Application Guide
How to Apply for Graphic Designer for Purpose-Driven Brands
at One K
🏢 About One K
One K is a woman-owned creative studio uniquely focused on amplifying social and environmental impact through visual storytelling. Unlike traditional agencies, they exclusively serve nonprofits, social enterprises, and government programs, offering designers the rare opportunity to align their craft with meaningful causes. Working here means joining a collaborative team of developers, photographers, and filmmakers dedicated to creating content that sparks conversation and drives real-world change.
About This Role
This part-time Graphic Designer role involves leading all design for the studio, from branding and website design for global clients to data visualization and impact campaign content. You'll collaborate directly with developers, photographers, and filmmakers to produce both print and digital collateral for purpose-driven brands, ensuring every project supports One K's mission of amplifying social and environmental impact. This position is impactful because your designs will directly help nonprofits and social enterprises communicate their stories and maximize their reach.
💡 A Day in the Life
A typical day might start with a virtual stand-up with the creative director to review priorities, then shift to designing branding concepts for a global nonprofit client. You'd collaborate with a developer on website layouts, provide feedback on a photographer's shots for an impact campaign, and end the day refining data visualizations for a social enterprise's annual report—all while ensuring every design aligns with One K's mission-driven approach.
🚀 Application Tools
🎯 Who One K Is Looking For
- A designer with 10+ years in creative agencies or impact organizations, plus 8+ years specifically in branding/website design and 5+ years working with purpose-driven brands
- Someone whose portfolio demonstrates analytical problem-solving through design, not just aesthetic skills—showcasing how design solutions addressed client goals
- A technical expert in Adobe Creative Suite (especially InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator) who can efficiently produce both print and digital collateral
- A collaborative leader comfortable working with cross-disciplinary teams (developers, photographers, filmmakers) and supporting the creative director's vision
📝 Tips for Applying to One K
Tailor your portfolio to highlight projects for nonprofits, social enterprises, or environmental causes—even if from past roles—to demonstrate your 5+ years with purpose-driven brands
Explicitly quantify your experience in your resume: '12 years in agency design, including 9 years in branding/website design and 6 years with purpose-driven clients'
Research One K's past projects (like their film/photography work) and mention specific examples in your cover letter to show genuine interest in their multidisciplinary approach
Include a link to your online portfolio in your resume header—One K will prioritize candidates whose work demonstrates analytical problem-solving, not just aesthetics
If you have remote work experience, highlight it prominently since this is a remote position requiring strong self-management and communication skills
✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter
["Your passion for social/environmental impact and how your 5+ years with purpose-driven brands aligns with One K's exclusive focus on nonprofits and social enterprises", "Specific examples from your portfolio where your design solved analytical problems (e.g., data visualization for a campaign, branding that increased a nonprofit's visibility)", 'Your experience collaborating with cross-disciplinary teams like developers or filmmakers, since One K emphasizes studio-wide collaboration', "Why you're drawn to One K's woman-owned, mission-driven studio model rather than a traditional design agency"]
Generate Cover Letter →🔍 Research Before Applying
To stand out, make sure you've researched:
- → Explore One K's project gallery to understand their visual style and the types of clients they serve (nonprofits, social enterprises, government programs)
- → Investigate their multidisciplinary approach by looking at their film/photography work to see how design integrates with other media
- → Research the founders/team on LinkedIn to understand their backgrounds and the studio's creative direction
- → Look into their blog or social media for insights into their values, like how they define 'catalyzing conversation and amplifying impact'
💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics
Based on this role, you may be asked about:
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting a generic portfolio without purpose-driven projects—One K explicitly requires 5+ years with such brands
- Focusing only on aesthetic skills in your application without demonstrating analytical problem-solving through design
- Applying with a traditional agency mindset rather than showing passion for One K's exclusive social/environmental focus
📅 Application Timeline
This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.
Typical hiring timeline:
Application Review
1-2 weeks
Initial Screening
Phone call or written assessment
Interviews
1-2 rounds, usually virtual
Offer
Congratulations!