Job Purpose:
The senior graphic designer on Protolabs’ U.S. marketing team is responsible for both conceptual and production design across marketing’s creative ecosystem, while also serving as a steward of brand excellence. Partnering heavily with our regional team as well as our global brand team, this role combines hands-on design execution with strategic brand leadership, ensuring all creative output is modern, consistent, and effective across channels.
The ideal candidate is a proactive designer who can produce high-impact campaign and channel assets (digital and physical), develop and lead internal creative review processes within the U.S. region, and serve as a brand coach to marketing partners. The role will also contribute to improving creative workflows, adopting new tools (including AI-enabled design), and elevating the overall creative standard across the marketing team and Protolabs organization.
What You Will Do:
- Design high-quality assets across digital and print channels, with a strong emphasis on digital (web, email, paid media, social media, PPTs, events, and sales enablement).
- Conceptualize and execute creative solutions using typography, color, layout, and illustration as well as consult with multimedia specialists on animation, motion graphics, photography, and video execution.
- Partner with global art director and marketing stakeholders to determine the most effective way to visualize messaging based on business objectives, channel strategy, and audience.
- Present creative concepts clearly and concisely, incorporating feedback to refine and optimize outputs.
- Support on-brand, consistent message execution across channels.
- Act as a brand expert and internal consultant for regional marketing team, ensuring all assets align with brand guidelines and visual standards.
- Lead design reviews for regional campaigns and channels, providing direction and constructive feedback to ensure consistency, clarity, and quality.
- Partner with global brand team to uphold, maintain and evolve brand guidelines as needed, identifying opportunities to strengthen visual identity and application.
- Educate and coach cross-functional partners and marketing team members on brand standards and best practices.
- Partner cross-functionally with demand generation, product marketing, digital acquisition, global communications, and sales teams to understand business goals and deliver integrated creative solutions.
- Serve as creative thought leader during brainstorming and ideation sessions, consistently bringing unique ideas and concepts forward for marketing campaigns and content across channels.
- Contribute to improving creative processes, intake, and workflows, helping increase efficiency and output quality across the team.
- Collaborate when needed with external partners including agencies, creative contractors, and print vendors to deliver on creative needs.
- Help maintain digital asset management (DAM) system, Brandfolder.
- Bring forward new ideas, tools, and approaches to enhance creative output, including the use of AI and generative design tools.
- Stay current on design trends, emerging technologies, and best practices to continuously evolve the team’s capabilities.
- Support overflow content creation needs, leading tactical conversations with agencies when needed.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Creative Execution
Brand Stewardship & Creative Leadership
Process & Collaboration
Innovation & Capability Building
What it Takes:
- Four-year degree in visual arts, design, or equivalent experience required.
- 6+ years of graphic design experience, with a strong portfolio spanning digital/interactive and print.
- Demonstrated experience working within and evolving brand systems.
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (with emphasis on Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop); familiarity with motion/video tools is a plus as well as AI design platforms such as Midjourney
- Strong conceptual thinking and ability to translate business objectives into compelling creative solutions.
- Experience leading or influencing creative direction and providing actionable feedback to others.
- Basic knowledge of video production, animation, and storyboarding preferred.
- Familiarity with web development collaboration (HTML, CSS basics) and CMS platforms (e.g., WordPress, Umbraco).
- Understanding of UX principles, accessibility, and digital usability standards.
- Ability to create presentation materials for events, campaigns, and sales enablement.
- Experience developing print materials such as direct mail, signage, and trade show assets.
- Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work across teams and manage multiple priorities.
- Experience in B2B, preferably manufacturing or engineering, is preferred.
- Exposure to or experience with AI-driven design or generative creative tools
Required Qualifications: Minimal qualifications required in order to be considered for entry into the job
Education and Experience:
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
What's In It for You:
- We offer a competitive salary and annual bonus opportunity
- In addition, we offer amazing benefits including but not limited to:
- Health Insurance: Traditional OR High Deductible plan
- Flexible Spending Accounts
- Health Savings Account (including employer contributions)
- Dental and Vision
- Basic and Supplemental Life Insurance
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
- Paid caregiver leave
- You will receive 3 weeks of PTO + Wellness Hours + Holiday Pay + Volunteer Hours
- 401k with company match and immediate vest
- Employee Stock Purchase Program at a 15% discounted rate
- Matching grants through Protolabs foundation
- And More!
Skills Required
- Four-year degree in visual arts, design, or equivalent experience
- 6+ years of graphic design experience with portfolio across digital and print
- Demonstrated experience working within and evolving brand systems
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
- Familiarity with motion/video tools
- Familiarity or experience with AI design platforms such as Midjourney / generative design tools
- Strong conceptual thinking and ability to translate business objectives into creative solutions
- Experience leading or influencing creative direction and providing actionable feedback
- Basic knowledge of video production, animation, and storyboarding
- Familiarity with web development collaboration (HTML, CSS basics) and CMS platforms (WordPress, Umbraco)
- Understanding of UX principles, accessibility, and digital usability standards
- Ability to create presentation materials for events, campaigns, and sales enablement
- Experience developing print materials such as direct mail, signage, and trade show assets
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to manage multiple priorities
- Experience in B2B, preferably manufacturing or engineering
- Exposure to or experience with AI-driven design or generative creative tools