Graphic Design Intern

National Journal is hiring a Graphic Design Intern for Summer 2024 to contribute to, and deliver on, both internal and external client design needs across our business. This person will be responsible for partnering with our analyst team to create a range of high-quality designed deliverables in client branding for use engaging advocates, boards, and PACs in the Government Affairs sphere.  They will also work on NJ branded initiatives to serve the team’s overall goals of attracting and retaining clients through marketing collateral, working with both our Marketing team and Presentation Center team.

Please provide a link to your website or portfolio in your application.

National Journal is a premier research and insights company committed to helping organizations effectively navigate Washington. Best known as one of Washington’s most trusted media brands for over 50 years, our expertise is unmatched with teams of specialists dedicated to government affairs, communications, and political research, in addition to exceptional journalism. Our mission is to equip the thousands of government and business leaders in the nation’s capital with the intelligence, insights, and connections they need to save time, increase efficiency, and deliver success.

What is National Journal’s marketing and events team? 

Our team consists of graphic designers, digital marketers, and events professionals who have a shared goal of driving revenue for National Journal. We develop, coordinate, and execute digital marketing campaigns and events that engage, educate, and deliver value to our clients while also generating market interest in National Journal’s products. We work closely with revenue partners to capitalize on that interest to bring on new members and retain existing ones.

What is National Journal’s Presentation Center? 

We analyze, synthesize, and visualize news and information related to policy and politics, publishing content exclusively for senior public policy practitioners and government affairs executives. Our diverse membership includes policymakers and senior professionals from the world’s leading companies, nonprofits, and associations.

Each week, we publish hundreds of slides, curating and translating complex policy information and election analysis into easy-to-edit slides and charts. Using this background and our expertise, we create custom content tailored to members’ needs, delivering 40-60 bespoke deliverables a week.

The Role: 

The Graphic Design Intern will work with our Marketing and Presentation Center teams to develop creative, engaging, and unique deliverables. Their work will include internal marketing collateral as well as client-facing projects ranging from annual reports, one-pagers, newsletters, and short publications to more extensive data visualizations, infographics, social media posts, multimedia videos, and more. This is an integral role on the team with the opportunity to have an impact across the business. This person will sit on our marketing team and report directly to our Senior Creative Director, working closely with project managers, analysts, specialists, and more to set clear internship goals and checkpoints.

Major responsibilities include:

Partner with product analysts and senior creative director to design high-quality print and digital graphics, presentations, and multimedia videos for NJ clients in both Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and Microsoft PowerPoint

Assist in all phases of design development, from partnering on the scoping process to working through edits and final delivery

Create custom client deliverables including infographics, newsletter templates, annual reports, one-pagers, briefing books, wireframes, social media posts, charts and graphics, data visualizations, infographics, and more. These are developed in partnership with our analyst team and delivered in the client’s branding using Adobe InDesign, Canva or Microsoft PowerPoint

Transform quantitative data and qualitative research into compelling visuals

The right candidate will

Have an insatiable curiosity for creativity and a visible passion for design

Be able to quickly familiarize with and apply a wide range of branding guidelines from a diverse set of members and clients

Excel at client discovery and be able to take explicit, detailed direction from different stakeholders

Be able to develop designs from concept to execution with multiple rounds of edit and input, receiving feedback well

Effectively manage multiple projects at one time and communicate expectations and deadlines

Thrive in a fast-paced environment and be able to openly ask for feedback or communicate when in need of new projects

Provide a strong creative portfolio that includes data visualization and a demonstrated use of design principles including typography, color theory, grid-based design, and white space. 

Please provide a link to your website or portfolio in your application

Contribute to a positive, collaborative hybrid work environment and use resources effectively to minimize turnaround time without compromising quality

Be interested in a summer internship from early June to early September 2024, dates to be determined based on candidate availability.

Qualifications

Expertise in Adobe Creative Cloud (InDesign and Illustrator are a must) and Microsoft Office programs including PowerPoint. Canva experience is a plus.

Ability to create designs from provided wireframes and provide guidance on best practices for data visualization to others

Organized, focused, detail and deadline-oriented with strong project management skills and the ability to meet deadlines

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to articulately deliver presentations and the story behind design choices

Entrepreneurial spirit, track record of initiative, and ownership of work

High-energy, demonstrates a sense of urgency, poised under pressure, and understands the importance of the little details and follows through

Willingness to work outside the strict job description parameters, thinking creatively about how to provide the highest level of creativity 

Active contributor to a diverse and inclusive workplace

Beneficial but not required:

Experience in UI/UX, animation, interactive or motion graphics, illustration and accessibility.

Employment Type: Full-time, internship (June to September, with some flexibility)

Compensation: The salary for this role is $20.00/hr.

Location: This job is based in Washington, DC. National Journal will be operating on a hybrid basis, with employees required to be in the office every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.