Fast Facts

This contract role for a Visual Storyteller focuses on creating engaging visuals and animations for K-5 education, collaborating with creative teams to enhance learning experiences.

Responsibilities: Curate and create visuals, collaborate with scriptwriters and curriculum experts, prototype visuals for classroom use, and define the visual identity of the educational program.

Skills: Visual storytelling for children, illustration and animation, collaboration, simplifying complex ideas through design, resourcefulness in sourcing visuals, adaptability, and clear visual communication.

Qualifications: Experience with K-5 education, background in visual design or animation, familiarity with social studies topics, and experience in developing educational content.

Location: Remote role in the United States, with preference for Pacific Time zone hours.

Compensation: Not provided by employer. Typical compensation ranges for this position are between $25 - $50 per hour.

We are looking for a highly skilled Visual Storyteller - Contract to curate and create the images, maps, and short animations that make lessons feel relevant, meaningful, and interesting to a K-5 audience. One day you might be tracking down a powerful historical photograph; the next, you’re sketching an illustration that makes an abstract idea concrete. Your work will help kids “see” the world in new ways. This is a contract role with high visibility across cross-functional creative and curriculum teams. 

In This Role You Will: 

• Create and Curate Visuals 
• Research and source compelling visuals, illustrations, maps, and primary sources 
• Create original artwork and animations in the Mystery style 
• Adapt existing visuals to be age-appropriate and classroom-ready 

Collaborate Across Teams 

• Partner with Scriptwriters to storyboard lessons where visuals and words work seamlessly 
• Work with curriculum experts to ensure visuals support learning goals and historical accuracy 
• Prototype visuals quickly, test in classrooms, and revise based on student reactions 

Shape Program Identity 

• Help define the visual identity of Mystery Social Studies across hundreds of lessons 
• Ensure visuals spark curiosity and support discovery-based learning 

Core Competencies for Success: 

• Visual storytelling for young audiences 
• Illustration and animation for educational content 
• Collaboration across creative and curriculum teams 
• Simplifying complex ideas through design 
• Resourcefulness in sourcing visuals: from archives, public domain collections, or your own sketchpad 
• Adaptability in fast-paced, iterative environments 
• Understanding of child-centered design 
• Clear visual communication 

Credentials and Experience: 

• Experience working with K-5 children and social studies topics, either in the classroom, or in developing curriculum or other media 
• Background in visual design, illustration, or animation 
• Familiarity with social studies topics and standards 
• Experience developing educational content for younger audiences 
• Experience with storyboarding or video production teams 
• Able to work Pacific time zone hours
• Legal right to work in the United States 

This role is designed to be a remote contract role initially 6 months.