Graphic Designer

How You’ll Contribute

The National Geographic Society headquarters, based in Washington, D.C., is undergoing a significant renovation project on its campus (called Base Camp), which will be completed in 2026. Components of the new Museum will include a state-of-the-art pavilion entrance, auditorium, iconic photo gallery, exhibition space, immersive walk-through attraction, retail, food and beverage, education center, archives, tours, and exciting new event space. The capstone of the renovation is a one-of-a-kind nighttime experience in the courtyard.

In addition to this new on-campus experience, National Geographic Society has an existing business of touring exhibitions and immersive experiences that will be growing and expanding. The Exhibitions department is responsible for developing and bringing to life the exhibits and experiences at the Museum, as well as creating, developing, marketing, and selling our traveling exhibitions products, National Geographic Live programs, and the Museum of Exploration (MOE).

The Graphic Designer will work as part of a collaborative creative and marketing team to help produce high-quality materials for communications, exhibitions, campaigns, and events. They will assist Art Directors and senior designers in bringing concepts to life, adapting existing designs, and preparing final assets for production. The role requires attention to detail, a strong grasp of visual design principles, and the ability to work within established brand guidelines.

This position also supports the Campus & Experiences Marketing team by producing digital and print assets for programs including the Museum of Exploration, National Geographic Live, Storytellers Collective, and Traveling Exhibitions. Work will include signage, exhibit graphics, social media graphics, email visuals, and promotional materials across a range of touchpoints.

Your Impact

Responsibilities Include:

Layout and Design (65%)

• Assist in the layout and formatting of design assets across digital, print, and environmental applications.

• Adapt existing creative concepts into multiple formats (e.g., social media graphics, signage, email visuals) using established brand guidelines.

• Prepare production-ready files for internal review, proofing, and delivery to vendors or media teams.

• Support digital design efforts including resizing images, updating templates, and editing basic motion or web assets.

• Help maintain brand consistency across all visuals by adhering to established style guides and templates.

• Coordinate with the Campus & Experiences Marketing team to update digital signage and wayfinding assets across the MOE campus.

• Contribute to exhibit support by updating or formatting in-gallery graphic elements as needed. 

Collaboration & Learning Support (20%)

• Apply feedback from Art Directors and Marketing leads to iterate on creative outputs and ensure alignment with campaign goals

• Use collaborative tools (e.g., project management platforms, shared folders) to track asset versions, revisions, and approvals.

• Maintain organized archives of design files and templates to support team access and efficiency.

• Participate in cross-functional meetings with exhibitions, marketing, and content teams to stay aligned on deliverables and priorities.

• Take part in internal learning opportunities and design reviews to expand skills and understanding of creative strategy and production workflows. 

Creative Development (10%)

• Participate in team brainstorming sessions to contribute visual ideas that support exhibition and marketing goals.

• Assist in preparing style references, mockups, and visual assets for project presentations.

• Support senior designers and Art Directors in the visualization of creative concepts by assembling inspiration boards and preliminary sketches.

• Observe and learn from the development of design narratives and messaging hierarchy in support of exhibition themes and campaigns.

Process Support (5%)

• Participate in internal reviews of prototypes and samples to ensure quality and brand alignment. 

• Support on-site installation logistics by preparing asset lists, print proofs, and production documentation.

• Help coordinate with vendors or internal teams to track print specifications and production timelines.