Freelance Illustrator

About the Studio Sandcastles is a brand and design studio for founders building something new. We work with early-stage companies across CPG, hospitality, and lifestyle, helping them launch clearly, grow intentionally, and build brands that feel meaningful across every touchpoint. We operate as a small, hands-on studio, working closely with founders and their teams to build brand ecosystems that move beyond first impressions — shaping the products, places, stories, and rituals people bring into their lives. The Role This is a freelance, part-time role for a graphic designer / illustrator who can support across brand identity, visual systems, and custom illustration. You’ll work directly with the creative lead on a range of client projects, helping bring brand worlds to life through thoughtful design, expressive visuals, and strong execution. The ideal collaborator is someone who can move between big-picture creative thinking and detailed production: developing visual concepts, creating illustration styles, extending brand systems, and preparing polished files for digital, print, packaging, and campaign applications. Hours will vary depending on the project. Some weeks may be light; others may be more involved. We’ll give clear advance notice around time expectations and are looking to build lasting relationships with trusted creative collaborators. About You This is a great fit for someone in their early career who has a strong design foundation and a distinct illustrative point of view. We’re looking for someone who cares deeply about their craft, has strong taste, and is interested in building brands with personality, depth, and a sense of place. You’re comfortable taking direction, asking smart questions, incorporating feedback, and bringing your own creative perspective to the work. You understand how illustration can support a larger brand system — not just as decoration, but as a meaningful tool for storytelling, differentiation, and world-building. The ideal candidate has:

• 0-4 years of graphic design and/or illustration experience, or equivalent freelance/project experience
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Figma
• A strong foundation in typography, layout, color, composition, and visual systems
• A portfolio that shows both graphic design ability and illustration range
• Experience developing custom illustrations, icons, patterns, textures, characters, marks, or visual assets for brands
• An ability to adapt illustration styles to fit different brand worlds and creative directions
• You’re comfortable moving between polished design execution and looser, more exploratory sketching
• Experience or interest across print, digital, packaging, and brand identity
• Experience developing digital assets, including social content, emails, presentations, landing pages, websites, and campaign materials
• A thoughtful approach to using AI tools as part of the creative process
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to articulate design decisions, take feedback, stay responsive, and work well in an async workflow

Even better if:

• You have motion design or animation experience
• You understand print and packaging production
• You have experience creating illustrated brand systems, editorial illustrations, packaging illustrations, or campaign artwork
• You’ve worked with early-stage CPG, consumer, hospitality, food, wellness, or lifestyle brands

What You’ll Work On Projects will vary, but may include:

• Brand identity execution, including logos, color, typography, lockups, and brand systems
• Custom illustration development, including icons, spot illustrations, patterns, textures, mascots, characters, and visual motifs
• Packaging and print design, from concept through production-ready files
• Marketing and campaign assets, including social content, sell sheets, pitch decks, emails, and paid ads
• Web and UI design support in Figma, including layouts, components, and landing pages
• Extending existing brand systems across new applications with care and consistency
• Developing visual worlds for brands across packaging, digital, social, print, and campaign touchpoints
• Preparing clean, organized working files for handoff, production, and ongoing use

Compensation

This is a freelance, hourly role. Rate is commensurate with experience. Please include your range when you reach out. This is not a set-schedule position, but we aim to build lasting relationships with collaborators we trust and give clear advance notice around upcoming project needs. To apply, send your portfolio, resume, and a brief introduction to [email protected]. Thank you!