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Summer 2D Character Design Jobs in Appleton, WI (NOW HIRING)

Summer 2D Character Design information

See Appleton, WI salary details

$13

$29

$45

How much do summer 2d character design jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for summer 2d character design in Appleton, WI is $29.24, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $23.46 and $32.84 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges faced by Summer 2D character designers, and how can they be overcome?

Summer 2D Character Designers often face tight project deadlines and the need to quickly adapt to different artistic styles, especially when working on collaborative projects like summer animation workshops or game jams. Communication with other team members, such as animators and art directors, is essential to ensure character designs are both visually appealing and functional for animation. Staying organized, accepting constructive feedback, and maintaining a robust portfolio of work created during the summer can help overcome these challenges and set you up for future opportunities in character design.

What is the difference between Summer 2D Character Design vs 2D Character Animator?

AspectSummer 2D Character Design2D Character Animator
Required SkillsConcept art, character sketches, design softwareAnimation techniques, rigging, motion software
Work EnvironmentDesign studios, freelance projects, gaming and animation companiesAnimation studios, gaming companies, post-production houses
Common CertificationsDigital art, illustration, design coursesAnimation, motion graphics certifications

Summer 2D Character Design focuses on creating the visual concepts and character designs, while 2D Character Animator brings those designs to life through movement and animation. Both roles often collaborate but require different skill sets and tools, making them distinct yet complementary positions in the animation and gaming industries.

What is a Summer 2D character designer?

Summer 2D Character Designers are artists who create and develop character concepts and illustrations, typically for projects or internships that take place during the summer months. Their work is essential in fields such as animation, video games, comics, and advertising, where visually appealing and original characters are needed. These designers use traditional drawing techniques or digital tools to bring characters to life, often collaborating with other creatives like writers and animators. Summer positions may be geared toward students or emerging artists seeking hands-on experience and portfolio development during a limited timeframe.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Summer 2D character designer?

To thrive as a Summer 2D Character Designer, you need strong drawing skills, a solid understanding of anatomy, color theory, and character development, often supported by a degree or coursework in art or design. Familiarity with digital illustration tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and drawing tablets is typically required. Creativity, attention to detail, and the ability to take feedback make someone stand out in this position. These skills ensure the creation of engaging, visually consistent characters that align with project goals and captivate audiences.
What job categories do people searching Summer 2D Character Design jobs in Appleton, WI look for? The top searched job categories for Summer 2D Character Design jobs in Appleton, WI are:
What cities near Appleton, WI are hiring for Summer 2D Character Design jobs? Cities near Appleton, WI with the most Summer 2D Character Design job openings:
Infographic showing various Summer 2D Character Design job openings in Appleton, WI as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% Internship, 86% Full Time, 9% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 88% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,809 per year, or $29.2 per hour.

$80K - $85K/yr

Full-time

Re-posted 3 days ago


Trilliant Food & Nutrition rating

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 5 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

325th of 435 rated food and drinks producers


Job description

Description
About Us:
Trilliant Food & Nutrition is a leading, vertically integrated manufacturer of premium coffees and powdered beverages, proudly headquartered in Little Chute, Wisconsin. With a legacy rooted in quality, innovation, and service, Trilliant delivers branded and private label solutions across retail, foodservice, and e-commerce channels.
Horseshoe Beverage Company, based in Neenah, WI, is a leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturer dedicated to delivering an exceptional beverage experience. By combining industry-leading talent, cutting-edge equipment, and a vertically integrated supply chain, we drive innovation and consistently deliver the highest quality products to our customers-first and fast.
Our brand portfolio includes Victor Allen's®, Dutch Bros® beverages and Nurri™, our better-for-you protein beverage line. We are passionate about beverages - and about building a team that's just as energized. We invite you to explore opportunities at Trilliant or Horseshoe, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings.
Our Core Values:
Position Overview:
The multimedia designer is a key creative position that will support bringing our brands to life through motion, scenes and stills while blending creative storytelling with precision. This role combines expertise in visual design, animation, and video production with strong project coordination skills. You'll work closely with the brand designers, art director and creative director to produce brand assets, event media, marketing collateral and other internal support materials - ensuring all creative work aligns with the brand standards and tells a compelling story.
Responsibilities:
  • Lead the development of multimedia storytelling across video, motion and graphic design
  • Design and produce high-quality images, animations, motion graphics and videos
  • Draw and develop 2D character animation videos
  • Concept, shoot and edit video content that elevates brand narratives
  • Develop high-quality static visuals and video assets optimized for ecommerce merchandising (Amazon, Walmart, Target and others)
  • Partner with brand teams/senior creatives to build out motion or animation content plans to elevate consumers experience across all touch points
  • Partner with senior creatives on defining motion into brand identity systems for our brands
  • Stay current with industry trends and integrate new design techniques and technologies into your work and help elevate efficiencies, processes and output across the creative team
  • Ensure all digital creative is platform-compliant and meets retailer specs and best practices
  • Work within fast-paced timelines and consistently deliver against deadlines
  • Contribute to concepting sessions and help translate strategy into visual ideas
  • Lead and maintain the organization's digital asset management system by ensuring content stays up-to-date, labeled appropriately and accessible to cross-functional teams

Qualifications:
  • A Bachelor's degree or associate's degree in Graphic Design, Graphic Communications or Multimedia Design is preferred
  • 3+ years of multimedia-design experience is required - agency experience a plus
  • Experience with motion graphics and short-form video editing
  • Experience producing multimedia content across multiple formats and platforms
  • Knowledge in building out 3D environments or renders a plus
  • Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, specifically Premier, After Effects (or similar)
  • Impressive portfolio, demonstrating 2D design, motion graphics, animation and small-scale video
  • Ability to communicate design rationale effectively and present work to stakeholders at all levels
  • Passion for continuous learning, experimenting and learning new technology and tools
  • A continuously curious mind, with eagerness to always progress, challenge and innovate
  • Knowledge in generative AI is a plus

Hours, Location and Pay:
We offer a competitive base pay rate and comprehensive benefits package for full-time employees. This role works standard business hours Monday - Friday at our Little Chute, WI facility.
Physical and Mental Demands:
  • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, hear, use hands to type data, use a personal computer and telephone. This employee may occasionally have to operate business machines and lift and/move up to 50 pounds.
  • Specific vision abilities required in this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
  • Mental demands include multi-tasking, decision making, problem solving, comparing, copying, computing, compiling, analyzing, coordinating, and synthesizing data.
  • Potential for exposure to chemicals, heights, loud noises, mechanical equipment, wet environments, and other potential hazards exists.

Safety Statement:
At Trilliant and Horseshoe, safety is every employee's first responsibility. We expect all employees to adhere to all safety practices, have the moral courage to stop other individuals from performing unsafe acts, and immediately report unsafe conditions.
Disclosures:
  • The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All personnel may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
  • Responsible for following food safety/regulatory policies and procedures, executing responsibilities as identified in standard operating procedures, and reporting food safety/regulatory concerns to the Production or Quality Manager.
  • Trilliant Food & Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage Company are Drug Free Workplaces. All applicants are subject to a drug screen and background check as a condition of employment.
  • Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage participate in the E-Verify process.
  • EEO/AA including Vets and Disabled
  • If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at HR@trilliantfood.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
  • Trilliant Food and Nutrition and Horseshoe Beverage are Equal Opportunity Employers.
  • The principles of the OECD and UN have been taken into consideration and used as guidance in our human rights practices and procedures.

What Trilliant Food & Nutrition employees say

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