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Character Designer Jobs in Portland, OR (NOW HIRING)

ShelfGenie of Portland

Copia - Designer

Portland, OR · On-site

Lo que ofrecemos: * Perfecto trabajo de medio tiempo!! * Posibilidad de crear su propio horario - ¡FLEXIBILIDAD! * Formación completa y certificación a través de nuestra Universidad online

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 ...

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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 Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for character designer in Portland, OR is $33.56, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $30.58 and $38.51 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 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 95% Full Time, and 5% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $69,799 per year, or $33.6 per hour.

Senior Architectural Designer

Ankrom Moisan Architects

Portland, OR • On-site

$70 - $90/hr

Other

Re-posted 10 days ago

Job description

Job Description

We offer an energetic team of designers, upbeat work environment, as well as a competitive compensation and benefit package. This position requires a Senior Designer to join our Portland team. The role will be full-time and may require occasional overtime.

Responsibilities:

  • Architectural design talent and an easygoing, collaborative personality
  • Demonstrated understanding of guiding, directing, and inspiring the efforts of other team members in the creation of great buildings and spaces
  • Experience creating and developing project feasibility studies along with proficiency in zoning codes and city design guidelines
  • Exceptional public presentation ability, including client and public board meetings – including Design Review, Landmark and University Boards
  • Ability to lead design charrettes and group investigations into design options
  • Demonstrated collaboration and proven ability to excel in a team environment
  • Graphic skills that provide compelling imagery to accompany design presentations including AutoDesk, Revit, SketchUp, and the Adobe Creative Suite
Qualifications

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Minimum of 10 years of design experience
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture
  • Experience in presenting design to clients
  • Advanced digital skill set, including Revit and SketchUp
Additional Information

Benefits include design shares, pinups, educational and volunteer opportunities, monthly office design events, bike storage, Tri‑Met Passes, unlimited coffee, and occasional treats.

Legal Requirement

AMA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

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