Graphic Designer Graduate (Durban North)

Aspen has a proud heritage dating back more than 160 years and is committed to sustaining life and promoting healthcare through increasing access to its high quality affordable medicines and products. Aspen has a market capitalisation of approximately US$10 billion, is the largest pharmaceutical company listed on the JSE Limited (share code: APN) and ranks among the top 20 listed companies on this exchange.

JOB PURPOSE:

Aspen is looking for a highly talented Graphic Designer to join the Group Communications team as a Group Communications Graduate that will provide support to the entire Group. This Graduate role will support the Group Communications Manager and wider Group Communications team by creating visual concepts, through use of computer software, to communicate ideas that inspire, inform, or captivate the desired audience. In addition, the role will also assist with digital design production and basic technical updates for Aspen's websites and internal intranet pages, ensuring content is on-brand, user-friendly and accurately implemented. No previous work experience is required; relevant internship/portfolio experience would be advantageous. No previous work experience is required. Student/graduate projects and/or a relevant internship at an advertising, design or digital agency is advantageous. The ideal candidate should have strong creative skills and a portfolio of work that demonstrates their passion for Graphic Design and digital communication. This graduate role will be exposed to a broad range of design and digital tasks, and should have foundational knowledge in the following: Adobe Photoshop Adobe XD and/or Figma (advantageous) Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Basic understanding of HTML and CSS (to support simple content updates and troubleshooting) Exposure to website CMS and/or intranet page editing (e.g., SharePoint) is advantageous Understanding design principles, not limited to but including layout, colour, contrast, typography, scale, and composition. Working knowledge of digital design best practices (responsive layouts, optimisation for screen, basic accessibility awareness). Understanding print best practices is advantageous. Good understanding of social media and social media marketing This role is ideal for someone who enjoys variety, creativity, has an inquiring mind and is highly organised. The demand for creative input within the company is constantly growing; the candidate will want to grow with us and participate in the evolution of our creative offering. The candidate should be comfortable working in a team environment where a free exchange of ideas is the norm and have the ability to interpret broad concepts into practical design outputs. Collaboration with the team to ensure consistency of designs across various media outlets and create compelling and effective logos, designs, print, and digital media. Maintain awareness of current industry and technology standards, social media, competitive landscape, and market trends. Good communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent self-management and time management. Enthusiasm for being a part of a fast-moving start-up environment and passion for design. High level of creativity and focus. Have a keen eye for detail. Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. Initiative, reliability, good problem-solving and multi-tasking skills. User-focused, always trying to understand a product from the user's perspective. An enthusiasm and confidence for seeking new ideas and the ability to clearly articulate them. Ability to approach work with dedication and high sense of accountability. Ability to work under pressure and still produce good quality results timeously. Proficient in the Adobe Creative Suite Conceptual thinking Typography skills Graphic design skills Experience with desktop publishing tools Layout skills An understanding of photography, videography, lighting and sound recording Animation skills and knowledge in UI design are advantageous Illustration or photography skills advantageous Requirements Matric and relevant tertiary qualification in Graphic Design, Visual Communication, Digital Design or a related field. A strong, well-rounded portfolio (student/graduate work acceptable) demonstrating design thinking, layout, typography and digital outputs. An on-trend collection of design references and/or work on platforms such as Behance, Pinterest and/or Instagram (web/UI examples advantageous). Working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop; XD/Figma advantageous). Working knowledge of Microsoft 365 tools (PowerPoint, Word, PDF and Excel). PC or Mac literate; basic working knowledge of HTML/CSS and/or a website CMS/intranet editing tools is advantageous. No previous work experience is required. Student/graduate projects and/or a relevant internship at an advertising, design or digital agency is advantageous.