Graphic Designer

Creative Impact Team | Reports to: Managing Director

Part-Time Temporary | Duration: 3-4 Months

Compensation: $26-$30/hour

About Outside The Lens

Outside The Lens (OTL) is a San Diego-based nonprofit organization that empowers youth to use photography, filmmaking, and digital media to tell their stories, explore their creativity, and engage with the world around them.

Through media arts education and creative opportunities, OTL helps young people develop technical skills, confidence, critical thinking, and their unique voices. Our work brings together education, creativity, community, and social impact—and we believe compelling storytelling has the power to create connection and change.

Position Overview

The Graphic Designer provides temporary, part-time creative support during an exciting period of organizational growth, creating high-quality visual assets to support OTL's fundraising, community engagement, programs, events, and organizational communications. Working within the visual identity launched in 2025, this person collaborates with staff across departments to translate content, photography, student-created media, and project goals into clear and engaging designs for print and digital use. We are looking for an early-to-mid-career, versatile designer who can step confidently into an established brand, manage routine projects from concept through delivery, and keep multiple initiatives moving with care and consistency.

This is a hands-on production and design role. The successful candidate brings strong creative judgment, dependable project management, and the ability to move efficiently from concept through final delivery. The position is not responsible for setting the organization's overall communications strategy or managing OTL's social media channels.

Key Responsibilities

Design and production

Design and produce branded materials for digital and print use, including social graphics, email and website assets, flyers, one-pagers, presentations, reports, event collateral, signage, and fundraising materials.
Translate written content, photography, student-created work, and organizational priorities into clear, engaging visual stories.
Prepare accurate, production-ready files and coordinate with printers, fabricators, and other vendors as needed.
Resize, adapt, and repurpose existing designs across platforms and formats while maintaining quality and consistency.
Select and prepare images for use in assigned print and digital materials.

Brand stewardship and accessibility

Apply OTL's brand guidelines consistently across all assigned projects while bringing fresh, audience-aware creative thinking to the work.
Use accessible design practices, including readable typography, appropriate color contrast, clear visual hierarchy, and thoughtful image treatment.
Help staff use approved templates and brand assets correctly, and flag inconsistencies or gaps that may need attention.
Respect youth voice, consent, dignity, and context when working with student-created media and participant stories.

Collaboration and project workflow

Partner with the Managing Director and staff across Advancement, Programs, and Operations to clarify project goals, audiences, deliverables, and deadlines.
Manage assigned projects from brief through revisions and final delivery, communicating proactively about status, questions, risks, and competing priorities.
Maintain organized design files, templates, exports, and source assets so work can be located, reused, and handed off easily.
Participate in project check-ins and incorporate feedback with professionalism, curiosity, and sound design judgment.
Support multiple concurrent projects in a deadline-driven nonprofit environment, including occasional time-sensitive requests.

Qualifications

Required

Approximately two or more years of professional, freelance, internship, or equivalent graphic design experience; a degree is welcome but not required.
A strong portfolio demonstrating brand-aligned design, visual storytelling, and work across both print and digital formats.
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop; experience with Canva is also valued.
Strong understanding of typography, layout, hierarchy, color, image selection, and print production.
Ability to interpret a creative brief, ask useful questions, receive feedback, and deliver accurate work on deadline.
Strong organization, attention to detail, and file-management practices.
Clear, collaborative, and respectful written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred

Experience designing for a nonprofit, arts organization, school, youth-serving organization, or mission-driven brand.
Experience with annual or impact reports, fundraising campaigns, event materials, presentations, and social media assets.
Light photography, photo editing, video editing, or motion design skills using tools such as Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, or CapCut.
Familiarity with WordPress or another content management system. These additional creative and web skills are helpful but not required for success in the role.
Knowledge of accessible and inclusive design practices.
Spanish or other language fluency is a plus.

You May Be a Strong Fit If

You are a maker who enjoys turning real organizational needs into thoughtful, polished design.
You can work confidently within an established brand while knowing when to suggest a fresh approach.
You balance creativity with responsiveness, accuracy, and follow-through.
You are energized by youth voice and believe design can support access, education, belonging, and social change.
You are comfortable joining a team during a period of growth and helping create clarity through your work.

Work Arrangement

This San Diego-based position follows a hybrid schedule with regular in-person collaboration at OTL's downtown headquarters. A consistent weekly schedule will be established with reasonable flexibility around project needs. Part-time temporary employees receive paid sick leave in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Requirements

Ability to work at a computer for extended periods and occasionally lift or move materials weighing up to 25 pounds.
Reliable ability to travel locally when needed for project work or events.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Outside The Lens is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We do not discriminate based on any characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. We provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and maintain a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

How to Apply

Please email a resume, portfolio or portfolio link, and a brief note describing your interest and availability to hr@outsidethelens.org. Use the subject line Part Time Graphic Designer. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Outside The Lens

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