NYC Studio Graphic Designer and Mentor

Schedule: 10:30am-6:30pm
September-June: Onsite Tues-Thurs, July-August: Onsite Mon-Thurs
Location: 315 Meserole St, Brooklyn, NY 11206
Compensation: commensurate with experience, generous benefits, PTO

Reporting to the NYC Project Director, the Graphic Designer and Mentor will work within the Graphic Design Studio to assist and contribute to projects encompassing brand and visual identity design, graphic murals, illustration and custom artwork, interiors, signage, footwear, apparel, publication layout, and design systems for animation and web, and much more. This role is a great opportunity for freelance artists or upcoming designers to get exposure to diverse and unique projects, prominent corporate clientele, and leadership experience managing an assistant and studio of artists. This opportunity gives a chance for graphic design professionals to thrive, develop, and collaborate in one of Boston’s most creative and impactful organizations.

Overseeing the Assistant Mentor and the Studio’s teen designers, your role will be to lead the team through projects by collecting assets, creating concepts, compiling information, organizing teen work and training teens on various design programs. In addition to our main after school employment program, you will be responsible for implementing our in-school program, Co-Lab. The Co-Lab program typically runs for 6-8 weeks at various points throughout the school year and provides students with the opportunity for hands-on learning in art and design during school hours. The result of student and mentor efforts over this period is a project that benefits their school or community.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER
– Lead the design, aesthetics, and conceptual thinking to a diverse range of external client studio print and digital projects including but not limited to brand design, environmental design, product design, apparel, and publication/layout projects
– Work in concert with the Client Services team to ensure budget and deadlines are met, high client satisfaction, clear communication, and teen engagement throughout the project process.
– Provide assistance and coaching on various design projects at any stage by developing concepts, sketching, rendering art, and assisting teens with the creative process
– Provide/receive and implement feedback on projects for both mentors and teens

MENTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
– Create strong relationships with teen artists, finding gaps in their understanding of our work and the creative field, and meeting these needs through thoughtful training, workshops, field trips and inspirational activities to guide, inspire, and teach teen designers
– Identifies and supports individual teen participant needs (i.e., absences, tardiness, job performance, report cards, strengths and weaknesses, interpersonal conflict, stress)
– Work in collaboration with the NYC Studio at large to ensure teens are getting the most out their AFH experiences
– Oversee Assistant Mentor and Graphic Design studio supplies, equipment, operations, and performance.

QUALIFICATIONS
– We are seeking a high-energy individual with a passion for inspiring and being inspired by young people. The ideal candidate can take the lead on a program or project, and effectively engage youth in the design process, guiding them to discover their best ideas and supporting them in bringing those ideas to life. A strong belief in the transformative power of design, diversity, and collaboration is essential. Candidates should support studio mentors in various projects and must be able to jump in between projects to provide additional support.

Minimum Qualifications
– 5+ years of total professional experience
– 3+ years’ experience working in a graphic design creative agency, organization or business
– An online portfolio (not a social media platform) featuring professional-grade projects
– Some experience mentoring young people or rising creatives
– Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Illustrator and Photoshop) and Procreate
– Experience and knowledge of print/digital production, file prep and file packaging
– BA Graphic Design preferred, or equivalent experience
– Must be a US Citizen, US National or Permanent Resident

Of Added Value…
– Experience with professional photography and/or film making and videography; hands-on experience in using editing programs, industry standard equipment, and practices (Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, familiarity with pre-production, production and post-production of film making)
– UI/Design systems for web
– Fine art or custom illustration
– Freelance experience
– Business acumen

To apply, please email your resume, cover letter and portfolio to Maya Grevatt, at mgrevatt@afhboston.org.