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Remote Prop Designer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

TrueShort

Reference Designer

Los Angeles, CA · On-site +1

Reference Designer About TrueShort TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the ... remote) To Apply Please send: * Portfolio or relevant work samples * Examples of character, prop ...

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Remote Prop Designer information

What are Remote Prop Designers?

Remote Prop Designers are creative professionals who design props for film, television, animation, theater, or video games while working from a location outside of the traditional studio or production environment. Their responsibilities include conceptualizing, illustrating, and drafting detailed designs of props that help bring stories and scenes to life. By working remotely, they collaborate with directors, production designers, and other team members using digital tools and communication platforms. This role requires strong artistic skills, attention to detail, and the ability to adapt designs based on feedback. Remote Prop Designers often use specialized software to create digital models or illustrations of their prop concepts.

How does a remote prop designer typically collaborate with art directors and animators during a project?

As a remote prop designer, you’ll frequently collaborate with art directors and animators through digital tools such as Slack, Zoom, and project management platforms like ShotGrid. Communication is key: you’ll join regular video meetings to review feedback, discuss design iterations, and ensure your props align with the overall visual style of the production. Sharing work-in-progress files and responding promptly to notes helps keep the creative process smooth. Despite working remotely, you’ll be part of a close-knit creative team, and proactive communication is essential for successful collaboration.

What is the difference between Remote Prop Designer vs Remote Set Designer?

AspectRemote Prop DesignerRemote Set Designer
CredentialsDesign certifications, art or design degreesDesign degrees, set construction experience
Work EnvironmentCollaborates with production teams, often in studios or remotelyWorks on physical or digital set layouts, often remotely or on location
Industry UsageFilm, TV, theater, gamingFilm, TV, theater, event production

Remote Prop Designers focus on creating detailed props for productions, while Remote Set Designers develop the overall environment or background. Both roles require creative skills and industry-specific knowledge, but they differ in scope and focus. Understanding these differences helps professionals choose the right career path or job search focus.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Remote Prop Designer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Remote Prop Designer, you need strong skills in visual design, drawing, and 3D modeling, typically supported by a background in fine arts, animation, or industrial design. Familiarity with industry-standard software like Adobe Creative Suite, Blender, or Maya, as well as proficiency in digital collaboration tools, is essential. Attention to detail, creativity, and effective communication are vital soft skills for interpreting briefs and collaborating with remote teams. These abilities ensure the delivery of visually compelling and functional props that align with project goals and facilitate seamless teamwork across distances.
What are the most commonly searched types of Prop Designer jobs in California? The most popular types of Prop Designer jobs in California are:
What are popular job titles related to Remote Prop Designer jobs in California? For Remote Prop Designer jobs in California, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Remote Prop Designer jobs in California look for? The top searched job categories for Remote Prop Designer jobs in California are:
What cities in California are hiring for Remote Prop Designer jobs? Cities in California with the most Remote Prop Designer job openings:
Remote Prop Designer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Remote Prop Designer job openings in California as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Locum Tenens, 84% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 1% Temporary, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 6% Hybrid, and 6% Remote job distribution.

Reference Designer

TrueShort

Los Angeles, CA • On-site, Remote

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Reference Designer
About TrueShort
TrueShort is one of the fastest-growing streaming apps in the United States. An AI studio and streaming platform where we experiment, develop and release original series and films constantly. No development purgatory.
Built for mobile-first viewing, TrueShort delivers premium, bingeable storytelling across an expanding slate of genres, reimagining how modern audiences discover and experience great stories.
Our team is experimenting at the frontier of AI-powered entertainment production across animation, live action, and emerging storytelling formats.
Backed by Jeffrey Katzenberg (Founder of DreamWorks), Scott Belsky, Ravi Nandan (A24), Khosla Ventures, and others.
Role Overview
We're looking for Reference Designers to help develop the visual foundation of original series and films across a wide range of genres and formats.
Reference Designers are responsible for creating the core visual assets that guide production across each series, including character references, environments, props, color direction, and visual worldbuilding materials. Your work will help establish consistency and creative clarity for AI filmmakers, editors, and showrunners throughout production.
This role sits at the intersection of concept design, visual development, and AI-native production workflows. We're looking for artists with strong visual taste, storytelling instincts, and an understanding of how to design assets that translate effectively into AI generation pipelines.
Responsibilities
  • Design character reference sheets, props, environments, and worldbuilding assets
  • Develop cohesive visual identities and style direction for original series
  • Collaborate closely with Showrunners, writers, and AI filmmakers during development and production
  • Create organized reference packs that help maintain consistency across episodes
  • Iterate quickly based on creative feedback and evolving production needs
  • Help establish visual rules, tone, color language, and design continuity for each project
  • Prepare assets and references optimized for AI image and video generation workflows
  • Contribute to the overall creative development of new series and worlds

Preferred Skills & Experience
  • Strong background in character design, concept art, production design, or visual development
  • Strong eye for composition, color, silhouette, shape language, and visual storytelling
  • Experience with AI image-generation tools (Midjourney, Nano Banana, Seedream, Flux, etc.)
  • Familiarity with AI video-generation workflows is a plus (Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway, etc.)
  • Comfortable working across multiple visual styles and genres
  • Ability to create clear, production-ready visual reference materials
  • Familiarity with Photoshop or other visual editing/compositing tools
  • Passion for animation, filmmaking, internet culture, and emerging creative technology

Compensation & Details
  • Contract Role
  • Potential for long-term employment or full-time role
  • $300 - $800 per series
  • Los Angeles preferred (open to remote)

To Apply
Please send:
  • Portfolio or relevant work samples
  • Examples of character, prop, or environment design work
  • Optional: links to any animation, film, game, or visual development projects
  • A brief overview of your workflow and preferred creative tools

Apply