Illustrator (Childrens Book & Social Media Visual Designer)

About the Project

An original children’s book series centred on curiosity,
adventure, kindness, resilience and lifelong learning. The books are intended
to appeal initially to children approximately 8–11 years of age, with the
characters and stories maturing as the series develops.

The first book will establish the visual identity of Riley,
Gigi and the supporting characters, making consistency and thoughtful character
development particularly important.

The Illustrator I’m Looking For

Technical illustration skills are essential, but they are
only part of what I’m seeking. The ideal illustrator will also demonstrate:

• Strong
  original creative ability.
  
• A
  genuine interest in children’s storytelling.
  
• The
  ability to create memorable, emotionally engaging characters.
  
• Openness
  to feedback and collaborative discussion.
  
• Reliability
  and professional communication.
  
• An
  appreciation that consistent character development is critical when
  establishing a new series.
  
• Pride
  in contributing to an original body of work that has the potential to grow
  over time.
  

AI-Assisted Workflow

I recognise that modern illustrators may use AI-assisted
tools as part of their workflow. My primary interest is not the percentage of
AI used, but understanding the creative process.

The successful illustrator should be able to demonstrate
that:

• Character
  design originates from their own creative thinking.
  
• Storytelling,
  emotional expression and artistic judgement remain their own.
  
• AI,
  where used, supports production efficiency rather than replacing original
  creative authorship.
  

Transparency regarding creative workflow is important.

Nature of the Engagement

The initial agreement relates specifically to the
illustration of the first Riley and Gigi book.

If the collaboration proves successful, I would welcome the
opportunity to discuss future books as separate commercial engagements.

My objective is not to commit either party beyond the first
project, but to identify someone who would genuinely enjoy building book over
time should the opportunity arise.

Tools Required:

• Any
  illustration or design tools the artist is comfortable with (e.g., digital
  or traditional mediums)
  
• Ability
  to deliver digital outputs suitable for print and social media
  
• Communication
  tools (e.g., WhatsApp, email, or similar platforms for regular updates)
  

Shifts & Hours:

• Flexible,
  output-based work (not time-bound)
  
• No
  fixed schedule or time zone requirement
  
• Workload
  will depend on project needs and illustrator’s pace
  
• Open
  to part-time or project-based engagement
  

Target Start Date:

• Flexible
  / Not urgent
  
• Hiring
  will proceed after careful shortlisting and portfolio review
  

Rate / Compensation:

• Project-based
  or output-based pricing (to be finalized with selected candidate)
  
• Example
  structure: rate per set of illustrations (e.g., per book pages or content
  batch)
  
• Opportunity
  for long-term, ongoing paid work
  

Additional Notes:

• This
  is a long-term opportunity (minimum 3-month commitment, with potential to
  extend to 1+ year)
  
• Illustrator
  will receive credit/recognition in published books
  
• The
  role emphasizes a collaborative, communicative, and flexible working
  relationship
  
• Ideal
  candidate values creative input, consistency, and storytelling impact
  
• Opportunity
  to become the primary illustrator for an entire book series