Associate Production Designer - Project

Company Description

NBCUniversal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our theme parks and consumer experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group, and have world-renowned theme parks and attractions through Universal Destinations & Experiences. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation.

Our impact is rooted in improving the communities where our employees, customers, and audiences live and work. We have a rich tradition of giving back and ensuring our employees have the opportunity to serve their communities. We champion an inclusive culture and strive to attract and develop a talented workforce to create and deliver a wide range of content reflecting our world.

Comcast NBCUniversal has announced its intent to create a new publicly traded company ('Versant') comprised of most of NBCUniversal's cable television networks, including USA Network, CNBC, MSNBC, Oxygen, E!, SYFY and Golf Channel along with complementary digital assets Fandango, Rotten Tomatoes, GolfNow, GolfPass, and SportsEngine. The well-capitalized company will have significant scale as a pure-play set of assets anchored by leading news, sports and entertainment content. The spin-off is expected to be completed during 2025.

Job Description

The Associate Production Designer – Project Hire works under the supervision of the Senior Manager, Manager, and/or Production Designer and helps deliver designs (environment, scenic, set dressing, props, costume, etc.) for varying Entertainment projects including, Live shows, Marquee & Shoulder Events, Seasonal Atmosphere, Character Photo Ops, Symphony Activations, and Placemaking efforts.

• Works with the Production Designers developing concepts via sketches, storyboards, and photo studies to communicate preliminary design ideas.
• Utilize strong graphic design and concept design skills to create visually compelling and cohesive designs across all aspects of projects, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetics and storytelling goals.
• Develop visually captivating presentations, leveraging graphic design expertise to effectively communicate design concepts and ideas to internal teams, stakeholders, and vendors, ensuring clarity and alignment with project objectives, and meeting the high standards expected at the executive level.
• Assists the Manager of Costume Design by providing design intent documents, costume renderings, color callouts, and other necessary elements for costume design packets.
• Assists in compiling design packages containing detailed design information for internal project teams to review and approve, as well as for vendors to use in bidding and construction processes.
• Collaborates with the licensing team when required to ensure the correct usage of IP imagery, following all style guidelines and specific IP notes.
• Works with the design team to produce seasonal overlays and designs as needed.
• Bring thoughtful, on-brand ideas to creative brainstorms and execution of assignments.
• Assists in monitoring onsite art installations during the construction progress, assisting in identifying and resolving any unexpected conditions and/or discrepancies between the construction, drawings, and design intent.
• Oversees quality checks for the ongoing creative maintenance of scenic elements, with a focus on graphic design and/or illustration elements.
• Collaborates with project team support staff, artists, and vendors in multiple phases of production.
• Assist in sourcing and choosing materials for final creative intent.
• Maintain an understanding of industry trends and apply that knowledge to design assignments and in field art direction.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the Universal Studios Hollywood Intellectual Properties (past, present & Licensed) across multiple media including film, television, theater, parks, and games.
• Attend and participate in all required design team meetings and off-site training/creative sessions.

This position is eligible for company sponsored benefits, including medical, dental and vision insurance, 401(k), paid leave, tuition reimbursement, and a variety of other discounts and perks. Learn more about the benefits offered by NBCUniversal by visiting the Benefits page of the Careers website. Salary range: $68,640 - $75,000

Qualifications

• 3+ years of professional creative work experience preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of creative processes and best practices.
• Must have the ability to be flexible with changing work initiatives; coordinate multiple projects and multi-task efficiently within a fast-paced and high-pressure environment while meeting strict deadlines.
• Solid hand and computer drawing skills (Adobe PhotoShop, Illustrator, InDesign). 
• Must have a basic understanding of scenic applications used in the construction of the final scenic.
• Expected to work effectively and independently under the guidance and supervision of a Production Designer.
• Will be expected to design and execute visuals within a set budget.
• Full-time work schedule with additional hours as needed during weekends, holidays, and nights as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

KEY COMPETENCIES

Concept Development: Collaborate with Production Designers and various Creative Team Members to develop preliminary design concepts through sketches, storyboards, and photo studies.

Graphic and Concept Design: Apply strong graphic design and concept design skills to create visually compelling and cohesive designs across all project elements, ensuring alignment with brand aesthetics and storytelling objectives.

Presentation Development Skills: Develop visually captivating presentations using graphic design expertise to effectively communicate design concepts to internal teams, stakeholders, and vendors, meeting executive-level standards.

Collaborative Teamwork: Work closely with project team members, support staff, artists, and vendors throughout multiple phases of production to ensure cohesive execution of design concepts.

Trend Awareness: Stay updated with industry trends in graphic design, illustration techniques, and scenic applications, applying this knowledge to design assignments and in-field art direction.

Costume Design Support: Provide design intent documents, costume renderings, color callouts, and other necessary elements to support the Manager of Costume Design.

Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to be flexible with changing work initiatives, coordinate multiple projects, and multitask efficiently in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment while meeting strict deadlines.

Supervised Autonomy: Work effectively and independently under the guidance and supervision of a Production Designer, designing and executing visuals within a set budget.

Additional Information

As part of our selection process, external candidates may be required to attend an in-person interview with an NBCUniversal employee at one of our locations prior to a hiring decision. NBCUniversal's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender identity or expression, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in the uniformed services, genetic information, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

NBCUniversal will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories, or arrest or conviction records, in a manner consistent with relevant legal requirements, including the City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative For Hiring Ordinance, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers, and the California Fair Chance Act, where applicable.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran and require support throughout the application and/or recruitment process as a result of your disability, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation. You can submit your request to [email protected].