Communications Design Contractor

Spherical spherical.studio Open · verified Aug 22, 2026

Remote US Contract Mid-level Communications

Mid-level Communications role at Spherical. Remote, United States · contract.

Role brief

Growth Roles summary, based on the employer's posting.

What you'll do

Shape immersive digital stories with editors, producers, and creatives for Neighbors
Refresh recurring story templates and create formats for new kinds of articles
Turn magazine stories into distinctive, on-brand social assets for different platforms
Maintain Neighbors’ identity system and style guidance
Create layouts and communications for the website, blog, decks, newsletters, and marketing materials

What you bring

Professional design experience across digital media and formats
A portfolio covering brand identity, communications, and digital content
Strong command of typography, color, layout, imagery, and composition
Brand identity and campaign work spanning print and digital
Proficiency with Figma and Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign

Who this fits

You’ll suit this contract if you enjoy editorial storytelling, brand work, and close collaboration with a Design Director and Senior Designer. The engagement is remote within the United States, runs for six months, and requires thirty-two to forty hours each week. You’ll need to manage concurrent projects, respond well to direction, iterate quickly, and keep the Design Director aware of issues.

From the employer

Communications Design Contractor

About the Role

Spherical is a transdisciplinary research and design studio working to regenerate the health and integrity of Earth's living systems.

We are looking for a Communications Design Contractor to join our team for a six-month engagement. This designer will work closely with Spherical's Design Director and Senior Designer on two primary tracks of work: the ongoing design and production of Neighbors: A Living Infrastructure Magazine, and a range of brand and marketing design.

This is a 32-40-hour/week remote contract position reporting directly to the Design Director.

About Neighbors Magazine

Neighbors is a collection of stories from Angelenos about the futures we are building together. Produced by Spherical for the Living Infrastructure Field Kit, , the magazine uplifts examples of living infrastructure already taking shape through non-fiction, fiction, photography, and more. Neighbors launched in June 2026 and publishes new stories every two weeks.

The design of Neighbors is bold, editorial, and deeply considered. It’s rooted in a strong typographic sensibility and a commitment to immersive digital storytelling. The right candidate will be excited to help shape and evolve a publication that is just getting started.

Scope of Work

Neighbors Magazine

Under the direction of the Design Director, the Communications Design Contractor will help evolve the design of Neighbors and support the production of ongoing content:

Collaborate with editors, producers, and creatives to conceptualize and design immersive digital storytelling experiences for articles published every two weeks
Iterate existing templates for recurring story formats and design new templates for new story types
Collaborate with producers to translate stories into social media content that is on-brand, distinctive, and designed to perform across platforms
Evolve and maintain the Neighbors brand guidelines and style guide

Brand and Marketing

Working under the direction of the Design Director, this designer will:

Contribute to engagements as directed, including brand identity, marketing materials, and social media design.
Design page layouts and produce creative assets for the studio's website, social media, and blog
Design and produce a range of communications including presentation decks, email newsletters, and marketing collateral

Requirements

Experience and Education

Formal education in graphic design or a related field is a plus, though equivalent professional experience and a strong portfolio are equally valued.
Demonstrated professional experience designing across digital mediums and formats
A strong portfolio demonstrating work across brand identity, communications, and digital content. Please include your portfolio link with your application

Skills

Strong foundation in graphic design fundamentals: typography, color, layout, imagery, and composition
Experience in brand identity and campaign design for both print and digital is required
Editorial design experience is a plus, though not required to apply
Proficiency in Figma and Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)
Healthy balance of comfort, curiosity and discernment in the use of AI-assisted tools and workflows

Ways of Working

Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and keep the Design Director informed of any issues in real time
High standards of craft with a consistent ability to meet deadlines
A thorough, exploratory approach to design and willing to push ideas before landing on the right solution
Collaborative, with a graceful, solutions-oriented approach under pressure
Comfortable taking creative direction and iterating quickly and accurately

Contract Details

Duration: 6 months
Hours: 32-40 hours
Rate: $100/hr
Location: Remote
Start date: As soon as possible
Reporting to: Michael Yap, Design Director

How to Apply

Spherical is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a team that reflects the communities we serve.

We are happy to provide accommodations throughout the hiring process. Please let us know what you need.

Please send your resume, portfolio, and a brief note about why this role interests you.