[Hiring] Product Illustrator & Physical Product Designer @HireLATAM

Role Description

Our Client is seeking a highly skilled Product Illustrator & Physical Product Designer to partner with their lead product developer in expanding their physical merchandise lines. Responsible for creating original artwork for metal collectibles, laser-engraved tokens, and multi-part assemblies, this professional will turn creative concepts into production-ready tech packs for overseas manufacturing. This position is ideal for an accomplished illustrator with deep expertise in physical product manufacturing who takes pride in seeing their digital art brought to life as physical objects.

⚠️ Critical Portfolio Requirement: This is strictly a physical product design and merchandise illustration role. Candidate portfolios centering on UI/UX, software interfaces, Figma prototypes, app wireframes, or digital web products will not be considered. Portfolios must showcase original illustration work and real, manufactured physical objects (photographed in hand).

Key Responsibilities

• Artwork Illustration & Physical Product Design:
  • Illustrates original, distinctive artwork for metal collectibles, including hard/soft enamel color fills, linework, laser engraving, and culturally themed destination motifs.
  • Converts creative concepts into factory-ready production files, specs, and detailed tech packs suitable for precise manufacturer quoting and tool building.
  • Designs around real-world physical manufacturing constraints, including enamel channel widths, metal plating types, mold requirements, part tolerances, and color registration.
• Factory Collaboration & Mechanism Prototyping:
  • Collaborates with the senior product developer on complex manufacturing challenges, mechanical features, and multi-piece interactive assemblies.
  • Reviews factory samples, interprets Design-For-Manufacture (DFM) technical feedback, and executes precise design revisions throughout prototype iterations.
  • Maintains high visual standards across a rapidly expanding catalog of destination collectibles while adhering to core brand aesthetics.
• Operations & Workflow:
  • Utilizes tools such as Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator, Photoshop), Asana, and Slack for asynchronous collaboration, milestone tracking, and daily team communications.
  • Operates with high independence and self-direction to deliver production-ready assets according to schedule milestones.

Qualifications

• Exceptional portfolio demonstrating strong, distinctive, and original visual illustration skills.
• Demonstrated history of designing real physical goods that were successfully produced.
• Practical understanding of physical manufacturing processes, including color separation, material/finish specifications, mold constraints, and overseas factory tech-pack documentation.
• Expert command of Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator and Photoshop) for vector creation and production file preparation.
• Full commitment to full-time independent contractor work (~40 hours/week) with 4–5 hours of daily overlap during US Pacific Time (PT) business hours.
• Dedicated quiet home office setup, computer, webcam, headset, and reliable high-speed internet.

Preferred

• Direct background designing enamel pins, souvenirs, national park merchandise, coins, or collectible toys.
• Experience designing physical products with interactive or moving parts.
• Track record of maintaining brand consistency across large, multi-sku product collections.

Benefits

• $3,000 – $4,000 USD/month base salary (negotiable based on top-tier portfolio quality).
• 50% employee discount across all company travel collectibles and merchandise.
• Independent contractor engagement offering high flexibility and autonomy outside required daily US Pacific overlap hours.
• Long-term engagement executed remotely within a creative, craftsmanship-focused brand environment.