Designer II

About the Team

ESPN’s Visual Storytelling group within Creative Studio brings together creative directors, art directors, animators, concept artists, visual journalists, photo editors, web developers, graphic designers, and strategy producers. Their work spans the full ESPN ecosystem, shaping on-air identities for live events and studio programming, producing visual content for ESPN.com and the ESPN app, developing photography, illustration, and interactive storytelling, creating key art for ESPN+, handling product art across digital offerings, and guiding the brand’s design language across campaigns and cross-platform systems.

Role Summary

ESPN Creative Studio is hiring a Designer II to join its Visual Storytelling team. This role focuses on creating, developing, and delivering design and motion assets across multiple platforms. It supports both fast-paced turnaround work and longer-term projects while partnering with teams across content, product, marketing, and broadcast. A major part of the role is helping advance how the ESPN brand shows up in direct-to-consumer initiatives.

What You’ll Do

• Create design solutions using Adobe tools for both immediate and longer-horizon assignments.
• Support senior creative leaders by building assets for television graphics, key art, short-form edits, motion packages, cross-brand visuals, social templates, marketing deliverables, and related ESPN platforms.
• Work closely with creative and editorial partners to strengthen ESPN’s storytelling output.
• Contribute polished design and motion work that reflects a high creative standard.
• Fit smoothly into established team workflows and production processes.
• Turn assignment details and creative direction into customized graphic layouts and animated pieces.
• Communicate clearly with production and assignment partners through tools such as Teams, email, and Asana to keep schedules and expectations aligned.
• Bring forward ideas, look for ways to improve the work, and stay open to learning new software to broaden versatility.
• Stay organized under pressure, manage several assignments at once, and prioritize effectively.
• Maintain strong standards for speed, consistency, accuracy, creativity, and on-time delivery.
• Identify and escalate equipment, software, or workspace issues and help troubleshoot them.
• Show flexibility, a strong learning mindset, and readiness to adapt day to day.
• Make decisions that support efficient and scalable long-term design systems.

Required Experience and Skills

Candidates should bring at least 3 years of professional experience in motion and design within a creative studio or media environment. A strong understanding of motion principles, typography, composition, and visual hierarchy is important, along with hands-on fluency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. The role also calls for solid project management ability, strong troubleshooting and problem-solving, and excellent written and verbal communication. Applicants need an online portfolio or demo reel that demonstrates creativity, design ability, and type layout skills, as well as curiosity about changing design and animation trends, especially in a DTC setting. A dependable work-from-home setup and reliable internet connection are also required.

Preferred Qualifications

Additional value will be given to candidates with Cinema4D experience, familiarity with Figma, a strong understanding of design for direct-to-consumer platforms, and knowledge of sports design trends along with ESPN’s competitive landscape.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is required. A bachelor’s degree, or an equivalent credential, is preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

The hiring range for this role in Connecticut is $70,300 to $96,500 per year, based on a 40-hour work week. Weekly hours may change depending on business needs. Final base pay may vary based on internal equity, geographic location, relevant job knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition to base compensation, the package may include a bonus and/or long-term incentive units, plus a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits depending on the level and final position offered.

Work Schedule Notes

This position is based on a 40-hour work week, though the number of scheduled hours can fluctuate according to business requirements.

Additional Information

#ESPNMedia