services and arranges for the printing of publications with off-campus printers.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education/Experience: A Bachelor’s degree with a major in Art or a related field and either one year work experience in graphic design or a minimum of three semesters experience as a part-time student designer in a professional setting or an associate’s degree in graphic design or related field and two years work experience in graphic design. Experience taking publications from concept to delivery is required. A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in graphic design is preferred. Experience designing on a Macintosh computer using software packages such as Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher and QuarkXpress is required. Experience using an Epson Stylus Pro 9800 Professional Edition wide format printer is a plus. Experience in a college or university setting is preferred; experience as a photographer is preferred.
Skills: Must demonstrate talents as a designer, including the ability to combine function and visual appearance to achieve successful communication. Strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as good organizational and planning skills are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
Effort: The scope of the position occasionally requires working additional hours to meet deadlines. The position requires an extensive amount of time working at a computer work station. This position occasionally transports media equipment and supplies unassisted.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Produces effective publications, from concept to delivery, by participating in project interviews, developing concepts and designs, assisting with or directing photo shoots and illustrations, making presentations to clients, developing printing specifications, producing proofs, preparing camera-ready artwork through desktop publishing and arranging for the printing of publications.
2. Meets the client's or department's communication objectives through a thorough knowledge of type and design in order to develop concepts, sketches, comprehensives or camera-ready art and advising them of appropriate options to achieve their communication objectives.
3. Operates within budgets and deadlines established for various publications by following an established production schedule, preparing specifications for print vendors, preparing cost estimates, overseeing the print vendor bidding process, reviewing printer’s proofs, ordering mailing labels as needed, following USPS regulations, verifying that the assigned project is completed and ready to deliver and archiving the work electronically and in hard copy.
4. Ensures that printed publications meet the quality expectations of the client by monitoring the printing process, reviewing printers proofs, attending press checks as needed, and verifying that the assigned project is completed and ready to deliver.
5. Creates printed and electronic material by utilizing available desktop publishing software and becoming proficient in new software programs and versions.
6. Assists with developing copy for publications, as needed.
7. Provides quality photographs for Missouri State University – West Plains publications by maintaining a photo library by taking campus photographs and working closely with the Director of Visual Media or an outside vendor in coordinating specific photo shoots.
8. Facilitates the operation of the Office of University Communications by helping to train and supervise student employees and editing and approving the work of student staff.
9. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
10. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, maintaining a current knowledge of desktop publishing, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses as required by the Director of University Communications.
11. Contributes to the overall success of the department by assisting with the editing of print and electronic materials and performing other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Graphic Designer, West Plains is supervised by the Director of University Communications, accepts input from client departments, and assists in supervising student employees.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED FEBRUARY 2018
