Lead Artist

Chief Squishers Zoe and Aaron started Squishable in 2007 after deciding that plush was much more interesting than working in tech. The products were much cuter, the people were nicer, and folks didn't mind as much when you broke into uncontrollable giggles (something that's not acceptable, say, when analyzing someone's server security). These days we work out of NYC bringing Squishy joy to the world!

The Lead Artist is responsible for the day-to day creative management of Squishable. Working with a small team (illustrators, designers, and factory liaisons), they develop and manage the company’s outward facing artistic production. They design and critique new toy ideas, setting art style standards for their team to follow, and ensure that prototypes and production items are correct and on time. The Lead Artist supervises and contributes to illustration, graphic design, and production of digital and print media for the website and marketing materials. And they take on other creative projects as they come up.

To do this role, you will need to :

• Be an accomplished artist with a careful and precise illustration style, be comfortable working on paper and digitally with a stylus, and have the ability to mimic a number of different illustration styles.

• Be able to communicate clearly with our large fanbase, as well as clients, customers, and artists, on a variety of platforms.

• Brainstorm up and contribute new ideas for innovative projects.

• Use systems to manage and organize complex processes for designs, factories, and samples in a timely and detailed way.

• Be able to make basic website edits in HTML, and use various task management and back-end systems

• Have a quirky, playful take on graphic design.

• Be able to manage 1-2 people, assigning projects, time, and resources, monitoring progress, and solving issues as they arise.

• Have an absolutely fanatical attention to detail.

• Be able to handle a constantly shifting role. We are a small business, where everyone does everything; our agility is our biggest strength. This is a job for someone who doesn’t mind staying on their toes, who can perform under tight time constraints and isn’t afraid to try new things at short notice.

• And cute stuff of course. You need to like cute stuff a lot.

Tell me about the qualifications!

You have a degree in illustration, fine art, comics, design technology, graphics, new media, or some other educational background which shows mastery over visual communication. You have at least 2 years of professional experience in some type of design-related field (this is not an entry-level position). You have an extensive portfolio demonstrating a range of creative illustration and drawing styles and expertise in various artistic tools and technology, including large-scale projects in which you have taken leadership roles. You have opinions and ideas about new ways things can be done, and you’re not afraid to voice them.

What are the must-have skills?

• Expert in various styles of drawing and illustration (both digital and paper)

• Absolute expert in Photoshop

• Social-media savvy

• Demonstrated skill in graphic design for both digital and print

• Basic office technology skills

• Did we mention you need to appreciate cute things? If you go “Awww” at least once a day, this might be the position for you.

What are the nice-to have skills?

• Basic html and web skills, including working with a CMS

• Demonstrated skill in photography

• Experience managing employees or staff

• Experience in the toy design industry nice but very much not required.

How do I apply?

• Send the following to: hireme@squishable.com
• Your cover letter
• Resume
• Link to your online portfolio
• Links to your Tumblr, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, * Facebook, and any other social media platforms you're active on