Recruiting Digital Illustrator - Freelance position

Open Source Design; United States; Remote; USD 1,600 - 2,400; Full time

Job summary

Open Source Design seeks a digital illustrator to orchestrate visuals for our open, on-demand Permaculture Design Certificate modules. You will translate curriculum into cohesive visuals, create original diagrams and learning elements, and help ensure accessibility and coherence across the e-learning experience.

Remote collaboration with CET-aligned team sessions, 3-year horizon, and a commitment to equitable wages and long-term ecosystem building.

Qualifications

• Strong digital illustration portfolio (educational or systems thinking experience preferred).
• Ability to visually communicate ecological and relational concepts.
• Comfort working within collaborative, values-aligned teams.
• Commitment to equitable wage principles.
• Interest in long-term ecosystem building rather than short-term gigs.
• Preferably: some Permaculture Design Certificate experience or permaculture design work.

Responsibilities

• Translate curriculum into cohesive visual learning assets and design specifications.
• Create original diagrams, illustrations, learning visuals, and layout elements.
• Support clarity, accessibility, and coherence across the e-learning experience.
• Collaborate closely with the design team to finalize delivery on the platform.

Skills

Illustration portfolio

Visual storytelling

Ecological concepts

Collaborative work

Equitable wage philosophy

Permaculture design familiarity

Job description

Location: Remote Timeline: 3-year commitment (initial focus: Year 1 module build, March-November 2026) Team: CoLab E-Learning Team We are building accredited modules of the Permaculture Design Certificate (PDC) pathway for CoLab and allied networks.

Our vision over the next three years is to develop peer-reviewed, badged PDC modules that are recognized across permaculture networks and partner institutions. These courses will remain available as open, on-demand learning resources at no cost to the learner.

To bring this to life, we are seeking a digital illustrator (human-created work only, not AI-generated art) to join our E-Learning Team.

Your Role

You will serve as the visual orchestrator of our course modules.

• Translate curriculum into cohesive visual learning assets and design specifications
• Create original diagrams, illustrations, learning visuals, and layout elements
• Support clarity, accessibility, and coherence across the e-learning experience
• Collaborate closely with the design team to finalize delivery on the platform

You will become a team member contributing to this educational program.

Commitment

Remote collaboration Participation in team meetings when requested (in alignment with CoLab accountability policy) in the afternoons and evenings in CET, Monday to Friday Ability to commit to the broader 3-year vision of modular PDC development Estimated capacity: approximately 25% of the project budget allocation, c. 1500 GBP p/y, paid per hour at your equitable wage rate

The design team is currently scheduled for structured build sessions twice weekly, Thursdays and Fridays, during the initial development phase. Your engagement will align with module handover cycles.

We’re Looking For

• Strong digital illustration portfolio (educational or systems thinking experience preferred)
• Ability to visually communicate ecological and relational concepts
• Comfort working within collaborative, values-aligned teams
• Commitment to equitable wage principles
• Interest in long-term ecosystem building rather than short-term gig work
• Preferably: someone who has attended one or more Permaculture Design Certificates and has previously done permaculture design work

Membership Requirement

Applicants must be CoLab members.

If you are not a member, you can find out more about joining here.

Future Opportunities

Beyond this role, the illustrator may also be consulted or engaged on additional CoLab or allied network projects as a service provider.