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Internship Visual Development Artist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$136.80K - $157.30K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain ... Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development * Familiarity with what makes ...

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA

$136.80K - $157.30K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain ... Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development * Familiarity with what makes ...

The Art Consultant assists with the development of technical handouts, instructional materials, and demos in both group and individualized formats, of all course content in the area of visual arts as ...

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA ยท On-site

$136.80K - $157.30K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist -- the creative brain ... Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development * Familiarity with what makes ...

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Los Angeles, CA

$136.80K - $157.30K/yr

THE ROLE We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist -- the creative brain ... Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development * Familiarity with what makes ...

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Internship Visual Development Artist information

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How much do internship visual development artist jobs pay per hour?

As of May 28, 2026, the average hourly pay for internship visual development artist in the United States is $16.33, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $19.23 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an Internship Visual Development Artist, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Internship Visual Development Artist, you need a strong foundation in drawing, composition, color theory, and an understanding of visual storytelling, often demonstrated through a portfolio and relevant art education. Familiarity with digital painting tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Painter, or Procreate is typically expected. Creativity, openness to feedback, and strong collaboration skills help you stand out in team-based creative environments. These skills are crucial for effectively contributing to the visual style of projects and adapting to the fast-paced demands of animation or game development studios.

What types of projects and collaborations can an Internship Visual Development Artist expect during their internship?

As an Internship Visual Development Artist, you will typically work on a variety of projects, ranging from concept art for characters and environments to mood boards and color scripts for upcoming productions. Interns often collaborate closely with art directors, storyboard artists, and 3D modelers, participating in team meetings and creative reviews. This collaborative environment helps interns gain insight into the full animation pipeline and develop strong communication skills. It's common to receive mentorship and constructive feedback, which supports both technical growth and creative development throughout the internship.

What is an Internship Visual Development Artist?

An Internship Visual Development Artist is a student or recent graduate who assists in creating the look and feel of animated films, games, or other visual media. They work under the guidance of senior artists to develop concept art, color scripts, environments, characters, and props that define the project's artistic direction. The internship provides hands-on experience in a professional studio setting, allowing interns to build their portfolios and learn industry-standard tools and workflows.

What is the difference between Internship Visual Development Artist vs Visual Development Artist?

AspectInternship Visual Development ArtistVisual Development Artist
CredentialsTypically enrolled in or recently graduated from relevant art or design programsProfessional degree or equivalent experience in art, illustration, or design
Work EnvironmentInternship programs, entry-level projects, supervised tasksFull-time employment, independent project work, collaborative teams
Industry UsageUsed by studios for training and talent scoutingEstablished role in animation, gaming, film industries
Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding entry-level opportunities and training rolesSeeking professional roles and career progression

The main difference between an Internship Visual Development Artist and a Visual Development Artist is experience and responsibility. Internships are designed for students or recent graduates gaining industry exposure, often with supervised tasks. Full-time Visual Development Artists are experienced professionals responsible for creating concept art, character designs, and environment visuals independently within a collaborative team environment.

More about Internship Visual Development Artist jobs
What cities are hiring for Internship Visual Development Artist jobs? Cities with the most Internship Visual Development Artist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Visual Development Artist jobs? The most popular types of Visual Development Artist jobs are:
What states have the most Internship Visual Development Artist jobs? States with the most job openings for Internship Visual Development Artist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Internship Visual Development Artist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Internship Visual Development Artist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Internship Visual Development Artist job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 20% Internship, 50% Full Time, 20% Part Time, and 10% Temporary. Highlights an 70% In-person, 10% Hybrid, and 20% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $33,957 per year, or $16.3 per hour.

Airrack Thumbnail Concept Artist

Airrack

Los Angeles, CA โ€ข On-site

$136.80K - $157.30K/yr

Full-time

Posted 15 days ago


Job description

ABOUT AIRRACK
Airrack is a tight-knit team that pulls off ambitious, innovative YouTube videos that get millions of views. We're creative, gritty, and passionate about making content no one else dares to. We work hard, have a great time doing it, and we're always pushing to see how far digital storytelling can go.
THE ROLE
We're looking for a world-class freelance Thumbnail Concept Artist - the creative brain that comes before the design software ever opens. You take a video title or a raw idea and engineer a concept that stops the scroll: sketched out, psychologically intentional, and handed off to the designer with a complete production blueprint - lighting setup, camera angles, facial expressions, wardrobe, props, color direction, everything.
You don't just make things look good. You know why things get clicked. You understand the human brain, creator culture, and the visual grammar of YouTube at a deep level - and you use all of it to build concepts that convert.
HOW TO APPLY
Watch this video to learn more: https://youtu.be/xuUfLoBiOeM
Requirements
Requirements
  • Concept and sketch multiple thumbnail ideas per video from a title or brief alone
  • Generate high volumes of variations quickly and kill weak ideas fast
  • Provide complete production direction to photographers and designers: lighting, camera angles, expressions, wardrobe, props, color, and framing
  • Collaborate with the creative director and editors to understand the emotional core of each video before concepting
  • Study top-performing thumbnails across YouTube consistently - understanding what drives CTR and why
  • Take intense, direct feedback without ego and turn revisions around fast
  • Bring new ideas proactively and push the team's creative vision forward

What We're Looking For
  • A portfolio that shows your concepting process - sketches, wireframes, mood boards, and variations, not just final designs
  • Deep knowledge of what's performing on YouTube right now and why
  • Experience concepting thumbnails for high-performing channels, ideally in lifestyle, challenge, prank, or viral content
  • Ability to generate a high volume of ideas fast and cut to the best ones ruthlessly
  • Thick skin - direct feedback is the norm here and you use it to get better
  • Obsessive passion for YouTube, creator culture, and the craft of the thumbnail specifically
  • Background in art direction, photography, or storyboarding is a strong plus

Preferred Qualifications
  • Experience concepting thumbnails for high-performing YouTube channels (lifestyle, challenge, prank, or viral content preferred)
  • Background in art direction, storyboarding, or visual development
  • Familiarity with what makes thumbnails perform across different audience segments and video formats
  • Ability to reference and analyze competitor thumbnails and extract strategic insight

Benefits
Compensation: This is a project based position which pays a base fee per project as well as performance bonuses
Why Join Us?
  • Be part of a groundbreaking team creating content that millions of viewers love.
  • Opportunity to lead and innovate in a highly competitive digital media space.