J-1 Visa Senior Designer Jobs
Senior Designer roles in the United States are accessible to exchange visitors through the J-1 visa Trainee or Specialist program category, depending on your experience level and host organization setup. Finding a host employer willing to work with a designated sponsor for DS-2019 sponsorship is the critical first step.
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About Ogilvy
Ogilvy, part of WPP, has been creating impact for brands through iconic, culture-changing, value-driving ideas since the company was founded by David Ogilvy 75 years ago. It builds on that rich legacy through Borderless Creativity – innovating at the intersections of its advertising, public relations, relationship design, consulting, and health capabilities with experts collaborating seamlessly across over 120 offices in nearly 90 countries. Ogilvy currently ranks as the #1 global agency network for creative excellence and effectiveness by WARC, signifying its ability to deliver creative solutions that drive unreasonable impact for clients and communities. Ogilvy is a WPP company (NYSE: WPP).
About WPP
WPP is the trusted growth partner for the world’s leading brands. We unite cutting-edge media intelligence and data solutions, world-class creativity, next-generation production, transformative enterprise solutions and expert strategic counsel in a single company – powered by exceptional talent and our agentic marketing platform, WPP Open, to help our clients navigate change, capture opportunity and deliver transformational growth.
Who we are:
The Lacek Group is a collection of brilliant, passionate, intellectually curious, and unique people who work on the leading edge of customer engagement. We come to work every day to help our clients build longer-lasting, more profitable customer relationships. We listen, collaborate and celebrate together. We treat each other with kindness and respect. And we believe different perspectives drive innovation, fuel creativity and make our business and communities better.
Together with our parent company Ogilvy, one of the most creative and effective agencies in the world, we believe diversity drives smarter work for our clients — and better business for us. We believe inclusion is essential, and we welcome all who are ready to join our push for positive change. Every single day.
What we need:
We are seeking a Designer Intern to join our Summer 2026 Internship Class. This will be a hybrid internship, working at The Lacek Group's Downtown Minneapolis, MN offices.
- Designer Intern (1 opening)
What you’ll do:
As an intern, you will support your respective team with client project deliverables for some of our biggest clients. You may gain experience in project routing; project layout and copy; internal kick-off and strategy meetings; ad hoc assignments; client promotional events; and managing projects. This full-time, 10-week internship will take place from June 8 through August 14 and offers a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience.
What you’ll bring:
- Working toward Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design, Digital Media Design, Visual Arts, or another related field
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills needed to contribute within a team-oriented environment
- Strong detail orientation and follow-through skills
- Demonstrated ability to multi-task
- Agility in an ever-changing environment
- Previous experience managing projects is also preferred
You’ll love working at The Lacek Group – smart people, casual environment, engaging and inclusive culture, and fantastic growth opportunities.
This position is hybrid, with an expectation to be onsite in our downtown Minneapolis, MN office 10x a month.
Location:
The Lacek Group
700 Nicollet Mall, Suite 610
Minneapolis, MN 55402
The Lacek Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Pay Range
$18 — $18 USD
At Ogilvy, our people are at the heart of what we do: a creative agency that sparks game-changing ideas across culture and business through collaboration, integrity, and a celebration of self-expression.
We believe in building powerful teams with purpose - and we relentlessly curate transformative initiatives that make our commitment to fairness, and equity a reality.
Our ultimate mission is to leave a positive impact on the world, creating a better future for all, while supporting and uplifting the global communities we serve. This is central to our mantra of Borderless Creativity.
Ogilvy is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to particular characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.
If you need any assistance seeking a job opportunity, or if you need reasonable accommodation with the application process, please contact us at accommodations@ogilvy.com. Please note that this contact is only for candidates who are requesting accommodation. Emails for other purposes, including application status requests, will not receive a response.
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Senior Designer
Build a portfolio that signals U.S. market fluency
Designated sponsors evaluate whether your design background aligns with the host organization's training objectives. Frame case studies around U.S.-relevant design systems, accessibility standards, and cross-functional workflows to strengthen your DS-2019 training plan approval.
Distinguish Trainee from Specialist before applying
The J-1 Trainee category suits designers with a degree and under one year of post-graduation experience, while Specialist requires at least five years of expertise. Applying under the wrong category delays your DS-2019 issuance and can require restarting the sponsor review process.
Target host employers with structured onboarding programs
Sponsors require a detailed training plan, so prioritize studios, agencies, and in-house design teams that already document role competencies and mentorship structures. Use Migrate Mate to find employers in creative industries whose hiring patterns align with J-1 exchange visitor placements.
Verify the host employer meets DOL wage requirements
Your designated sponsor must confirm your offered compensation meets the prevailing wage for Senior Designer roles in your host city. Cross-check your offer against the OFLC Wage Search and O*NET occupation profile before the sponsor submits your training plan for approval.
Clarify the home residency requirement with your sponsor early
Some J-1 participants are subject to a two-year home country residency requirement before changing to certain U.S. visa statuses. Confirm with your designated sponsor whether your funding source or nationality triggers this requirement before accepting a host employer offer.
Get the DS-7002 training plan signed before your start date
The DS-7002 must be completed jointly by you, the host employer, and the designated sponsor before your program begins. Delays in securing supervisor signatures or finalizing learning objectives are the most common reason J-1 Trainee start dates get pushed back.
Senior Designer J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category fits a Senior Designer role?
Most Senior Designer candidates qualify under the J-1 Trainee or Specialist category. Trainee applies if you hold a design-related degree and have under one year of post-graduation work experience. Specialist applies if you have five or more years of documented expertise in graphic, UX, product, or brand design without necessarily holding a formal degree.
Who actually sponsors the J-1 visa for a Senior Designer position?
The visa sponsor is a U.S. Department of State-designated organization, such as Cultural Vistas or AIPT, not the hiring company itself. The design firm or studio where you work is the host employer. The designated sponsor issues your DS-2019, monitors program compliance, and signs the DS-7002 training plan alongside your host supervisor.
How do I find host employers in the design industry open to J-1 exchange visitors?
Most design employers aren't proactively advertising J-1 compatibility, so standard job boards surface little useful signal. Migrate Mate lets you search for U.S. roles and employers whose hiring history aligns with exchange visitor placements, saving you from cold outreach to companies unfamiliar with the host employer process.
Does a Senior Designer on J-1 status need a separate work authorization document?
No separate EAD or work permit is required. Your DS-2019 and valid J-1 visa stamp together authorize you to work for the specific host employer listed in your training plan. Working for any employer not named in your approved training plan violates your J-1 status, regardless of the role or compensation.
Can a J-1 Senior Designer transition to an H-1B or O-1 after the program ends?
Yes, but the two-year home residency requirement is the key variable. If it applies to you, you must return home or obtain a waiver before changing to H-1B visa or O-1 visa status. If you aren't subject to the requirement, your host employer can petition for a status change after your J-1 program concludes without requiring departure.