Lead Designer

Job Description

The ESPN Creative Studio – Animation, Graphics Innovation & Production Design team collaborates across the ESPN production landscape to drive creativity, vision, and innovation. We inspire, create and deliver across all areas of design, graphics, animation, and development of new production tools for event and studio production.

The Lead Designer is responsible for the creation, development and deployment of designs and animations at a high proficiency level. This position provides creative support for daily and long range assignments, contributes to group projects, and frequently works independently on assignments. This is a hands-on position requiring individuals who possess strong conceptualization skills, the ability to offer unique creative solutions, change direction easily, push their creativity and software skills to higher levels, exploit new technology, and actively communicate on all phases of a project to maintain the quality of ESPN's linear and digital platforms. The Lead Designer is a high level creative and technician who is expected to set the bar on quality, creativity, and implementation. #ESPNMedia

Responsibilities:
• Utilizes Adobe Suite, Cinema4D, and/or other 2D/3D applications to create advanced designs and animations for network productions, digital platforms, short and long-range assignments.
• Translates project details and creative direction into unique design, animation, and layout solutions.
• Creates, develops, and evolves graphics for studio shows, remote events, and digital distribution.
• Possesses strong individual and team communication skills - effectively communicates out to Production and Project Assignment peers to ensure strong dialogue exists throughout the day & keep timelines & expectations on track (Slack/Email/Teams/Zoom).
• Regularly contribute ideas/initiatives, demonstrates desire to push creative and technology to the next level, shows aptitude to learn and share new software knowledge to enhance individual versatility on assignments.
• Actively participates on special assignments such as in-house/off-site training and technical support for internal team, packagers, remote freelancers, and vendors.
• Displays ability to troubleshoot answer technical questions with respect to design/animation techniques.
• Research and implementation of cutting-edge technologies in the pursuit of next-level animation techniques and efficiencies.
• Actively develop innovative animation and design looks and processes while maintaining strong understanding of industry trends.
• Must be highly motivated, work well under pressure, and able to effectively prioritize multiple assignments. Displays keen attention to detail, spelling and grammar

Basic Qualifications:
• Ability to work nights, weekends & holidays.
• Demonstrates advanced knowledge of Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D.
• Online portfolio/demo reel showcasing your creativity, animation, design, and type layout skills.
• Strong 3D animation skills with good understanding of animation principles and theory.
• Reliable work-from-home setup (personal laptop or desktop with reliable internet connection).
• Reliable means of transportation for when on-site work is required.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Minimum of 6 years hands-on design, graphics, animation, or motion graphics experience in a major TV market, network, post-house, or digital level.
• Advanced experience in motion graphics and animation applications as well as knowledge of CPU & GPU render engines, scripting capabilities, visual effects techniques.
• Passion for sports and familiarity with ESPN programming.

Required Education
• High School Diploma or Equivalent

Preferred Education
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent

This role is considered hybrid, which means the employee will work a portion of their time on-site from a Company designated location and the remainder of their time remotely. A remote opportunity may be possible for qualified candidates under certain circumstances and, if granted, the employee would work remotely on an ongoing basis.

Jobcode: Reference SBJ-d8zozq-18-216-32-116-42 in your application.