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Character Designer Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

Deckers

Sr. Designer - HOKA Lifestyle Footwear

Portland, OR · Hybrid

$108K - $115K/yr

Job Title: Sr. Designer - HOKA Lifestyle Footwear Reports to: Senior Design Manager - HOKA Lifestyle Footwear Location: Portland, OR(Hybrid) Typically 3 times per week in office, Tuesday - Thursday ...

adidas

Senior Apparel Graphics Designer - MLS

Portland, OR

$108K - $115K/yr

CALL TO ACTION We are looking for Designers to create the next generation of MLS uniforms. Candidates must have a passion for Football and the ability to research and tell stories through large ...

Adidas

Senior Apparel Graphics Designer - MLS

Portland, OR · On-site

$108K - $115K/yr

CALL TO ACTION We are looking for Designers to create the next generation of MLS uniforms. Candidates must have a passion for Football and the ability to research and tell stories through large ...

Columbia

Sr. Men's Designer PFG/PHG

Portland, OR

$108K - $115K/yr

ABOUT THE POSITION The Sr. Men's Designer PFG/PHG plays a key role in shaping innovative, function-driven apparel that connects with fishing and hunting consumers and advances the brand's design ...

Varsity Tutors

Mandarin Chinese 1 Tutor

Portland, OR · Remote

$18 - $40/hr

Ability to explain tonal distinctions, character stroke order, basic sentence structure, and ... Our platform is designed to match students with the right tutors, fostering better outcomes and a ...

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All JobsCharacter Designer JobsCharacter Designer Jobs in Portland, OR

Character Designer information

See Portland, OR salary details

$20

$33

$50

How much do character designer jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in Portland, OR is $33.50, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.53 and $38.41 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

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 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 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.

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.

How to work on character design?

To work on character design, develop strong drawing skills and a good understanding of anatomy, proportion, and color theory. Use digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, and create a diverse portfolio showcasing original characters. Gaining experience through practice, studying existing designs, and understanding the project's style are essential for success in this field.

How to get a job as a character designer?

To become a character designer, build a strong portfolio showcasing your artistic skills and character concepts, often using digital tools like Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator. Gaining experience through internships, freelance work, or art schools can improve your chances, and understanding character anatomy, storytelling, and industry trends is essential.

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 qualifications do I need to be a character designer?

To become a character designer, a strong portfolio demonstrating artistic skills and creativity is essential, often supported by a background in fine arts, illustration, or animation. Proficiency in digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or specialized software like Toon Boom is also important, along with good understanding of anatomy, storytelling, and character development. A bachelor's degree in art, design, or a related field is commonly preferred by employers.
More about Character Designer jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR?

The most popular types of Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR are:

What are popular job titles related to Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR?

For Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR look for?

The top searched job categories for Character Designer jobs in Portland, OR are:

What cities near Portland, OR are hiring for Character Designer jobs?

Cities near Portland, OR with the most Character Designer job openings:

Character Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Character Designer job openings in Portland, OR as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 88% Full Time, 6% Part Time, and 6% Temporary. Highlights an 81% In-person, 6% Hybrid, and 13% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,671 per year, or $33.5 per hour.

Expert Designer, Energy - HOKA Footwear

Deckers Brands

Portland, OR • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 6 days ago

Deckers Brands rating

8.9

Company rating: 8.9 out of 10

Based on 27 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

5th of 62 rated fashion and textile manufacturers

Job description

At Deckers Brands, Together, Every Step is a promise kept that every employee can bring their authentic self, is valued and supported, as a whole person, at work and beyond. Together, Every Step is how we continue to deliver exceptional business results, experience an amazing place to work, and have a positive impact on the communities and world around us.
Job Title: Expert Designer, Energy - HOKA Footwear
Reports to: Director, Design, Lifestyle - HOKA Footwear
Location: Portland, OR - Hybrid
The Role
As the Expert Designer - Energy Footwear at HOKA, you will be a creative force, leading the design of innovative, future-facing performance and lifestyle footwear. You'll drive collaborations, shape brand-defining stories, and elevate HOKA's presence in the marketplace. Your entrepreneurial spirit and independent mindset will connect people, ideas, and processes, bringing clarity and momentum from concept to final product. You'll be at the forefront of bold, disruptive design, amplifying creativity and unlocking new dimensions of innovation.
We celebrate diversity--of your background, your experiences and your unique identity. We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and equitable workplace where all of our employees can Come as They Are. We believe that when we bring our different perspectives to work, we are truly Better Together.
Your Impact
  • Lead design of Energy category priority projects, including high-profile collaborations and brand-first stories
  • Manage the transition from Energy to Inline, delivering strategic design paths from pinnacle incubation to commercial scale
  • Contribute to design strategy, category constructs, and HOKA's creative vision
  • Design forward-thinking performance and lifestyle footwear that blends fashion, function, and HOKA's design DNA
  • Translate external partner input, brand priorities, and consumer insights into compelling concepts and product solutions
  • Explore new materials, constructions, and aesthetics to bring meaningful newness to footwear
  • Create inspiring, memorable design stories and develop accurate illustrations, 2D drawings, renderings, and tech packs
  • Act as a role model and mentor for junior designers, guiding project execution and cross-functional collaboration
  • Lead product franchise vision and manage execution across multiple designers
  • Set style and color direction for projects and categories, contributing to seasonal inspiration and presenting key insights internally and externally
  • Work closely with cross-functional teams to achieve bold goals and mentor the design team in consumer understanding
  • Attend seasonal kickoffs, design travel, and assist in travel/inspiration planning

Who You Are
  • Hold a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Industrial Design, Product Design, Interaction Design, or a related field
  • Bring 8+ years of experience in footwear design
  • Possess advanced understanding of footwear material, construction, and process (Tooling + Upper)
  • Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, PowerPoint, Miro or Lucid
  • Demonstrate expertise in leading generative AI platforms (e.g., Midjourney, Vizcom, etc.)
  • Exhibit strong leadership and communication skills, with a track record of building and mentoring creative environments
  • Have a portfolio showcasing both creative excellence and technical innovation in digital design

What We'll Give You -
  • Competitive Pay and Bonuses - We've created a variety of competitive compensation programs to foster career development, reward success and to show our employees just how much they're valued.
  • Financial Planning and wellbeing - No matter what financial goals our employees have set, we want to help them get there. Our plans provide powerful ways to protect income, pay for expenses and invest in the future.
  • Time away from work - Sometimes we need time away to be with family, focus on our health or just simply recharge. Our plans support our employees' needs to get out, get healthy and come back stronger than ever.
  • Extras, discounts and perks - Being a valued member of the Deckers Brands team means more than just a paycheck. From generous discounts to community-based programs, we offer a variety of cool extras
  • Growth and Development - Deckers Brands was built on the idea of pursuing passion. That's why we offer extensive opportunities and support for personal and professional development.
  • Health and Wellness - There's nothing basic about our comprehensive health and wellness programs and offerings. While at work and at play, we aim to support a healthy lifestyle.

Individual pay will be determined by location and additional factors, including job related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your preferred location during the hiring process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Diversity and inclusion are key to our success. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and our employees are people with different strengths, experiences and backgrounds who share a passion for our brands. We welcome qualified applicants regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, military or veteran status, mental or physical disability, medical condition and all the other beautiful parts of your identity.

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