Visual Designer

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Visual Designer

Company: TrueShort

Location: California, United States

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Creative & Design Operations

Date Posted: 2026-09-14

Experience Level: Mid-Level (2-5 years)

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Establish the visual foundation and aesthetic direction for original animated series by creating core design assets.

• Develop and maintain consistent visual languages across AI-native production workflows, ensuring cohesive character, prop, and environment designs.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams, including AI filmmakers, animators, showrunners, and writers, to translate creative concepts into clear visual references.

• Prepare and optimize visual assets for AI image and video-generation workflows, leveraging cutting-edge creative technology.

• Iterate rapidly on designs based on feedback and evolving production needs, demonstrating adaptability across diverse animation styles and genres.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title is "Visual Designer," the responsibilities and preferred skills clearly indicate a specialization in visual development for animation, with a strong emphasis on integrating AI tools into the creative process. This role sits at the intersection of traditional art and emerging technology within the entertainment production pipeline.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Create comprehensive character reference sheets, encompassing detailed turnarounds, dynamic poses, nuanced expressions, and essential design elements.

• Design unique props and immersive environments that effectively establish and communicate the thematic and stylistic world of each animated series.

• Develop and rigorously maintain cohesive visual languages and style guides for individual projects, ensuring consistency from concept to final production.

• Define and enforce visual rules and standards for character design, including proportions, color palettes, shape language, environmental consistency, and overall aesthetic coherence.

• Actively collaborate with Showrunners, writers, animators, AI filmmakers, and other creative stakeholders to ensure alignment and effective communication of visual intent.

• Skillfully translate scripts, narrative concepts, and high-level creative direction into precise and actionable visual references for production teams.

• Demonstrate agility in iterating designs rapidly in response to constructive feedback and dynamic production requirements, maintaining project momentum.

• Prepare and format visual assets to be optimized for integration into AI image and video-generation pipelines, understanding the technical nuances of these workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a need for a designer who can not only create compelling artwork but also establish and enforce visual consistency within a rapidly evolving, AI-assisted production environment. The emphasis on "visual rules" and "cohesive visual languages" suggests a strategic role in defining the aesthetic direction of projects.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: While no specific degree is mandated, a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts, Animation, Graphic Design, or a related creative field is often preferred for roles requiring a strong theoretical foundation in visual arts.

Experience: 2-5 years of professional experience in visual development, character design, concept art, or animation design, with a demonstrable portfolio showcasing versatility.

Required Skills:

• Strong background in visual development, character design, concept art, animation, or related artistic disciplines.

• Profound understanding of composition, color theory, silhouette, shape language, and effective visual storytelling principles.

• Proven experience in designing characters, props, and environments for visual media.

• A robust portfolio that clearly demonstrates exceptional visual design skills and the ability to adapt across a diverse range of artistic styles and aesthetics.

• Demonstrated comfort and aptitude in adapting to various animation aesthetics and executing against different creative directions.

• High proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Adobe Photoshop, or equivalent tools for drawing, painting, and compositing.

• Ability to work with speed and efficiency, absorb and integrate feedback effectively, and independently execute creative briefs.

• A genuine passion for animation, filmmaking, visual storytelling, and the exploration of emerging creative technologies. Preferred Skills:

• Direct experience utilizing AI image-generation tools such as Midjourney, Nano Banana, Seedream, or Flux for creative asset generation.

• Familiarity with AI video-generation tools like Kling, Veo, Seedance, or Runway.

• Experience in establishing and documenting visual style guides and design standards for production.

• Understanding of animation principles and production pipelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required skills heavily emphasize foundational art principles and practical design experience, while preferred skills highlight a significant advantage for candidates who have hands-on experience with AI creative tools. This indicates a forward-thinking approach to production where AI is a core component of the workflow.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A curated collection of visual development work showcasing a range of styles, character designs, prop designs, and environment concepts.

• Specific examples demonstrating the ability to create detailed character reference sheets, including turnarounds, expressions, and key design callouts.

• Case studies or project breakdowns that illustrate the process of establishing and maintaining a consistent visual language for a project.

• Visuals that highlight the application of composition, color theory, and shape language in creating compelling and cohesive designs.

• Evidence of rapid iteration and adaptation based on creative direction or feedback. Process Documentation:

• Examples of workflow documentation or personal process descriptions that outline how visual concepts are developed from script to final asset.

• Demonstrations of how design challenges were overcome through iterative design or problem-solving.

• Explanation of how design decisions were made to support narrative goals or production constraints.

• Insights into how traditional design skills are integrated with AI tools in a creative workflow.

📝 Enhancement Note: The portfolio is paramount for this role. It needs to showcase not only artistic talent but also the ability to translate creative briefs into tangible, production-ready assets and to articulate a clear design process, particularly one that incorporates AI tools.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: $1,000 – $2,000 per week. (Based on a 40-hour work week, this translates to approximately $25 - $50 per hour. This range is competitive for mid-level design roles in the California market, especially those involving specialized skills like AI integration and visual development for animation.)

Benefits:

• Access to state-of-the-art AI creative tools, enabling cutting-edge artistic exploration and production.

• Access to traditional design software, ensuring a comprehensive toolkit for all creative needs.

• Potential for full-time employment opportunities, offering a pathway for long-term career growth within TrueShort.

Working Hours: Approximately 40 hours per week, with the potential for flexibility given the hybrid work arrangement and the nature of creative project deadlines.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary is presented as a weekly range, common for contract or project-based roles, but with the explicit mention of "Potential for full-time opportunities," suggesting this might be an initial contract-to-hire scenario. The benefits focus on providing access to advanced technology, which is a significant draw for professionals in AI-adjacent creative fields. The estimated hourly rate aligns with industry standards for specialized design roles in a high-cost-of-living area like California.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: AI-Powered Entertainment Production, Streaming Media, Animation. TrueShort is positioned at the forefront of innovation, merging AI technology with traditional storytelling to create a new paradigm in content creation and distribution.

Company Size: The provided data does not specify company size, but being backed by prominent investors like Jeffrey Katzenberg suggests a startup or growth-stage company with significant ambition and resources.

Founded: The founding date is not specified, but the company's rapid growth and investor backing indicate a relatively young, dynamic organization.

Team Structure:

• The operations team likely comprises individuals focused on the production pipeline, from script development and visual design to AI integration and content delivery.

• Reporting structures are expected to be relatively flat, common in fast-paced startups, with direct collaboration across creative and technical roles.

• Cross-functional collaboration is essential, with designers working closely alongside writers, showrunners, AI engineers, and animators to achieve a unified creative vision. Methodology:

• Data-driven experimentation is central, especially given the AI focus, with continuous testing and iteration of content and production methods.

• Agile and iterative workflows are employed to adapt quickly to creative feedback and technological advancements.

• Emphasis on rapid prototyping and development to bring original series and films to market efficiently, aligning with the "no development purgatory" ethos.

Company Website: https://trueshort.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: TrueShort operates in a highly innovative space, blending entertainment with advanced AI. This suggests a culture that values experimentation, speed, and cutting-edge technology. For operations professionals, this means adaptability, a willingness to embrace new tools, and a focus on efficient, data-informed processes.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is for a mid-level Visual Designer, typically requiring 2-5 years of experience. It offers a significant opportunity to shape the visual identity of new animated series and contribute to the development of AI-native production workflows.

Reporting Structure: Visual Designers will likely report to a Creative Director, Art Director, or Head of Visual Development, with close daily interaction with Showrunners and AI Filmmakers.

Operations Impact: The Visual Designer's work directly influences the aesthetic quality, consistency, and market appeal of TrueShort's original content. By establishing clear visual languages and optimizing assets for AI generation, they play a critical role in the efficiency and success of the production pipeline, impacting the speed-to-market and overall viewer experience.

Growth Opportunities:

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific animation styles, character design, or advanced AI-driven visual workflows.

• Leadership: Progress to Lead Visual Designer or Art Director roles, guiding visual strategy for multiple projects and mentoring junior designers.

• Technical Proficiency: Become a key contributor in defining and refining the company's AI-native production pipeline, potentially moving into roles focused on AI tool development or integration.

• Cross-functional Movement: Develop skills transferable to other creative production roles within the company, such as Storyboarding Supervisor or Production Designer.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role offers a unique opportunity for growth at the intersection of traditional animation design and emerging AI technology. The "AI studio and streaming platform" model suggests a rapid learning curve and potential for rapid advancement for individuals who can adapt and innovate.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Hybrid. The role specifies "In-person role in Culver City, CA," indicating a requirement for on-site presence, likely for collaborative sessions, team meetings, and access to specific studio resources. However, the overall "TELECOMMUTE" and "remote_derived": true status suggest a flexible hybrid model where significant work can be done remotely.

Office Location(s): Culver City, California, a hub for the entertainment industry.

Workspace Context:

• A collaborative environment where designers work alongside AI filmmakers, animators, writers, and showrunners.

• Access to both state-of-the-art AI creative tools and traditional design software will be provided, fostering a blend of cutting-edge and established creative practices.

• Opportunities for direct interaction and feedback loops with a diverse range of creative professionals, encouraging cross-pollination of ideas.

Work Schedule: While generally aligning with a 40-hour work week, the dynamic nature of content production may require flexibility to meet project deadlines. The hybrid model allows for a balance between focused remote work and essential in-person collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Hybrid" designation, combined with the Culver City location requirement, suggests that this role necessitates regular in-office presence for key collaborative activities, while still offering the flexibility often associated with remote work for other tasks. This balance is critical for creative roles requiring both focused individual work and team synergy.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: Review of submitted portfolio, resume, and overview of creative workflow. Emphasis on visual quality, style versatility, and understanding of AI tools.

• Technical/Creative Interview: Discussion of portfolio pieces, focusing on design process, problem-solving, and application of visual principles. May include a short design challenge or a review of AI tool usage.

• Team/Cultural Fit Interview: Meeting with potential collaborators (e.g., Showrunner, AI Filmmaker) to assess communication style, adaptability, and alignment with TrueShort's innovative culture.

• Final Interview: Discussion with senior leadership to confirm fit and discuss role expectations, potential for full-time conversion, and compensation.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Highlight AI Integration: Clearly showcase any projects where AI tools were used in the design process, explaining your role and the impact of these tools.

• Demonstrate Versatility: Include examples across various animation styles, genres, and target audiences to prove adaptability.

• Showcase Process: For key pieces, include a brief explanation of your workflow, from initial concept to final asset, detailing how you incorporated feedback.

• Clarity and Consistency: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually polished, and easy to navigate. Focus on high-quality presentations of characters, props, and environments.

• Workflow Overview: Be prepared to articulate your preferred creative workflow and the specific tools (both traditional and AI) you leverage most effectively.

Challenge Preparation:

• Be ready to discuss how you would approach designing a character or environment for a specific genre or audience, given limited information.

• Practice articulating your design decisions and explaining the "why" behind your aesthetic choices.

• Familiarize yourself with common AI image generation prompts and techniques, and be prepared to discuss how you'd use them to achieve specific artistic outcomes.

📝 Enhancement Note: The application process heavily emphasizes the portfolio and the candidate's ability to articulate their creative process, especially concerning AI tools. Candidates should prepare to demonstrate not just artistic skill but also strategic thinking in applying design principles within an AI-driven production environment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Photoshop: Essential for traditional drawing, painting, compositing, and asset creation.

• AI Image Generation Tools: Midjourney, Nano Banana, Seedream, Flux (or similar platforms) for rapid ideation, asset generation, and stylistic exploration.

• AI Video Generation Tools: Kling, Veo, Seedance, Runway (familiarity is a plus) for understanding potential downstream applications of visual assets.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not directly responsible for analytics, understanding how visual assets impact engagement metrics on streaming platforms could be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to this design role, but familiarity with project management tools used in creative pipelines (e.g., Asana, Trello, Monday.com) might be helpful for workflow management.

📝 Enhancement Note: Proficiency with Photoshop is a baseline requirement, but significant emphasis is placed on familiarity and experience with AI image generation tools. This indicates that the ability to leverage AI as a creative partner is a key differentiator for this role.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Innovation: A commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment production through AI and novel storytelling formats.

• Speed & Agility: A fast-paced environment that values rapid iteration, quick decision-making, and efficient execution.

• Collaboration: A strong emphasis on cross-functional teamwork, open communication, and shared creative vision.

• Experimentation: A willingness to try new approaches, learn from failures, and continuously improve processes and creative output.

• Visual Excellence: A dedication to high-quality artistic output that resonates with modern audiences.

Collaboration Style:

• Highly collaborative, with designers expected to actively participate in brainstorming sessions and provide constructive feedback.

• Encourages open dialogue between creative disciplines (writing, art, animation) and technical teams (AI developers).

• A culture of shared ownership where team members are empowered to contribute ideas and drive projects forward.

📝 Enhancement Note: TrueShort's culture is likely to be dynamic, innovative, and team-oriented. For a Visual Designer, this means being comfortable with rapid change, contributing actively to team discussions, and embracing a collaborative spirit in a technologically advanced creative environment.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Rapidly Evolving AI Landscape: Keeping pace with the constant advancements in AI image and video generation tools and integrating them effectively into workflows.

• Maintaining Artistic Integrity with AI: Balancing AI-generated output with a distinct artistic vision and ensuring brand consistency across diverse styles.

• Cross-Disciplinary Communication: Effectively communicating complex visual ideas to technical teams and translating AI capabilities into creative assets.

• Iterative Design Under Pressure: Adapting quickly to feedback and production demands in a fast-paced, experimental environment.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• AI Tool Mastery: Gaining deep expertise in cutting-edge AI creative tools and becoming a go-to resource for their application in animation production.

• Style Versatility: Expanding a portfolio and skillset by working across a wide array of animation genres and aesthetic styles.

• Production Pipeline Influence: Contributing to the development and refinement of novel AI-native production workflows.

• Industry Exposure: Working with high-profile investors and creative leaders in the entertainment and technology sectors.

📝 Enhancement Note: The primary challenges and growth opportunities revolve around the integration of AI into creative workflows. Success in this role hinges on adaptability, a willingness to learn new technologies, and the ability to apply artistic principles within a rapidly evolving technological landscape.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach designing a character for a children's animated series versus a mature-audience sci-fi drama, focusing on shape language and color palette?" (Assesses style adaptability and foundational design principles.)

• "Describe your process for creating character reference sheets that are clear and useful for both human animators and AI generation systems." (Evaluates understanding of production needs and AI optimization.)

• "Imagine a script calls for a fantastical creature that doesn't exist. How would you use AI tools and your own design expertise to bring this creature to life visually?" (Tests creative problem-solving and AI tool application.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you most about TrueShort's mission to use AI in entertainment production?" (Gauges passion and alignment with company vision.)

• "How do you stay updated on the latest trends in animation design and AI technology?" (Assesses continuous learning and industry engagement.)

• "Describe a time you had to adapt your design based on unexpected feedback or a change in project direction. How did you handle it?" (Evaluates adaptability and collaboration skills.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Narrative Flow: Structure your portfolio presentation to tell a story about your design journey and problem-solving approach for each project.

• Highlight AI Use: Clearly label and discuss any pieces created with or influenced by AI tools, explaining your specific role and methodology.

• Focus on Process: For key examples, walk through your iterative process, showing sketches, mood boards, and how you refined designs based on feedback or technical requirements.

• Quantify Impact (if possible): While difficult for design, discuss how your visual choices supported the narrative or production goals.

• Engage and Ask Questions: Be prepared to discuss your work in detail and ask insightful questions about TrueShort's creative process and future projects.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating a strong foundation in visual design, a clear understanding of AI tools and their application in creative workflows, and the ability to articulate one's process and creative vision effectively.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Visual Designer position:

• Submit your application through the provided link on Ashby.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature visual development work, character designs, and environment concepts. Ensure it highlights your ability to work across different styles and demonstrates your experience or understanding of AI image generation tools.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to emphasize relevant experience in visual development, concept art, animation, and any specific AI creative tools you've utilized. Use keywords from the job description, such as "visual development," "character design," "AI image generation," and "Photoshop."

• Workflow Overview: Prepare a concise overview of your creative workflow, detailing your preferred tools (both traditional and AI) and how you approach design challenges. This should be ready to submit with your application or discuss during an interview.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with TrueShort's existing content (if available), their mission, and the investors backing them. Understand their position at the intersection of AI and entertainment.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.