About the job

The Atlantic has, for more than 160 years, advanced ideas that matter and sparked global conversation on the most important issues of our time. We aim to bring clarity and original thinking to questions of consequence, on topics ranging from politics, the economy, and global affairs to technology, science, and culture. As the third-longest-running magazine in America, we find ourselves at a remarkable moment: one of both continuation and transformation, of upholding our legacy while continuously reinventing ourselves for the future.

We are reinventing the way our essential journalism is delivered to readers. Join our growing team of engineers, designers, strategists, and writers on an ambitious mission to elevate the best journalism in the world through innovative products and yet-to-be-imagined experiences. Use your talents to help us build what’s next for one of the most respected journalistic institutions. If you are searching for a job with a purpose, this is it.

The Atlantic is looking for a skilled designer to join our expanding product design team. Product designers at The Atlantic are responsible for the visual design, user experience, user interface design and information architecture for our suite of digital products. In addition to being a talented visual designer, you should have a passion for human-centered design and an emphatic reader-first approach to products. You will be expected to be knowledgeable in design best practices, be familiar with contemporary industry standards, and be ambitiously driven to innovate. Often working within a design system, you should know when to apply established design patterns and styles, as well as when and how to evolve them. You will identify and help correct product inconsistencies, in both the visual and user experience. Most importantly, you will apply your talents at scale to create beautiful and easy-to-use interfaces that help our editorial team deliver journalism more effectively. Beyond the pixel-pushing, you will lead design research efforts including landscape analysis, interviews, and user testing.

Successful candidates will have an aptitude for learning, a familiarity with modern product design software, a knowledge of scrum frameworks, and a deep fluency in design theory and production processes. This position is ideal for an established designer with product experience looking for an opportunity to have more influence and visibility. We have built a culture where you will be challenged to grow, but will be given the support and opportunity to succeed.

What You Will Do

• Product designers are empowered to operate independently on projects with collaboration from product managers and guidance, oversight, and mentorship from more senior designers. You will leverage our existing design system and assist in evolving it as necessary. Product designers are also expected to contribute to broader product strategy and will engage with stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Work on the entire lifecycle of the product: research, user flows, prototyping, high fidelity comps, and partner with engineers on implementation.
• Collaborate with product managers, developers, editors and other designers.
• Help us evolve and expand our design system.
• Balance the needs of the editorial team, the business, and readers.
• Work on both reader-facing products as well as internal tooling and systems.
• Design, moderate and evaluate user testing and prototype-based reader research initiatives

What We Are Looking For

• You are a self-driven designer, humble, talented, eager to grow. You are as passionate about journalism and the mission of The Atlantic as you are about reader-centered design. You are established in your career and ready to join an entrepreneurial product team where you’re given a platform to flourish. Folks in this role will generally have more than 3 years of professional design experience. You should be excited by the opportunity to build products with purpose that serve to elevate The Atlantic journalism.
• 3+ years of professional experience working on digital products as a designer or UX lead.
• You have designed and successfully shipped software, mobile applications, or other web products.
• Candidates should have strong UX/IA experience, a passion for user research, and preference for data-insight driven design.
• Experience specific to journalism, media or publishing is a plus.
• Strong visual design skills and aesthetic taste. Demonstrate mastery of fundamental graphic design such as color, composition, typography and visual hierarchy.
• You enjoy both details of the craft and deliberate, long-term systems thinking. You enjoy perfecting typography just as much as creating a nuanced component library.
• Candidates should be comfortable working in product software such as Figma, Sketch, Animation tools, Creative Suite. Familiarity with wireframing and prototyping tools, such as Invision, Omnigraffle, Framer, or Principle.
• A solid understanding of HTML and CSS. Coding experience is a plus.
• Traditional design experience in branding, marketing and advertising is welcome.
• Excellent communication and writing skills: can brainstorm with a group, articulate ideas, and tease out feedback from colleagues.
• Enthusiasm for The Atlantic, journalism and a desire to contribute to the growth of our design culture.

To Apply

Candidates must apply with a link to an online portfolio that shows examples of product design. Applicants without a portfolio will not be considered.

The Atlantic Monthly Group LLC and its affiliates (“The Atlantic”) are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate against our applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable law.