📌 Core Information
🔹 Job Title: Environmental Graphic Designer - Brand - Mid Level
🔹 Company: Gensler
🔹 Location: Seattle, WA, US
🔹 Job Type: On-site
🔹 Category: Architecture and Planning
🔹 Date Posted: 2025-07-03
🔹 Experience Level: 6+ years
🔹 Remote Status: No
🚀 Job Overview
Key aspects of this role include:
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams on brand design, environmental graphics, and wayfinding projects
- Developing upfront design concepts and translating brand identity into impactful three-dimensional environments
- Working on a variety of projects across diverse markets, including senior living, aviation, sports, workplace, and retail
- Contributing to a creative, collaborative, and sustainability-minded work environment
ASSUMPTION: This role requires a strong balance of creative and technical skills, with a focus on environmental graphic design and brand strategy.
📋 Key Responsibilities
✅ Develop compelling design concepts and environmental graphics for physical spaces
✅ Collaborate with architects, interior designers, and other disciplines to deliver projects
✅ Translate brand identity into impactful, three-dimensional environments across a range of mediums
✅ Develop detailed message schedules, location plans, and scaled drawings based on architectural construction documents
✅ Conduct site surveys, research, and conceptual development for wayfinding projects
✅ Serve as a point of contact and collaborate across disciplines with architects and interior designers
ASSUMPTION: This role involves a mix of creative problem-solving, technical execution, and collaboration with various teams.
🎯 Required Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Architecture, Visual Communication, or a related field
Experience: 6+ years of directly relevant professional experience in Environmental Graphic Design (EGD), Signage Design, or Wayfinding
Required Skills:
- Proven ability to translate brand identity into impactful, three-dimensional environments
- Strong planning and strategy skills in wayfinding, including site surveys, research, conceptual development, and documentation
- Deep understanding of materiality, fabrication, and quality control throughout the design and production process
- Excellent communication and presentation skills with clients, consultants, vendors, and internal design teams
- Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop), CAD Tools, and Microsoft Office
- Comfortable drawing at scale and producing polished, technical documentation
- Experience with shop drawing reviews and QA/QC processes
Preferred Skills:
- Experience with Revit, SketchUp, After Effects, and Adobe Premiere
- Strong understanding of print and production processes, as well as vendor management
- Hands-on knowledge of materials and fabrication/construction within built environments
- Illustration and typography expertise
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should have a strong portfolio demonstrating a variety of creative approaches and fully realized, produced projects across signage, wayfinding, brand, and experiential design.
💰 Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $85,250 - $110,000 plus bonuses and benefits, contingent on relevant experience.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental, vision, disability, and wellness programs
- Flex spending, paid holidays, and paid time off
- 401k, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, and twice annual bonus opportunities
- Tuition reimbursement for certain eligible programs or classes
Working Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
ASSUMPTION: The salary range provided is an estimate based on industry standards for a mid-level environmental graphic designer in the Seattle area.
📌 Applicant Insights
🔍 Company Context
Industry: Architecture and Planning
Company Size: 5,001-10,000 employees
Founded: 1965, in San Francisco, California
Company Description:
- Gensler is a global architecture, design, and planning firm with 57 locations across the Americas, Europe, Greater China, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East
- The company partners with clients in over 100 countries each year, providing services in architecture, interior design, urban planning, and landscape architecture
- Gensler is committed to creating a better world through the power of design, with a mission to promote equity, resilience, and wellbeing for everyone
Company Specialties:
- Architecture
- Brand Design
- Consulting
- Interior Design
- Planning + Urban Design
- Product Design
- Sustainability Consulting
- Digital Experience Design
- Hospitality
- and Workplace Design
Company Website: http://www.gensler.com
ASSUMPTION: Gensler's global presence and diverse range of services offer candidates the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects and gain exposure to different markets and cultures.
📊 Role Analysis
Career Level: Mid-level
Reporting Structure: This role reports to the Brand Design team lead in the Seattle studio
Work Arrangement: On-site, full-time
Growth Opportunities:
- Potential to work on high-profile projects and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams
- Opportunities for professional development and licensure reimbursement
- Possibility to advance within the Brand Design practice or explore other specialties within Gensler
ASSUMPTION: This role offers opportunities for career growth and development within a large, global architecture and design firm.
🌍 Location & Work Environment
Office Type: On-site, collaborative work environment
Office Location(s): 45 Fremont St, Suite 1500, San Francisco, California 94105, US (headquarters); 500 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, California 90071, US; 11 E Madison St, Suite 300, Chicago, Illinois 60602, US; 1700 Broadway, Suite 400, New York, NY 10019, US; 2020 K Terrace NW, Suite 300, Washington, District of Columbia 20001, US; and other locations worldwide
Geographic Context:
- Seattle, WA, US: Known for its vibrant tech industry, natural beauty, and diverse cultural scene
- Pacific Northwest region: Offers a high quality of life, with access to outdoor recreation, arts, and culinary experiences
- West Coast presence: Provides opportunities for collaboration with other Gensler offices and clients in the region
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM, with a one-hour lunch break
ASSUMPTION: The Seattle office offers a dynamic work environment with a mix of local and global projects, fostering collaboration and knowledge-sharing among team members.
💼 Interview & Application Insights
Typical Process:
- Online application and resume submission
- Phone or video screen with the HR team
- In-person or virtual interview with the hiring manager and/or team members
- Final interview with the studio leader or other senior leadership
- Background check and offer extension
Key Assessment Areas:
- Portfolio presentation and discussion
- Design challenge or case study presentation
- Behavioral and situational interview questions
- Cultural fit and alignment with Gensler's values
Application Tips:
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, problem-solving skills, and final outcomes
- Research Gensler's Brand Design practice and be ready to discuss how your work aligns with their projects and clients
- Practice common interview questions and be prepared to discuss your design approach, technical skills, and collaboration experience
ATS Keywords: Environmental Graphic Design, Signage Design, Wayfinding, Brand Strategy, Adobe Creative Suite, CAD Tools, Collaboration, Sustainability, Technical Skills, Project Management
ASSUMPTION: The interview process for this role will focus on assessing the candidate's design skills, technical proficiency, and cultural fit within Gensler's Brand Design practice.
🛠️ Tools & Technologies
- Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop)
- CAD Tools (AutoCAD, Revit)
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- SketchUp, After Effects, Adobe Premiere (preferred)
- Project management tools (Asana, JIRA, Microsoft Project)
ASSUMPTION: Familiarity with industry-standard design software and project management tools is essential for this role.
👔 Cultural Fit Considerations
Company Values:
- Client-first: Putting clients' needs at the center of everything we do
- Diverse: Embracing and leveraging diverse perspectives to drive innovation and creativity
- Exploratory: Encouraging curiosity, continuous learning, and experimentation
- Sustainability-minded: Committed to creating a positive impact on the environment and communities we serve
Work Style:
- Collaborative: Working closely with interdisciplinary teams to deliver comprehensive design solutions
- Adaptable: Embracing change and finding creative solutions to challenges
- Detail-oriented: Ensuring high-quality design and production standards
Self-Assessment Questions:
- How do you translate brand identity into impactful, three-dimensional environments?
- Can you provide an example of a wayfinding project where you conducted site surveys, research, and conceptual development?
- How do you balance creativity and technical skills in your design process?
ASSUMPTION: Candidates should be able to demonstrate a strong alignment with Gensler's values and work style, with a focus on collaboration, adaptability, and attention to detail.
⚠️ Potential Challenges
- Managing multiple projects and deadlines in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
- Balancing creative and technical aspects of the role, with a focus on both big-picture concepts and detailed execution
- Working with diverse clients and project types, requiring adaptability and flexibility
- Navigating a large, global organization with multiple offices and teams
ASSUMPTION: These challenges can be mitigated through strong communication, organization, and a willingness to learn and adapt in a dynamic work environment.
📈 Similar Roles Comparison
- Compared to other environmental graphic design roles, this position offers a broader range of project types and collaboration opportunities within a large, global architecture and design firm
- Gensler's Brand Design practice focuses on strategic brand development and environmental graphic design, setting it apart from more specialized signage or wayfinding roles
- Career progression may involve transitioning to other specialties within Gensler, such as architecture, interior design, or urban planning
ASSUMPTION: This role provides a unique blend of creative and strategic design work, with opportunities for growth and development within a large, multidisciplinary firm.
📝 Sample Projects
- Developing a comprehensive signage system for a new corporate headquarters, including exterior signage, interior wayfinding, and branded environmental graphics
- Creating an immersive brand experience for a retail store, including custom fixtures, graphics, and interactive elements
- Designing a wayfinding system for a healthcare campus, incorporating intuitive navigation, clear signage, and patient-friendly materials
ASSUMPTION: These sample projects illustrate the diverse range of environmental graphic design work that candidates may encounter in this role.
❓ Key Questions to Ask During Interview
- Can you describe the typical project timeline and milestones for a mid-level environmental graphic designer in this role?
- How does the Brand Design team collaborate with other disciplines, such as architecture and interior design, within the studio?
- What opportunities are there for professional development and licensure reimbursement within Gensler?
- How does the studio support work-life balance for its employees?
- Can you provide examples of recent projects that the Brand Design team has worked on, and how they have contributed to Gensler's sustainability goals?
ASSUMPTION: Asking these questions can help candidates better understand the day-to-day responsibilities, team dynamics, and growth opportunities within the role and studio.
📌 Next Steps for Applicants
To apply for this position:
- Submit your application through this link
- Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight relevant experience and skills for this role
- Prepare a strong portfolio showcasing your design process, problem-solving skills, and final outcomes
- Research Gensler's Brand Design practice and be ready to discuss how your work aligns with their projects and clients
- Practice common interview questions and be prepared to discuss your design approach, technical skills, and collaboration experience
- Follow up with the hiring manager one week after submitting your application, if you have not heard back
⚠️ This job description contains AI-assisted information. Details should be verified directly with the employer before making decisions.
