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Character Designer Jobs in New York (NOW HIRING)

Designer Brands

Designer

Manhattan, NY · On-site

About Designer Brands At Designer Brands, we are the proud parent company of DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, The Shoe Company, and Rubino, operating nearly 675 stores across North America and a billion ...

Amazon

Principal UX Designer , Fauna

New York, NY · On-site

The right candidate thinks in terms of character, emotion, and behavior. They're comfortable ... They've designed systems that evolve over time and build relationships with people. And they're ...

Amazon

Principal UX Designer , Fauna

New York, NY · On-site

The right candidate thinks in terms of character, emotion, and behavior. They're comfortable ... They've designed systems that evolve over time and build relationships with people. And they're ...

Amazon

Principal UX Designer , Fauna

New York, NY

The right candidate thinks in terms of character, emotion, and behavior. They're comfortable ... They've designed systems that evolve over time and build relationships with people. And they're ...

HUSH

Architectural Designer

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

... character. * Develop mood boards, visual narratives, and inspiration frameworks that guide the ... Collaborate with designers, technologists and fabricators to translate conceptual vision into ...

HUSH

Architectural Designer

Brooklyn, NY · On-site

... character. * Develop mood boards, visual narratives, and inspiration frameworks that guide the ... Collaborate with designers, technologists and fabricators to translate conceptual vision into ...

HUSH

Architectural Designer

New York, NY · On-site

... character. * Develop mood boards, visual narratives, and inspiration frameworks that guide the ... Collaborate with designers, technologists and fabricators to translate conceptual vision into ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY

$90K - $115K/yr

Interior Designer New York City | In-Studio S9 Architecture is seeking an Interior Designer with ... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY

$90K - $115K/yr

Interior Designer New York City | In-Studio S9 Architecture is seeking an Interior Designer with ... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ...

S9 ARCHITECTURE

Interior Designer

New York, NY · On-site

$90K - $115K/yr

Interior Designer New York City | In-Studio S9 Architecture is seeking an Interior Designer with ... character * Prepare drawings, diagrams, renderings, finish schedules, and visual materials that ...

EliseAI

Brand Designer

New York, NY · On-site

About the role Designers are pivotal in creating and orchestrating visual elements into cohesive ... character * Drive collaboration with marketing, product, and sales teams to align design work with ...

HUSH

Freelance Architectural Designer

Brooklyn, NY · Remote

... character. * Develop mood boards, visual narratives, and inspiration frameworks that guide the ... Collaborate with designers, technologists and fabricators to translate conceptual vision into ...

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Character Designer information

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How much do character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 3, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in New York is $34.62, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $31.54 and $39.71 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a character designer?

Character designers are artists who create the visual appearance, style, and personality of characters for animation, video games, comics, films, and other media. Their work involves conceptualizing and illustrating characters based on story requirements, often working closely with writers, directors, and animators. Character designers develop everything from facial expressions and costumes to body shapes and color schemes, ensuring each character is visually appealing and communicates the intended traits or emotions.

What does a character designer do?

As a character designer, you create the look and animation of a cartoon character in a film, TV show, or video game. Your responsibilities are to develop physical features, design costumes and clothes, pose characters, and collaborate with team members from concept to production. Your duties include working with mouth charts, expression sheets, shadow and color indications, and marketing artwork. You sketch, draw, illustrate, and animate by hand and through computer software. You also work with different drafts and copies and maintain artwork storage. To be successful in this field, you must be able to balance creativity with the needs and requirements of the project.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a character designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Character Designer, you need strong drawing and illustration skills, a deep understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character development, often supported by a degree in art or design. Proficiency with digital design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite, Procreate, and 3D modeling software like ZBrush is typically required. Creativity, strong communication, and the ability to accept feedback help designers collaborate effectively and bring unique characters to life. These skills are essential to create compelling, visually distinctive characters that resonate with audiences and fit seamlessly within projects.

What are some common challenges character designers face when collaborating with other departments during production?

Character Designers often collaborate closely with animators, modelers, and directors, which can present challenges such as aligning on the visual style, ensuring designs are animation-friendly, and accommodating technical limitations. Balancing creative vision with practical constraints—like simplifying details for animation or adapting designs based on feedback—requires strong communication and flexibility. Successful Character Designers are proactive in seeking input, open to revision, and skilled at translating character concepts into workable assets that serve the story and production pipeline.

What is the difference between Character Designer vs Character Artist?

AspectCharacter DesignerCharacter Artist
Primary FocusCreating original character concepts, designs, and visual stylesRendering and illustrating detailed character artwork based on designs
Skills & ToolsConcept art, illustration, creativity, design software (Photoshop, Illustrator)Digital painting, rendering, shading, software skills (Photoshop, Painter)
Work EnvironmentGame studios, animation, film, advertisingGame studios, animation, film, freelance projects

While both roles involve working with characters, a Character Designer focuses on creating original character concepts and visual styles, whereas a Character Artist specializes in bringing those designs to life through detailed illustrations and rendering. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify career paths and job expectations in the industry.

How to get a job as a character designer?

To become a character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your drawing and conceptual skills, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, freelance work, or art courses can improve your chances, and understanding the specific style or genre of the industry you want to work in is beneficial.

What qualifications do I need to be a character designer?

To become a character designer, a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills and creativity is essential. A background in art, illustration, or animation, often supported by a degree in fine arts or related fields, is common. Proficiency in digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator and understanding of character anatomy and storytelling are also important.
More about Character Designer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Designer jobs in New York?

The most popular types of Character Designer jobs in New York are:

What are popular job titles related to Character Designer jobs in New York?

For Character Designer jobs in New York, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Designer jobs in New York look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Designer jobs in New York are:

What cities in New York are hiring for Character Designer jobs?

Cities in New York with the most Character Designer job openings:

Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer job openings in New York as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 95% Full Time, and 5% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $72,006 per year, or $34.6 per hour.

Senior Designer - Boys Character License Apparel

HIS LLC

Manhattan, NY • On-site

$112K - $120K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 8 days ago

Job description

Company Description

We are a leading children's sportswear company doing business in licensed and private label with ALL major retailers across the USA.

Salary Range: 125k – 165k

Job Description
  • Develop boys licensed apparel, ensuring design innovation and trend alignment.
  • Oversee associate designers and collaborate with graphic designers to execute seasonal projects.
  • Organize and track project timelines, keeping all tasks on schedule and meeting deadlines.
  • Collaborate with Sales to plan and strategize throughout the season to meet market demands.
  • Conduct market research to discover the latest trends and introduce fresh, new ideas.
  • Identify market gaps and brainstorm innovative, trend-driven designs that resonate with the target audience.
  • Partner with the licensing team to select key licenses for each season’s design focus.
  • Secure licensor approvals on all designs before production begins.
  • Lead fittings and facilitate transition meetings with product development (PD) and technical teams.
  • Work with the costing team to ensure all designs are budget-friendly and cost-effective.
  • Review technical packs for sampling and production accuracy.
  • Approve lab dips, strike-offs, and fabric qualities, ensuring all samples meet quality standards.
Qualifications
  • A minimum of 5 years' experience as a Senior Designer.
  • Proficient in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with strong sketching skills.
  • Must have experience designing kids' apparel.
  • Licensed apparel experience (e.g., Disney, Nickelodeon) is preferred but not required.
  • Must be located in NYC or open to relocating, as this is an on-site position.

Additional Information

All candidate information is confidential as according to EEO guidelines. 

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