Junior Graphic Designer

AFDA is inviting applications for the position of a junior graphic designer.

The Junior Graphic Designer in serving the Marketing Department nationally, you will primarily be responsible for supporting our branding efforts across various digital and print platforms, with a focus on enhancing the visual identity.
You will be responsible for designing and producing visual content that aligns with the company's brand and marketing goals. Working collaboratively with cross-functional teams, this individual creates a wide range of materials, including digital and print graphics, ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing brand identity. Proficiency in graphic design software, adaptability to changing priorities, and effective communication skills are essential for success in this role. The Junior Graphic Designer plays a key part in maintaining brand consistency, solving design challenges, and contributing to the overall creative vision of the organisation.

Key competencies [role associated]

• Create visually appealing and on-brand graphics for various purposes, including digital and print materials.
• Proficiency and knowledge of Social Media platforms and channels and how to design for it
• Proficiency in planning and curating engaging and exciting content for Social Media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram.
• Ensuring all content, including text, reels, stories, and videos are in line with the existing style and aesthetic of the AFDA brand
• Design marketing collateral, such as brochures, flyers, posters, banners, social media graphics, website and presentations.
• Assist in maintaining and evolving the company's brand identity across all platforms and marketing materials.
• Collaborate with marketing and other teams to ensure consistency in branding and messaging.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (proficient in English)
• Assist the specialist with image approvals for social media as well as image retouching knowledge.
• Keep up to date with online trends, relevant to higher education and the creative economy.

Personal attributes [role associated]

• Willingness to adhere to and embody the AFDA values of integrity, reliability, humility, self-discipline, and passion
• Ability to work co-operatively in the Branding team, as well as with other AFDA staff members
• A vibrant, positive, and enthusiastic personality with a can-do attitude, we embrace new challenges and take the initiative to try innovative approaches.
• We are passionate, curious, eager to learn, and committed to improving things.
• We know how to have fun, and we care about mental health.

Roles and responsibilities as per CVP’s (Core Value Points):

1. Design Strategy:

• Conduct market analysis research for the AFDA brand to identify new opportunities. Analyse, strategise, and execute the brief provided by the brand manager, creating solutions that align with specific brand objectives, while enhancing programme development and student success to achieve national goals.

2. Design for communication and relationships:

• Create visual assets for social media platforms, including daily stories with images and graphics. Curate content for bulk communications to promote all AFDA events.

3. Institutional Design:

• Designing, creating, developing and maintaining the brand’s visual assets for Institutional purposes, across institutional level to create brand consistency / tone across all departments.

4. Design for Recruitment:

• Design visually compelling and on-brand graphics for a variety of purposes, including digital and print materials for recruitment, such as school events, and marketing activations for both primary and secondary AFDA initiatives.

5. Advertising and Branding:

• Design eye-catching marketing materials for both print and digital platforms, including brochures, flyers, posters, banners, billboards, merchandise, social media graphics, emailers, website visuals, presentations and promotional materials based on internal briefs

Role responsibilities and duties

• As an extension of the core value points, the following duties are expected to be fulfilled:
• Branding
• Assist in maintaining and evolving the company's brand identity across all platforms and materials.
• Collaborate with marketing and other teams to ensure consistency in branding and messaging.
• Stay updated on industry trends and design tools to enhance creativity and efficiency.

Collaboration:

• Work closely with cross-functional teams within the marketing department, content creators, to understand design requirements and deliver high-quality visual content.
• Incorporate feedback and revisions into design projects. Project management
• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously, ensuring deadlines are met and quality is maintained.
• Organise and maintain design assets and files for easy accessibility.

Communication skills:

• Effectively communicate design concepts and ideas to team members and brand manager.
• Present design solutions and rationale for design choices.

Adaptability:

• Adapt to changing priorities and requirements, maintaining flexibility in a dynamic work environment. Problem solving
• Identify design challenges and propose creative solutions that align with brand guidelines and marketing objectives.

Qualifications, skills and experience

• Must be a creative thinker and attention to detail
• Ability to work under pressure on multiple tasks, be able to adapt to shifting needs and priorities, proactive, driven and self-motivated
• Proficient in: InDesign/Photoshop/Illustrator as well as any additional creative cloud suite programmes advantageous
• Apple Mac efficient
• After Effects and Adobe Premier Pro (advantageous)
• Understanding of digital, print and design principles and techniques.
• Understanding of social media platforms and how to create collateral for the platforms
• Up to date with key digital and industry related trends
• Organised, deadline-driven and has good time management skills
• Forward thinking and able to take initiative
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Able to take creative direction and constructive feedback
• Ability to work independently and within a team
• Willingness to learn and improve

Selection Criteria:
• Relevant Tertiary Qualification in Graphic Design
• Six months to two years' proven Graphic Design experience, either through internships or previous employment.
• AFDA employs candidates in line with the Employment Equity Act and as such preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from designated groups.

Company Description

AFDA, the No. 1 School for the Creative Economy is the leading school of its kind in South Africa, offering Higher Certificates, Undergraduate and Postgraduate degrees in Motion Picture Medium, Live Performance, Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Creative Writing. AFDA is a full member of CILECT, the association of the world's major film and television schools. The AFDA values are passion, self-discipline, integrity, reliability and humility.

Posted on 18 Mar 10:40, Closing date 17 May