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Narrative Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

... Designer to join the team behind an award-winning digital entertainment brand with more than 50 ... Our content is a mix of family-friendly challenges, competitions, transformations, and narrative ...

Keynote Designer IV

Cupertino, CA · On-site

$60 - $65/hr

Position: Keynote.Designer IV Location: Cupertino, California (Hybrid) Duration: 06+ months ... Responsibilities: * Assist with layout, design, and narrative support in Keynote presentations.

Lead Open World Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$150K - $175K/yr

Work closely with the narrative team to develop ideas for new content. * Develop and execute the ... Rally designers, engineers, animators, artists, and external co-dev partners to deliver playable ...

Lead Open World Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site +1

$150K - $175K/yr

Work closely with the narrative team to develop ideas for new content. * Develop and execute the ... Rally designers, engineers, animators, artists, and external co-dev partners to deliver playable ...

Role Description The Intermediate Designer is a full-time position. The role involves developing ... narrative. The role also requires effective communication with the internal team, attention to ...

Mission Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site

$100K - $115K/yr

Summary We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in ... Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. Plus If... * Experience building game ...

Mission Designer

Santa Monica, CA · On-site +1

$100K - $115K/yr

Summary We are seeking a Mission Designer to create highly memorable missions that combine best-in ... Strong understanding of storytelling and narrative design. Plus If... * Experience building game ...

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment • Responsible for developing the foundational ...

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment * Responsible for developing the foundational ...

The Senior Visual Designer is responsible for creating cohesive, high-quality creative through ... Brand Narrative Development & Creative Alignment Responsible for developing the foundational "Brand ...

Showing results 21-40

Narrative Designer information

See California salary details

$35K

$82.1K

$108.6K

How much do narrative designer jobs pay per year?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average yearly pay for narrative designer in California is $82,059.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $57,200.00 and $107,600.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a narrative designer?

A Narrative Designer is responsible for shaping the story, dialogue, and overall storytelling experience in a game. They collaborate with writers, game designers, and other developers to ensure that narrative elements integrate seamlessly with gameplay. Unlike traditional writers, they focus on how story interacts with mechanics, level design, and player choices. Their work involves character development, world-building, and ensuring consistency in the game's narrative structure.

What skills and qualifications are needed to thrive as a narrative designer?

To thrive as a Narrative Designer, you need a strong background in creative writing, storytelling, and an understanding of narrative techniques, often supported by a degree in writing, game design, or a related field. Familiarity with interactive scripting tools, branching dialogue systems, and game engines such as Unity or Unreal Engine is typically required. Collaboration, adaptability, and excellent communication skills are vital for working with multidisciplinary teams and incorporating feedback. These skills ensure the creation of compelling, player-centric narratives and smooth integration of story elements within interactive media.

What are common collaborative responsibilities for a narrative designer within a game development team?

Narrative Designers regularly work alongside game designers, artists, and programmers to ensure that story elements align with gameplay mechanics and visual storytelling. They often participate in brainstorming sessions, review narrative implementation in-game, and revise scripts based on team feedback. Effective cross-department collaboration is key, as the narrative must support and enhance the overall player experience while fitting technical and design limitations. This collaborative environment requires strong communication and a willingness to iterate on ideas based on input from various team members.

How much are narrative designers paid?

Narrative designers typically earn between $50,000 and $100,000 annually, depending on experience, location, and the complexity of projects. Senior or specialized narrative designers with industry experience can earn higher salaries, often exceeding $100,000. Compensation may also include benefits such as bonuses, royalties, or profit sharing, especially in larger studios or successful projects.

How to get into narrative designer?

To become a narrative designer, develop strong storytelling skills, a background in writing or game design, and proficiency with tools like Twine or Ink. Building a portfolio of writing samples and gaining experience through internships or indie projects can also help entry into the field.

What are the most commonly searched types of Narrative Designer jobs in California?

The most popular types of Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What job categories do people searching Narrative Designer jobs in California look for?

The top searched job categories for Narrative Designer jobs in California are:

What cities in California are hiring for Narrative Designer jobs?

Cities in California with the most Narrative Designer job openings:

Infographic showing various Narrative Designer job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 87% Full Time, and 13% Part Time. Highlights an 65% In-person, and 35% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $82,059 per year, or $39.5 per hour.

Production Designer

YZ Productions

Los Angeles, CA • On-site

Other

Posted 12 days ago


Job description

Driver’s License and reliable transportation REQUIRED

Prior Digital Media experience STRONGLY PREFERRED

Prior YouTube experience STRONGLY PREFERRED


ABOUT THE ROLE

We are looking for an enthusiastic, creative, and highly resourceful Production Designer to join the team behind an award-winning digital entertainment brand with more than 50 million subscribers across three channels.


Our content is a mix of family-friendly challenges, competitions, transformations, and narrative-driven videos. You will work closely with our creative and production teams to help create some of the highest-performing YouTube content in the world.


This is a very hands-on position. We’re looking for someone who can take an idea from a creative meeting and figure out how to actually make it happen — whether that means designing a set, sourcing props, dressing a location, making a Home Depot run, finding a fabricator, or solving a problem on set.

No two weeks look exactly the same.


DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Production Design

  • Turn creative concepts and scripts into sets, environments, props, and practical elements for our videos.
  • Design and set-dress locations for challenge and narrative-driven productions.
  • Work closely with the Creative Director, Producers, and production team to determine what is needed for each shoot.
  • Help determine the visual look and feel of sets while keeping YouTube pacing and camera framing in mind.
  • Make sure sets are fully dressed and camera-ready before filming begins.


Props & Costumes

  • Pull, source, purchase, rent, or build props needed for upcoming videos.
  • Source costumes and wardrobe pieces when required for specific concepts.
  • Manage returns following productions.
  • Maintain and organize existing props, costumes, furniture, and reusable production assets.
  • Look for opportunities to reuse or repurpose existing materials before purchasing new items.


Art Department Production

  • Handle art department production runs and last-minute sourcing when necessary.
  • Coordinate with vendors, prop houses, rental companies, fabricators, and other outside resources.
  • Help manage builds and installations for larger production concepts.
  • Troubleshoot problems quickly when creative concepts change or unexpected issues arise.


Crew & Shoot Support

  • Source and coordinate Production Assistants and additional art department support as needed for weekly productions.
  • Make sure the appropriate crew is scheduled based on the size and complexity of each shoot.
  • Oversee setup, set dressing, resets, and strike.
  • Keep the art department organized and running efficiently throughout production.


Budget & Organization

  • Work within approved art department budgets for each video.
  • Track purchases, rentals, returns, and production expenses.
  • Keep production spaces, props, materials, and inventory organized.
  • Maintain relationships with reliable vendors and production resources.
  • Help build systems that allow the department to prepare for multiple videos at the same time.


WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

We’re looking for someone who is:

  • Creative and visually driven
  • Extremely resourceful and a strong problem solver
  • Comfortable working under fast production timelines
  • Highly organized
  • Able to manage multiple upcoming shoots simultaneously
  • Comfortable sourcing, shopping, building, organizing, and being physically present on set
  • Able to communicate clearly with creative and production teams
  • Comfortable managing PAs, freelancers, vendors, and outside resources
  • Excited about YouTube and digital-first entertainment
  • Interested in growing with the company and taking on more responsibility over time


EXPERIENCE

  • Previous production design, art department, set dressing, or similar production experience preferred
  • Digital media experience strongly preferred
  • YouTube production experience strongly preferred
  • Experience with fast-paced unscripted, competition, challenge, or narrative content is a plus
  • Experience sourcing props, set pieces, costumes, materials, and vendors
  • Experience managing production assistants or small art department teams is a plus


REQUIREMENTS

  • Valid Driver’s License
  • Reliable transportation
  • Ability to work in-person in the Northridge/Los Angeles area
  • Ability to travel locally for production runs, sourcing, and shoots
  • Flexibility with production schedules and shoot days
  • Comfortable working in a fast-moving environment where priorities can change quickly


THE RIGHT PERSON

This isn't a position for someone who wants to sit behind a desk and only design.

We want someone who can hear:

“We need to turn this room into a secret underground bunker by Friday.”

…and immediately start figuring out how we're going to pull it off.

If you're creative, organized, resourceful, and excited by the challenge of making ambitious ideas happen quickly, we'd love to hear from you.