Graphic Designer

Description

Design Department Job Posting: Graphic Designer - On-site work required 

Hello Portland Metro Local Designers! We are located in downtown Milwaukie, Oregon and are hiring more print graphic designers to join our bustling in-house team! 

Have you ever designed a book incorporating high-end quality graphics with four-color printing? Have you doodled your own comic book logo for your fantasy fanzine? Have you read your Bringhurst and love fine-tuning your typography so it’s at “chef’s kiss” perfection? Have your friends, instructors, and coworkers admired your strong organization, communication, detail, and bootstrapping skills? If so, please continuing reading . . . 

The type of work we do encompasses but is not limited to: logo design for comic books, book design from 8-page comics to 200 page art books, product packaging, digital and print marketing materials, 3D product mockups, product photography, product marketing videos, publishing and advertising resizes, plus miscellaneous collateral and convention pieces. If this sounds like work you love to do, all with pop-culture content, we’d love to see your work. 

The ideal candidate will be an able learner and meet the following expectations:

• Demonstrates the ability to multitask, works efficiently and strategically under tight deadlines
• Demonstrates strong communication and organization skills 
• Works well in a team environment and / or trusted to work independently
• Demonstrates great design sense, craft and concept abilities, with fine-polished details 
• High competency and understanding of key software 
• Ability to partner gracefully with diverse project managers under demanding schedules
• Takes direction well and in a spirit of collaboration
• Enjoys publishing, a commercial-focused environment, and Dark Horse itself

Dark Horse is currently a hybrid work environment. This position will require a minimum of 2 days per week to be on-site in our Milwaukie, OR offices and is subject to increase. Only candidates who can meet this requirement need apply. 

For qualified and interested candidates please be sure to read and follow the application instructions for consideration. If the application steps are not followed, your submission may not be reviewed. 

The work we do can be specialized and unique and not always something taught in design school. A great thing to share and what we would like to see is a curated sample deck with examples that showcase your experience with: logo design, typography, multiple page document layout, Photoshop and Illustrator tools, advertising layout, 3D packaging. If you have experience with product photography (including postproduction), video work, and product design we would love to see that work too. 

In addition, showing typographic illustration skills (like logotypes or decorated typography), a text-heavy piece, and three things that show creativity, ingenuity, and “who you are” will help us get a sense of your passions and strengths outside of the standard portfolio. 

Whether you are a seasoned designer looking for a new team or a new designer fresh from your design program, we are looking for a designer who is the right fit and excited about the work we do. You never know if that may be you, so please give a second read of the posting, look at our books and products on DarkHorse.com, and send us a packet letting us know you are interested. 

Please provide PDF attachments of the following: 

• A cover letter that communicates who you are, your strengths, and why you would be excited to work at Dark Horse
• Your designed résumé
• A low-res, hand-curated sample PDF packet of your work (please reference the examples of ideal samples above). 
• We also love to look at websites (please include a clickable link) to see all your great work.

Alternatively, you may also apply via Mail: Dark Horse Comics LLC, Attn.: HR / Creative Director, 10956 SE Main Street, Milwaukie, OR 97222. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE! 

Requirements

You have the ability to regularly demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and/or education: 

• Great communication (both verbal and written)  
• You are inquisitive and comfortable asking questions
• Detail oriented, organized, and a critical thinker
• Strong layout, color, and typographic skill
• Knowledge of proper file management and setting up files for press
• Basic understanding of marketing and branding concepts
• Exhibits high proficiency in InDesign (ideally minimum of three years), Photoshop, and experience in Illustrator
• Four-color printing experience, including knowledge of blacks and trapping
• Associates in Graphic Design and/or similar certificates / experience

If you know Blender, dabble in product photography, and/or have a side gig doing unboxing videos let us know! We also love to talk about specialty printing and packaging. We love exploring new ways to do traditional things on a budget and getting the most out of our tools. We delight in art and design history, genre publications, video games, and comic books, and are amazed every day by the content and creative storytelling we work with. 

We are a Mac and Adobe CC environment, with Google Suite plus Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. 

This is a full-time, 40 hour per week, Monday through Friday, hourly position. Benefit access is based on position status eligibility and includes health insurance, 401(k) & Company matching, paid time off, paid holidays, voluntary insurance benefits, employee assistance programs, free comics and much more!